When filmmaker Dale Griffiths Stamos was in school, it was not unusual to return throughout or be concerned in a professor-student relationship. She’s seen, nevertheless, that within the wake of Title IX and the #MeToo motion, these relationships have turn into more and more taboo. Griffiths Stamos is a self-described feminist and Title IX supporter — however the Santa Barbara–based mostly author additionally likes to push the envelope. So, her upcoming characteristic movie Imbalance tackles this subject head-on, that includes an ethically ambiguous relationship between a professor and a graduate pupil.
Imbalance, which is at the moment within the pre-production stage, follows 50-year-old philosophy professor Elizabeth’s dilemma when she and her 38-year-old instructor’s assistant develop emotions for each other. The movie asks the questions: “Even when consensual, does the facility imbalance taint any such relationship? Are the tightening guidelines essential to guard everybody? Or do these guidelines go too far?”
Griffiths Stamos isn’t intent on offering absolute solutions to these questions, as she doesn’t see the problem as black and white. Fairly, she hopes the movie will spark dialogue about energy imbalance in relationships, particularly inside the ivory tower.
“The older technology of academia goes to have a look at this a technique, the youthful would possibly take a look at it a distinct means,” she stated. “I hope that I’ve proven sufficient sides of all of this, that not less than professors watching it will go, ‘Yeah, I acknowledge these points. I’ll not agree with the place the author got here down,’ or ‘Sure, I do agree with the place the author’s at with this. However I acknowledge that these are certainly the grey zones of this space.’”
In an effort to create a nuanced story and multidimensional characters, Griffiths Stamos regarded to her personal experiences for inspiration. “I really feel like I’m in all my characters,” she stated. However on this story of ardour versus motive, she particularly resonates with the character of Elizabeth. Each she and the character have been raised by an mental father who instilled inside them the worth of motive. Then, the remainder of the storytelling turns into a matter of “throwing rocks” on the characters.
“I discover myself questioning, you realize, what occurs to somebody whom I relate to so deeply once I put her in that state of affairs,” she stated. “It’s virtually such as you’re making an attempt to place your characters in essentially the most tough factor that would occur to them. That’s what you do as a author, that’s your job.”
Imbalance shall be Griffiths Stamos’ first characteristic movie, which “appeared just like the pure evolution” after creating six award-winning brief movies. In her decades-long profession, she’s additionally been nominated for a writing Emmy for a CBS Schoolbreak Particular, obtained rave opinions for her performs, and taught story construction workshops. “Dwell sufficient years and you may get rather a lot completed,” she stated.
After all, making a characteristic movie isn’t any easy activity. Imbalance shall be roughly eight occasions so long as her typical brief movies and would require much more cash to supply.
“It’s very daunting, essentially the most daunting half is elevating cash,” she stated. “It’s a complete different sport. It includes much more superior work. It includes much more stamina. You realize, doing a three-day shoot, versus a 21-day shoot, you actually must sustain your vitality. You need to sustain good emotions on set.”
Griffiths Stamos plans to shoot nearly all of scenes in Santa Barbara this coming February and March. Proper now, she and her crew are looking for native locations that may function espresso store and workplace places, in addition to catering and snack donations. Additionally they hope to accrue a principally Santa Barbara-based crew, with spots for a script supervisor and assistant director at the moment accessible.
Financial donations will assist pay the solid and crew, together with many technical bills. For extra details about the challenge, together with alternatives to get entangled, click on right here.
