When a naïve and optimistic color guard captain can’t get a job after college, she must take a gig as a sign spinner to make ends meet. But when she ends up in a turf war with an entitled drug dealer she’s forced to discover her inner badass to take him down.

Interview with Director Marielle Elena Woods

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I made this film as part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women and I wanted to portray an action heroine I hadn't quite seen before. All I want to do is direct action narratives, and ideally ones with multi-faceted, badass-yet-flawed female leads.

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

Do you want to see a color guard geek transform into a vigilante for justice? Underscored by marching band music? Then tune in!

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Spin is ultimately about finding your place in life, even if it's not what you - or the world - expected. Many of us feel the frustration of untapped potential, of not living up to our own expectations. What’s harder is to admit that maybe there’s a part of us that holds ourselves back. Spin explores these emotions, with a hint of hyperbolic hilarity and some awesome action.

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

The core idea has remained the same ever since I made the visual connection between color guard moves and bo staff-esque martial artistry... and sign spinning. But, as ever, the script, story, and characters evolved through drafts and rounds of notes. The AFI DWW program was instrumental in this process, as, of course, was writer Keith Hahn, which whom I'm now developing the feature film script.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's been great! Jenna Boyd, who plays Bridget, has gotten tons of well-deserved praise for nailing both the emotional and physical performance. I couldn't be more grateful to my cast and crew, and I'm looking forward to expanding the world beyond the short. We premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival followed by Cleveland International Film Festival, which is a personal favorite. Soon we play at RIIFF Flickers and Breckenridge! And of course, can't wait for the local LA screening at Salute Your Shorts.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I appreciate any and all feedback, positive or negative. That said, I tend to be my own worst critic so I don't think much surprises me!

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

Any opportunity to get female-driven stories out there is a plus.

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

Open to any and all!

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

I hope audiences leave feeling energized and excited and wanting to see more female-directed and female-led action pieces.

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

I'm currently in development on a number of scripts and simultaneously working towards my first episodic directing credit.

Interview: August 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

Spin

Length: 14:47

Director: Marielle Woods

Producer: ReKon Productions

Writer: Keith Hahn

Key cast: Jenna Boyd, Henry Knotts, Ruby Cruz

Looking for: journalists, distributors

Facebook: Spin

Instagram: @spin_short_film

Hashtags used: #spinshortfilm #afidww

Website: www.mariellewoods.com

Made in association with: AFI Directing Workshop for Women

Funders: Seed&Spark

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Flickers Rhode Island (August 7), Salute Your Shorts (August 17th), Breckenridge (Sept 20)