Frames
Frames is an LGBTQ/Coming-Of-Age story revolving around Ava Mills, a young woman trying to maintain her current relationship while trying to conceal her previous one.
Interview with Writer/Director Devan James Young
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! There are two main reasons I made this film. The first, it’s my first collaboration with our producer/executive producer (Steven Jones). We ran into each other one night after I had finished graduate school and came home. Steve had seen some of my previous work and wanted to invest in my future film endeavors. Second, I love stories like these. I want to be a champion for characters and story lines not usually seen on the big screen. It didn’t hurt that I got to work with some fantastic people as well.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it’s a relatable story, with a great cast, a great script, and everything in between.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
At its core, this film is about relationships. Regardless of your orientation, we all experience the high and lows of being romantically involved with one or multiple people. I also believe that everyone has “the one that got away”. In regards to the personal theme of the film, this story is about living your truth.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The development of the script was interesting. Originally, Renee’s character was going to be a man. When we got towards the final draft of that storyline, I felt the script was a bit cliché. Once my writer and I agreed to change the character's sex to female we felt we were telling a story which is modern and one that doesn’t get told as much from the viewpoint we choose.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far, the feedback I’ve received has been positive. My filmmaker friends have pointed out what they would have done differently. But overall, I appreciate the remarks everyone has given me after they’ve viewed the film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I embrace every opportunity for my films to achieve more viewers. Whether my films inspire others or lead to collaborations with other filmmakers, I appreciate it all.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I’d say journalists, festival directors, and distributors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love for everyone who worked on this film to get recognized. I know any independent filmmaker will repeat this sentiment ad nauseam, but I worked with a fantastic cast and crew that deserves all the praise. Also, I would love for this movie to get enough traction to prove that there is a demand for stories featuring women of color as well as queer story lines.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Was Ava’s reason for breaking up with Renee justified?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The main producer and I are gearing up for our next short film. I am also editing a couple of music videos I just recently directed. Our Art Director recently got a promotion with this company called Career Girls, which is a free, noncommercial, online platform that highlights successful women in all fields. Our editor and colorist is an editor for the show Superior Donuts. Dani (Renee) has recently been a 1st AD for several musician’s music videos in the Bay Area. Jackie (Ava) is a slam poet who constantly performs in various spots throughout San Francisco. Tray (Taz) is producing and acting in projects for his production company Pioneers Collective.
Interview: April 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. 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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Frames
Frames is an LGBTQ/Coming-Of-Age story revolving around Ava Mills, a young woman trying to maintain her current relationship while trying to conceal her previous one.
Length: 7 minutes 59 seconds
Director: Devan James Young
Producer: Steven Jones and Sean Kostabi
Writer: Devan James Young and Jessica Tanner
Key cast: Danielle Derisse, Jackie Ramos, Tray Williams
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Distributors, film festival directors, and journalists
Funders: Ivan Villa and Steven Jones
Made in association with: Stoney Productions
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?: Still waiting to hear back from a couple festivals. If we don’t get into anything else, we’ll release the film in mid-May.