1st Annual NY Cat Film Festival! - Rescue
Apple Brown Betty’s mom, Lava, had a very hard time being isolated with her newly disabled life. Lava had began to film her disability story and discovered she wasn’t alone after all. The footage in “Rescue” was not planned and was shot when Apple Brown thought her mommy needed comforting (Lava was filming sad moments). “Rescue” chronicles what a feline’s "meowmy" imagined Apple Brown Betty was saying while she was consoling Lava as she was learning to walk again.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Lava Sheets
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
After I was diagnosed with a disease that has no cure called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), I felt like my dreams were over. Sadly, I was attacked by a pit bull and the damage to my right foot was incurable. I was an avid runner and over night confined to a wheelchair. I had to learn to walk or face possible amputation of my right foot. When I researched CRPS, I found only horror stories of no recovery and worsening conditions of onset CRPS. I could not accept this as my fate, but the pain and the idea of no cure put me in a sea of depression. CRPS is also nick named the suicide disease. I did not want to give up on life, but had no hope. All I could was pick up my camera to film the journey I was on. Initially, I was just filming a documentary. Then it evolved into another narrative short film, “The Rewrite”.
While I was filming “The Rewrite”, my rescue cat, Apple Brown Betty, would rush to my side. It was always the scenes that were to illustrate my depression and isolation. Apple Brown would need to console me during the filming so I couldn’t film without her in the shots. When I reviewed my footage, I saw how caring my sweet kitty was being. I decided to use Apple Brown’s footage to create her own film with what I feel was going through her mind. “Rescue” was born.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Rescue is showcasing how nurturing animals can be for their people. My hope is that someone that watches the film will sense how much love cats give and that even the smallest gesture makes can make a difference to someone who is depressed.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This short is completely personal. Although from the point of view of my cat, she is telling the audience about her mom not walking and being depressed.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This project really evolved considering the shots were being made for a completely different film altogether. I edited “Rescue” before “The Rewrite” because I was so touched seeing my kitty trying to console me during my depression. Depression made me feel so isolated and alone. When I saw the footage of Apple Brown Betty “booping” me on the floor, it made me realize that I was never alone and very loved. Even though it was from my kitty, I really needed a friend and Apple Brown was there. And considering that Apple Brown Betty was adopted from a shelter, I really wanted to showcase how wonderful rescue cats can be. I really enjoyed that the footage from another short film evolved into a good message for shelter cats. Before CRPS, I was a volunteer for multiple animal rescues and had dozens of foster pets. This film allowed me to revisit my love of helping shelter animals.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It’s been overwhelmingly positive. Rescue won 3rd place at the Animal Humane Feline Film Festival! After the festival, I had multiple people tell me how much they enjoyed my film. For the NY Cat Film Festival, the film had a small mention in the NY Times. It was tiny but I was happy my film made the article!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has been a pleasant surprise. “Rescue” exposes my struggle with depression, however I wanted to share my story to help others with CRPS and/or depression. This film has really helped me feel more confident to keep sharing my story.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am hoping to continue to bring awareness to adopt shelter cats but also hope that people ask “why couldn’t she walk?” Awareness for CRPS has given me new purpose as a film maker. I do hope this film “Rescue” and my other CRPS awareness films continue to be accepted into film festivals. When I posted (on Facebook) another short film for CRPS awareness, I received dozens of messages from others with CRPS. One message was from a woman in wheelchair (like many with CRPS) who was considering suicide. My film gave her hope to keep going because she saw I never gave up and could walk again. After that message (and many others), I have a drive to keep creating more films for CRPS. And yes, all my projects feature wonderful cats and dogs (I’m a big dog person too).
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would be amazing to connect with film festivals to continue showing my CRPS projects. Also to have journalists that pertain to disability, invisible illness community and animal related publications share the story
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like this film to reach someone who really needs hope or to encourage some shelter pet adoptions. After some of the really touching messages from my other CRPS short film, I know there are others needing hope. I know when I first got diagnosed, I searched for remission stories and found none. I believe people need to see someone else overcoming the odds of an incurable condition like CRPS.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What happened to the woman in the story that she couldn’t walk and got depressed?
Would you like to add anything else?
Please adopt shelter pets. If you can’t adopt, foster. If you have pets, please spay and neuter. If you have a dog, please keep your dog on a leash around others.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently, I’m editing a full length documentary about my first year of being disabled with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It’s a project that helped push me to get out of my wheelchair. It follows me from right after my diagnosis through all the various avenues of healing I attempt for a condition with no cure. I’ve also finished a narrative short film called “The Rewrite” which is another film addressing my CRPS journey (it was selected for the Women’s Only Entertainment Film Festival. Hopefully, it will be selected for a few more). I’m also writing a narrative feature that is a based on true experience of my CRPS journey that I hope to inspire others to keep going.
Interview: December 2017
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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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Rescue
Apple Brown Betty’s mom, Lava, had a very hard time being isolated with her newly disabled life. Lava had began to film her disability story and discovered she wasn’t alone after all. The footage in “Rescue” was not planned and was shot when Apple Brown thought her mommy needed comforting (Lava was filming sad moments). “Rescue” chronicles what a feline’s "meowmy" imagined Apple Brown Betty was saying while she was consoling Lava as she was learning to walk again.
Length: 2minutes 08 seconds
Director: Lava Sheets
Producer: Lava Sheets
Writer: Lava Sheets
About the writer, director and producer: Lava was a one woman crew for the film “Rescue”. She ran the camera, set the shots, was talent, edited, did the voice over, wrote and directed the film.
Key cast: Lava Sheets and Apple Brown Betty
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festivals, Journalists, Sales Agents
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewithlava
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifewithlava
Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lava-sheets-78b49967/