#crowdfunding - The Benefits of Gusbandry
Love is SO gay. At her debaucherous 40th birthday party, serial relationship-killer Jackie meets handsome and charming thirty-something River—the perfect guy, who happens to be gay. Their ensuing adventures in self-medication, late-blooming, and questionable judgment lead them to discover a raucous new kind of significant otherness.
Interview with Director Alicia J. Rose
Watch The Benefits of Gusbandry on Plex and Revry
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had to, really. I’d been directing for a while but hadn’t made anything that truly represented my voice as filmmaker. And I knew that whatever I did, I had to come out swinging. It was a trip to Thailand with my beloved Gusband Lake in early in 2015 that led to an “A-Ha” moment during a weekend intensive with the Rebel Heart Filmmaking Workshop. The Benefits of Gusbandry is MY story. I’ve had Gusbands (Gay Husbands aka gay bffs) as cornerstone relationships in my life since high school. My Gusbands love and support me with no strings attached, and have saved (or resurrected my heartbroken ass) many times. Our adventures are LEGEND, so once I opened up the Gusbandry pandora’s box the ideas just poured out. I have 3 seasons already mapped out. It could go further.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The Benefits of Gusbandry follows romantically challenged Jackie Rosenblum as she tries to get her shit together as a flawed single 40 year old. She meets sexy pants River Manning and is super crushed out on him until his true orientation is revealed. But once things are out in the open, their adventures get real REAL as their relationship blossoms.
We like to consider The Benefits of Gusbandry a full sized show stuffed into a short-format sausage. We stock each episode full of brilliantly talented non-Hollywood actors and plot lines pulled from the weirdness of our own lives, and our characters are drawn from a rich palette of cracked humanity and our humor pointed, original, feminist and gay as hell. We make laugh out loud funny, real-life, grounded comedy that is made by people in Portland OR you might even be “friends of friends” with on FB. And we promise to make you laugh so hard you will likely pee yourself a little.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Not since Will & Grace has there been a show that properly represents this relationship. It would be easy to show a straight woman’s relationship with her Gay BFF filled with stereotypical representations and familiar tropes. River and Jackie aren’t your typical protaganists that we’ve seen in the media. They are dimensional, they are flawed, they are vulnerable. They are facing the prospects of aging and fitting into society in a rapidly evolving world seeking support from one another to make it through the end of the day. We’re living in wild times - not only do we have more freedoms - we have the cultural fear that accompanies that kind of change. A show that features two characters from different worlds/sexuality who find intimacy in one another is a piece of our cultural heritage that is so common and so under-represented.
The unique trust that happens between a gay man and a straight woman doesn’t happen in a hetero relationship or even a same sex relationship. It's an emotional connection that in some ways mitigates the particular brand of desperation that can emerge from being single and forty.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Because we told our story in episodic format, we had the chance to evolve our ideas as we wrote. We produced the episodes in chunks and during filming of episodes 1-3 we were blown away by some of the performances our actors gave and decided to expand their roles in future episodes. We cast our lead actress Brooke Totman before we even started writing, which was a bit of a luxury - then once we cast her co-star Kurt Conroyd we workshopped the scripts, which worked out the kinks. And of course I greatly encourage “controlled improv” during shooting - some of my and co-writer Courtenay Hameister’s favorite lines came from the minds of Brooke and Kurt - “Loofah in a leotard” in episode 1 “40 & Sporty” for example - that was ALL Brooke! We also added a second camera for episodes 4-6 - coverage coverage coverage! We learned our lesson about this editing the first 3.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Honestly - it’s kind of blown our little brains. By the premiere of our season finale “Exes” at the start of May we had gotten rave reviews from folks like The New York Times A/V Club Paste Magazine Out.com even earning a spot on Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List. We have also had a lovely reception on the film festival circuit - particularly in the South - recently screening Gusbandry at the New Orleans Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Miami Web Fest - even earning a spot in the “Digital Series” competition at this year's Austin Film Festival. Many festivals are still developing their “web series” or episodic programs so we have felt a bit like first wavers - but things are changing.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I thought our target audience was women and gay men - I was wrong - it kind of turned out to be EVERYBODY. I’ve had countless straight male dudes come up to me with mad respect - saying that they laughed harder at our show than anything they had seen in a while. This got me thinking that any show about “the other” is appealing. I”m just glad that people are laughing and relating and finding power and strength in the ethos we are embodying.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are smack dab in the middle of a crowdfunding campaign for Season 2 - I’d love to encourage people to: STREAM SEASON ONE VIA AMAZON PRIME OR SEED & SPARK CINEMA and leave a review! FOLLOW US ON SEED & SPARK AND CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING SEASON 2!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would love more reviews of Season One in the entertainment press. Thanks to streaming Season 1 on Amazon we just got our first Rotten Tomatoes page - but we won’t get a rating until the reviews stack up high enough.
We are also looking ultimately to develop the show into a 30 minute 10 episode show on a network. I am working with some incredible EPs on this. But just FYI. WE HAVE PLANS. ALSO: CELEBRITIES - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TWEET ABOUT IT ;-) People who are Interested in becoming a part of the show can always hit up Gusbandry@gmail.com
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We are a show about alliance, advocacy, acceptance and finding love in unexpected relationships. We believe that all people are equal and have much to learn from each other - especially in our rapidly changing sexually fluid world. But what we think is a “normal” lifestyle in Portland, may be an aspirational fantasy to someone who lives with religious discrimination like Tennessee or Alabama. Especially NOW as we all stare an upended political system in the face and the possibility that the rights we had started to grow comfortable with (Roe Vs. Wade, Marriage Equality, CIVIL RIGHTS) could be ripped away by a bunch of racist buffoons. But even though we are as distraught as everyone else, we started writing the first 3 episodes of Season 2 and are incorporating all sorts of politically fueled anxiety and mayhem into the story arc - including a visit to Planned Parenthood.
We want to continue building our audience, and making more show. The ultimate “impact” would be for us to keep finding the money and support to make this show - and tell stories of women, LGBTQ alliance, love and advocacy - giving people hope in these twisted times.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
You’re the Worst. Catastrophe. Love. Plenty of shows highlight the struggles and foibles of life in a 30-something heterosexual relationship. But what about the people who have chosen...differently? People who have maintained their youthful irresponsibility well into their non-youth? People who celebrated marriage equality, but relish their decision to remain single? People who find their spirit animals in non-sexual life partners?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are writing Season 2. I am developing another episodic idea based on my days as the promoter of indie rock venues in the early 90’s/late 2000’s. I’m also locking into directing my first feature.
Courtenay is prepping her first novel “Reluctant” releasing in 2017 via Little Brown.
Kurt Conroyd just did a guest role in upcoming feature “Lean On Pete” and “Portlandia.”
Brooke Totman is teaching improv in Portland OR and prepping her own sketch comedy show for 2017.
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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The Benefits of Gusbandry
Love is SO gay. At her debaucherous 40th birthday party, serial relationship-killer Jackie meets handsome and charming thirty-something River—the perfect guy, who happens to be gay. Their ensuing adventures in self-medication, late-blooming, and questionable judgment lead them to discover a raucous new kind of significant otherness.
Length:
Total Season Length (6 episodes): 77 minutes
Director:
Alicia J. Rose
Producer:
Alicia J. Rose
Lara Cuddy
Writer:
Alicia J. Rose
Courtenay Hameister
About the writer, director and producer:
Alicia J. Rose has directed over 24 music videos and is an award winning still photographer with an immersive rich visual style and grounded comedic sensibility.
Courtenay Hameister is the former host of Live Wire (radio show) and is currently prepping her first novel “Reluctant” for publication by Little Brown in 2017.
Lara Cuddy is a producer and graphic designer that has made many feature films and short form commercial projects.
Key cast:
Brooke Totman
Kurt Conroyd
Funders:
Leland Hanson
Alicia J. Rose
Seed & Spark Contributors
Made in association with:
Alicia J. Rose Photography, LLC
Release date:
Season 1 premiered on Amazon Prime & Seed & Spark Cinema Nov 15, 2016. Season originally aired via Youtube Sept 2015- May 2016.
Where will it be screened in the next month?
AMAZON PRIME - http://a.co/fEGXmtM
SEED AND SPARK CINEMA - https://www.seedandspark.com/watch/gusbandry
VHX - https://thebenefitsofgusbandry.vhx.tv
VIMEO ON DEMAND - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gusbandry