(In)convenience
A (short) film about a mini-mart cashier, a guy in transition, and a box of tampons.
Interview with Writer/Director Alexandra Greenspan, Producer/Script Consultant Haley Baldwin and Actor/Story and Character Consultant Eisa Al-Shamm
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
ALEXANDRA: I wrote the first draft in response to a prompt about two people who are polar opposites yet magnetically drawn together. I pictured a "meet-cute" of the most awkward variety — grazing fingers over a box of tampons. On top of the "pink tax," periods are still a taboo topic, whether you're a cis woman or a trans man. I myself was uncomfortable talking about periods even into the middle of pre-production on this film, which is something I worked on for myself. In many ways, I feel more in common with Kirby than Phoebe, with the biggest difference being our gender identity: he is a trans man and I am cis woman. Kirby is a huge nerd (like me), works in tech (like me), is working on his self-confidence, and yearns to be recognized for more than the things he doesn't associate with himself (such as his period).
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
EISA: It’s always the right time to watch a love story. Love stories tap into our feelings of desire, connection, hotness, and everything juicy and weird and cool about romance. What’s special about this love story is that it shows an affirmation of transmasculinity in a beautiful, straightforward way. Kirby is accepted and loved for who he is, because of who he is, by a total stranger. And that’s the kind of love that we just don’t see enough of in movies and TV.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
ALEXANDRA: The film portrays an experience of having the most tender parts of yourself triggered, yet finding the way to move through those hard emotions and into new connections. It’s an intimate portrayal that balances an extremely trying and specific aspect of trans experiences, the sweetness of finding a crush in the city, surveillance of the trans body in the public eye, and awkward & fun queer flirtation. Our foremost goal was to tell a story of love, and our lead character’s transition is a big part of this, ultimately normalizing and giving insight into his experience.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
ALEXANDRA: The film started its life as a stage play! I wrote the first draft in the fall of 2020 in a playwriting class, then met the two leads, Eisa Al-Shamma (Kirby) and Amy Stringer (Phoebe), in a Bay Area improv troupe in 2021. Throughout this time, I slowly saved up money to finance the film (well, originally the money was saved for film school, so I decided to spend it on this film instead!). At the start of 2022, I made a promise to myself to finish this film by the end of the year. Six months in, I finally scheduled our first table read. I was so inspired by that first table read that I accelerated my timeline and partnered with the most badass of producers, Haley Baldwin. Together, we assembled a passionate, professional, and majority LGBTQIA+ team to make this short film. The screenplay evolved from first draft to filming through many stages of edits, including feedback from trans and non-binary folks, improv sessions with the actors, script and character consulting sessions with Samy Figadero and Wyatt Gray, long discussions with Eisa about Kirby, and dedicated creative partnership between myself and Haley.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
ALEXANDRA: Overwhelmingly positive feedback, from people of all walks of life! Which honestly has been so validating, both as a debut filmmaker and as an ally to the trans community. Additionally, tons and tons of laughter in the theaters during film festivals, which has been amazing to hear because that means the humor gets through to people!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
HALEY: It’s surprised me how enthusiastic the feedback has been! We’ve screened alongside incredibly beautiful works of film. The fact that audiences have been so touched by ours (Audience Favorite at SF Independent Film Fest, Best in Show Comedy Shorts Wicked Queer Boston), is really exciting and special, and a cause to reflect on what’s touching people about the film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
ALEXANDRA: My goal is for (In)convenience to reach an even broader audience, as well as take this opportunity to learn about my fellow independent filmmakers and their projects!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
HALEY: We need distributors, film festival directors, and above all, audience members. We need to continue to spark a meaningful conversation where empathy and understanding are at the forefront. We will continue to create content that is hilarious and adorable while resonating with audiences due to the truth and vulnerability portrayed on screen. In order for us to continue, we absolutely need to expand our network! A social media manager would be a dream come true as well.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
HALEY: I hope the film makes you laugh and also cry; I hope that you’re able to let go of the need to put people in boxes to try to understand them. Perhaps instead we are able to appreciate the dynamic nature of humanity, and how universal it is to have a crush on the cute cashier at the convenience store. I hope that the impact of this piece is that audiences are encouraged to be brave in the face of their own shadows, and encouraged by the rewards that vulnerability can bring.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
ALEXANDRA: For LGBTQ+ audience members who see themselves or their loved ones in the film, I hope you feel represented and empowered. For audience members who do not identify as LGBTQ+, it’s an opportunity to think about how you respond to people who come out to you, and how your actions and reactions make them feel accepted. In reality, by opening up to you, they are letting you in, and that is a privilege and a gift. As a separate topic of discussion, I want all viewers to question their ideas and biases on masculinity!
Would you like to add anything else?
ALEXANDRA: I recognize that while this is my project, my main character is a trans man, and I am a cis woman. That is why it was so important to me that I bring in voices and a creative team that have the identities in the queer community that are showcased in this film. This project is truly a communal, collaborative effort. Shoutout to the cast and crew!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
HALEY: I am in the midst of heavy pre-production on a horror short titled Stages (Code Bear Media, 2023). Stages is set in the beginning months of covid; Delilah loses her husband and is grieving alone and isolated in her home. As she moves through the stages of grief, she thinks she is being haunted by the ghost of her husband, when in fact it’s a malevolent entity feeding off her grief.
ALEXANDRA: I am collaborating with Haley to write a feature screenplay based on the (In)convenience short film! I’m also writing various short stories which can be read on https://www.alexicography.com/.
Going back to that cast and crew shoutout: Our cast and crew are an extremely talented bunch of creatives, so there is always something going on, including films, live comedy, improv, drag shows, music releases, and so much more! Please follow @inconveniencefilm on Instagram, which is where we promote projects that the key creatives are working on! Just some of the things people are up to… Hugh Holton (they/them), our musical score composer and producer, recently released a single as Crush Mouse: @crushmouse. And over June 22nd-25th, 2023, Edna Mira Raia (she/her), who plays Devin, will be performing live at Electric Forests in Michigan. Check out her character work on Instagram: @potatoesmashedcomedy.
Interview: June 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
(In)convenience
A (short) film about a mini-mart cashier, a guy in transition, and a box of tampons.
Length: 11:44
Director: Alexandra Greenspan (she/her)
Producer: Haley Baldwin (she/her)
Writer: Alexandra Greenspan (she/her)
About the writer, director and producer:
ALEXANDRA GREENSPAN (she/her) is a writer, filmmaker, improv performer, and senior product manager (previously Google, Truepill) in San Francisco. (In)convenience is her screenwriting and directorial debut. In high school, she founded a literary magazine and co-wrote a one-act play for the school one-act festival. At UC Berkeley, she studied computer science and cognitive science, as well as pursued her creative interests by founding a design-a-thon and participating in Campus Movie Fest.
HALEY BALDWIN (she/her) works in San Francisco as a Producer, 1st AD and Production Assistant. Her passion for producing stems from her love of narrative storytelling, and pride in ensuring inclusive, safe, and harmonious sets. She was a producer/1st AD on the award-winning film, The Last Day of Retrograde and producer/1st AD on the horror short, Stages. Haley got her start in film at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, winning the screenwriters guild award.
Key cast: Eisa Al-Shamma (Kirby), Amy Stringer (Phoebe), Edna Mira Raia (Devin)
Looking for: distributors, journalists, film festival directors, producers, buyers, sales agents
Facebook: In convenience - a short film
Instagram: @inconveniencefilm
Hashtags used: #inconveniencefilm
Website: inconvenience.alexicography.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Majority self-funded, with post-production funded in part by crowdfunding
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Frameline47 / San Francisco - Friday, June 23rd, 2023; San Francisco Frozen Film Festival / San Francisco - Thursday, July 13th, 2023