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Title: Runaways
Runtime: 9 min
Country: USA
Director: Damany Mayfield
Writer: Jamila Smith
Placement: Honorable Mention
Competition: June, 2016
Synopsis: Runaways is a story of four girls who come from completely different backgrounds, but come together when they escape a traumatic and horrendous encounter. Meet Rianna who is from Phoenix. She has a face of an angel, but a rough- around- the- edges mentality with a mean streak. Rianna is never afraid to defend herself if others stand in her way. Yet she truly has a soft heart when it comes to protecting her family and receiving attention from her lover, who has the perfect touch. Simone is a naïve diva from Los Angeles who has many odds against her: a striking beauty that girls envy and a smoking body that guys kill to tamper with. Despite that dilemma, she engages in her art work to escape from any drama that threatens her. All she wants is security with her family and acceptance from her rough neck boyfriend, Jamal. Amy is often perceived as the “perfect Malibu Barbie” from Beverly Hills. She has many secrets and struggles to be heard. Instead, she decides to bottle them inside and has strange outbursts when she finally releases her demons. At other times she remains in her private world since most people don’t seem to understand her. Melanie is an edgy red head with a sultry vibe. She knows all about the hard knocks of working the streets of the slummy side of Santa Monica. She stays determined when it comes to hustling and scheming others who stand in her way. Yet, internally, Melanie struggles with confronting her fears and fights the urge of running from her past. With these different dynamics, the girls have just one thing in common: searching for personal security. But with such different pasts, can these teens learn to bond and support each other through the brutal storms of hard times? Or do they fall for the temptation of chasing fast money, indulging in promiscuity, and tampering in crimes that can have them on the constant run forever? Enjoy the suspenseful events and tear-jerking relationships these ladies encounter in Runaways.
OR: What was the inspiration for your film?
JS: I wanted to bring my novel Runaways to screen. I realized that our youth needs to have a story they can relate to; however having an animated version would make a better impact as opposed to just reading the book. I figured that I could reach my target audience (teen girls & young adult women) better if I had an actual production.
OR: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?
JS: My idea of putting Runaways on screen occurred after producing the book trailer version. Then, I went to a conference and became inspired by talking with other artists. It was amazing! That’s when I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue it to the next level. This success occurred within two years.
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?
JS: My challenges were that I was operating on an extremely low budget, not having the connections (producers & directors) that I needed, living in a small city while having this big dream, and balancing two jobs while taking classes. It was tough! Because this process took me much longer than I had expected, but I always prioritized and did whatever it took to make it happen.
OR: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?
JS: The most challenging aspect was that I had to do everything on my own. I had to recruit cast and crew members on my own, including props. Then it was tough getting approval to use locations for filming because of liability issues. But it was fun! I actually enjoy doing pre- production work now. It doesn’t seem as overwhelming now.
OR: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?
JS: My advice is to do your homework. Allow yourself extra time and expect things to move at a slow pace, but don’t give up! It’s all part of the process and you’ll be glad that you did! Especially if this is a project that is coming out of your budget that is slim to none. You will feel like a huge success! As for recruiting people to help, you may need to think outside the box at times, so don’t be scared.