PAGES IN THE WIND, 14min., USA
Directed by Lucas Haviland
As Bailey sits in the park, he starts to reminisce about his journal entries over the past month. Through flashes to these entries, Bailey and his boyfriend, Gavin, experience the various intricate elements of their relationship. All the while Bailey takes in the environment around him in the present day. When his best friend, Corrine, stops by to surprise him, they start to catch up on the past week. Bailey quickly remembers that his entries might be less realistic than he wants them to be. And that his roommate, Gavin, will probably never be the man he needs in his life.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The film's exploration of romantic love and the lengths someone would go to experience it are rooted in my own thoughts surrounding the lack of that kind of love in my life. The exploration and need to put an image to these thoughts and showcase yearning is what drives my motivation in making this film. All to answer the question: To what lengths will someone go to feel love? Seeing and working on the creative projects of my friends and classmates, this motivation was kept alive and continued to grow until the final results of the film that was screened at this festival.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took roughly a year and a half from idea to finished product; however, the idea itself was not something I entertained in executing and creating until about half a year after I wrote it. This put the pre-production, production, and post-production process at about a year, with plenty of bumps along the way.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Queer Yearning

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I think the biggest obstacle as a first-time director was handling the intimacy and the plan of action in the approach to it. While other obstacles like weather and crew members graduating all played their parts, the attention to detail and ensuring actor safety and comfortability was definitely a major obstacle that was worth working through and utilizing an intimacy coordinator to achieve the final product. As a director handling intimacy for the first time, I felt like I have grown in my understanding of both writing and working through intimate moments between characters.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Going into the audience feedback video, I was nervous solely because of my perfectionistic tendencies and the miniscule things I wanted to try to change. This quickly changed to excitement and general appreciation for the thoughts, praise, and constructive feedback from the audience. It was reassuring to hear about parts that I was hesitant about being well-received by the viewers and for the themes to come across even in the ambiguity of the film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I realized I wanted to make films and write for film and TV going into my senior year of high school. After coming out and starting to embrace my queer identity, I knew that I wanted to write and create stories that gave visibility to emotions and feelings that many people in the LGBTQ+ community experience. I also wanted to portray queerness in manners that were missing as I grew up. Not to mention, I realized that I wanted to use film and screenwriting as a medium to explore the intricacies of relationships (romantic, platonic, familial, etc.) and connections between people of all identities.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

For enjoyment, I watched The Hunger Games films, specifically The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, many times. In terms of films that have influenced my writing and work, Brokeback Mountain is a film that I consistently revisit.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I was very satisfied with my festival experience thus far and have appreciated the email communication and updating that takes place. I think it could be interesting if there was a way for other filmmakers who were voted on by the audience could get in contact with each other to talk about their films and respective creative processes.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It was pretty intuitive and user-friendly! I didn't have any issues submitting my project and filling out all of the information for the project file.

10. What is your favorite meal?

One of my favorite meals is a sushi platter of a variety of different rolls and seafood combinations.