On vacation for a friend’s destination wedding, boyfriends Francisco and David get into a petty, stupid squabble that quickly escalates.

Interview with Writer/Director Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez

Main photo: David (Nick Ley) locked out of the house.

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I used to try really hard to fit in. To be accepted. To not offend - not be too flamboyant or too feminine or too opinionated - and to live my life the way others expected me to. In particular, try to fall in love forever and get married. I think we cheat ourselves and our romantic partners out of a lot of opportunities when we define ourselves and our relationships based off what we think others expect of us, as opposed to what we feel and intuit. We stay in broken relationships longer than we should. We overlook glaring differences and compromise who we are in order to fit in. The film is me grappling with letting go of that false persona.

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

To be entertained, surprised, and have a catharsis. And to not feel alone in acting crazy, or wanting your partner to just disappear sometimes.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

If you hang on to love after it’s faded, or are in denial about a relationship that no longer works, you will destroy parts of yourself and your partner. I’ve had several of these experiences, of hanging on to something for so long that it became toxic because I could not let go. I like to think, especially having made BETTAS, I’m more aware of when I do this now.

BETTAS - David (Nick Ley) and Francisco (Jose Diaz-Oldenburg) kissing by the pool.

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

It started out as one short, but we split it into two, feeling one short seems to be more palatable for those not all that familiar with homosexual relationships.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Mixed feedback. But that we made people feel something is pretty great.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Sort of. I was hoping queer audiences would be more accepting of the film, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. There’s a long way to go in the fight for equality and gay rights, and I think we can help the cause by portraying nuanced queer characters dealing with universal problems as opposed to just gay characters struggling to come out and be accepted. I think the negative feedback is challenging my point of view, but the experience is receiving it makes me more determined to write stories with queer leads that are not about being gay, coming out, or trying to have one’s homosexuality accepted.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Find a distributor. Find more audiences!

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

All of those mentioned.

Poster for the short film BETTAS, directed by Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez and produced by Alisa Naso.

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

Would love for the queer community to like it. Even now I just want to be liked!

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Does true love always last forever?

Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you!

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I just released a digital series, Pushy Riot (www.youtube.com/pushyriotgirls), and have another digital series, MARIconBEN, that stars my 92-year-old abuelita, that came out last year and has several new episodes dropping next month, and a new digital series, Strictly Vers, coming out January 2018, with sneak peek screenings happening around LA. I’m also writing various TV pilots.

Interview: May 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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BETTAS

On vacation for a friend’s destination wedding, boyfriends Francisco and David get into a petty, stupid squabble that quickly escalates.

Length: 8 minutes, 24 seconds.

Director: Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez

Producer: Alisa Naso

Executive Producers: Rachel Goldberg, Ross Boucher

Writer: Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez

About the writer, director and producer:

W/D: Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez is a filmmaker and comedian, and creator of several digital series (MARIconBEN, Pushy Riot, Strictly Vers).

P: Alisa Naso is a producer and just finished producing her first feature film, DIFFERENT FLOWERS, which premiered at SBIIFF 2017.

Key cast:

Nick Ley as ‘David’

Jose Diaz-Oldenburg as ‘Frank’

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

Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists

Social media handles:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bettasshortfilm

Twitter: @thebunrodriguez

Instagram: @thebunrodriguez

Made in association with:

Where can I see it in the next month?

FilmOut San Diego (June 9-11, 2017)

Rhode Island International Film Festival (August 8-13, 2017)