Don't Call Me Rebecca
As a medieval knight searches for a trapped princess, a young boy struggles to come out to his mother.
-
Caitlin StowDirectorDepot, An Interview with Marty Flynn
-
Caitlin StowWriterDepot, An Interview with Marty Flynn
-
Caitlin StowProducerDepot, An Interview with Marty Flynn
-
Dean DowellKey Cast"Sir Heathgard"
-
Georgie MerbackKey Cast"Bex"
-
Jessica GordonKey Cast"Mother"
-
Jack HalpinKey Cast"Lead Bandit"Alpha House, Breaking Vegas, Bull, Boardwalk Empire, Friends from College, Devil's Grove, Dead Serious
-
Cameron ShumanDirector of PhotographyDepot, An Interview with Marty Flynn
-
Mountains of PixelsComposer
-
Project Type:Short
-
Genres:Family, LGBTQ, Coming of Age, Fantasy
-
Runtime:19 minutes 5 seconds
-
Completion Date:May 28, 2019
-
Production Budget:715 USD
-
Country of Origin:United States
-
Country of Filming:United States
-
Language:English
-
Shooting Format:Digital
-
Aspect Ratio:16:9
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:No
-
Student Project:No
-
Golden Door International Film FestivalJersey City, NJ
United States
September 22, 2019
World Premiere
Official Selection -
Destiny City Film FestivalTacoma
United States
Short Screenplay Competition Winner -
Oregon Short Film FestivalPortland
United States
Best Drama Screenplay Winner -
The Southern California Screenplay Competition
Semi-Finalist -
Low Lights International Screenplay Competition
Quarter Finalist -
Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival and Writers CelebrationLas Vegas
United States
Official Selection - Screenplay
I grew up in the Corvallis, Oregon, attended an art-focused elementary/middle school, and was raised by the most hippie parents (they met following the Grateful Dead). My mom is a physical therapy assistant, my dad cooks burgers at the local tavern, and my step dad is an elementary school art teacher. All this history and these experiences have given me a desire to make Pacific Northwest centered films about classism/elitism and growing up in a moderate-liberal environment. I attended college for a few years, first at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, then at Oregon State University. When I realized that I wanted to pursue film full time, I left college as OSU didn't have a film program that interested me. All of my films (so far) have been self-taught and self-produced with a mountain of help from friends and volunteers. I currently reside in Corvallis, working at a local independent movie theater and taking general ed classes part time at Linn Benton Community College. I live with my husband and collaborator Cameron, and our very angry cat Chicken.
One of my favorite movies of all time is A Knight's Tale. One thing that's so interesting about this film is that it actually works when it really shouldn't. Although it plays with the genre, at it's heart it's a medieval film. I can't think of any other medieval films that aren't based on history or fantasy novels that are actually successful (yes, I know A Knight's Tale is technically based on the Canterbury Tales, but that doesn't really count).
So one morning I woke up and laid in bed thinking about why original, medieval films don't work, and I thought "I should try to write one that works". I wrote without a plan, just trying to tell the most classic, knights and princesses story that I could think of. Three hours later I had the basic structure of the story that I've produced today.
As I was writing I began to think about imagination and the power it holds for children, and especially older children. I was an only child with a very tired, overworked single mother, so I spent a lot of time alone. I played make believe games to keep me company up until age fifteen or so. I wanted to explore why that is, why I felt the need for these fantasy worlds long after the "acceptable" make-believe age. What started as an experiment in whether medieval stories can be successful, turned into a very personal story about imagination, childhood loneliness, and the underappreciated power of medieval tropes in relation to coming-of-age, finding one's bravery, and being true to ourselves.