An Interview with Emmy-Nominated Director Becky Smith

Waterdog Films announced plans to premiere the feature film “16 to Life”, written and directed by Emmy‐nominated director Becky Smith.

The award‐winning 16 to Life is a romantic comedy that puts a wry, witty and unpredictable ensemble cast in a small‐town locale reminiscent of a Capra comedy. Critics have often compared 16 to Life to the films Juno and Sixteen Candles. “16 to Life” follows Kate (Halle Hirsh), a teenager whose angst about her sexual inexperience fuels a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays.
Kate is turning Sweet 16 – and has never been kissed. Before the clock strikes midnight, Kate will learn more about love, lust and life, than she could ever imagine!

The ensemble cast includes Halle Hirsh (ER, You’ve Got Mail), Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere) and film veteran Theresa Russell (Black Widow, Spiderman III). Rounding out the cast are Shiloh Fernandez (The Girl with the Red Riding Hood, United States of Tara), Nicholas Downs, an Iowa native, (Pearl Harbor), Jamie Gomez (Nash Bridges, Crimson Tide) and Will Rothhaar (Battle Los Angeles). Style guru and television personality Carson Kressley makes a cameo and is one of the movie’s producers.

CG: Becky, your new feature film “16 to Life” focuses on a young girl in the throws of growing up and all the social pressures that go with this passage. My own daughter is going through this! Did you model this character after yourself or someone you know?

BS: The character of Kate in “16 to Life” might have a tiny bit of me in her – but she’s a combination of many people I’ve known, including my niece. I wanted to portray a young girl who was not a Hollywood stereotype of a teenager, but rather a complex person with confidence and insecurities, affection for her home, but a strong urge to go out and explore the world. She’s much less whiney than I am, and more witty!

CG: Many film projects are taking advantage of the tax incentives being offered now by several states. Were you in your comfort zone returning to your home state of Iowa to make this film?

BS: I was excited about the possibility of filming the exteriors in Iowa, but assumed I couldn’t afford to shoot the entire film there. When I found out about the tax incentives, I realized that there was a chance to shoot in Iowa. That was the scenario that evolved, and I’m very glad that I filmed there – the landscape was an important part of the film. I enjoyed the opportunity to shoot in a place where the people were excited about having a film crew around – and made us feel very welcome. At the same time, I haven’t lived in Iowa in a long time, and I didn’t know how the local people would feel about us. So it was a pleasure to discover that they were warm and welcoming.

CG: Becky we love that you have a blog! The videos are great and love the photos! Have you found this to be a good way to promote the film?

BS: We have gotten good responses to the web site. We have worked hard to make it a place where people can connect with the film, get answers to their questions, and learn about our festival successes. We have also created a “First Kiss” campaign – to find out about people’s first kisses! We hope people find it fun – and contribute their stories. I think the web site has helped create interest in the film. Now we will find out if it helps bring people to the theatres we’re opening in!

Filmed entirely in Iowa (McGregor, Marquette and Stone City) the writer‐director’s native state, 16 to Life has won six “Best Feature” awards at film festivals internationally. Hirsh has received two “Best Actress” awards and Russell received one “Best Supporting Actress” award. The first feature length film from television director Smith, 16 to Life was a labor of love that had Smith wearing multiple hats— writer, producer, director. Smith says, “I’ve been working in film and television for more than 15 years, and this was the best experience I’ve had, working in a beautiful place on a story I believe in, with a very talented group of people.”

The film is slated to open in the following cities: Elkader, Iowa (Elkader Cinema, September 3); Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (Star Theater, September 3); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Collins Road, September 9); Iowa City, Iowa (Bijou Theater, September 9); Dubuque, Iowa (Mindframe Theaters, September 10); Des Moines, Iowa (Fleur Cinema, September 10); Davenport Quad Cities, Iowa (Rave Theater, September 10); Omaha, Nebraska (Rave Theater, September 10); Kansas City, Kansas (Glenwood Arts Theater, September 17) and Los Angeles, California (TBA). Additional dates are expected and can be found at www.16ToLifeTheMovie.org.

Becky Smith is an Emmy‐nominated director (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). She received her Masters Degree in film from Stanford University and is an alumna of the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women. The Okoboji, Iowa native is a faculty member at the UCLA Film School and resides in Los Angeles.