A Year in the Making: The Story Behind The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to Be Called by Her Name

I can’t believe that in just 20 days, it will be one year since we shot the first day of The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to Be Called by Her Name.

"Shouldn’t it be ready by now?"

"Didn’t you plan to premiere it last year here in Indy?"

"Weren’t you going to submit it to film festivals this year?"

Trust me, I would have loved to follow the original plan. But here's what I've learned these last 3 years: Plans are important, but letting go and trusting the Universe, God, or whatever source you believe in is just as important. 

As someone who tends to control everything (and I mean EVERYTHING), letting go has been tough, but I'm learning. Slowly. 😅

The journey hasn’t been easy—believing in myself to make this film happen, finding resources, building a team, and overcoming two cancers within two years. I’d say I’ve done pretty good so far.

This image was taken today as I’m (re)starting to look over the first draft that the beloved Rafael sent me in June—right before I had to pause everything due to unexpected surgeries. When I saw it again, even without color correction and other final touches, I couldn’t help but tear up. It’s just... amazing.

Indie film is for the brave. It’s for those who want to shake the status quo and make a difference by telling stories that are sometimes hard to tell.

Yes - You can still help finish it. Donate now!

The Fat Lady - Filming Day #5: A Memorable Milestone at Ann's Restaurant

Last Saturday, July 6th was our fifth day of filming for "The Fat Lady - She Just Wanted to be Called by Her Name," and it took place at the lovely Ann's Restaurant. The day consisted of about 6 hours of filming, an hour for lunch, and two hours for decorating and unpacking. I had only slept for four hours the night before, trying to put everything together, knowing it would be a long day with one of the biggest scenes involving many actors and extras.

That's a wrap!

Despite the challenges, we pulled it off perfectly. There was something in the air on this day that I couldn’t quite explain—a feeling of happiness and accomplishment. I wasn’t the only one feeling it; right after we wrapped up, I received messages from everyone sharing the same sentiment. There was something special about the day, a great sense of achievement.

This incredible day wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of each cast and crew member, as well as local businesses like Ann's Restaurant, which kindly provided us with the location. Special thanks to the owner, Diana, who not only offered the space but also played one of the extras! 😉

As we continue this journey, we still need donations to complete the entire process of making this film. Please visit www.thefatladyfilm.com/donate and support us. With three more days of filming to go, we need your collaboration to bring this story to life.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this project so far. Your support means the world to us!

Stay tuned for more updates,

Rita

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.