Vickie Dailey is the author of the short story “Broken,” which was selected by emerging filmmaker Jeanette Li to serve as the basis for her short film. Come see this powerful duo and the product of their creative drives on March 23rd and Expect Empowerment. 

     

      “Broken” lay beaten and buried in a corner of my mind along with the rest of my memoir.  The story came out to haunt me on occasions when something would trigger those dark days of my past.  Yet, it was a story that begged to be told and the more I started to tell it, the more I needed to tell.  I realized that perhaps I could make a difference by sharing this story with others.  If I told what happened to me, would I make people aware of this travesty that’s all too often ignored by so many?  Could I break the bonds of silence that so many victims of abuse are forced to endure? 

Could I be their voice? 

            Something within me said yes.  So I answered that call and sent “Broken” in to the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival.  It was my way of saying to the world and to the abuser of my past: “Look what you did to me, and look at how I’m going to do something good with it.”  I was elated when it was chosen.

            Jeanette Li, my director, shared in my belief to tell this story honestly and with integrity.  Re-entitling it “If You Loved Me” and putting her unique touches to the story, she gave it the gravity and depth required to take it to the next level while maintaining its essence and beauty.  I truly believe when this story is seen on the big screen it will touch people, and they will take a piece of it home in their hearts.  Maybe it will start a ripple effect and empower others to help victims of domestic violence.  If by telling my story and, through the help of Jeanette bringing it to life, we make only one change in just one person’s life, then it’s all worth the telling.

            Thus, “Empowerment” is the perfect word for our film and I give great big kudos to Jeanette for thinking of it.  In her determination to empower women, she cast the perfect actors for the roles.  Michael Kimmel and Marilyn Chung were excellent choices.  Marilyn has an adorable quality and an innocent demeanor that I feel will make a difference with the audience as they will have more compassion for her.   She embodied the role of a broken woman skillfully.  Michael is a handsome young man who told me that he read the book, Why Does He Do That? to better prepare for the role and get in the mindset of his character.  I talked with him about the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde traits that abusers often exhibit, relating how my abuser would grovel and beg for my forgiveness afterwards.  I can’t wait to see how he pulls off the role, since I was not there for the filming of the violent scenes.

            I did take part in the filming of the domestic violence center and enjoyed it immensely.   What was supposed to be just a quick author cameo turned into my comforting two of the actors playing domestic violence center victims.  Michelle Hlass and Shawn Collins gave solid and powerful performances that were honest and believable.  Mark Meekings, the gentleman cast as the crooked police officer, even slightly resembled the police officer from my past who offered me special protection if I’d be his girlfriend.

           Statistics tell us there’s a need for a story like this.  DomesticViolence.org states that “one in three women have experienced or will experience domestic violence in her lifetime,” and “that every nine seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten” (domesticviolencestatistics.org). Additionally, “domestic violence is one of the most chronically underreported crimes.  Only approximately one-quarter of all physical assaults, one-fifth of all rapes, and one-half of all stalkings perpetuated against females by intimate partners are reported to the police” (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, NCADV).  And DomesticAbuseShelter.org states that “approximately 75% of women who are killed by their batterers are murdered when they attempt to leave or after they have left an abusive relationship”.

            For both Jeanette and I, our goal is to give the abused woman a voice and to bring awareness to a subject that is all too often ignored and shoved under the rug.  Instead of hiding it, we are showing the world the devastating effects of abuse and hoping to empower women.  

 

For more information, use the links below: 

http://www.domesticviolence.org/common-myths/

http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/

http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National).pdf

http://www.domesticabuseshelter.org/InfoDomesticViolence.htm

 

Photo courtesy of Drew Baron’s Facebook page. 

Deno Trakas’ short story, Pretty Pitiful God, revolves around two teenagers’ chance meeting of famed beat writer, Jack Kerouac, in 1969. Wayne, the teenage lead, finds his idol Jack Kerouac, deep in his downward spiral, to be far different than his expectations. This is a feeling, of actuality not living up to expectations, is one I can relate to filmmaking. Watching movies with an untrained eye, people do not recognize the depth of skill, knowledge, and manpower that goes into a movie production. When I first dreamed of being a filmmaker, I had little concept of how many positions were needed on a set. Every member of the cast and crew function as cogs to a well-oiled machine.

While making a movie can be a difficult and stressful process, it is all overshadowed by the excitement and enduring euphoria of the experience. This is thanks, in part, to our vital and skilled cast and crew of 24 dedicated individuals. Everyone knew their role and respected each other, allowing the production to run like clock work. Respect and synchronization are key to running a successful production. You have to trust the people that work with you and value their input. After all, we are all working for the same goal: to make a great movie. In particular, shooting a period piece requires its own set of complications. We were very lucky to have a dedicated and knowledgeable art and makeup department to guide the production in the right direction. It also helped having five sets of extra eyes to point out the high definition flat screen in the shot.

Now, I am not saying that having a good crew is going to make your production run with no challenges; we ran into our share of mishaps (including someone being locked in the bathroom for 40 minutes). But every member lends their time and energy into making your vision into something tangible, and it is important to remind them how appreciative you are. I am so grateful for everyone’s aid in creating this movie and all the wonderful memories.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Fleming’s Facebook page and Adventure Photography & Creative Arts. 

I think all writers are crazy.  We create characters and have them running around in our heads—real and breathing, talking and interacting with us—whether anybody else can see them or not. 

My short-story, She-Wolf, was written as part of a workshop with author Peter Selgin while I was getting my BFA at Converse College.  By the end of the workshop, my main character Caroline felt real enough to me that I wished we could have been friends.  When the call for submissions for Expecting Goodness went out, I submitted She-Wolf, wondering if Caroline would seem as real to anyone else as she did to me. 

When my story was selected and I met my film maker Terry Miller at the launch party, it was a fantastic moment.  There I was surrounded by dozens of people who have extensive careers in bringing the imaginary to life in print and on the screen. 

After months of Caroline existing only in my head or on paper, I was discussing the details of her life with Terry—down to what would be on the walls in her room—and meeting the actors for the film.  Seeing the little girl who would be Caroline was completely surreal; sure, she had existed for me for months, but seeing her sitting across from me, munching on pizza and chatting with her brother, was a completely different feeling.  This transition between mediums has been the coolest part of the film festival. 

I didn’t watch any of the filming of She-Wolf (the dates conflicted with the two other, awesome films I’ve been working through the festival, I think I’ve got the bug) and I’m kind of glad.  I can’t wait to see the finished product, when I get to watch Caroline come alive in the way that Terry and his crew envision her. 

So yes, writers may be crazy, but thank goodness we’re not the only ones.

 

Michelle Fleming

Author, “She-Wolf”

February 2013

Harrison Kennedy is  an 18-year-old senior at Spartanburg High School. He plays for the lacrosse team and is a member of Interact, Outdoors, and Tippers Clubs. Outside school he is a Wyldlife leader and loves just hanging out with his friends. “Education wise,” he says, “I am more of a math student and am going to Wofford College intending on majoring in finance and/or accounting. Recently I have discovered that I like to write poetry a lot during class and read educational articles about the environment.”

               This project has benefited our class beyond what we thought we could realize in the filming world. Throughout this project, many people have come to show us the how to, what to, when to, and so on to create the greatest film known to man– or, at least, known to Spartan High. We would like to thank everyone for the help. And trust me when I say that the help we have gotten will benefit the film from shot to shot.

            As of now in our project, we have been filming and are soon to upload our videos to the computer. This will make up most of our week, and we have a plan for how we will put all of our pieces together. Hopefully it will work as intended, and we will show how much we have been helped and prove the point that high school kids are capable of hanging with the best in the business.

            For our film “Sweet Tea,” based on John Lane’s poem of the same name, we have been shooting people of many ethnicities, different voices, unique faces, and anything else that might strike viewers of our short film. We are designing this to highlight multiple aspects of and places in Spartanburg to get a good reaction from the Hub City and Hub-Bub audience. Many shots of people have been filmed, and we are getting John Lane, the author of the poem, to read out parts of the poem him, a feature which we thought would convey how this poem actually describes the reality of the South.

            To finish off, we will continue our hard work with anything and everything given to us. We could not feel any more honored to have this project and to have such major people in the business help us out. Dr. Epps will make sure, along with my very prestigious classmates, that we will not let anyone down!

Jamie Means, pictured far left, is a Junior at Spartanburg High School, where she is a member of the Orchestra, the Colorguard, Beta Club, and the Basketball Cheerleaders. She also performs jazz and modern dance, which she smiles broadly about when asked. When she graduates from SHS, she hopes to attend Hampton University in Virginia.

               Doing this project has given me a much different look at the film industry. It is much more than famous actors and actresses and upscale outfits. There is a complex process behind all of the factors that go into making films. There are different rules such as the 30 degree rule and the 180 degree rule. There are also important things to remember like getting enough coverage for the editing process and making sure that you correctly format your shot list, story board, and script. There is also remembering to make the music and your shots flow together. All of these tips add quality to whatever you are making.

                Aside from the hard work part, there is the fun part. After talking to some experts such as Ron Hagell, Shirley Smith, and Kari Jackson, just to name a few, I find filmmaking to be a fun thing to get into. You are able to express your creative side. You are also able to tell a story of your choice. You get to make your artwork, film, as fun as you might want it; it can be made to show off your interests. However a producer might conduct his or her film, he or she is engaging in a world of its own, a language of its own that will speak in many volumes. Aside from the technical things, this has been a great learning experience, and I look forward to the showcasing event in March.

Brent Tyler of Dr. Epps’s creative writing class loves to read, write, play video games, and swim. When Dr. Epps asked him what his favorite movie was, he said “To be honest, I do not have a favorite movie.” He’s an albino and is something of an advocate for those like himself; he’s very good at informing others about albinism. He’s currently a senior at Spartanburg High and is looking forward to going to college next year. In this entry, Brent shares with us his experience working on the EGSFF Youth Project. 

            Well, I have done many things in my life, but I would say working on this film would have to be one of the more interesting things I have done. I grew up in a place where we never got chances to do things like this and have fun with them. Working on this project has exposed me to events that I had no idea existed.

            The poem we are using reflects the way I grew up and the way my parents tried to raise me (at least for a little while). Another cool thing is that in the editing we might be using computer software I used to only wish to use and the MacBook Pro which I have never seen in person. I am so excited to see how this will turn out.

            Some of the film producers came to see us; it was so enlightening and beneficial. I learned so much from them. This opportunity has helped fuel my motto of how anything can be accomplished; just follow your dreams to achieve what you will in life. I’ve gone through many hardships, but that is just an aspect of life. Seeing how these people make their films and how we will make ours has renewed my spirit. I will continue to help with our film and help to make sure it is a success. Who knows—we might be famous.

            I will end with this: I will learn from this and take it with me for the rest of my life. To be honest, this is something I think most people should do in their lifetimes; it gives people a sense of accomplishment so to speak. I will carry this with me. I am glad to be a part pf it.

John R. Saylor is the author of the short story “Reagan in Kabul” and winner of the South Carolina Arts Commission Fiction Prize for 2011

Expecting Goodness asks him how his experience with the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival has developed and what defines the interaction with Dr. Julie Sexeny, the filmmaker turning his short story into a film.

Watch their vision-made-real on March 23rd and absorb the powerful story.

Purchase your tickets now!

What were your hopes for you and your story when you submitted it to Expecting Goodness?

Well, of course my main hope was for big money. Money and groupies. The money part never panned out, but it’s great having groupies. Seriously, I was just happy to see my story get more exposure and to have the opportunity to see what it was like to see a story turned into a film. Julie Sexeny is a very insightful director, and having the opportunity to work with her has been just great, so I feel very fortunate.

How did you envision your short story as a short film? Was there a persistent image or a persistent set of scenes? Was there a particular actor or actress that appeared for one of your characters?

When I wrote the story, I always had an image of the main character(the father) as being sort of an angry, jowley unshaven guy. Portlyand not very good looking. Someone like Ian Holm or Ned Beatty who is unattractive and capable of conveying a certain sense of menace. Julie cast Dan Day who can really convey a kind of glaring sense of fury, which is great. Unfortunately he is also a pretty good0looking guy, but I guess you can’t have everything.

What was your visit to Julie’s set like?

Visiting the set was great. When Julie sent me the script a few weeks prior, I just didn’t see how this was all going to work. I’d never read a script before, and all I kept thinking was that there just wasn’t enough on the pages to get the story across. At the set, I spent some time peering over the shoulder of the DP as he was framing one of the shots. Looking through the view finder with him was when it suddenly all made sense — I got it. I suddenly realized that those things that take me half a page to convey in a story, can be communicated almost instantly with a properly framed shot. It was a wonderful eye-opening moment.

What do you hope the audience will take away from the story you and Julie are creating?

Any story teller wants to reveal some aspect of the human condition in a new way. This story is about loss, something we all have experienced although perhaps not in the form of the death of a son in war (the subject of “Reagan in Kabul”). My hope is that the audience will think “I know what that guy is going through,” even if they haven’t had the same experience depicted in the film.

            Dr. Edwin Epps, a teacher of creative writing and English studies at Spartanburg High, talks about his experience with Expecting Goodness’s Youth Project that gives the opportunity for a class to transform a short literary work into a short film.

            

             When Kari Jackson and Alicia Farley invited my Honors Creative Writing class at Spartanburg High School to become the “youth division” of the 2013 Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival, we were flattered and anxious to plunge right in. How hard could this be? There were a lot of good video cameras now. The school must have some. If not, surely we could borrow some from somebody. And yes, we knew that MacBook Pros were the best computers for editing and producing finished films, and it was true that the school had only a handful and those were in the journalism office; but surely we could borrow some time on one of those, and if not, then pc software must be at least adequate. And no, none of us had ever used the iMovie program before, but we were smart and could learn quickly, so what was the big deal?

            Three weeks into the project, we have learned that there were indeed several big deals. For one thing, it took us a week just to pick the inspiration for our film. The Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival invites filmmakers to create films inspired by the stories of local writers, but we thought we would work from a poem by a South Carolina poet instead since we only had three and a half minutes or so to work with. So far so good.

            I thought that a James Dickey poem might be a good choice. Dickey after all is the state’s best known twentieth century poet, and I was already reviewing his work in conjunction with an Arthur Vining Davis Foundation grant project I had been invited to participate in along with John Lane, Deno Trakas, David Sykes, and their Wofford students. I brought a half dozen poems by Dickey to class, and we read and discussed them. The students in my class liked “The Heaven of Animals” best, also “Kudzu,” but neither seemed quite right. We widened our search.

            I passed out copies of the Kwame Dawes-edited collection of poems by South Carolina Poetry Fellows, and we browsed through those as well as the Hub City Press Still Home anthology and Volume I of The Southern Poetry Anthology, which featured the work of South Carolina poets. In the end we narrowed our choices down to half a dozen titles, then chose two finalists: John Lane’s popular “Sweet Tea”—the poem that John calls “my greatest hit”—and a very clever piece by Debra Daniel titled “The Popeye Tapes.” In a close vote “Sweet Tea” was the winner.

            We now had a poem to use as a starting point, but we had already used one week of our roughly one-month production time. What next?

            Luckily, Kari and Alicia, the Hub City intern also working on this project, had some suggestions. We could, for instance, bring some of the adult filmmakers working on Expecting Goodness projects to my classroom to share their expertise and help give us some direction. We jumped at the chance. Over a period of about a week and a half we were visited by five experienced filmmakers: Abe Duenas, a California native who has also lived in New York City but is now a resident of Gaffney, where he sculpts in metal as well as makes films; Dr. Shirley Ann Smith and her partner Ron Hagell, who bring their experience as an educational reformer and filmmaker/teacher with extensive international experience to this year’s Festival; and Drew Baron and Jeff Driggers, two Columbia residents supporting their own filmmaking by commercial video production.

            We’ve learned a lot from these folks, not only the basics of storyboarding and the importance of thinking visually but also essential techniques like the rule of thirds and the important lesson that every shot will have an effect in the film and upon the viewer and that therefore it is essential to anticipate this effect during production. We’ve also clarified our own vision for the project, talked with John Lane for background, and recruited a diverse corps of actors and readers, ranging from District Seven administrators and colleagues to friends and family members, diners in local restaurants, even a local songwriter who also maintains an online public education blog.

            We’ve grabbed the bull by the horns and hit the ground running. We’ve got a week and a half left now and might even finish this thing. Stay tuned…