Interview: We are moving stories

Albany Road

On her way to the most important meeting of her career, severe weather forces a New York executive to share a rental car with her former nemesis (her ex-fiancé’s mother) only to discover that the mother is hiding a major secret and to the executive’s dismay, she’s the only one who knows.

Interview with Writer/Director Christine Swanson

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I made this film because it was a story and genre I wanted to explore using Black characters to tell a universally satisfying story that brings back the nostalgia of cinema and great movies we used to watch in theatres.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

As an audience member, you would watch Albany Road to relive what heartfelt storytelling feels like. You would watch Albany Road to connect or reconnect with your humanity while having a universal experience that examines the meaning of hope, forgiveness and love.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The exploration of choices, regrets and the opportunity to redo some things differently haunt all of us. Exploring our own mortality in unexpected and immediate ways does a number on your soul. Albany Road does all of that.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film reflects the original intent of the screenplay. Given the scope of the storytelling, a lot of scenes had to be cut out for time. As filmmaking works, the essence of the remained intact and perhaps even stronger than the original screenplay due to the laser focus on the essentials.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

We won the Golden Thumb Award at Eberstfest and got two standing ovations from a theatre full of about 1000 white people applauding.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The feedback did not change any specific point of view  I had. I wanted to tell a love story from multiple angles. So far, audiences have applauded and lauded the storytelling and often commented on how deeply they were affected by the film.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope people hear about this amazing movie and watch it and understand, to the extent your soul is touched is to the extent that we are all universally connected. I hope more people become aware of good storytelling by and with Black actors that have has universal reach.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

A distributor or buyer potentially.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I want people to know that great stories are still being told by filmmakers / artists who do it for the love of storytelling. I would love for an audience to walk away having felt something deep, having experienced something profound and having a few laughs along the way.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Can people change deeply and quickly?

Would you like to add anything else?

My husband Michael and I have been making movies together for over 25 years but we are just getting started!

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Renée Elise Goldsberry currently stars in the Netflix series " Girls Five Eva." Lynn Whitfield currently stars in the Showtime series, "The Chi." J. Alphonse Nicholson stars in the Starz series "P-Valley."