2015 Heartland Film Festival Award Winner, Narrative Short A Proud Woman is about Mei, a caretaker in Singapore, who is forced to fight for her job after the daughter of the woman she works for comes to visit and threatens to expose her identity.
We spoke with Director/Writer Sam Osborne about his film:
HF: What is your film about, and how did the project come to be?
SO: A Proud Woman is about a trans-woman working as a caretaker in Singapore who is forced to stand up for herself when the daughter of the woman she works for attempts to get rid of her.
This is a project I started during my second year of Grad Film at NYU. I had an entirely different script that I was planning to shoot in Japan, but one of my teachers urged me to come up with a different idea and I had seen Vivienne (the lead actress), around my neighborhood. She’d created quite a stir considering the Singaporean-Chinese attitude towards the LGBT community and there was something almost mythological about her presence in our community. Everyone knew who she was but no one was brave enough to get to really know her. So, I saw that as a good place to start. We’ve all felt isolated at one point or another and I figured if I knew that much about the character, I could certainly come up with a 10 page script.
HF: What was your role in the production?
SO: Writer/Director
HF: Why did you submit to the Heartland Film Festival? Have you been to the Festival before?
SO: Growing up around Indianapolis, I’d always heard of Heartland, but I had this misconception that the festival only featured “feel good” or “wholesome” movies. And so I sort of counted myself out of that category (which is ironic because I think I ended up making a “feel good” and “wholesome” film. Haha). My parents are particularly proud (as am I) to be able to invite our friends and family out to see a film that I made on the exact opposite side of the planet. This is sort of a dream come true for a young filmmaker.
HF: This year’s tagline is “Movies That Stay with You” – what lasting effect will your film have on moviegoers?
SO: I read this really great autobiography of Billy Bob Thornton who is absolutely one of my favorite actors of all time and at one point he talks about Dwight Yoakam’s character in “Sling Blade” who is both identifiable and extremely bigoted. Thornton says that he made the film to help mirror the socio-behavioral issues of the people back in Arkansas where he grew up. The goal being that when they saw the movie, they might see a bit of themselves or someone they know in Yoakam’s character and hopefully adjust their behavior accordingly.
I suppose the short answer is: I hope people will see a very unique person with very normal human feelings, so next time they encounter someone who might be different than themselves, they’ll appreciate them for their differences rather than reject them.
HF: What has inspired you to become a filmmaker?
SO: I’ve been messing around with film and video since I was about 14. I’m fascinated with visual artists like Andrew Wyeth and Ralph Steadman but I can’t really draw or anything, so I started taking pictures. Also, I love actors. There is something ethereal about a good actor. You just know when you’re in the presence of one.
HF: What is something that you know about filmmaking now, but you weren’t told when you started your career?
SO: There’s the movie you write, the movie you shoot, and the movie you edit. Film is a very fluid medium and as a filmmaker, I’ve found it vitally important to be open to change without changing the intention of your work. Being “present” is the only way I survived this last film. As a young director there are always going to be compromises, but as long as you stay in touch with the core of your film, your instincts will carry you through.
HF: What are some of your favorite movies? What’s your favorite worst movie (you know it’s bad, but still love it)?
SO: Favorite Movies – “Harlan County, U.S.A.”, “Husbands”, “A Woman Under the Influence”, “Swedish Love Story”, “Badlands”, “Breaking the Waves”, “Amour”, “Ordinary People”
Favorite Worst Movies – “Hot Tub Time Machine” or “Scream” (they aren’t bad, but maybe not as high brow)
HF: How many film festivals has your film been a part of? What do you like the most about the festival experience?
SO: A Proud Woman was a finalist in NYU’s prestigious and highly competitive First Run Film Festival. However, it only screened for NYU faculty and a handful of industry professionals. Heartland is my first public premiere which is very exciting for me!
I can’t really say much about the festival experience just yet, but (correct me if I’m wrong) Heartland is so interesting because it draws so much publicity; however, is run by a smaller group of really passionate programmers and coordinators. It’s really great getting to be a part of that family.
HF: Heartland Film Festival moviegoers love filmmaker Q&As. Let’s say a Festival attendee wants to earn some brownie points—what is a question that you’d love to answer, but haven’t yet been asked?
SO: I would love to be asked, “As an aspiring filmmaker, what personal goal have you set for yourself that you find the most intimidating?”
I would reply by saying, “I have a deep respect for actors who also work as directors, like John Cassavetes or Robert Redford. I think acting and directing are similar in the sense that both jobs require acknowledging 360 degrees of human emotionality. One of my professors at NYU urged me to try it out and through that process I was able to find some strengths and weakness in both my directing and acting techniques.”
A Personal Message from Director/Writer Sam Osborne for Heartland Film Festival Fans:
See A Proud Woman in Festival Awards Shorts 1
- AMC Showplace Traders Point Theater 12 – Sunday, Oct. 18 – 12 p.m.
- AMC Showplace Traders Point Theater 12 – Monday, Oct. 19 – 5:15 p.m.
- Wheeler Arts Community – Wednesday, Oct. 21 – 6 p.m.
- AMC Castleton Square 14 – Thursday, Oct. 22 – 12:30 p.m.
- AMC Castleton Square 14 – Thursday, Oct. 22 – 6:45 p.m.
- AMC Showplace Traders Point Theater 12 – Friday, Oct. 23 – 4:30 p.m.
- AMC Castleton Square 14 – Saturday, Oct. 24 – 10 a.m.
- AMC Showplace Traders Point Theater 12 – Sunday, Oct. 25 – 1:30 p.m.
1 Comment
I met this young man somewhere recently and he really impressed me. It was in the Heartland of America. I believe we’ll be seeing more of this young man’s work in the future. I’m sure he has wonderful parents who are very proud of him.