Two female strangers become affectionate friends over the course of a frenetic evening in NYC.

Interview with Writer/Director Jane Stiles

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I am an actress and I wanted to write something for myself. Being from NYC, I am in a strong community of actors, young filmmakers, and artists from various media. I knew that I could pool together an amazing team. I wrote a script, and people jumped on board pretty quickly to collaborate and help me materialize my dreams.

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

One should watch this film to be inspired by seeing the characters combat their loneliness, through whimsical chance encounters that lead to healing human connection. Also, to see a representation of New York that isn’t jaded, but is realistic, and to laugh AND cry (hopefully).

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The character Irene was inspired from my life. I am an actress who rarely gets cast because I don’t fit the mold. Irene is born from this path of rejection. I am also a born-and-raised New Yorker. I can’t seem to escape the city. It’s a sweet addiction. It is magical, it is hard, and it deserves to be celebrated and shown for what it is. This Stockholm Syndrome relationship I have with NYC colors the story in One Eye Small.

As a culture we suffer the epidemic of loneliness due to technology. The characters of One Eye Small flirt with human connection in different ways. I believe this is universally relatable. The film also explores the nuances within female friendship.

Payton Barronian, Hani Avital and Jane Stiles in One Eye Small

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

I loved the various actors I cast, so I allowed room for improve while shooting. The script also changed a lot in the edit. I really played with the structure and the final cut is stronger than the script itself.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

One of my favorite things that someone said about One Eye Small was that the film “captures this time we are in as a society, where gender and gender roles are fluid and changing, and at the end of the day, the most reliable entity is another woman.” Audiences have said that it’s “genre-bending,” that they love the music (by Molly Burch), and have so far called it “a NYC fairy tale”.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

When my producer, Lizzie Shapiro, saw the final edit, she adamantly believed that the film worked well as a pilot. This was surprising, but I took her word for it, and she was right! One Eye Small premiered at SXSW 2018 in the Independent Episodic program and I am currently writing One Eye Small into a series.

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

For more people to see my work in film as an actress and writer/director.

Hani Avital, Una Aya Osato (aka exHOTic Other) and Jane Stiles in One Eye Small

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

It would be amazing to get exposure to sales agents, buyers, distributors, and journalists!

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

I hope One Eye Small inspires women to live out their fantasies and ultimate boldness; to relish their female friendships; and to embrace the beautiful freaks in one's hometown. I also hope it inspires more actresses to write for themselves.

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

What does it mean to communicate and to be seen?

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

I just wrapped a short film/proof-of-concept for a feature called DOM, which I wrote and co-directed with Meryl Jones Williams and Lizzie Shapiro produced. Dom is also a gritty story of female friendship/love set in NYC. I am also writing One Eye Small into a series.

Interview: July 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

One Eye Small

Two female strangers become affectionate friends over the course of a frenetic evening in NYC.

Length: 9:30

Director: Jane Stiles

Producer: Lizzie Shapiro

Writer: Jane Stiles

About the writer, director and producer:

JANE STILES is an actress, mover, filmmaker and NYC native. Her work on film can be seen in Rodrigo Garcia’s series Blue, Jennifer DeLia’s feature film Why Not Choose Love: A Mary Pickford Manifesto and more. She wrote, directed, and starred in the original pilot One Eye Small, which premiered at SXSW 2018. She just wrapped her second film ‘DOM’ which she wrote, starred in, and co-directed with Meryl Jones Williams. BA Sarah Lawrence College. SAG AFTRA.

LIZZIE SHAPIRO is a freelance producer in Brooklyn, NY. She has produced several short films that have premiered at film festivals worldwide, including SXSW, Tribeca, Palm Springs, and Hamptons, among many others. She was selected for the Film Independent Producer’s Lab and IFP Week as a producer for Mickey and the Bear. In addition, she has produced a number of commercials for companies such as Vice, Vogue, Adidas, and more as well as music videos for artists such as Alicia Keys, Lil Yachty, Maggie Rogers, Pusha T, and Norah Jones. She has worked with SeeThink Films for the past three years as Andrew Neel’s associate.

Key cast: Hani Avital, Jane Stiles Payton Barronian, Una Aya Osato aka ExHOTic Other, Nick Lehane, Annabelle Attanasio, Ariel Eliaz

Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists

Facebook: Jane Stiles O’Hara

Instagram: @juanita_stiles