The beauty in Cinema on the Bayou, Lafayette’s homegrown film festival created and curated by filmmaker Pat Mire, is variety. In selecting films for the week-long celluloid celebration, which commenced Wednesday at the Acadiana Center for the Arts and includes full-length narrative films, documentaries, shorts, animation, panel discussions and more, is how wide a net Mire casts in selecting entries.
Hundreds of original works will be screened during CotB’s annual haunt at the AcA and several satellite locations, most of them making either their U.S. or Louisiana debut. The Last New Year is no exception.
Clocking in at just over 14 minutes, this short rom/com focuses on Alyssa, a sexually starved 20-something determined to end her romantic drought on New Year’s Eve. The Last New Year is the creation of a serendipitous pairing of Chicagoans — director Natasha Parker, whose credits include Empire, Transformers 3 and serving as Spike Lee’s key assistant and location manager for Chiraq; and NK Gutierrez, a classically trained dancer, vocalist and actor who wrote the screenplay and stars as Alyssa.
The film was created by and stars African-American actors, but its themes are universally human.
The IND caught up with Parker and Gutierrez ahead of the film’s Louisiana premiere this Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8:45 p.m. at the AcA.
What brought you to direct this film? How did working on this film compare to some of your other short films?
Natasha Paker: NK and I have known of each other’s talents for years now. She wanted a female director first and foremost with a free spirit and open mind as the subject matter is one that is still taboo in some circles. I read the script and I was all in. It was a great comedic piece. Every woman has had to spruce themselves up for that hot date and every woman’s flame has been extinguished by a disappointing date. All my films I’m producing and directing, yet this time I was able to solely focus on directing. For once I didn’t have to worry about who was catering and if the Exhibit G was completed, invoices. It was great, I shut everything out of my mind except what was in front of the camera.
What made you decide to submit to Cinema on the Bayou?
NP: Better yet why not submit? The history and the growth is of that independent filmmaker/supporter spirit and being that NK and I are cut from that market, it was a match. Our film is a bit racy for some and it takes an open-minded festival and audience to appreciate this piece.
What was the inspiration behind TLNY? Is there a message to the single women of the audience? If so, what?
NK Gutierrez: The inspiration for the script came from a variety of different stories and personal experiences coupled with my wild imagination. I wanted to create a piece that highlighted dating life from the female perspective in the age of “computer love.” The single gal is living in a time where dating is a consistent reminder that love at first swipe may not be love at first sight! The message behind TLNY is multi-layered. There is a lot that happens in this film in 14 minutes. Women watching TLNY will connect in different ways but will all circle back to the central theme that dating is tough. No matter what you bring to the table in terms of looks, life experience or finances, none of us are immune to falling face first into a dating disaster.
Why a short film as opposed to the traditional film length?
NKG: TLNY was the first script I had ever written. I wanted to start with a project that I felt was feasible to produce with the intention of garnering interest and support to create the feature length. I ultimately intend to make TLNY into an animated series. Alyssa, the main character, is on a hilarious journey that she invites her audience in to experience right along with her. The short is only her beginning!
How did seeing the first African-American female director win the Sundance Film Festival motivate you to do more? And do you think TLNY will inspire others to do the same?
NKG: It is said that, “In order to believe it, one must see it.” Sundance 2012 was the epitome of seeing is believing for me. There is something to be said for having role models who look like you. It shifts your thinking, stirs your spirit, strengthens your faith, broadens your perspective of what is attainable. When I saw Ava DuVernay win, I thought, “Why not me?” My hope is that when woman see my film, TLNY, that was written, produced, directed, script supervised and set decorated by women, that it will not only encourage them to use their creative voice, but moreover inspire them to support and work with like-minded women to create meaningful stories told from our unique female perspective.
IND intern Amy Dupuis contributed to this article.