Cinequest - Queen Anne's Lace
A dissatisfied wife and mother flees NYC for an artist’s enclave in the mountains, but complications arise when she falls for a female kayak instructor.
Interview with Writer/Director Emilie McDonald
Main photo: Allene Quincy and Emilie McDonald in Queen Anne's Lace
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made the film for several reasons. First of all, for years I had been going to my aunt's place in the Appalachian mountains in a hollow of North Carolina and had gotten to know some incredible people there - many artists, local folks of all ages, and a budding LGBT community which was very close with the straight community. I loved seeing the open-minded, tight-knit community, and was blown away by the artistry of the musicians, potters, and visual artists there. I wanted to show these folks on film.
Secondly, I really wanted the experience of making a feature film and knew I could do it at a low cost by shooting with a small crew, many of whom were family or close friends, in the intimate environment of the mountains. I have several other scripts that will require at least a slightly higher budget. Sometimes it can take years to raise the money for a film. I really wanted to go ahead and have the freedom to shoot something artistic at a lower cost, so we jumped on the opportunity.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film is a meditation on marriage, motherhood, and on relationships between younger and older generations. It is also an exploration of a small mountain community in the South. I think there will be something here you can relate to!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
There is an exploration of being lost versus being found, and about how each person is their own person and must make their own way, regardless of whether they are married or a parent. Our identity is not defined by our relationships, but instead comes from inside. This film explores this through multiple generations of women.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Bruce Smolanoff and myself wrote the outline. We often write scripts together, but because we were going to be working with many non-actors, this project was an outline and the dialogue was improvised. So there was a rough idea of the storyline, but many surprises were found along the way through the way certain scenes evolved and how the dialogue came out. Things happened that added to the story and theme that I could've never written. It was an exciting way to work. And the ending is different than I had originally pictured, and this was discovered through the process of shooting and editing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People who have gone through turmoil in relationships or gone through a divorce have responded deeply to the film. Others have found humor and have enjoyed seeing the local people shine. I have also received some great suggestions for the final edit.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I think showing the film as a work-in-progress at Cinequest to an audience of complete strangers for the first time was really eye-opening. I didn't realize that this film spoke to people going through divorce. I also discovered that certain moments worked better than I thought, and that others worked less effectively than I thought. It's been incredibly helpful.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are in the process of finishing the film and would love to generate excitement and an audience for our film, and would love to find a home for the film in festivals, theaters and smaller screens.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need finishing funds and would love to have an executive producer come on board to help with that. We also need sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists and publicists to help us bring the film to audiences.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love to reach people of all stripes and get people talking.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How do you remain an individual within your marriage? Is someone else responsible for our happiness, or are we responsible for our own happiness?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Bruce Smolanoff and I have a feature script called PUNCH CITY about a young working-class female comic from Queens (based on our short film MUCK which is streaming on Short of the Week) that we are currently fundraising for. I'm really excited about that. I have another project FLORESCENT MESA inspired by my childhood traveling around in a VW bus and winding up in Albuquerque NM during the heart of new wave, and Bruce and I also have a script called BUCKLE MY SOUL based on a true story about a Bronx-born Jewish doctor who moved to the rural South in the 50's and devoted his life to fighting for racial justice. Caitlin Mae Burke is producing several upcoming feature films including FOURTEEN, FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY, AMBESSA, and VESTIBULE.
Interview: March 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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Queen Anne's Lace
A dissatisfied wife and mother flees NYC for an artist’s enclave in the mountains, but complications arise when she falls for a female kayak instructor.
Length:
70 minutes
Director:
Emilie McDonald
Producer:
Caitlin Mae Burke
Writer:
Emilie McDonald and Bruce Smolanoff
About the writer, director and producer:
Emilie McDonald’s shorts include Muck (Best Narrative Short, IndieMemphis) and Crossing the River (Best Short, NUHO Online Film Festival). Queen Anne’s Lace is her first feature.
Bruce Smolanoff directed, co-wrote, and produced the short films Muck (Best Narrative Short, IndieMemphis; Hammer to Nail short film award; BAMcinemaFest) and My Elena.
Caitlin Mae Burke is an Emmy-winning producer of documentary and dramatic features and non-fiction television. Caitlin's documentaries include NUTS! (Special Jury Prize, Sundance) and Obit (Tribeca).
Key cast:
Emilie McDonald, Bruce Smolanoff, Allene Quincy, Jacquelin McDonald, Quinten Boyles, Ada Douglas, Diana Travis, MaryAnn Mueller and Miranda Smolanoff
Looking for finishing funds, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists:
Looking for help with finishing funds. Also looking for sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, and journalists.
Funders:
Kickstarter!
Made in association with:
Yacht Club and Gill Holland
Where can I see it in the next month?
Stay tuned!