Movies You Made: “Protesters”

March is Movies You Made month at Go Into The Story where we feature the work of some independent filmmakers.

Today: Protesters.

Production notes from writer-director-producer Marty Lang:

My name is Marty Lang, and I’m a screenwriter and filmmaker from Queens, NY. I wrote, directed and produced a short film called PROTESTERS. I’ve worked in indie film since 2000, and I have an MFA in filmmaking from Florida State University. I also wrote, directed and produced a feature called Rising Star, that was acquired by Content Media Corporation for worldwide distribution last year. But I was a journalist before I got into film — I wrote for the New York Times after undergrad, and I still write for newspapers and magazines. (Including Script Magazine now and then.) I’ve worked as a film professor too — I spent seven years at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. I just moved to New York City in November, because I was accepted into the Made In New York Center by IFP, a transmedia startup incubator that helps storytellers bring their projects to life. I got in with a one-hour TV pilot I’m developing called Righting Darwin (@rightingdarwin).

My short film PROTESTERS was shot last summer, and is now available to watch on Vimeo. (This posting on GITS is actually the film’s world premiere!) I raised the budget through my production company, Catalyst Media, and we shot over three days in Bristol, Connecticut. (The home of ESPN!) Our cast and crew were all friends, family and frequent film collaborators — and 17 crew members were actually my former students. I used to be a film professor at Quinnipiac University, and I used to run the Connecticut Film Industry Training Program, a workforce development initiative to train Connecticut residents to work in film and television. Twelve crew members were FITP graduates, and five were my students at Quinnipiac.

Synopsis: An abortion clinic protester meets his match when a second protester arrives to support the women using the clinic’s services.

Cast:

Norm Golden — Neil
Michael Barra — Terry
Greg Nutcher — Officer Rogers
Emily Ide — Julia
John Noel — Young Man
Michelle Rae — Mother
Kendall Leary — Upset Teenager
Cathy Barra — Jennifer
Tiffany Lee Ferris — Sad Woman
Troy Walcott — Boyfriend
Ali Robins — Depressed Woman

Crew:

Marty Lang — Writer/Director/Producer
Michael Barra — Producer
Matthew Giovannucci — Producer
Greg Johnson, Dale Jasinski — Executive Producers
Cory C. Maffucci — Cinematographer
Maria Douglas — Production Designer
Adam Russo — Editor
Michael Andrew Cooney — Composer
Jonathan J. Abarca — Sound Designer
Shane Collins — Associate Producer/1st Assistant Camera/Jib Operator/Steadicam Operator
Johan Corilla — Associate Producer/1st Assistant Camera/Colorist
Magda Grover — Associate Producer/1st Assistant Director
Katharine McManus — Art Director
Jackie Zbuska — Makeup Artist
Lily Ziegler — 2nd Assistant Director
Malcolm Cameron — Sound Mixer/Boom Operator
Tristan Douglas — Key Grip
Rachel Garcia — Gaffer
Lauren Marszal — Wardrobe Supervisor
Sarah Trobaugh — Wardrobe Supervisor
Brandon Cole — Assistant Editor
Hannah Woomer — Script Supervisor
Alex O’Neill — Production Assistant
James W. Hawk — Standin

Here is the 10 minute film Protesters:

I asked each of the filmmakers in this month’s series to answer this question: What inspired you about this particular story to make it a movie? Marty’s answer:

The inspiration for PROTESTERS came from two places. The first was from my ex-girlfriend, who had an abortion before we met. Even though I wasn’t a part of her decision, hearing her story profoundly affected me. I wanted to tell a story that portrayed the strength of the women who have to make this choice. And the second was from my brother-in-law. We couldn’t be more different politically, and usually, I’m a pretty combative person when it comes to political and cultural debate. But we both decided family is stronger than ideology, so we don’t talk politics — and we have a great relationship as a result. That’s taught me a lot about being part of a family (and keeping your sanity), so I wanted to tell a story that addressed these types of hard conversations.

Marty’s Vimeo page here.

You may follow Marty on Twitter: @marty_lang.

Drop by Comments to give some feedback on Protesters.

Tomorrow: Another Movie You Made.

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