5Q: Mary Haverstick / HOME
Posted by CQ Central
Mary Haverstick directs HOME
1Q: Tell us a little about the origins of HOME, from writing to financing.
I became interested in exploring, through fiction, why my mother may have become fascinated with an old house, fascinated enough to write a short story about it…. Why this house? What could it have meant to her? What does a house you are obsessed with represent? What came out of my imaginings was a exploration of the meaning of one’s “home”, from the one we grow up in to the new one we create for ourselves… both being full of love, pain, joy and misunderstandings.
As to finding backing, I was well known for my film work in my region but had few national film industry connections so I went with my strength which was local and regional support and one of the greatest joys of the projects has been to have had so many people believe in what you set out to do.
2Q: How did you attract Marcia Gay Harden to this project?
First was bringing on board our casting director, Eve Battaglia, who is one of those rare finds. She truly loved the script and having recently cast Transamerica with an Oscar nominated lead performance in a very small indie she was able to get the script in the right hands quickly. We both felt Marcia would be perfect and sent a script with all fingers crossed. To our amazement word came back from her team that she also had a daughter, Eulala Scheel who acts and was the right age for the part of the daughter. I think the opportunity for Marcia to work closely with Eulala in a challenging drama was important to her. As you can imagine, a champagne bottle was uncorked the day Marcia said yes to the role.
3Q: What was your best and/or worst experience while making HOME?
There was a moment in a scene in the first week of filming where Marcia was embodying every nuance of the character in a very delicate scene and what she brought to it was beyond even my imaginings of what it could be, that moment for me was transporting. That moment was a first of many.
I think wanting every moment of a film to live up to it’s potential, and those moments where you feel you hit a limit, be it budgetary, time, or your own limit as an artist make for those low points. Making a film is not for the faint of heart.
4Q: Festival audiences often have to make hard decisions about what to see, and the catalog descriptions sometimes run together. In your own words, why should people see your film?
There are people out there who are longing for films that are textured, layered, nuanced and not formulaic. The word I hear about HOME most is that it is beautiful, but in that beauty there is also great pain. It follows generations of mothers and daughters… and women’s hearts and souls are not often exposed in Hollywood. This film contains poetry…. if that doesn’t scare you off then by all means please come in and see my film!
5Q: The current market for independent films is fractured, to put it lightly, and existing distribution models grow more ineffective with each passing moment. What are your hopes or plans for distribution?
It is scary out there these days and each film should get its chance, but today many worthy ones don’t. The Film Gods have recently smiled upon HOME as we have just signed a US Theatrical, broadcast and DVD deal with a lovely and dedicated company, Monterey Media. In recent years they have navigated quality indies through the tangle of this difficult industry to an audience and they love HOME and are excited to position it. I think festivals like Cinequest who take chances on films that are not yet with distribution (many do not realize how many big fests don’t) are so important these days. I tip my hat to those who are truly giving worthy films a platform.
Home showtimes at Cinequest 19
Tags: DRAMA, HOME, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Haverstick.
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