A woman becomes her most authentic self by becoming someone else. Literally.

Interview with Director Reiko Aylesworth

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I read the first draft and it wouldn't let me go. It came in waves. First, it just made me laugh but then I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I realized that it was breaking open and examining some old paradigms. Yes! This is the stuff I love. I think we all get stuck in narratives that are fed to us, and we don't realize until we see something new. I tried to remember if I'd ever seen a film or TV show about woman or a person of color who is having an existential crisis. One that is written by a woman of color? Comedy, drama, action... Couldn't think of any. Not in this country at least.

This genre of film is completely dominated by straight white men. I know a lot of people say that marginalized people don't have the luxury of an existential crisis and I hear that. I would argue though that films like this display a character's humanity and complexity. I also think it's bullshit that a person of any race, gender, sexuality can't at some point think "who am I and what am I doing here?".

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

If you're an audience member like me who is hungry for a fresh style and point of view, I think this trans-inclusive dramedy about a Latinx woman searching for her true identity should be worth the 11 minutes!

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think all of us struggle with identity. What does it mean to "be yourself"? We're surrounded by voices and images that tell us we should want - other people's faces, bodies, personalities, spirituality etc... While at the same time we have an industry of books, lectures, talk shows etc, supposedly guiding us to our true, most authentic selves. What if this is all just a construct that's been packaged and sold to us? What if our perception of someone else felt truer than the person we've become? What if we just decided to become that someone else?

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

The original draft was a sketch comedy skit transcribed from an improv. It was in mock-umentary style and the lead character was more of a crazy mega-fan. When Tanya and I started to discuss and develop it, though, more serious themes arose. The comedy evolved into something more existential and relatable. Veronica isn't crazy. She isn't a fan. She's yearning for a true identity that she feels doesn't exist inside of her.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The thing we hear most is "I want to see more", which was the original intention so we're thrilled by that. We also hear "It's so fresh. I've never seen anything like this before". Some people are perplexed. But they seem to be the ones who most want to discuss it for hours!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

One turned to the other and said thought it might only speak to women but a lot of men have told me how moved they were and how much they related to the main character. There were two older men sitting behind us at a screening. "Well, who would you be if you could be some one else?". The other man paused then said "You know, I would be me. I don't want to be anyone else." That was a really cool experience, sitting in the audience listening to the conversations that began to spark because of our piece. They were STILL talking about our film well into the other shorts screening that night!

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

Community. Creators, developers, investors, enthusiasts... I think this is a good space to send up a flare in hopes that there are like minded souls out there.

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

This was originally intended as a proof of concept to pitch as a web series. We honestly weren't expecting it to be so well received as a stand alone piece. We still hope to develop this into a series! We need producers interested in developing this and we need a platform.

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

As viewers, we project ourselves into the journey of the protagonist. I'm excited for the audience to experience their own feelings of yearning, hope, awkwardness, joy... through the eyes of a Latinx woman. I feel that finally people are demanding these new perspectives. Not only on a moral basis but on an aesthetic and creative level! I've never been more excited and less jaded about our industry than I am today.

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

There are so many...Would it be wrong to become someone else if no harm ever came to the person you were becoming?

If you could become anyone else, who would that be?

What does it mean to "be yourself"? What if you don't like that person?

Would you like to add anything else?

There has been a whole sub genre of films about crazy women who want to destroy and take over another woman's life. We want to destroy and take over that sub genre.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We're developing Veronica as a series.

I'm also developing two more short scripts from female writers. A drama about a woman escaping an abusive relationship and finding herself in the very real community of "boondockers", people who are often homeless and living in their vehicles which they park in designated lots.

The other is a comedy about a lesbian couple whose longtime marriage comes to an end and they want to mark it with a ceremony. Their adult children do not accept the separation.

As for our writer Tanya Perez, she's working on rewrites for the series of this piece. Then dusting off her solo show about her Puerto Rican grandparents to workshop this summer and turn it into a feature. Also creating a podcast called Welcome to Clowntown about the intimate lives of clowns.

Interview: May 2018

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, 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

Veronica

A woman becomes her most authentic self by becoming someone else. Literally.

Length: 11 minutes

Director: Reiko Aylesworth

Producer: Tanya Perez, Reiko Aylesworth, Scott Coscia

Writer: Tanya Perez

About the writer, director and producer:

Key cast: Tanya Perez, Pooya Mohseni, Jax Jackson

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): We are looking to turn this into a series! We need producers and buyers. We also need more play at festivals and cover by journalists.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veronicathefilm/

Twitter: @bluepavement

Instagram: @bluepavementfilms

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? The Lighthouse Film Festival