Rhode Island Film Festival - I Got You Babe
An ambitious young woman must decide what she is willing to sacrifice should she marry her boyfriend before midnight, to save him from the Vietnam War draft, due to an executive order signed by President Johnson on August 26, 1965.
Interview with Writer/Director Ashton Avila
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I came across the date August 26th, 1965 in 2013. On this date Lyndon B. Johnson signed an executive order that stated anyone who was married after midnight could no longer use marriage as a draft deferment from the Vietnam War. Young men and women all over the U.S. rushed to Nevada to get married as quickly as possible in hopes to avoid the draft. I was able to speak with several brides married that night including Claudia Reott, the woman our film is based on. I was moved by the courage, selflessness, and love that these women displayed that night and knew I had to find a way to share their stories.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it offers a different perspective on the Vietnam War than many Vietnam War films we know today. It was a moment in time that changed a lot of lives and highlighted the fear that so many young people faced being young and in love in 1965. Most people, even those who were teens in 1965, didn’t know that this wedding rush even happened.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
While the film is set in 1965, we explore themes that many people, especially women, can identify with today. Specifically, we wanted to start a discussion about strength. Our main character Beth is a young woman with a dream of becoming a nurse and sharing her life with her high school sweetheart. This one day challenges everything she’s worked for, believed in, and loved. Ultimately, we are left to question her strength when she finally makes her decision.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As the writer, I have been on this film a very long time and have written many different versions of this story. Claudia Reott, the woman who inspired the script we turned into a film, set where we would officially begin with her personal account of the night. From there, this story and how it should be told was shaped by the feedback and collaboration of key crew members. Each of them wrote a piece of this film with their work whether it was producing, cinematography, production design, costume, editing, or music. It started as a movie about a wild date in history and became a movie about fear, love, and strength.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
A couple of women reached out to us after hearing about the film to share their stories. That has been incredible. As one woman who was not able to get married that night put it, “our life was forever changed because of one moment in time.” It’s a controversial topic and many, especially who were there, have strong feelings about that time and the decisions that the young men were making. Some felt it was their duty to serve and some felt it was a war we should have never been involved in.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
After living with these characters for so long, at first I was surprised. I was surprised because I think I spent so much time in this story set in 1965, I forgot how the world had changed since then. I think Beth is one of the strongest women I have ever known, but to a lot of people, she’s weak. I’ve learned that people define strength, specifically strength in women, differently. Those conversations have been really interesting.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We would love to keep the conversation going and get as many eyes on the film as possible. It’s a story my team and I believe in. We think the history in this film is important and this story is one that needs to be shared.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are currently working on a feature length script for the film. We welcome anyone who wants to be a part of this journey and believes in the story.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want to give a voice to the women who felt they didn’t have one in 1965. We want audiences to have conversations. We want women to watch the film and know that whether it is 1965 or 2017, we deserve to have a voice, choices, education, love, dreams, a future that we want and have them all at the same time.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Did Beth make the right decision?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film was a collaboration. If you have a moment, please take the time to check out our crew on our website. This film would not have been possible without each and every one of them.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
In addition to developing a feature script for I Got You Babe, our key creatives are continuing to create! Some are working on short films, feature films, television and some are currently looking for their next projects.
Interview: September 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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I Got You Babe
An ambitious young woman must decide what she is willing to sacrifice should she marry her boyfriend before midnight, to save him from the Vietnam War draft, due to an executive order signed by President Johnson on August 26, 1965.
Length: 26 minutes
Director: Ashton Avila
Producer: Shamola Kharkar
Writer: Ashton Avila
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer/Director: Ashton Avila grew up in Southern California where she fell in love with storytelling as a child. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Media at the University of Rhode Island and her received her Master of Fine Arts in Film Production with an emphasis in Directing from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.
Producer: Shamola Kharkar is originally from India, was brought up in Zambia and is currently a SoCal resident. Shamola received her Bachelor’s Degree in Directing and dual Masters in Business Administration and Film Producing from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.
Key cast: Taylor Owen, Matthew Derek Davis, Lesette Maxwell, Adam Navas, Betsy Zajko, Judy Nazemetz, Jack Hunter, Tori Kostic, Robbie Davidson and Billy Chengary
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All
Social media handles:
Facebook: facebook.com/igotyoubabefilm
Twitter: @igotyoubabefilm
Instagram: @igotyoubabefilmofficial
Website: www.igotyoubabefilm.com
Made in association with: Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Where can I see it in the next? We will screening at the Rahway International Film Festival in New Jersey on September 23rd, the Highland Park Independent Film Festival in California on October 7th, at the Laughlin International Film Festival in Nevada and the Glendale International Film Festival in California in mid October, and the Ojai Film Festival in California in November. Go to igotyoubabefilm.com/pressscreenings for information on all future screenings.