Hi! My name is Rita Avellar. I'm from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a US resident since 2015. But my story with the US goes back to 1994 when I was an exchange student in South Bend, Indiana. The Fat Lady is my debut project as a filmmaker. Writing and telling thought-provoking and emotionally resonant stories has always been my passion. Since I first learned to read and write, I’ve been driven to create—stories, poems, and ideas—sharing my imagination through words. Reflecting on my life, creativity has always been at its core. However, it was this very creativity that led me down various professional paths, ultimately diverting me from my true calling. The Fat Lady short film is based on a short story I created in 2013 when studying Creative Writing at UCSD in San Diego, California. This short story was selected as one of the best among other stories and being the only immigrant and Latina woman in the class, that was a surprise. Because of this story, I was invited to be part of a writers' group in San Diego and it made me think how amazing this story would be on screen as a short film. After seven years of keeping this idea tucked away in a drawer, I finally decided to bring it to life. The Fat Lady is set to make a profound impact on the world!

The Fat Lady - The film serves as a fable highlighting how society falls ill by failing to understand and accept differences, neglecting to help others, and turning a blind eye to those around us. It also aims to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. While addressing these critical issues, the film blends drama and comedy, using sarcasm to tackle sensitive topics in an engaging and thought-provoking manner. I believe that art can change the world. Could be through a book, film, play, painting, or poem. It doesn't matter the media chosen, but how we expose ideas and make us think.

This story can impact a lot of people, especially women. The same way that impacted 20 people who read it for the first time when it was a short story. A story that can also impact the international audience, since the main theme is universal. The main character in the story feels invisible to society and does not see that there are other differences as well, even around her. She just wanted to be recognized, to be called by her name and not nicknames about her appearance. This comes from her mother who made her believe that her body with more volume was inappropriate and she was increasingly justified by eating compulsively since it brought comfort and pleasure at the same time. She sees other fat women who are proud of their bodies on social media, but she can't identify with them. The audience can relate to the story from multiple perspectives, whether as the person being bullied or as the one committing the aggression. This theme of difference is explored through various viewpoints, reflecting how society perceives itself. The symbol of the fat woman represents broader issues like racial discrimination, homophobia, or machismo. It is a symbol, not a commentary on weight itself. The goal is to provoke thought and reflection on these critical issues.