Loss, triumph and the power of art.

Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Louise Palanker

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I met Margaret about 12 years ago when my co-producer, Jennie Reinish and I were filming over 30 Santa Barbara area Holocaust survivors for an exhibit called Portraits of Survival and ultimately a film we made titled: We Played Marbles: Remembering A Stolen Childhood. I was instantly taken by the magic of Margaret. I began to hear stories about how, at 85 she could be spotted riding her bike around town and how her tiny apartment was filled with thousands of paintings, sculptures and poetry journals. I would see Margaret often at lectures, art shows, the farmers' market, temple... the girl got around... and I aspired to get to know her better and make a film about her. In 2019, my husband said to me, "If you really want to make a movie about Margaret. You should do it now." That was the shove I needed. He was right. Margaret died three months after we finished our film.

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

Margaret's resilience and her fierce independence serve as inspiration for all of us. We won't all face the deliberate destruction of our home and family and we won't all choose to turn away from marriage and housework and children but we do all encounter cruelty and tragedy and we do all have unique sparks and threads which are not fully understood by others. Margaret gives us the courage to overcome adversity and permission to proudly march to whatever drum we hear.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We can all remind ourselves to better appreciate the world around us. The colors, the shapes, the textures, the intricacies of the people and the natural world. We can all be a little bit kinder every day to those we encounter. And we can all decide to let go of past pain, hurt and injustices in order to better enjoy the beauty in front of us. Margaret teaches these universal themes and lessons.

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

Our film is a documentary. The film, like any project, took on its own shape as we began crafting Margaret's story. It became clear that Margaret's messages should be carried through her voice alone and our film became a stream of consciousness story that allows the viewer to get lost in Margaret's words and art.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People become quickly obsessed with Margaret's art. Her fierce independence gives audience members courage to be themselves and they tell us how inspired they feel to walk their path with greater conviction.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

No, not really. Margaret had this effect on us as filmmakers and as people so we totally expect her to equally inspire others.

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

We hope that Margaret's art and words empower people to own and celebrate their true selves.

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

We would love for our film to gain a wider reach through the help of sales agents, buyers, distributors and journalists.

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

We hope that our film helps others triumph over adversity, follow their passions and flourish.

Behind the scenes of Margaret Singer: Seeking Light - Louise Palanker, Margaret Singer, Jennifer A. Reinish

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

How have cultural norms and expectations for women shifted since the 1940s? Are women truly more free today to carve out their own paths or are they still feeling confined to gender norms and accepted roles?

Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you so much for reading this far!

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

The Director/Producer Louise Palanker hosts a weekly video podcast called Things I Found Online which explores how society and the internet are impacting one another.

Interview: January 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

Margaret Singer: Seeking Light

Loss, triumph and the power of art.

Length: 20:00

Director: Louise Palanker

Producer: Louise Palanker, Jennie Reinish

Writer: Louise Palanker

About the writer, director and producer:

LOUISE PALANKER is a writer, producer, director, comedian, filmmaker, photographer, songwriter, columnist, drummer and podcaster. She is a co-founder of Premiere Radio Networks who grew up in Buffalo, NY and lives in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara with her husband Ron.

Key cast: Margaret Singer

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers

Facebook: Margaret Singer: Seeking Light

Hashtags used: #MargaretSinger

Other: IMDb

Funders: Self-Funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Santa Barbara International Film Festival/Santa Barbara - Sunday, January 19th, 2020P