Amazon 2019 – Pie Car
A vegetarian lion tamer, a trapeze artist madly in love, an aerialist in a tough situation, a brother and sister elephant act in conflict, and a cook who only has one piece of pie left, richly developed characters will leave you wanting more. Filmed in the Circus mecca, Sarasota, on a train car that John Ringling himself used, Pie Car will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Sage Hall
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Pie Car was made after an inspired Mother's Day Brunch on Bob's Train in Sarasota Florida. The restaurant is located inside a retired Ringling Circus train car and the walls are lined with vintage photos of circus stars from the early 1900s until present time. It was thick with the history and culture of the circus. My production company has also had the privilege of documenting three unique circuses over the last six years, creating promotional videos and commercials and documenting their live tours. The rich tapestry of stories inherent in circus culture are inspiring, moving and a testament to the spirit these great performers have brought to the world for centuries.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Stories from diverse backgrounds expand your perspective. This slice of life film gives a peek into the world of 7 circus performers in the 1940's.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Family is not always blood. When it comes down to it, it's who has your back, who will still be there when the fair-weather has passed and life is a little bumpy. This is a truth that has never changed and will continue to drive our relationships. Humanity is built upon the relationships we choose to fight for and keep.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Words on a page are empty until they are embodied by actors. The actors brought their own interpretations of the characters to this piece and breathed life into the roles that our writer and myself, the director did not originally see. The collaborative nature of film is both terrifying and satisfying. The evolution of the characters was certainly the biggest surprise over the course of development for Pie Car.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The cinematography has been a standout feature that has been noted. We have gotten excellent responses about our character development with some viewers wishing it was longer.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I tend to give my audience a lot of credit, presenting a situation and allowing the viewer to take away their own judgement without telling them what to think. I have heard some comments where people would have liked for things to be more in your face. I can see where those comments come from, but ultimately as the director, I am happy with my choice.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want to celebrate diversity in film.
Showing a female-led project with a female screenwriter is unique in itself. Our casting was also diverse. Although our cast contains a trans person, a little person, members of the LGBTQ community and individuals from varying cultural backgrounds, this has nothing to do with the plot, they are people living in a moment in time. I look forward to the day when I am no longer delineated as a female filmmaker and will just be known as a filmmaker. This time is not now and I understand the need for this category, female filmmakers still make up a paltry percentage across the board. But the goal is to eventually get rid of the labels that divide as we will no longer need to be divided.
We would also like to show other filmmakers what can be done with a micro-budget and lots of heart and inspire up and coming filmmakers to get out there and do it! Don't wait for the perfect investor or a star to sign on, just get to work! Your voice deserves to be heard.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Yes. We need as many folks behind our project as are willing to come on board. Although it may take an individual to get a project started, it takes a village to complete and distribute it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
On the surface, I would like to give viewers an escape from day to day life. We have created a world thick in tension, love and mystery. But in the big picture, it really is about having a vision and completing it without big money or names. Being a filmmaker is more than having a star on the walk of fame, although I'm not against that! It is opening minds, creating creative jobs of value, and giving voices to those who have been overlooked. It is my goal to continue to create outlets for diverse voices to be heard.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What makes a family?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are currently in development on a new narrative project, The Green Thumb and working on our first feature documentary with our core group from StarFruit Productions. We post updates on our work on our Website, StarfruitProductions.com and Facebook page.
Interview: October 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
Pie Car
A vegetarian lion tamer, a trapeze artist madly in love, an aerialist in a tough situation, a brother and sister elephant act in conflict, and a cook who only has one piece of pie left, richly developed characters will leave you wanting more. Filmed in the Circus mecca, Sarasota, on a train car that John Ringling himself used, Pie Car will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Length: 14:25
Director: Sage Hall
Producer: Grady Reinagle
Writer: Debby Hall
About the writer, director and producer:
SAGE HALL studied acting at The Strasberg Institute. She is the president of StarFruit Productions which also creates corporate and commercial video content. Her first short film Candy was featured in a showcase at the SAG Foundation in NYC, the Lady's Filmmaker Festival and traveled with the Viscera Film Festival among others. She won a Telly for her Silent Film Saltimbanco.
DEBBY HALL recently retired from the medical field. She is now able to spend her time writing and painting. Debby has also had her writing featured in short films, The Couch, and Valet 2. She has two screenplays ready to go, along with her novel.
GRADY REINAGLE is the COO of StarFruit Productions. Along with producing Grady is a composer. His music has been featured on HBO’s Summer Heights High remix album, He also works with Hip Hop Artists Myka 9, Prince Po and Ceschi. He creates original Compositions and has had his music featured on touring shows, Circus Vargas, Cirque Italia and Paranormal Circus.
Key cast: Kailah Santos (Sheena), Michael Avery (Cookie), Miles Iton (Azizi), Amanda Jay (Kitty), Berry Ayers (Madame Pearl), Austin Dolan (Aleksandro), Mark Troy (Proctor)
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists, film festival directors, producers, buyers
Facebook: StarFruit Productions
Instagram: @starfruit_productions
Hashtags used: #PieCar
Website: www.piecarshortfilm.com; www.starfruitproductions.com
Funders: Self Funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Pie Car is currently on Amazon Prime