Halfway There: The Journey of Filming "The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to Be Called by Her Name"

Hi all! This is Rita Avellar, the writer and director of The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to Be Called by Her Name. I can't believe that I am writing this post to tell you that we have completed 4 out of 8 days of filming already. Yay!!

Filming Day # 4

It is not easy to make an indie movie, but we are doing it! We've had 4 days of shooting, 6 different locations, and a dedicated team of actors and crew. Taking care of, organizing, directing, and making this happen is no joke—kudos to us! Here you can see how fun (and crazy) this experience has been so far!

Do you want to help us? Go to this link and make a tax-deductible donation or a PayPal donation. Also, share with a friend or local business that would love to be part of this community-minded project, just like all these collaborators have done.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6a00a2_82113059fa8945a18ac14677cf091db9/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Breaking News: "The Fat Lady" Gains Fiscal Sponsorship for a Brighter Future!

Hey there, dear readers! Today, we're thrilled to share some exhilarating news. Our short film, "The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to Be Called by Her Name," has achieved a major milestone - fiscal sponsorship by the wonderful non-profit, From the Heart Productions!

This sponsorship opens new doors for us, making donations to our project not only an investment in independent filmmaking but also an opportunity for you to enjoy tax deductions. Your support has never been more valuable in bringing our heartfelt project to life.

But let's rewind a bit and dive into the story behind this extraordinary project. It all started a decade ago when "The Fat Lady" was nothing more than a creative spark. This short story was my final project during my Creative Writing class at UCSD back in 2013. To my delight, it was recognized as one of the top projects out of a pool of 20, igniting a dream within me to transform it into a short film.

Fast forward to seven years later, after careful nurturing and guidance from my writing mentor, Ingrid Zavarezzi, we transformed that dream into a reality. Teaming up with local producer Sam Pittman, we delved into the world of casting and pre-production, piecing together the elements of this project.

However, fate had a twist in store for us. In less than a year, news of breast cancer came crashing into our lives, disrupting our creative journey. While conquering this formidable battle, I crossed paths with Taisa Mundy, who stepped in as the executive producer. Through the storm of treatment, we persevered, and now, after completing this challenging chapter, I'm thrilled to rekindle our project.

The stars aligned perfectly as we received word of our fiscal agency sponsorship, and this event marked a significant turning point. To celebrate, we gathered our entire cast for our very first reading - both in person and online.

This project's journey has been filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. It's a testament to the incredible power of perseverance, dreams, and the strength of community. The excitement and gratitude that fill my heart are immeasurable, and I want you to be part of this incredible adventure.

If you're as thrilled as we are and would like to contribute, visit the link here to make a tax-deductible donation. Every little bit counts and brings us one step closer to sharing "The Fat Lady" with the world.

A heartfelt thanks to the cast Katherine Hudson, Phillip McFarland, Caitlin Skinner, and Kim Lea Mays for being part of this amazing journey! Your support means the world to us. 💛

📸 Photo credit: @noblesville.sports.photography

We are back!

Hi! This is Rita Avellar here, the creator and writer of The Fat Lady film. I want to share a quick story and some news.

Here is a video and you can also, read it below.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6a00a2_8ef7f481abfc415bb6ea213a27fc40f0/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Since last year we've been posting about the short film project The Fat Lady here and there and how exciting this project is to me, as a writer and newbie filmmaker, but also, to everyone involved somehow and in different ways. As I mentioned once, it takes a village to raise funding for a film, even if it is a short film.

As we were approaching the funding party to raise the money to make a great film with the quality and care I always wanted for this story written in 2013, I received the news nobody wanted to receive, breast cancer. And then, everything went upside down in my personal life and of course, in my professional life. That was in June this year and since then, I started the treatment, which is expected to finish the whole process in March 2023.

When I was sure I will need to wait to finish the cancer process to continue with this dearest project, here comes a person that took my hand and said "hey, let me help you!". This person is my friend Taisa Mundy. She is a hands-on executive producer that likes to be involved in every step of the filmmaking process and has a long experience in different areas of the entertainment industry. Taisa started getting together other fierce women like her, to help me make this project happen. Because of this movement, a website dedicated to this short film project was created to concentrate all the information, news and of course, a way to donate to the film. You go here to learn more about each person in this powerful crew, that believes in the main message of this film: respect and acceptance of the different!

Feel free to share it with your friends! More news to come! Thank you!!

And don't forget! Please, donate now to our film!