Real to Reel Film Festival - Gertie Gunther Knits a Stitch
Egged on by her friends, retiree Gertie Gunther enters a speed-knitting contest in an attempt to win a Seattle vacation and rekindle the connection in her marriage. The effort seems to pay off as her husband Vernon jumps in to help coach Gertie after hearing his favorite race car driver endorse speed-knitting as a sport. But will Vernon finish the race with Gertie?
Interview with Writer Marylea Wiley
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The initial concept for “Gertie Gunther Knits a Stitch” came to me during my freshman year at the University Of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). I wanted to pitch a sports film for my Fundamentals of Producing class, but I wanted to make sure the sport I chose was super quirky (my initial inspiration was underwater basket weaving). While researching strange sports, I discovered a clip of a speed knitting competition in Seattle, and immediately fell in love with it. As soon as I had my sport, Gertie appeared, ready to tell me her story.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
There are a lot of knitting puns and racing analogies that are sure to entertain (or make you roll your eyes and groan), but it’s truly a story about a couple that’s grown apart, and a wife that’s trying to renew the relationship she has with her husband. It’s a film with a zany premise, but it has a lot of heart.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Gertie is in her later years – all of her children have their own lives and she and her husband are stuck in the house together in what seems like a meaningless existence. So her decision to do something about that situation addresses the idea of searching for purpose, the idea of rediscovering your love for someone, and the fact that you’re always growing and evolving as a person, regardless of your age. It’s never too late to make a change in your life.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
In the original draft, written before the film was pitched to and approved by UNCSA faculty, Gertie’s children were characters in the story. They were cut out as soon as the film was approved, and the story became focused solely on Gertie and her husband, Vernon. Some of the overly comedic elements were toned down, so that the film became more of a heartfelt drama. I was surrounded by an amazing key crew. They all dug so deeply into the story, and their creative decisions and brilliance helped refine Gertie, and my understanding of her story.
I’m not sure if the script changed that much, but there was a point where my perspective about the script became something more. Gertie always knew what her story was about, but it took me a while to truly understand that the story I’d written meant so much more to me (and hopefully everyone else, too) than just a silly story about an old lady that can knit fast.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback we’ve received so far has been overwhelmingly positive, which has been incredible. We recruited extras from a local nursing home for one of the scenes in the film, and we were able to go to the nursing home and screen it for them. That was probably my favorite screening of the film, because I got to witness the joy on their faces when they saw themselves up on the screen.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The amount of positive feedback we’ve received has brought me so much happiness, and I’m just glad that people are connecting with Gertie.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It is my hope that if our film is playing at a festival, people will decide to take a chance on it and see it. I also want people to be able to see the talents of my fellow key crewmembers. I will never be able to thank them enough for making this film a reality.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Our film still technically belongs to The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, but it’s my hope that film festival directors might take an interest in it. I would love to read a review of the film. I’ve seen audiences react to it, but it’d be great hear what someone took away from it. Hearing others’ thoughts and critiques about the film would give me the opportunity to learn how to become a better storyteller.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I honestly just hope that the audience leaves this film with a smile. It would be great if it makes people laugh. Obviously, the ultimate wish is that it will resonate with someone on a deeper level. I really hope the audience will be able to feel the love and dedication that everyone put into this film, too. We had an amazing crew of people that helped make this film possible.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I guess the question could be – “How will you choose to live your life when most of it is behind you?” That question could then translate into, “How will you choose to live your life today?”
Would you like to add anything else?
I just want to say thank you for letting me promote this film! I also want to say thank you to anyone who has taken the time to attend a screening of Gertie. I hope you enjoyed our story, and I would love to hear what you thought about it.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am getting ready to enter my senior year at UNCSA. I’m currently working on my senior thesis project, which goes into production in September. The rest of the key crew graduated this past year, and are working on projects in various parts of the country.
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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Gertie Gunther Knits a Stitch
Egged on by her friends, retiree Gertie Gunther enters a speed-knitting contest in an attempt to win a Seattle vacation and rekindle the connection in her marriage. The effort seems to pay off as her husband Vernon jumps in to help coach Gertie after hearing his favorite race car driver endorse speed-knitting as a sport. But will Vernon finish the race with Gertie?
Length: 14:35
Director: Sean Rooney
Producer: Darren Dai
Writer: Marylea Wiley
About the writer, director and producer:
Sean Rooney is a writer/director. He has wanted to make movies since he was 6, and he loves adventure!
Darren Dai is a producer who enjoys making short films with his friends. He enjoys dramas and films from the French New Wave.
Marylea Wiley is an undergraduate screenwriter at UNCSA. She loves earl grey lattes, school supplies, and writing (obviously). She doesn’t know how to knit.
Key cast: Bonnie Johnson, Ted Johnson. They’re married!
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Right now, we’re looking for film festival directors. The rights to the film still technically belong to The University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking.
Other: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6476406/
Made in association with: The University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking