SIMA Awards - R.V
Stripped of her rights, a woman's life changes when she ventures with her husband to remedy an impossible situation.
Interview with Writer/Co-director/Co-Producer/Actor Melissa Center and Co-director/Co-Producer/Actor Will Hawkes
Watch R.V here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
MELISSA: I made this film because as a woman and as an artist I felt compelled to take action after the 2016 election. As I took a hard look at the possibilities of our administration, I became increasingly devastated, enraged, and highly concerned about the protections of women's rights AND access to safe reproductive care.
WILL: Thank you. I have three mothers and women’s reproductive rights has been a stop-gap issue my whole life. I was compelled to tell this story after learning that many states have recently enacted laws that severely limit a woman’s ability to get safe, reproductive care. 90% of counties in the U.S don’t have a clinic providing safe abortions. That needs to change.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
MELISSA: It is 2019 and Roe Vs Wade is in grave danger of being over-turned. 7 states have one single clinic in the entire state. Laws are being passed to criminalize ordinarily standard (and necessary) medical procedures. We cannot go back in time to situations in which women are forced to take care of themselves in dangerous environments, forced to take care of themselves illegally, or forced to induce abortions because there is no access to care. This film is essential to watch and share because it connects humans emotionally and empathetically, regardless of political stance, to the reality of passing legislation that strips away women's rights.
WILL: You should watch this film if you want to understand what many women in this country are experiencing who don’t have access to safe, reproductive healthcare.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
MELISSA: This film is both personal and universal. Personal in that a choice to go through with an abortion is a personal choice. Universal in that all women have experienced situations in which their voice & their choice has been revoked. Whether you live in the middle of North Dakota or in Africa, women are too often treated as second-class citizens. This film represents ALL women.
WILL: I think the universal connection between women who are having to get an abortion in an unsafe environment is how isolating the experience can be. That’s why we have Melissa’s character stay mostly silent while the men around her are giving her orders or ignoring her. She doesn’t have a voice and is powerless in this situation.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
MELISSA: Initially I wrote R.V as a longer narrative in which the audience follows the backstory of the main couple. The audience learns why theses individuals decide on an abortion procedure and why they have no choice but to seek out a remote location for the procedure.
Due to time and budgetary constraints we decided to shoot the heart of the story – what you see in the film. During the editing process we discovered that this was in fact perfect. Not explaining the backstory was the most powerful and effective way to communicate our message. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter why this woman is here. It should not be anyone's business but her own.
Additionally, this leaves room for the audience to ask themselves questions and opens up a dialogue with others.
WILL: The script initially contained a longer back story about the couple but eventually we realized that it doesn’t matter how they got here, because women from all backgrounds are being effected by these abortion restrictions.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
MELISSA: The feedback has been exceptional! I feel so humbled by the response to our film. Everywhere we screen the audiences are profoundly impacted. I have received notes from individuals who have had abortions themselves thanking me for making this film. Additionally I have had teary and grateful responses from women who have acted as advocates and/or escorts for women at clinics. They have shared how truthful and honest this film is, and how important it is to watch and share.
WILL: Well, the film has a half million views on Facebook so people are engaging with the film which is great. This is obviously a hot-button issue so the comments are predictably passionate both for and against. We have had a few women at screenings tell us that the film accurately reflects their personal experiences and that is definitely rewarding.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
MELISSA: Our point of view has not been challenged. We had one different response at a festival from a man who was visibly rattled by our film. He wasn't sure as he was watching it which "side" we were on. This was very interesting to me. We did not aim to pander to any side politically, but rather to encourage empathy for the situation itself.
WILL: We knew the film would be confronting. I still have my same point of view though.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
MELISSA: We are wanting this film to be seen and shared far and wide. We are wanting to impact as many people as possible with this film. Ideally if R.V can continue to be used as a tool to raise awareness AND as a tool to fight to uphold women's reproductive rights, we have done our jobs.
WILL: We appreciate the exposure in getting the message out that if people want to protect women’s access to reproductive healthcare, they need to take action now.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
MELISSA: We would LOVE for journalists to cover this film & the importance that everyone sees it – Republican and Democrats alike. We would LOVE for festival directors to see & continue to program it. We would LOVE buyers to pick it up, and we would LOVE distributors – educational and traditional – to hop on board too!
WILL: We would love to partner with more women’s reproductive groups so they can use R.V as an educational tool.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
MELISSA: This is not a feel-good movie. This is a highly confronting film. We would like to continue to profoundly impact our audiences enough to inspire action!
WILL: We would like as many people as possible to see the film so people see how states are impacting women’s lives by not allowing them access to safe reproductive care, so they can overturn these laws.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
MELISSA: What happens if Roe Vs Wade is overturned? What is the reality of reproductive care across the USA? What happens when women have no access to safe care? Should the government be allowed to pass laws that dictate what a woman can or cannot do with/to her own body?
WILL: Is the film actually too graphic to the point that it hurts argument that it is trying to make?
Would you like to add anything else?
MELISSA: I'm so grateful for your recognition and support! Thank you!
WILL: Thank you!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
MELISSA: I am developing 2 new projects at the moment – a TV series and a second feature film. I think for now it is best to keep the stories a secret. You can keep track of ALL my doings at www.melissacenter.com and follow me on my social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
WILL: Will Hawkes can be seen in the next season of Big Little Lies on HBO and in the new Netflix series, The Politician.
Interview: January 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
R.V
Stripped of her rights, a woman's life changes when she ventures with her husband to remedy an impossible situation.
Director: Will Hawkes & Melissa Center
Producer: Melissa Center & Will Hawkes
Writer: Melissa Center
About the writer, director and producer:
WILL HAWKES: An uninhibited, creative instinct, born of his rural Northern California upbringing and cultivated in various jobs – carpenter, candy-maker, private investigator – and through adventures across six continents, serves Will as an actor and filmmaker today. He has recently been on New Girl, Grey’s Anatomy and Grimm and the feature films, “First Comes Like” and “Jake Squared,” starring Jane Seymour and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Will’s film “Sun Valley” recently won best short at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. He can be seen in upcoming episodes of the award-winning web-series, Reckless Juliets.
MELISSA CENTER is an Actress, Writer, & Filmmaker living in Los Angeles. In addition to R.V, Melissa co-wrote, produced & starred in feature film All I Want (Best Actress, Best Narrative Feature), now available on Amazon Prime Video. She has recurred on Grey's Anatomy, appeared on Grimm, Masters of Sex and True Detective. She is passionate about the advancement and advocacy of women in and out of the entertainment industry.
Key cast: "Melissa Center (Sarah), Will Hawkes (Adam), Noel Orput (Doctor), Matt Lasky (Broker)
Looking for: journalists, buyers, film festival directors
Length: 10 mins 40 secs
Facebook: R.V short film
Twitter: @rvshortfilm
Website: rvshortfilm.org
Other: YouTube
Funders: GoFundMe