The next chapter in Lydia's story
Our virtual screening saw an estimated 50 viewers, with more who missed the show streaming afterward. And, we're sending out our Seed & Spark incentives!
Lavender Fields Forever hosted its first audience on Tuesday, October 22; the reactions were more than I could’ve ever hoped for. It’s a project that I and the a/b studios team have been working on for almost a year, based on a story 10 years in the ruminating. We got to connect with friends, family, and supporters of the project to showcase the results of their contributions and the cast & crew’s hard work. There was even a little presentation with a surprise at the end that I’ll share with you at the end of this email.
What’s next for Lavender Fields Forever?
Post-production went on for so many months, evolving with lessons learned and new expertise brought to the project, that it was hard to imagine what would happen after… As in, there would someday be an after? 😅
I’ve heard the adage, “Done is better than perfect,” but I see ‘done’ more as a timeframe than a status when it comes to this project. LFF has been a filmmaking masterclass, teaching me and the team about producing, directing, prep work, set culture, post-production, stylistic integrity, and so many other elements of the artformthat it’s sometimes hard to look up from the “business” of it all and see the opportunities to play. To learn, to play with style, and actually hone one.
There’s a lot to learn as more people see the film — as it is selected for festivals, which we’ve applied to five so far! — and implementable feedback gives not only the chance to improve the film, but to have a continual learning ground over the next year. To treat it like a master’s thesis.
The festivals we’ve entered so far:
Sundance — We’ve re-uploaded to Sundance twice since our first submission on Sept 6, the final deadline. It’s a huge festival, but Lydia’s story has that Sundance feel. Anything is possible! 🤞
deadCenter — An Academy Award-qualifying festival (!!) that’s somewhat off the beaten path but said to be an incredible place to meet industry pros.
Bentonville — Known for curating great cinema from a diverse array of creative voices and actively championing programs that amplify their work.
Sunscreen — I’m a St Petian for life (born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida), so this festival is a must. Kate, fellow Floridian, has friends here, too.
Glasgow Short — Kate’s connections in the area would be a great social jumping off point if we’re selected for this one!
Our festival run will span one year of event cycles, meaning we won’t apply to the same festival next year if we don’t get in.
Our strategy for picking events (which adds up quickly, especially when you’re traveling to represent the film) considers:
Whether the festival is awards-qualifying for short films.
If we can tell that the festivals curation has a genre/aesthetic lean toward LFF.
Quality/value of prizes (financial, connections, programs, equipment).
Cost, region, and notoriety (looking at ROI here, considering if the region is where we’d want to meet new connections and if the festival is known enough to impress potential producing partners).
Event dates (not much point in applying if we know none of us could make it).
If the festival has a mandate, such as a focus on women, LGBTQIA+, disabled filmmakers, proof-of-concepts, or to whom the premise might be culturally relevant (Italy).
This budget figure includes in-kind contributions for gear, labor, and other saved costs.
I’m developing the feature package now, with a pitch deck, treatment, script, and more. In the meantime, a/b studios will share the festival journey and stories from set on social media, building an audience for Lydia’s (whole) story.
There’s just one final task before we can close out the “making” of the Lavender Fields Forever proof-of-concept short, and that is to complete our crowdfunding campaign.
We want to thank all those who contributed to the Seed & Spark campaign, as well as our finishing funds-raiser that supported the screening and raised $600 for festival submissions! As part of that thank you, we are sending out INCENTIVES!
To those who contributed $250 or more to the campaign, you’ll be receiving your Digital Development Package, which includes a look into the story and set design with a copy of the final shoot script we used on set, the pitch deck we’re using in our grant applcations, a synopsis of the short story with visuals and moodboard, two versions of the movie poster (to show major improvement LOL), and copies of the postcards and mockuments (Bequeathment Letter and Lydia’s thesis Why We Work: or, the Consideration of Employee Intent).
The whole team is proud of the finished film, and these artifacts tell the story of us chasing creativity on intuition and hope.
In case you (dear reader) are curious, here’s a peak into that package with the LFF Pitch Deck.
Our two Associate Producers set to receive physical copies will receive them after Kate visits TN next week so we BOTH have a chance to write on your packages before they’re sent.
Bring that Lavender Fields Forever vibe into your playlist with the original score by Travis Tench!
Travis did an incredible job with the music, translating a lot of inspiration and influence into a wholly original and fitting motif that completely up-leveled the film. I asked Travis for magic, serendipity, and intuition and he captured all in melody!
Listen anywhere you stream music, such as Spotify, titled: Lavender Fields Forever (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Tinca Tinca
