‘Fred and Emile’ were the first gay men to announce their marriage in the front page of The Lowell Sun newspaper. Their colorful past and innate charm presents a vivid picture of ‘the bad old days’ and the strides that have been achieved. Now in their 80’s, the film profiles these two recently married gay men and the hurdles they encountered in their lives across several decades.

Interview with Director Christian De Rezendes

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

In 2013 we did a film called MEMORIES FOR SALE, based on a one-act play, written and produced by Jerry Bisantz of Image Theater in Lowell, MA. Jerry wanted to make a documentary of equal length (25 minutes) to partner with MFS topically and to be shown together publicly. FRED AND EMILE were friends of Producer Ann Garvin (Fred is her uncle), and so we pointed our cameras at them, and they were very generous with their time and the sharing of their experiences in the making of this film.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

You should watch this film because it spotlights a generation of gay Americans who fought for the rights to marry and to live normal lives like everyone else in this country, and this generation, which struggled with oppression for decades, is dying off. We should never forget them and their struggles, because new generations of LGBT Americans are standing on their shoulders today.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

That's a large question. Universal themes come out naturally through the subjects you're interviewing in a documentary, so vast audiences can relate in many different ways through personal experience.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

As far as documentaries are concerned, all doc scripts are created in editing. Even if you over script how you think it's going to go, it changes anyway in post. It's the moving of puzzle pieces around to make an engaging and compelling narrative.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People are really moved by the film for the reasons I stated in #2.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Neither.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

In relation to answer #2, one that triggers memory of this generation and further appreciation so that nothing is taken for granted today.

Would you like to add anything else?

Yes. "Memories for Sale" is the original film that "Fred and Emile" plays with. Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQEsimo-KDE. We would love to have more showings of the two films together.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am currently working on the following documentary.

Film Title: SLATERSVILLE: AMERICA'S FIRST MILL VILLAGE

Length: This will be a two-part documentary running in close to four hours total.

Director: CHRISTIAN DE REZENDES

Producer: ME plus AMANDA DE REZENDES, ADAM HUTCHINS Associate Producer

Please visit www.firstmillvillage.com for more information. If funding keeps up, it will be released in December 2018.

Funders: Grant organizations, personal donations from over 150 people and some corporate support.

Other pieces are online in short form if you'd like to see them:

IT MIGHT BE ME (2016) - short comedy, 10 mins. - https://vimeo.com/167467080

ERIC BARAO: ALIVE (but barely breathing) (2016) - music video, 3 mins. - https://vimeo.com/176190596

FUELING FIERCE: THE SHANNON HEIL STORY (2016) - short doc, 13 mins., premiered 2 DAYS AGO, almost 3,000 hits at this hour - https://vimeo.com/194662440

Interview: December 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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FRED AND EMILE

Length: 25 MINS

Director: CHRISTIAN DE REZENDES

Producer: JERRY BISANTZ

Jerry Bisantz is an actor, director, published playwright and producer from Lowell, MA. Along with partner Ann Garvin, he runs Image Theater, a theater company specializing in original plays by local playwrights. (www.Imagetheater.com) For filmography and resume, go to Jerrybisantz.com

About the writer, director and producer: (25 words each)

Visit www.breakingbranchespictures.com for director's bio
write Jerry Bisantz for his bio

Key cast: FRED RILEY, EMILE DUFOUR

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

DISTRIBUTION

Funders: LOWELL CULTURAL COUNCIL

Made in association with: IMAGE THEATER and BREAKING BRANCHES PICTURES

Where can I see it in the next month? NO SCREENINGS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED