Female Eye Film Festival 2018 - Willow
As young Willow’s discordant childhood unfurls, she is carried from home to home by her restless and spirited mother. Her early fixation on Bunny initially allows her to find a refuge among the chaos. When the opportunity to break free from her self-created confines presents itself, Willow reconciles a connection to her past and takes a leap, finding a place to be comfortable in her own skin.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Suzanne Racz
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I began filmmaking as an actor and became fascinated with the method of storytelling. I have always been a reader, then a photographer, then an actor. Making film was a natural progression. As for Willow, I was interested in the uniqueness of people, specifically the path that each person takes to find their place in life. Willow began with a question, "who is the girl in the bunny suit?" That is a very specific thing – how does one get from point A to point B? It does not happen suddenly. We are all products of our past and our decisions. There is a universality to that resonates with each of us, no matter what we do.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I believe that we are all Willow to some extent. As quirky as Willow is, we can all relate to those times we felt alone or isolated. We all need 'our' people, and we can all relate to Willow's need to find her niche.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
How funny. Having just used forms of both words in the sentence above, I believe that that is the magic of Willow. Willow's journey is a fingerprint, unique, unlike anyone else's. It also represents a truth in all of us. None of us chooses our childhoods. We are all carried along on a path that does not belong to us, but forms us nonetheless. For each of us there is a turning point where we must make choices and begin our own way.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The original script was very quiet and totally from Willow's POV. In order to tell the story, I had to step back a bit and show a bit more.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It is very interesting to see how people relate to Willow. Some become distracted by the bunny suit, the furry aspect. Others can see past it and see themselves in Willow.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Very much so. The things that are shocking to some in the film surprise me a bit. I stand by my choices though. Life is shocking often. We are usually not prepared. I am OK with that.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would like to support the filmmaking community of women's stories. It is important to shine a light on the strength of women through film. Telling stories makes us human. We have been in a vacuum in filmmaking for a very long time, focused on one demographic, one type of human. It is exciting to see that changing. As a budding filmmaker, I feel empowered by the support I have found, and I hope that someone out there with a story to tell feels inspired to jump in with both feet.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Any and all.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I am pleased when this film touches someone personally. If I can identify with a girl in a bunny suit, I can identify with anyone. It is important to be able to look past the odd or the different and know that we are all on the same journey.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film? So many questions?
I think one that may get overlooked is really the story about Mama. What happened to her? Was she a good mother or a bad mother? There is much to debate there.
Would you like to add anything else?
Just a note about Willow being made on film. This was a huge risk that I am proud that we took it. I felt the film needed to be done on celluloid to capture the dreamlike, memory-like quality that Willow has, and that is precisely what our cinematographer was able to do.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have two short films in the works. One of these will also be done on Super16mm. It is a darker story by far. Perhaps a little shocking too. The other is a touching, funny family story set in an assisted living facility. They are both, of course, stories of women.
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
Willow
As young Willow’s discordant childhood unfurls, she is carried from home to home by her restless and spirited mother. Her early fixation on Bunny initially allows her to find a refuge among the chaos. As she grows and faces a life on her own, her sanctuary becomes an insulation from the outside world. When the opportunity to break free from her self- created confines presents itself, Willow reconciles a connection to her past and takes a leap, finding a place to be comfortable in her own skin.
Length: 14:43
Director: Suzanne Racz
Producer: Suzanne Racz, Anthony Gutierrez, Kyle Kleinecke
Writer: Suzanne Racz, Anthony Gutierrez
About the writer, director, and producer:
SUZANNE RACZ is a writer, director, producer and actor based in Dallas, Texas. She is interested in portraiture in storytelling. In her spare time, she dabbles in Neurology and hopes her four kids survive her and find their own unique and beautiful paths.
ANTHONY GUTIERREZ is a producer, cinematographer, editor and Steadicam operator based in Dallas, Texas. He is widely recognized for his talent behind the camera with numerous shorts and features under his belt. Willow is his first film shot on celluloid.
KYLE KLEINECKE is a producer, editor, and director based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Kyle is steadfast and accomplished with his steadily growing list of films working their way through the festival circuit.
Key cast: Walker Kimbell, Emma Willoughby, Dale Beasley, Frances Watson, Marisol Vera, Brady Wolchansky, Terence Pennywell, Jessica Willis, Finch Nissen, Garrett Kruithof, Suzanne Racz, Eric Gibson, Ted Ferguson, April Dawn Hartman, Grey Acuna
Looking for: producers/executive producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=willow%20-%20a%20short%20film Willow-a short film AND https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.racz1
Instagram: @suzanneha
Other: Suzanne Racz
Funders: Suzanne Racz
Made in association with: StickyFeetStudios