A single mother assumes the worst of her daughter. After destroying what she believes to be incriminating evidence she becomes lost in the desert where she learns that not everyone is as they seem.

Interview with Director Lynda Joann Reiss

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

My first short was quite stylized and I wanted to show I could direct drama in a longer format. I also wanted to direct a woman's story, and asked my writer to create s story based on my brief of a single mom, teen daughter, dark story, set in a trailer park.

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

It will make you question what you would do in a similar situation.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I am drawn to dense and flawed characters who reside in the real world, one that can be dirty and messy. I love dysfunctional and gritty but need humor and comedic relief, for the two together are for me what constitutes life. I like to dive into situations where ordinary people face less ordinary situations and come through them in a real way as opposed to a Hollywood ending way.

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

The script originally had a couple of other themes running through, and I chose to pare it down to parenting, guilt and misunderstandings. The main themes were getting muddied by the additional ones. I also changed three roles from men to women, and two of those roles to people of color.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's all been great, everyone has seemed to have loved it, and everyone I spoke to had a version of what they would do in a similar situation.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I made a stand-alone short, and when I was in the editing room I realized that Lancaster Park had great potential as a series, and we have subsequently developed a treatment for a limited series.

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

I would like to have more people see my work, and the work of my crew, so that I can be offered more work, and take this crack team I have gathered and keep making movies.

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

Sales agents and buyers would be great. Festival Directors and Journalists can help get me more exposure to them.

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

I want the audience to come out and talk about the story, and question what they would do if they were in this situation. I also what them to come out wanting to know more about Lancaster Park and its bunch of ragtag residents.

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

A mother's love or a mother's guilt, which is the stronger emotion.

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

Lynda the director is in development on two features and two television series.

Interview: February 2020

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

Lancaster Park

Length: 17:06

Director: Lynda Reiss

Producer: Lynda Reiss

Writer: John Craine

About the writer, director and producer:

Long Time filmmaker but a new director. Ready to Go, LYNDA REISS' first short won over 27 awards worldwide, and got her into the Sony Directors Program and The Women In Film Mentoring Circles Program. Lynda's has worked on such projects as American Beauty, True Detective, and Stranger Things.

JOHN CRAINE is a writer and cinematographer. He studied both crafts at the London Film School before working in the industry as a cinematographer. His first feature, Blackbird, was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA. He shot his second feature, Wake Me Up, in Moscow in 2015. John wrote Lancaster Park and Lynda's other short Ready To Go, and has collaborated with Lynda Reiss on five other short films.

Key cast: Sara Arrington (Rita Miller), Dana Koops (Simone Miller), Paula Jean Hixson (Melissa), Shukri Abdi (Det. Abarra), Ayumi IIzuka (Carmen), Neil Napier (Henry Garrick)

Looking for: buyers

Facebook: Lynda Reiss

Instagram: @lyndajreiss

Hashtags used: #LancasterParkShortFilm

Other: IMDb

Made in association with: Laiom Productions

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? "It will be screening in Toronto at the opening gala of the Female Eye Festival, March 5th; Sunscreen Film Festival, Florida (no schedule released yet); Milwaukee Short Film Festival (no schedule released yet); Detroit Shetown Film festival (no schedule yet); Orchid Beach Festival, Macedonia (no schedule released yet).