Bushwick Film Festival - First Night Out
A woman takes herself to dinner for the very first time.
Interview with Director Will Mayo
Watch First Night Out here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The film came out of a random opportunity. The cinematographer, Andrew Daugherty, told me he had access to a camera on a particular day, which was in two weeks. He suggested we make something, so I remembered a story that the writer, Ian Scott McGregor, had told me. A friend of his was working in a restaurant late one night in a cow town outside San Francisco, when a transgender woman came in.
They appeared very nervous to be in the restaurant, but ordered a full meal, and at the very end of the meal, asked for their picture to be taken with a disposable camera. She went on her way after that, and was never seen again. Ian and I were moved to honor that moment through film, the way she was honoring it through a picture. The rest of the story remains a mystery.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it's beautifully simple and won't take but two minutes of your time!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I admire the bravery of the main character, the way she's shaping her own identity and putting it out there in the world. Perhaps I'm a little envious. The mystery of identity - who we think we are and why we behave the way we do - can be found in another short I made, called This Is How You Haunt Your House. But that film is about a woman who's losing sight of who she is, and First Night Out is the opposite - she's gaining that sight.
Many of us - not just those of the LGBT community - experience that "first night out," metaphorically speaking, when we decide that we aren't going to hide how we feel anymore. It's often a small, quiet step, but it speaks volumes.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Ian Scott McGregor and I often talked about writing scenes that came before and after what the film shows - but in the end, that stuff wouldn't have mattered, because the film is about capturing the moment when she has the picture taken of herself. We're honoring it the way she honored the moment.
Believe it or not, there was actually a deleted scene at the end of the film. A guy who appears at the end for one second has a scene of his own with the waitress. It was supposed to be a scene that played in the background as the credits rolled, but even that was too much - it overshadowed the beauty of the moment with the main character.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Mostly very positive. People respond to the film's brevity and simplicity, which is a nice surprise. I had a woman at Aspen Film Shortsfest yell at me during a Q&A that feature film writers should learn a lesson from the film. That felt great. Also, the amount of trans-folk who have approached Ian and me and said, "I've had that 'first night out,'" is moving, to say the least.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I'm happy people are responding at all. I'm not looking to get a certain emotional reaction out of people. The film doesn't really tell you how to feel about what's happening. It's just a moment that's presented to you, and you project your feelings onto it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Getting the word out: the film will be available online in October!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists and film festival directors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The hope is to go viral online.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
When was the night you first felt like yourself?
Would you like to add anything else?
See my other work at www.willmayofilm.com!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I currently have a short documentary in post-production, which is about my grandfather's legacy in woodworking and his recent move into an assisted living home. Ian Scott McGregor is producing a number of projects with me, including the documentary, and is also creating a scripted television show about a specific passion of his.
Interview: August 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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First Night Out
A woman takes herself to dinner for the very first time.
Length: 2 minutes 22 seconds
Director: Will Mayo
Producer: Will Mayo and Ian Scott McGregor
Writer: Ian Scott McGregor
About the writer, director and producer:
Will Mayo (director/producer) is a director, cinematographer, sound designer, and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, originally from Thompson's Station, Tennessee.
Ian Scott McGregor (producer/writer) is an actor, producer, and writer based in Brooklyn, New York.
Key cast: Todd Alan Crain, Julianne Saltalamacchia
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): film festival directors, journalists
Release date: 2015
Where can I watch it in the next month?
The Bushwick Film Festival:September 29-October 2
Online: around October 11