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An Interview with Honey Lauren, Director of Wives of the Skies

by Mike Haberfelner

April 2020

Films directed by Honey Lauren on (re)Search my Trash

 

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Your new movie Wives of the Skies - in a few words, what is it about?

 

Wives of the Skies is a romantic dramedy set in 1965 starring two stewardesses, Fran and Marcy, from Fine Air, a well-appointed airline. One evening, after work at their stewardess hotel, they befriend Derrick, a British photojournalist who wants to interview them as “subjects” for his “documentary film”. As stewardesses Fran and Marcy are interviewed, they are revealed as very different from what Derrick ever hoped for or could possibly have expected… 

 

As they get to know each other, Wives of the Skies makes a contemporary socio-cultural statement regarding the meme of “the good girl, drawn bad”. Wives of the Skies clarifies the impact of the overarching “men’s gaze” which objectifies women as carnal sex objects men seek, while they look for love. Along the way, addressing the primitive issue of trust vs. mistrust, Wives of the Skies displays the Japanese art of rope binding, Kinbaku.

 

What were your sources of inspiration when writing Wives of the Skies?

 

When someone I worked with sent me a link to ebay to look at vintage stewardess outfits from the 60’s, I was kind of blown away by what I saw. These outfits were highly collectable, expensive and being bought, sold and bid on almost exclusively by men - this just screamed “fetish” to me, and perhaps that is where I folded in the Kinbaku. I did my research on aviation and the origins of sewardesses, and was so very intrigued by the history. I found these woman to be so very bold and dare I say brave to decide on a career that not only they had to choose over motherhood but also one that brought them so far from home, all during a time when woman were expected to be mothers not career people. I found all of this very inspiring and eventful.

 

To me, Wives of the Skies takes a broad (deserved) swing at the "male gaze", especially but by no means exclusively from the 1960s - now what triggered that idea, and how easy or difficult was it to get this exactly right in both story and stlye?

 

Ha! Thank you for asking that: My whole life and career I’ve been told I’m this “good girl drawn bad” (Not unlike the two female stewardesses in this story), and as such have been subject to the ‘male gaze’ and have been very much treated by both men and women based on their projections of how I “looked” rather than who I am. So I suppose you can say that there is an autobiographical element to this story. This vocation (airline stewardess) and era (1965) seemed particularly fitting for this meme of the “male gaze”. The book Coffee, Tea or Me, a tell-all book written by two stewardesses in the 60’s, speaks of wild flings and male attention in juicy detail. I looked at it and there was something about the book that screamed ‘bogus’ to me - this was when I was writing Wives of the Skies. Several years later when I decided to make the film, I read that Coffee, Tea or Me was actually written by a man. And he was hired by the airline industry along with these two stewardesses that quit their jobs to do a book tour - all a ploy by the airlines industry to sell more tickets … to men - all sex in the sexy skies.

 

You just have to talk about all your 1960s costumes, props and locations for a bit, and what kind of a challenge was it to authentically replicate the era?

 

Doing the costumes and sets was one of my favorite parts of the whole process. It was something I spent months doing, researching and perfecting. In my research I came up with a design for the uniforms, and Maddison Bullock, who plays Marcy and was also a producer on the film, she had a genius idea to write to different AirBnB’s and tell them we were filmmakers, etc. to see if we could find a location to shoot on the small budget we had (renting an actual hotel lobby and room was so very costly). Quickly we got a response and we got very lucky! The place we used looked a lot like a mid-century hotel room, monochromatic (two lavender couches!), and had everything we needed! Once we secured it I changed the uniform colors to go with the set, and lucky me I had the props that were all vintage 60s from my (groovy) parents. Regarding the rest of the costumes, I went shopping at Good Will, and it was surprisingly possible to find stuff from the 60s! My leading man, Drew Brandon Jones, who always dresses so amazing, showed up at the fitting with all his fabulous clothes that were appropriate for the period. So we got super lucky there! Regarding the first location, the “Stewardess Hotel” lobby, Maddison found us a way to use the Montalban Theater in Hollywood. My wonderful production designer, Bryan Keith Davis, and DP, Davey Robertson, created magic there!

 

A few words about Wives of the Skies' very special brand of humour?

 

Gosh, thank you - I always write with humor. In this particular story so much of the humor was with what wasn’t said.

 

What can you tell us about your overall directorial approach to your story at hand?

 

It was super important to me that the actors played the piece “for real”, and the two stewardesses really needed to play their relationship - after all, they were in love. Coming from an acting background, I loved working with the actors (you’d be surprised how many directors do not). Also, I spent a long, long time working on the shots, and there was a nice collaboration with my DP who is so crazy talented. For this piece, because it was rather low budget, I ended up doing much of the work (shopping, props, wardrobe, etc), lol, but it was go for me to do that. I was able to create the world I wanted.

 

Do talk about your key cast, and why exactly these people?

 

I had worked with all four of the actors, several times for some, and they had mostly all worked with each other! I knew Rachel Alig would make an amazing Fran, how great is she????! Rachel can work so deep. And Maddison Bullock gave such an intelligent, nuanced performance. Drew Brandon Jones, when I worked with him, he blew me away with his work, he played a nerdy teacher to my stern vice principal, but I knew he had this sexy, funny and sincere Derrick Wooder in him! And Sebastian Fernandez, his part was really in some ways the most challenging - and he played it perfectly. I can look at him all day!! He’s so amazing and all the actors were so receptive to working with me and trusting me. I told Rachel for instance, the last scene, she really had to “bring it” for that, those tears had to be real - there’s that word again, “real” - and I told her they’ll be laughing while you’re crying, and that’s okay.

 

A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?

 

Many of the crew worked together before. One of the producers, Erik Bakken, really pulled much of the crew together. And we only had two and a half days to shoot everything - and I have to tell you, I’ve never seen a crew so focused and quiet! It was remarkable!

 

The $64-question of course, where can Wives of the Skies be seen?

 

Gosh, we have a dozen more film festivals lined up and every day that passes, we are hearing about them being postponed or even cancelled. We’re screening in New York, Toronto, Portland, Australia, Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles - to name a few places. Also, we were offered worldwide distribution, which is what we may end up doing sooner than later, depending on the pandemic. I will be in close contact with you though and keep you posted! That said, here is a list of some dates and places:

Again, I will stay in touch with you to give you more dates, places and when we release for distribution!

 

Anything you can tell us about audience and critical reception of Wives of the Skies?

 

I am blown away and so grateful for the response we have had. We only were in festival seven weeks before the pandemic hit and we have received more than 26 film awards. Again, I’m so grateful for the response and the reviews have been extraordinary. I’m very humbled and kinda weepy as I tell you this, LOL!

 

Any future projects you'd like to share?

 

I play the lead in a horror thriller feature film that’s coming out called Sweet Taste of Souls, and I love the people I worked with on that, producer/writer Felicity Mudgett , producer Bee Pedersen and director Terry Ross. Also, I will be acting in the feature The Knights of Swing set to shoot in July. Regarding directing… I hope to be shooting one of my features soon as I use this time to prep.

 

As far as I know, you first entered the filmworld as an actress - so what can you tell us about that aspect of your career?

 

I started out as an actress and I’m still doing it. I’ve done close to a hundred films and TV shows and who knows how many commercials… I love it. I’ll always do it and it still brings me so much joy. My IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm0491065

 

You've had a small role in Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula - so what was it like working with the man?

 

To date, working with the Coppola family was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. I say family because Roman, his son was very involved and I was so taken with everyone. These are such creative people, and having a nice budget was so welcoming. There’s a great freedom to that and my “take away” from that experience was “be open” and “be ready”.

 

You've also played the lead in legendary low budget filmmaker Doris Wishman's Satan Was a Lady - now for the sake of all B movie enthusiasts among my readers, you just have to talk about working with her?

 


Thank you for asking! Yes, I am the last Wishman girl! And working with this legendary director, wow, what a trip that was! I’ve actually written articles about it, lol! I feel like I’m a part of history with this experience. It was truly amazing working with Doris and I think of her so much and miss her terribly. She is our most prolific female director and she had her own style of working. She at times would act the part out for us and give line readings, kind of a throw back but I looked at the whole thing as an exercise and I really value the experience. And she really understood the idea of working in the moment and creating images that were just incredible. I had a scene with a three legged cat… yeah, I did.

 

What made you pick up writing and directing eventually, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

 

I’ve always enjoyed writing, and like many actors took to writing material for myself at times. I love it. I feel like the writing is something I excel in as well and something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. I have several scripts, all optioned at different times. I’ve written for several directors, I’ve written TV shows - I love it. Presently I’m finishing a novel. Regarding directing, Wives of the Skies is my third piece… I’m not sure I planned to be a director in my career, but I’ve so far really enjoyed doing it. I plan to continue. Regarding training - wow, I’ve read thousands of scripts and done so much time on set…

 

What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Wives of the Skies, in whatever position?

 

I feel like I came up during a time when filmmakers were still shooting on film, even low budget, and there is something to be said about that - when shooting on film, you really need to be pointed in your work, we don’t get as many takes as we do on digital, focus is so key.

 

Actresses, writers, directors, whoever else who inspire you?

 

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So many people inspire me… wow… the list is long but here are a few: Davey Robertson, Paul McCarthy (amazing artist), Damon McCarthy, Tarkovsky, Stephen Scappa, MD, David Lynch, Janice Durkin, Sylvia Plath, Tom Ford, Tim Braun and GAVIN NEWSOME - I’m crushing on him at the moment, what a leader.

 

Your favourite movies?

 

Easy… Bad Lieutnant (almost any film Abel Ferrara), Joker (wow), Don't Look Now, Redland… so many.

 

... and of course, films you really deplore?

 

Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel.

 

Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?

 

Sure… 

wivesoftheskies.com

honeylauren.net

facebook.com/WIVES-of-the-SKIES-109805650494563

imdb.com/name/nm0491065

 

Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

 

I just want to wish everyone well as we go through the contagion… I’ve seen such beauty come out in people during this time and it’s quite lovely. I pray we find a way to keep the film industry alive - the challenges we face are huge… but I’m hopeful.

 

Thanks for the interview!

 

© by Mike Haberfelner


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Thanks for watching !!!



 

 

In times of uncertainty of a possible zombie outbreak, a woman has to decide between two men - only one of them's one of the undead.

 

There's No Such Thing as Zombies
starring
Luana Ribeira, Rudy Barrow and Rami Hilmi
special appearances by
Debra Lamb and Lynn Lowry

 

directed by
Eddie Bammeke

written by
Michael Haberfelner

produced by
Michael Haberfelner, Luana Ribeira and Eddie Bammeke

 

now streaming at

Amazon

Amazon UK

Vimeo

 

 

 

Robots and rats,
demons and potholes,
cuddly toys and
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love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

is all of that.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
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a collection of short stories and mini-plays
ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic
to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle, all thought up by
the twisted mind of
screenwriter and film reviewer
Michael Haberfelner.

 

Tales to Chill
Your Bones to

the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner

 

Out now from
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