Rhode Island International Film Festival / HollyShorts Film Festival 2018 - Space Girls
During a sleepover, four space-obsessed 9 year old girls embark on a secret mission in their cardboard rocket. When Dad returns home, what will become of their mission?
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Carys Watford
Watch Space Girls here:
##STOP PRESS: Space Girls just awarded Grand Prize Children's Live Action Short Film Award at Flickers' Rhode Island Film Festival
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I wanted to make a fun adventure film about the wonders of space and the importance of space travel. I was also really conscious of wanting the protagonists of the film to be a band of smart, confident and determined girls. Geena Davis’ research has compellingly shown that female characters in kids’ media are often underdeveloped, sidelined or solely there as a plot device. I think it is really important that we promote female agency and science positive goals for the next generation.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you want to get swept away and relive the wonder of childhood. If you want to be reminded of the importance and wonder of space travel through the eyes of infectiously-passionate 9 year old girls. If you want to feel empowered by seeing a group of girls in leadership positions. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a couple of shots of my Labrador, Bertie, when he was a puppy that is sure to melt your heart?!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Space Girls originated from the universal question of the necessity & importance of mankind forging a path into the cosmos. The importance of scientific discovery not only for greater understanding but also for human development. But it is all told through the eyes of a group of girls, through their friendship & passion, and the encouragement of their parents.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Not very much, mainly due to the fact that the film was made pretty quickly. I originally made the film to enter NASA’s CineSpace competition – which I only found out about around 6 weeks before the deadline. So the script was written in a matter of days, the cast & crew formed, set designed – then we shot the film over a weekend and had around 3 weeks in post-production. There wasn’t much time to stop and improvise.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
One of my favourite things is watching the film with an audience. We’ve had a great festival run so far screening across the US – in Mississippi, San Jose, Iowa, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio, Maryland. I’ve loved having people come up to me after the screening to tell me about their children or nieces who love science and want to be astronauts when they grow up & how glad they are that I’ve made a film encouraging that ambition. At Cinequest Film & VR Festival, someone who works on a program that teaches young students how to code robots ready for the International Space Station saw the film & I can’t wait to share the film with his students.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not yet. I haven’t yet run into someone who doesn’t believe in space travel – but I’m sure I will!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I love We Are Moving Stories – I’ve been reading your interviews for a long time and it is such a wonderfully curated selection of films that you feature. I’m excited to share Space Girls with as wide an audience as possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
At the moment we’re mid-way into our festival journey and eager to share the film with more festival directors and audiences. We’ll be screening this month at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, HollyShorts in LA, and Sidewalk in Alabama. When we launch it for free online next year, I’ll be reaching out to as many journalists as possible to spread the word about the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Inspired by the adage ‘If she can see it, she can be it’, I want Space Girls to promote and inspire young girls to dream big and work hard so that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Even becoming an astronaut and travelling to outer space!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Should government budgets be used to fund the development of space travel? Is space travel culturally important?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently writing and developing my debut feature script, Girls in the Band, as well as working on a number of short film ideas.
Interview: August 2018
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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
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SPACE GIRLS
During a sleepover, four space-obsessed 9 year old girls embark on a secret mission in their cardboard rocket. When Dad returns home, what will become of their mission?
Length: 9 minutes 50 seconds
Who is being interviewed for this article? Carys Watford
Director: Carys Watford
Producer: Carys Watford
Writer: Carys Watford
About the writer, director and producer: Carys Watford is an award-winning Writer/Director from London, UK. She is passionate about making female-led films packed with personality and heart.
Key cast: Bella Padden, Anika Selvarajah, Helena Albright, Emily Albright, Evan Cregan
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film festival directors, journalists, producers
Social media handles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceGirlsFilm
Twitter: @SpaceGirlsFilm; @caryswatford
Instagram: @SpaceGirlsFilm; @carys.watford
Hashtags you use: #SpaceGirlsFilm
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/caryswatford
Where was this filmed? At my parents’ house in London, UK.
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (7-12th August), HollyShorts Film Festival (9-18th August), Sidewalk Film Festival (20-26th August)