Hollyshorts / Sidewalk Film Festival - Rekindled
A successful businesswoman purchases an online deal to revitalize her relationship with her high school sweetheart.
Interview with Director Erin Brown Thomas
Watch Rekindled here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I read an article that Kelly Vrooman (our writer and lead actress) wrote in the Huffington Post about her messed up high school relationship. The article was poignant and funny - so I asked Kelly if we could collaborate together on a film which dealt with the topic of respect and relationships. We got together to brainstorm ideas, and the idea for Rekindled was born.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Our film delivers on comedy! So if you like laughing, check it out!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Universal Themes - The most straightforward theme in Rekindled tells the story of women who experience manipulative or mentally abusive relationships and how those abusive soul-ties have an impact on their lives until they confront them.
Additionally, one of the narratives I see continually played out in popular culture is the praise and pursuit of an all-consuming love. "If you're not feeling it anymore, it's no longer love -- maybe it was never even love to begin with." This narrative has been so woven into the fabric of our culture that it's rarely ever challenged. I believe the singular pursuit of this incomplete sort of love leads to the disillusionment and destruction of so many relationships. Even worse, it drives people into unhealthy attachments where the intoxicating rush of feeling "out of your league: displaces the ability to feel safe and be vulnerable. My film, REKINDLED, explores the idea that the feelings of an all-consuming love are the product of manipulation and control.
Personal Themes - The film was loosely based on Kelly's high school relationship which she wrote about here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-vrooman/how-good-girls-get-educat_b_7028560.html
She also talks about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTEL60YGFY
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally, in the earlier drafts, Kate's objective is to break up with Eric - as a cathartic experience. She wasn't still obsessed with him (as she is in our finished film), but rather she was still wounded by the experience. The first draft was really hilarious because there was this 15 year old kid who was confident enough that a 35 year old woman was having a hard time breaking up with him. (This mirrors the way Kelly talks about her high school relationship - she didn't know how to get out). While super funny, we felt like the earlier drafts felt more like a sketch comedy than a short film. Our friend Chris Krebsbach, who consulted with us during development, gave us the idea of making Kate still obsessed with Eric. That simple note helped us a ton - a few drafts later we had our shooting script!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Everywhere it's screened we've heard laughter throughout the entire film - which feels incredible! We've had lots of people come up telling us how important the film is- that it reminds them of their high school experience. We had 5 screenings at Cleveland International and we were there for almost 2 weeks - so one woman that had seen it there came to us after viewing and said she had gone home and re-read her high school journals after seeing the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It's reinforced it!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Kelly and I now refer to each other as our "work wives," haha. We just want to keep working together. We have a lot of projects in the pipeline - one is a 30 minute comedy series inspired by the "pile of guys" from Rekindled. We are excited to continue building an audience for the film and our future projects so we can continue working together. We also are only 5 months (and 21 festivals) into our festival run- so we are definitely looking to screen the film around the world for awhile longer.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
EVERYONE! haha. Kelly and I are starting to take meetings with reps (managers/agents) right now which is super fun. We have had a lot of interest from sales agents and buyers and are talking with our producers about the best way to get the film seen by as many people as possible. Again, our goal is to keep making projects - we are very passionate about making stories for women which explore health in relationships and the destructive nature of shame.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want to entertain people and start important conversations. That's the goal!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
"Is there such a thing as an everlasting all-consuming love between two people? If so, can this be healthy>"
Would you like to add anything else?
We would like to thank everyone who worked on / contributed to the movie. We are very proud of the end product and hope they feel the same!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We have 7 projects in the pipeline, the two that are fully developed with scripts are below:
Managing Life - a 30 minute scripted series inspired by our pile of guys from Rekindled.
Split - dramatic feature property that explores the way shame bifurcates female relationships.
Interview: August 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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Rekindled
A successful businesswoman purchases an online deal to revitalize her relationship with her high school sweetheart.
Length: 13:25
Director: Erin Brown Thomas
Producer: Jane Hollon
Writer: Kelly Vrooman
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer:
Kelly Vrooman is best known for starring on the Chika Show on NBC Kids. She holds the record at I.O. West for winning their improv challenge 69 straight weeks.
Director:
Erin Brown Thomas is a film director and editor. She recently edited TOKYO PROJECT which was executive produced by Lena Dunham. In her free time she does aerial silks, which you can see on her Instagram @thisisorganic
Producer:
Jane Hollon was awarded the prestigious Katzenberg Fellowship at AFI. As a fellow there, she produced 10 short films for the world-renowned Directing Workshop for Women, including FOG.
Key cast:
Kelly Vrooman, Dylan Riley Snyder, Asher Grodman, Aaron Schwartz
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Collaborators for upcoming projects, taking meetings with managers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors.
Social media handles :
Facebook: facebook.com/rekindledmovie
Twitter: @rekindledfilm
Instagram: @rekindledfilm
Other: www.rekindledfilm.com
Funders:
Kickstarter!
Executive producers: Aliza Rosen, Andy Crete, Terry Croyle. Associate Producers: Tom Brown, Lauren Reid Brown, Nanci King, David King, Ron & Kelly Vrooman
Made in association with:
Where can I see it in the next? Napa Valley Film Festival (November) Salute Your Shorts Festival (Aug 26), Crested Butte (late September), Sidewalk Film Festival (Aug 26), San Jose (Dec). We will be able to announce a lot more soon! Follow our Instagram and Facebook to stay updated!