(gentle music) - Welcome to "TV Film."

I'm Jermaine Wells.

"TV Film" showcases the talents of upstate New York media-makers across all genres.

In this episode, we present two short narratives by Capitol Region filmmakers.

After leaving the funeral of her late husband, an elderly woman finds herself dancing for joy at her long lost freedom.

"Time Skipping" is directed by Elisheva novella.

- Funny enough, the character was intended to be the older version of myself.

If I were to lead a life according to what the world set up for me, then I could just waste my whole life and find myself at the end of it looking back and feeling like all of it was essentially meaningless, which is kind of where the title of "Time Skipping" comes up.

It's the idea of skipping ahead in time because in childhood you are fully entirely yourself.

And then at the end of life you might have that chance to be yourself again.

But all through the middle, what if you just lived all of that worrying about, "What am I supposed to do next?

What am I expected to do?"

I mean, growing up I was always kind of a weird girl.

I mean, I think a lot of people felt that way.

But definitely watching the media, I didn't really see a lot of characters that I related to.

That extreme individualism that we don't always get to explore, because those are the most interesting people, right?

Like, we want to know more about them.

So why not let them be the main character?

I am interested in telling stories about.

quote, unquote, crazy women.

I think throughout history, so many of the women who had passions, who tried, who cared, and who stood up for themselves were deemed crazy.

And there's something about a woman who's just completely in the deepest depths of her emotions that we're still so afraid of.

And that's something that I like to depict.

(wind rushing) (animals chirping) - Freedom is the one thing that he never gives us here on earth.

He gives us love, he gives us hope.

He even gives us the ability to fight off those who wish to harm us.

But these all have their retributions.

Life would be too simple if good always came of good.

He watches the struggle, tests us.

But in the promised land, freedom lives.

Clint Haversham is now free, and his beloved wife has the honor of enclosing him in her gentle, loving hand, just as she may have done many times during his time here.

Till her death do they part.

(wind rushing) (crow cawing) (soft dramatic music) (wind blowing) (footsteps approaching) (soft dramatic music) (soft upbeat music) - [Clerk] How's it going in there?

Do you need anything?

- Thank you, dear.

I'm just looking.

- All right, just letting you know we're closing in about 15 minutes.

(soft upbeat music) Oh, well, that looks great on you.

Oh, hun... Hun, you never changed.

Excuse me.

(soft upbeat music) Hello?

I'm gonna need some help.

(wind blowing) (animals chirping) (upbeat jazz music) (soft whimsical music) (suspenseful music) (liquid pouring) (door creaks open) (suspenseful music) (woman screams) (police officer knocks on door) - Hello.

(police officer knocks on door) It's the city police.

Just here to ask questions about a robbery.

(soft dramatic music) (animals chirping) - Next in, "You're So Shy."

Reyna struggles to come to terms with a recent sexual assault.

Through cheer practice, she learns to confront her trauma.

Director Ember AutumnSkye and producer Jack Colin share the experience making the film.

(upbeat music) - So "You're So Shy" was gonna be my senior project for college.

And then unfortunately because of COVID, school shut down and it was pretty devastating at first.

But I mean, it offered a really unique opportunity to come back home and pursue the film there.

And actually it was a really good divine intervention because that's where I was able to find the 518 Film Network and kind of meet people there.

I wanted to make something that added to the conversation of sexual assault awareness and kind of change the narrative of to what's seen or portrayed of sexual assault in film.

But it's also about like advocating for yourself and advocating for your pain and healing and taking those first steps.

'Cause that's the most important part of healing, is taking the first steps towards that goal, which is the hardest part.

- Filmmakers have focused on the violence of sexual assault and not focused on the recovery of it and knowing what someone's going through when they experience that traumatic experience.

And Ember was very focused on making sure that this wouldn't trigger anybody and just not focus on the actual event and rather the recovery, the coping, the community around healing.

- When writing, especially with Reyna's character, I mean, Reyna is me and I was trying to write a film almost for my younger self.

Oh, "You're So Shy" is kind of like a coming of age.

So I think that that also puts the audience in a different seat.

I think it's something that we can all relate to when you see a coming of age film.

I think at the premiere we had like a pretty good turnout, which I'm very grateful for everybody who came.

Yeah, it was really nice.

But definitely there was like a really...

It was emotional, I would say, at the end.

I mean, it was emotional for me for sure.

- Not only was everybody super happy and supportive of Ember but there was almost this silence that was really impactful.

- Sexual assault awareness is not going anywhere, and it shouldn't go anywhere.

That's a conversation that we need to keep having.

- We live in a really high-paced environment in life now where everything's a trend.

And during the #MeToo movement, there was a really huge sense of community of women coming together and speaking about their issues, and it felt a little bit like it started to fall out of trend just because there's other things that we have to discuss that's just as important.

But it's not a trend, it's something that is dealt with on a daily basis and that we have to continue fighting for and bringing awareness to.

(soft dramatic music) (soft dramatic music) - [Man] Good, Reyna.

Don't be so shy.

(soft dramatic music) - Hey, girl.

Why are you here so early?

- [Reyna] Hey, no reason.

- You're so funny at that party on Friday.

Are you mad at me or something?

- No.

- Are you mad about the party?

I didn't mean to ditch you.

I swear it was so crowded.

I could hardly find the door to leave.

- I know.

- [Coach] Hey, ladies, what's up?

How are you?

- Good.

(indistinct chattering) - Hey guys, we're going right into practice today, so start stretching and make your way to your spots.

(indistinct chattering) - [Girl] We need to do like a team building practice or something, but no one listens to us.

- [Coach] Let's start with stunts.

Reyna's group go up first.

- [Girl] Yeah, team building.

Strengthen all.

(indistinct chattering) - [Girl] Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four.

- [Coach] Reyna, you okay?

- Yeah.

- [Coach] What happened?

- Nothing.

It was me.

My fault, sorry.

- [Coach] Okay, figure it out, grab some water, and we'll run it again.

- [Maya] What was that about?

- She didn't catch my foot.

- Why didn't you say something?

Is your ankle okay?

- Just forget it.

(soft dramatic music) (indistinct chattering) - [Maya] The bows.

- [Coach] Before I forget, come up and grab your bows for the walk.

(soft dramatic music) (indistinct chattering) - Look at it.

It's so pretty.

- [Reyna] Yeah.

- Grabbed you one.

- Thanks.

(soft dramatic music) (indistinct chattering) - Pound Me Too.

Sounds kind of suss, if you ask me.

(girls chuckle) - Everybody good?

Yeah, Megan?

- I've decided I'm gonna speak at the walk, so I'm gonna be a little late.

(soft dramatic music) - Okay, let's talk now quick.

(soft dramatic music) (indistinct chattering) - Reyna, what the (censored)?

Is that from yesterday?

- Yeah.

- That doesn't look good.

Did you tell coach?

- No.

- Comp is in three weeks.

What are you gonna do?

- I don't know.

- You have to tell someone when you're in pain.

- It's fine, Maya.

- Are you gonna?

(indistinct chattering) (suspenseful music) (muffled indistinct chattering) (door opens and closes) - Infestation of volleyball girls in there.

- Okay, let's run it.

(soft upbeat music) ♪ One, two, three, go ♪ (upbeat music) (Reyna whines in pain) (upbeat music) (indistinct chattering) - [Girl] Stop.

- [Reyna] Stop.

- [Girl] No, wait.

- No.

(indistinct chattering) (soft dramatic music) - Reyna, what's going on?

- My ankle hurts and I'm tired.

- Fine.

Everyone's tired.

All right, y'all, we're gonna end practice a little early tonight.

Tomorrow we're gonna meet here at eight and take a bus to the park.

Everyone should be there.

If not, it'll count as a strike.

Don't forget your bows.

And please, get some sleep.

(soft dramatic music) - Reyna.

Hey.

- Hey.

- How bad is it?

- Oh, it's fine.

- [Girl] Let me see.

- It's okay.

(soft dramatic music) - It's bad, huh?

(soft dramatic music) It's gonna be okay.

- I don't know what to do.

The walk is tomorrow.

And comp is coming up.

- You need to let this heal.

(soft dramatic music) - Learn more about the films and filmmakers in this season of "TV Film" at wmht.org/tvfilm.

And be sure to connect with WMHT on social media.

I'm Jermaine Wells.

(upbeat music) (dramatic music) - [Announcer] "TV Film" is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislature.