Emmanuel Itier

GETAWAY

PanAfrican Film Festival.

With Director Stephanie Malson

By Emmanuel Itier and Roxanna Bina

In GETAWAY on the backdrop of a summer of civil unrest in the United States, a Jamaican immigrant gives her bullied young son and herself a reprieve with his first trip to her homeland. As they ease into the change of pace, Mom gets shocking news that forces her to make a life-changing decision. This short film from writer / producer Malaika Paquiot and director Stephanie Malson explores what it means to be a good mother in extraordinary times.

This film is an exploration of the interior lives of each character as they encounter challenges that force them to peel back the layers of their truth. It also raises a lot of questions. Where is a Black person safe? Where do we belong? What if the place you thought would help you reach your dreams becomes your prison? What sacrifices are you willing to make for your family and what’s the cost? These questions are subtly posed to the audience to encourage dialogue. 

Q: how did this project come together?

Stephanie: It was really the passion project from writer/producer Malaika Paquiot who put everything together. It came out of the love of storytelling and the dramatic story of this Jamaican immigrant woman who has moved to America as a single mother.

Q: Any types of challenges to get this film done?

Stephanie: Beyond the writing process and making sure we had a compelling story, we then had to put together a grand cast. It wasn’t that easy to find the perfect actors. But we were so lucky to find a real Jamaican with lead actress Melissa Kay Anderson. It was also challenging to shoot the film in two parts, one filmed in North Carolina and then the second in Jamaica.

Q: What is this film truly about for you? What are the themes within this inspiring short movie?

Stephanie: For me it’s a film dealing about “finding our safe space”.  And how do we define the notion of “home”. I think that the struggle this mother is facing in this story is the one met by a lot of single parents, particularly, single mothers. It shows how hard it is to get your kid in a safe place with all of the gun violence existing today in our society. It’s a universal theme to show a mother protecting at all costs, her child.

Q: Tell me about the importance of being in a film festival?

Stephanie: Festivals are so important for us. We are now being screened at the Pan African film festival. It’s a tremendous opportunity to get exposure as a director but also, it’s the opportunity to show a story that is not usually told. I’m looking forward to having deep conversation with the various audiences coming to watch our movie. Connection is key when you are in a film festival.

Q: Can this film talk to a vast diverse crowd?

Stephanie: Absolutely! It’s a universal message about a mother facing gun violence. And this is, sadly, happening everywhere in different forms. It’s also a great opportunity to be exposed to a different culture and humanize every culture on this planet, to find out what we have in common. At the heart of this story there is a longing for a safe space and that also universal. How we are raising children in society today is truly a global issue. Everyone needs to get involved. At the core we desire the same things: love, connection and a safe home.