A Transgender woman learns the consequences of assuming the people we love are better off without us.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Samantha Bloomfield

Watch Giving Up the Moon here:

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

There were many reasons behind making this film, but I think the main driving factor I kept coming back to during production was that I wanted to show the raw, honest side of the struggles a relationship can go through when one of the members goes through a massive change.

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

It's an emotional rollercoaster that tugs on the heartstrings, makes you think about the way you perceive love from others, and reminds you that if you've ever felt unworthy of being loved, you're not alone.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The overall theme of this film is learning the consequences of assuming the people we love are better off without us. In Giving Up the Moon, the main character Lana struggles to give and accept love because she is trying to figure out her own identity, and trying to maintain a relationship on top of that can be daunting. Her particular situation is brought on by this massive change that she's making in her life and the fact that she feels incapable of confiding in anyone other than Alyssa. It's personal to her unique situation. But, this overall theme is universally relatable, because you don't have to be Transgender - or anything for that matter - to experience the feeling that you're unworthy of being loved. Many people know how this feels. Giving Up the Moon takes a universally relatable experience and portrays it through an underrepresented lens.

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

The final version of the film is wildly different from how the story began. Initially, the story was much more lighthearted and even comedic. additionally, it was first conceived of as a 4-5 part web series that would release in 3-4 minute chunks. The ambition of showing the evolution of a relationship in a condensed timeframe was always there, but it was initially going to end much happier. The script changed into what it is now when I felt compelled to make the story a little bit more personal to my own experiences. I felt that it would be important to show a more bittersweet ending, like the one you get in Giving Up the Moon because life is often made up of lessons that we learn through a painful loss.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

I've received a lot of positive feedback about the film. My favorite commentary that someone has given after watching the film is that it feels like a "variation on a standard human experience", which "normalizes the LGBTQ point of view".

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

That particular feedback was interesting to me, because that notion was always in the back of my mind during the making of the film, but not necessarily the number one focus. I think the first thing I wanted to achieve was just getting people to relate to something through feeling it. If non-LGBTQ people watch this movie and feel that Trans or Queer experiences are more normalized, that's a huge bonus. We're all just people going through life and sharing many of the same challenges!

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

Building an audience!

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

Buyers and Distributors would be the most helpful addition to our team. Getting this story out in front of a wider audience, and someday adapting it into a feature-length film is the ultimate goal.

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

I hope this film sparks empathy in people and reminds them that no matter who they are, they are absolutely worthy of being loved!

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

Why do you think Lana decides to walk away from the relationship despite Alyssa "doing all of the right things"?

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

The Writer and Producer are developing another short script featuring a Transgender lead! This story will feature a part of the growth experience that Giving Up the Moon didn't have time to show: learning not just to accept your identity, but how to assert your identity.

Interview: November 2019

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

Giving Up the Moon

A Transgender woman learns the consequences of assuming the people we love are better off without us.

Length: 20:42

Director: Samantha Bloomfield

Producer: Michelle Zende

Writer: Samantha Bloomfield

About the writer, director and producer:

SAMANTHA BLOOMFIELD Studied Screenwriting at Ohio University. Shortly after moving to LA she penned Giving Up the Moon, a story based heavily on her own experience coming out as Transgender in Southern Ohio.

Key cast: Erica Burns (Lana), Debby Gerber (alyssa)

Looking for: distributors, buyers, journalists

Facebook: Giving Up the Moon

Instagram: @samanthamantharyan

Hashtags used: #GUtM

Made in association with: Beautiful Good Productions

Funders: Self-Funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Sunday, November 24th @ 2:00 PM