Local Filmmakers April Maxey & Summer Czajak On Their New Short Project, “This Is You And Me”
A night of spontaneity, an intense connection between two people who’ve just met, and the challenges that follow — it’s a story just about everyone can relate to. And it’s the story that two South Slope neighbors are exploring, through the female perspective, in their new short film project.
Queer filmmaker couple April Maxey and Summer Czajak recently launched a Kickstarter to help fund the production of This Is You And Me, a film that explores the beginnings of a toxic relationship between a lesbian couple in Auburn, New York.
The screenplay — the first the pair has written together — has already received some praise, as it was selected for the 2015 Berlinale Talents Short Film Station, a writing and development lab in Germany put on by the Berlinale. Currently in pre-production for a shoot at the end of May, we caught up with the two women to find out more about the project, their background in film, where to get excellent tamales in the neighborhood, and more.
SSN: Tell us a little about the project — what inspired you to make this film, and why do you feel it’s important that you get it made?
April: “This Is You and Me” is a short film that follows a detached Marie (Alexandra Miller) one night in Auburn, New York. At a bar, Susie (Ellen Toland), a charismatic, slightly devious young woman, instantly intrigues Marie. Sensing each other’s urge for a night of spontaneity, the two immediately hit it off. However the night takes a volatile turn when their intense connection triggers an unexpected reaction within Susie.
Well we are always interested in telling stories with queer female protagonists, because there is such a lack of representation of them. But we also wanted to make a story where being gay wasn’t a challenge for the character that they had to overcome. I had always been intrigued by this toxic relationship Summer had when she lived upstate many years ago, and creating a film inspired by that I think gave us a way to make very interesting complex characters who happen to be two queer women.
The film explores a toxic relationship between two women, and you yourselves are in a relationship — how challenging was it to write, since I’m guessing you are in a pretty healthy relationship?
April: The writing process was very collaborative. Basically Summer had all of these experiences of a toxic relationship and I would figure out how to draw from them and which ones work for the story. I feel like so much of being a director is just listening to other people’s stories and experiences. I thing being in a toxic relationship is a very common thing that many people go through, and I was fascinated by what that compelling moment is like when you know you want to go on this wild ride with this person.
Summer: The fact that we have a healthy relationship is what made writing this story possible, especially since the story is based off a past relationship of mine. Most couples don’t want to explore the details of the others past relationships, but April was actually intrigued by the story and suggested making a film about it. It was easier to craft the narrative with April as a co-writer, because I was hanging onto parts of the story that were unnecessary for the film. She cracked the whip on me and made me give some things up and the result was a stronger narrative.
Speaking of working together, this isn’t the first time you two have done so. What are the other films you’ve made together, and how has your process grown over time?
April: This is the third short film project we have worked on together. Our previous shorts have played all across the world on the queer festival circuit, including at Outfest, Newfest, and Frameline. “Polaroid Girl,” our last short film, won 6 awards, including “Best International Narrative Short” and “Best Actress” at Kashish Mumbai Queer Film Festival, and “Best Screenplay” at Sicilia Queer Film Fest. I directed and wrote our first two films and Summer was the producer. “This is You and Me” was inspired by events in Summer’s life so we co-wrote the film together, which is great because I think it will definitely be our best project so far.
When you’re not making films, what are you up to, for work or for fun, or both?
April: I do a lot of camera work for work, which is also fun. I also paint on the side, which is why I am offering custom dog portraits for our Kickstarter backers! We went on the Park Slope Art Walk last year and it was so cool to see how many talented artists there are in the neighborhood! Many who have probably lived her for at least as long as Summer.
Summer: When I’m not writing and producing independent projects I work in advertising as a broadcast producer at a small agency called True North.
How long have you lived in South Slope? What brought you here, and what keeps you here?
Summer: I’ve lived in South Slope, in the same apartment, for about 14 years. A Craigslist ad for a roommate is what brought me here, but when I started exploring the area it instantly felt like home. I loved living so close to Prospect Park and hanging out at the Tea Lounge on 7th Avenue, which no longer exists. My first night here I went to a bar called Ginger’s and I’m still friends with the people I met there on that first night. I very much consider South Slope my home. I’ve lived here longer than I have lived anywhere else in my life.
What’s your favorite hidden gem in the neighborhood?
Summer: My favorite hidden gem in the neighborhood is Sandy’s Cafe. They just opened up about 3 months ago [Editor’s note — same name as the old Sandy’s, but with new owners]. I met one of the owners, Gigi, in a local dog park one morning and she invited me over to her cafe for some homemade flan. I took her up on that offer and had such a good experience that I’ve become a regular. The owners are the sweetest people you will ever meet and everything in their cafe is homemade including the tamales and empanadas, and the pie from real fruit. The cafe itself is very cute with indoor and outdoor seating and the the husband, who is an artist, is in the process of painting some murals on the wall.
April: I am originally from San Antonio, Texas, so I was so excited to discover a place with delicious homemade tamales around the corner from us! It’s on 16th St between 5th and 6th.
Anything else you’d like neighbors to know?
April: We are always interested in meeting new cool creative people, especially women! We go to Ginger’s a lot (we shot a scene from our last film in there), so have a beer with us there, or grab a coffee at Sandy’s with us!
Summer: Also check out our Kickstarter for the film!