Little Miss Perfect
An overambitious high school freshman tries to control her life by controlling her weight.
Interview with Writer/Director Marlee Roberts
Watch Little Miss Perfect on Prime Video and iTunes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Little Miss Perfect aims to tell the story of a girl who struggles to control her life by controlling her weight. This need for “control” had led me to discover an unhealthy online subculture of pro-eating disorder material when I was in high school and much like our protagonist Belle, I was fascinated and compelled by it, even in knowing that it was wrong.
This led me to research the psychological and behavioral effects of those who deal similarly with control. I worked with two clinical psychologists specializing in the psychology of eating disorders, particularly in adolescents, and they oversaw the script. I spent about two years writing the screenplay, we shot the film over the following summer and proceeded to post-production thereafter. It’s been a long journey.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch the film-
If you've ever felt the pressure to be perfect.
If you've ever felt the compulsion to control something physically in your life to cope with feeling out of control in your emotional or psychological self.
If you've ever experienced an out of body moment where you couldn't recognize yourself for an instance in your own reflection.
If you know somebody that has experienced any of the above.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This movie explores the duality of our physical and psychological selves. It goes beyond the physical effects of having an eating disorder and spends more time in the complexity of the behavioral and environmental causes. It's relatable on the universal feeling of not being good enough. Not only is there a sort of personal catharsis in the story, the film also fosters discussion and understanding on a societal level to break down the myths and stigmas of mental health.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Little Miss Perfect began first as an adaptation of the traditional French fairy tale La Belle et la Bete, popularly known in English as “Beauty and the Beast”. The adaptation borrowed Belle’s studious perfectionist nature and combined it with the Beast’s shame and temper. Similar to that of the original story, Belle was given a father who sets off on a work venture, a mother who is out of the picture and a confident bordering-on-arrogant suitor.
However, as I continued working on the screenplay, it transformed into its own story and the themes from the classic fairy tale have become only symbols in which we pay homage to the original tale. While not completely autobiographical, I wrote the character of Belle from my personal experience in high school struggling with similar themes I’ve come to realize many girls are facing: social exclusion, academic pressure, body image, and family disconnection.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Our Q&As have resulted in many hugs and tears from both audience members who have little familiarity with the subject matter and those for whom it is all too real. My favorite thing about making this film by far has been coming to understand the audience's reaction to the film. To watch viewers walk away discussing the very things at the heart of the movie that made me want to make it in the first place is certainly the most rewarding. Our screenings thus far have consistently produced audience discourse. I love speaking to new viewers and hearing how they've come to cope with the same feelings Belle has. At some point or another in our lives, everyone has felt similarly.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Absolutely. After watching the films what must be hundreds of times, I attend screenings now just to watch audiences take it in. The biggest surprise was after our first screening where I spoke with attendees out of our expected target demographic.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The more eyeballs the merrier.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Fortunately, we are at a point in this film where we have many of those people on our team. We welcome any distributors to chat with us about any platforms or territories that may be available. We will be starting an educational screening series and also welcome organizations, schools, and campus groups to reach out if they are interested in hosting a screening.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope that this film will help in the fight against eating disorders, aid in early prevention, and foster discussion in an effort to de-stigmatize mental health.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What's your beast?
Would you like to add anything else?
I am very grateful to my cast and crew who tirelessly worked on this project because they believed in telling this story. I hope they are proud of both the quality and the content of the film. And I hope that those who can relate directly to the film will find solace that it shares in some way a piece of their story, their voice.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently in development for my next film, a quirky drama/comedy. My sister and I are also collaborating and currently researching to develop a sci-fi project set in the near future.
Interview: November 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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Little Miss Perfect
An overambitious high school freshman tries to control her life by controlling her weight.
Length: 83 min
Director: Marlee Roberts
Producer: Kate Mahler, Kathleen Bernath, Katherine Paige, Jake Klein, Sam Besser
Exec Producers- Karl Bardosh, Nancy Malone
Producers- Kathryn Mahler, Alec Isaacs, Jake Klein, Katherine Paige, Sam Besser, Zac Gobetz, Kathleen Bernath
Writer: Marlee Roberts
About the writer, director and producer:
Marlee Roberts, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, has produced over twenty projects in recent years. Broadway World said that her feature directorial debut, Little Miss Perfect (2016), “handles what is an extremely delicate subject matter with careful precision".
The film premiered in Los Angeles at the TCL Chinese Theater and in New York at the Soho Int’l Film Festival. It garnered the award for Best Feature Film, Best Actress and Best Screenplay at various festivals nationwide. Roberts was dubbed a "Big Screen Filmmaker" on the cover of 201 Magazine's April 2016 issue and was interviewed by GirlHQ to shine light on the difficulties that face female directors. She is a proud member of the Alliance of Women Directors, New York Women in Film and Television and the Women in Moving Pictures Society.
Key cast: Karlee Roberts (Belle) - Nickelodeon's Jack's Big Music Show
Lilla Crawford (Olivia) - Into the Woods (2014), Broadway's Annie
Izzy Palmieri (Lyla) - Disney's Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, the Sundance movie Wrong Cops, and Confessions of a Shopaholic
Tom Degnan (Mr. Davy, Teacher) - Limitless, Magic City, Blue Bloods, Mr. Robot, and One Life to Live
Peter Rini (Maurice, father) - Person of Interest and Orange is the New Black
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, celebrity/social supporters
Release date: November 18 2016
itunes.apple.com/us/movie/little-miss-perfect/id1165225473?ls=1