Black Widows
Sometimes love is to die for.
Watch Black Widows on Tubi, Vudu, Kanopy and Prime Video
Length: 77 minutes
Director: Venita Ozols-Graham
Producer: Venita Ozols-Graham, Jordan Goettling, Brian Tanke, Leif Jolt, Brian Melo
Writer: Jordan Goettling
Director/Producer: Venita Ozols-Graham is a long time member of the Director's Guild of America. Her short film 'Used Body Parts' is winning awards this festival season.
Writer: Jordan Elizabeth Goettling has been acting her entire life. Steadily working, Goettling most recently wrapped lead roles in four independent features including Lionsgate’s Knock Knock 2 and is slated to begin filming the lead role in Edward Payson’s feature, Pitbull, this fall. Initially a stage actor, Goettling trained at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan playing lead roles in The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan, Annie, Oliver and Stage Door. This is her writing debut.
Key cast: Jordan Goettling, Brigitte Graham, Shelby Kocee
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Currently looking for publicity! Gravitas ventures is distributing Black Widows on VOD and cable platforms on August 5th.
Made in association with: Wanderlust Films, Devil Town Productions
Release date: 8/5/16
Where can I watch it? Please go to our web site: www.blackwidowsthemovie.com and pre-order on iTunes now! Full VOD and cable release will be listed as soon as our distributors give them to us.
***
Interview with Director/Producer: Venita Ozols-Graham
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
As a director, I made this film because the subject matter was intriguing and challenging. Black Widows is a dark comedy that straddles the line between serious social issues between men and women and the strength and humor in female friendships.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
As we get drawn into the difficult relationships each woman is involved in, we begin to cheer for them as they own their destinies, while simultaneously cringing for them as their best intentions devolve from one disaster to the next. Painfully, hilariously realistic events bring them to the brink of disaster while strengthening their friendships and resolve. It's a crazy, fun ride.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The need to be loved motivates us all with often times disastrous results. The desire for revenge also motivates us all, with even more disastrous results.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
When the writer (Jordan Goettling) first showed me the script a year prior to shooting, I loved the central concept...three friends avenging one's rape and running into one unexpected disaster after another. Jordan has a unique and hilarious voice that rang throughout the story.
As rehearsals and shooting began, each one of the Widows added their personal humor to their characters. I just kept the camera rolling and captured the brilliant moments of comedy, often improvised, as best I could. I think the original intent of serious social commentary cloaked in slightly insane humor was successfully attained.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Both men and women have enjoyed it and applauded the wild ride...that just when you think it can't get worse...
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I've been thrilled and I guess just a little surprised to hear just how much people enjoy it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
This is a film that should be seen...by men to see women's issues through their eyes and by women to applaud the strength and power of female camaraderie. And to laugh. Really laugh when recognizing universal truths.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are right at the precipice of being released and can use all the help we can get to get the word out about this unique little film! PUBLICITY PLEASE! Visit us at www.blackwidowsthemovie.com and www.facebook.com/blackwidows,themovie.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
It would be wonderful for this film to start conversations between men and women about what constitutes date rape, what is acceptable pay back...you know, funny stuff.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Does being forced to have sex again with someone you've just had consensual rough sex with qualify as rape and how do you prove that to police?
Would you like to add anything else?
Though the subject matter is extremely serious at heart, the brilliant humor carries the viewers on a wild ride. The female characters are extremely realistic, having been actually based on the three women who play the parts. Some have said this is like a female version of 'The Hangover', splattered in men's blood.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Director's response: I've just finished writing a dark thriller called 'Spider Lake' that I'm beginning the challenge of putting together financing. Log line: 'Sherry goes back to the party to avenge her rape, but the guests keep dying before she can kill them.' Gee...I see a recurring theme here...
***
Interview with Writer/Producer/Actor: Jordan Goettling
Congratulations! Why did you write this film?
I wrote the film because I had something to say about the state of sexual assault in the U.S. Being a rape survivor, I think we are far too lenient. I also wrote this in the midst of a senior thesis about rape on college campuses.
As I was cataloguing the numbers, it became very evident that rape was being underreported severely on large campuses with the time, money and resources to risk the fine if they were caught lying, while community colleges of a mere 2,000 students or under were reporting significantly more sexual assault cases. I also wrote the film as an open letter to my rapist.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I don't like telling people what to do. I think you should watch the film if you think the premise entertains you and if you want to see a film that attempts a social message in a relatively fresh way. I feel like the film couldn't be more timely than it is now and it's funny because I see films of a similar tone picking up steam but this is something that was written close to four years ago before the current women's movement had picked up steam.
I'll tell you what I told everyone in the screening. You can love the film, you can hate the film or you might just not care...but the film was meant to depict life in shades of gray, as it usually is.
Sometimes the good guys become the bad guys and sometimes not all the bad guys are truly bad. It was meant to poke fun at men AND women while addressing the issue of how rape is handled in our society. Whether or not you as an audience member agrees with the film, its execution or even its message, I feel like you have to remember that this film turned the negative experience of one woman into the positive experience for a whole cast and crew of people.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think that most, if not all, women can relate to being assaulted in some sense by a man in their life, whether it be a verbally abusive father, a physically abuse boyfriend or assaulted by a man they don't know. That being said, I think there are plenty of amazing guys out there. There is a frustration that the women in the film have with their men but also the way they are treated and again, I think that is something that is really come to a head right now.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Naturally, the film evolves to accommodate lack of locations, budget constrictions, losing talent, etc. I would say it changed a fair amount, the core of the story remains relatively the same. As a writer who doesn't control the purse strings you have to understand that even if you're playing a somewhat managerial role on set, you have to bend to the will of the investors to a certain extent.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I think we have only heard positive feedback. My parents might have been the harshest. They said they liked Olivia the best when they walked out of the film. THANKS MOM AND DAD. (hahaha)
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I wouldn't say its challenged my point of view. I would say it has surprised me. As the writer, I am far harsher on myself so there are points in the film that I wish I could tweak...or even points, as an actor, that I wish I had made different decisions. I think it's better to be looking at your film constantly and hypercritically to continue to improve the work.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Change. In movies, if characters don't change or remain stagnant, they die either literally or figuratively. I feel like we as a society need to constantly be evaluating and changing otherwise we risk too much by remaining stagnant.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists. The backstory to this film is more complicated and has been simplified within the film to streamline the story. When men talk about #notallmen or even women talk about how they think that guys sometimes make mistakes while drunk....or when people like Leslie Rasmussen in the Stanford rape case say that two people made the mistake and one person thus shouldn't be held responsible, I tell them...I'm the girl who gave her rapist a second chance because I thought it was logical to not hold him solely responsible for that night. I was wrong. There is a bigger story to that and it's one that I haven't heard a lot of people tell.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would, obviously, love a sparkling, positive reception where everyone thinks it makes valid, powerful points in the best format possible but I can't please everyone. I am just interested to see the reception it receives. I would actually argue that in this case, any reception is good reception because the movie was meant to push people to talk about the issue of sexual and physical abuse.
I think that the movie leaves a lot to discuss...whether or not you agree with the depiction of rape victims, the treatment of men in the movie, the stereotypes that some of the female characters play into, the ending or even that fact that the movie is a dark comedy where the central theme is sexual/physical/verbal assault.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Who are the bad guys in this film?
Would you like to add anything else?
I think it's a pretty polarizing film. Hmmm, can I apologize for my acting? (haha)
Have you seen it? I think maybe you should put your opinion on the subject matter/execution here. Why not right?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Well, Venita Ozols-Graham is touring with her short, USED BODY PARTS, as well as putting together her feature, SPIDER LAKE. I am currently working at a lit management company in Hollywood. We rep writers, director and several multi-hyphenates. I am primarily working on developing the material of other people right now. I guess I can let you in on a secret, I am working on a high concept, low budget contained sci fi thriller with DP, Eddy Scully. We are currently working on the production design for the film with plans to shoot later this year.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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