Logline: A girl sits on a park bench to relive a moment in time and all of her fears are taken away through a chance meeting with a stranger.
About the Film: “And Then She Was Gone” is a narrative short filmed in Savannah, GA. The story focuses on a young woman who meets a mysterious older woman in a park. She engages the woman in conversation and finds that the woman is both the key to her past and the mystery of her future. Inspired by Italian cinema, the films quality is that of a dream, set to the backdrop of Spanish moss, and a town textured with ghosts and nostalgia. The message of the film is simple: life is sometimes too short and bittersweet.
About the Directors: Jacqueline Pennewill is Director of the 57th Street/Showcase Theatre in New York City as well as a film actress and aspiring screenwriter. Her scripts have been in competition at Nantucket and Slamdance. This is her first time stepping behind the camera. In addition, she penned the script for “And Then She Was Gone”. She also teaches acting in the New York area.
Pete Konczal is a cinematographer whose credits include the prolific short “Bullet in the Brain” (winner of the Hypnotic Million Dollar Film Festival) and the Feature Film “Urbania” (Sundance 2000/Lion’s Gate Films). His commercial credits include Maybelline, Sony, Calvin Klein, Izod, Phillips Van Huesen, Nestle, and Bacardi. He has been featured in American Cinematographer, FilmMaker Magazine, Kodak In Camera, and International Documentary Magazine.
Director’s Statement When one sets out to make a film, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is why? Why make the film in the first place? We don’t think it’s an easy question to answer, and we pondered it for some time. Obviously, if you don’t have much to say, why would you make the film. I guess we found we had much to say, but in the end we discovered our purpose of making this film was to challenge our audiences to think and feel. It might sound like a simple answer, but it’s not. Why? Again, there’s the word. Well, because you have to pay attention when you watch it. There’s much symbolism and much subtext here.
Don’t pay attention and you might miss it, or perhaps you might want to watch it again because you were intrigued, and had questions…of course we’d love that, and it seems like that’s what’s happening….we’ve engaged people. Our favorite films are those that make you think…Wild Strawberries, The Conformist, The Fountain, Miller’s Crossing…movies that get better with each viewing…where each viewing opens another door. We hope that when you watch “And Then She Was Gone” you might find yourself asking questions not just about the film, but about yourself, and the relationships that were most important to you. The people that touched you the most, and why it seems there’s that one special time in our lives that we always go back to.
Quotes/Press: “A small group of visual storytellers with a shared vision came together to create a short film that touches the soul. All the elements are there. The story, performances, vision of the director and artful cinematography are threads in the fabric of a story that touches the soul. The conclusion l eft me wanting to see more, especially a happy ending. Hopefully, ’And Then She was Gone’ is the first step on a journey to a dream.”
Bob Fisher – American Cinematographer Magazine
“A beautiful film…visual poetry”
John David Allen – Merchant Ivory Pictures
"The sense of space and style and movement and rhythm in the film is just gorgeous."
John Columbus – Director of the Black Maria Film Festival
Awards: The Black Maria Film Festival – Winner Director’s Choice Award San Francisco Woman’s Film Festival – Winner Best Drama Award
Finalist: USA Film Festival Moondance Film Festival Official Selection: Vail Film Festival The Garden State Film Festival Hearts & Minds Film Festival RealHeART International Film Festival Avignon - France Stony Brook Film Festival Solstice Film Festival Rome International Film Festival Rhode Island Film Festival LA Shorts Fest Santa Fe – Just accepted for competition Sedona – Just accepted for competition
The Cast: Young Woman: Jacqueline Pennewill Woman in Disguise: Diana Scarwid Young Girl in Park: Rachel St. Gelais Mom of Young Girl in Park: Lena Kelly Daughter in Memories: Renee St.Gelais Mom in Memories: Judit Fekete
Producers: Tom Ellis Harvey Ray Layla Parker
Co-Producers: Zack Galler Nick Demas
Crew: Director of Photography: Pete Konczal Production Designer: Adrina Garibian Editor: Hugo Buffino Composer: Clint Mansel & Michael Andrews Colorist: Clark Muller Sound Design: Gary Arnold Writer: Jacqueline Pennewill
Gaffer: Zack Galler Key Grip: Andres Karu 1st AC: Nick Demas 2nd AC: George Alvarez
Technical Specs: Running Time: 6:40 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Formats: Super 35mm and Super 16mm Finished Master: HD CAM, DIGI BETA, BETA SP, DVD DVD: NTSC Region 1 Contact: Jacqueline Pennewill (732) 682-7374 Pete Konczal (646) 765-5300
