A guest on several previous spotlights, I'm pleased to welcome back Rakefet Abergel to talk about the release of her latest short, "Still," on streaming platforms and the impact of the film.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve been involved in the release of the upcoming short “Still,” on the festival circuit. What can you tell us about the film?
Rakefet Abergel: I wrote Still after suffering a devastating miscarriage. I didn’t get a chance to give birth to my baby, but I felt I needed to honor him in some way. So I gave birth to Still. I hope that ‘Still’ encourages other mothers who have experienced infant or pregnancy loss to seek out support, create closure, and foster healing by sharing their experiences with other women dealing with similar grief. These topics shouldn’t be taboo. As I shared my grief in my circles, women and men all around me opened up about their experiences. These were people I knew well, but I never knew of the painful losses they had suffered silently. We need to end the fear and shame of sharing this experience.
“Rakefet took her unalloyed pain from the devastating loss of a miscarriage and channeled it into a love song for her unborn child. She found peace and self-healing through the making of the film. Our hope is that it helps women who have profoundly suffered like Rakefet to find their voices again and reclaim their lives after such a painful loss.” - “Still” producer Jory Weitz (Napoleon Dynamite, Blade).
After our crowdfunding, we donated in support of several nonprofits across the U.S. that support women through the grief of pregnancy and infant loss.
• Empty Cradle
• Evermore Blooms
• The Finley Project
• March of Dimes
• The Miscarriage Association, UK
• Sharing Parents
Teeny Tears
“The film was powerful and raw. It demonstrates the gamut of emotions families, and particularly mothers, go through during and following the loss of their baby,” explained Rachel Redhouse, President of Empty Cradle. “An important aspect portrayed in the film was all the advice and platitudes given by well-meaning family and friends, and the negative effect that it can have on a grieving family’s grief and healing.”
Me: What has the reception to the short been like? What has been the most memorable experience you’ve had with showing the film?
RA: Overall, it’s been mostly positive. Although, after each screening, I’m playfully chided for making people cry, which in my mind is a win because I succeeded in making them feel for the characters. At one particular screening, a very indignant man demanded to know why his perspective wasn’t included. I explained to him that my story was about my experience and no one else’s. But in fact, it’s mostly men who came up to me after the screenings to share their own story of loss. Many women, too, of course, but I think a lot of men felt that this was an opening to sharing their side of the story, and I really appreciated that. Many people confessed to me that no one knew what had happened to them, and they were so grateful to be “seen” on screen and to give their feelings of grief some validation.
Me: Given the subject matter the film broaches, what does it mean to be a voice speaking openly about this? What does it mean to you to be the one offering your voice through the film?
RA: I spoke about it from day one. I didn’t see an issue with that. I know that’s not the case for many women, and I respect that choice. But for me, it seemed like it was the only way I was going to get the support I felt I needed. I’ve always been an open book when it comes to my feelings, and this was no different. I am happy to be the voice for the men and women who don’t feel they can speak up. I want as many people as possible to see it so that they can better support the people in their lives who have been touched by a tragedy and trauma like this.
Me: With the announcement that the film is coming to the Alter channel on YouTube, what are you most looking forward to with its upcoming release to a wider audience?
RA: It premiered on Alter on March 2nd, and I was initially really worried about how it would be perceived, but again, the responses have been overwhelmingly positive. While there is always a debate over whether it's truly horror or not, I think that anyone who has overcome a nightmare like this would agree that the experience is horrific enough to be included in the genre. What is horror, after all, but a way for us to explore our deepest fears and insecurities? Some people were upset there wasn’t a trigger warning, but I think if you’re going to a horror channel, then you have to be ready to see things that are going to upset you. That’s sort of the point. And every survivor of child or pregnancy loss that I have shown this to has felt that it was a cathartic experience for them, as it was for me to make it.
Me: Outside of this, you’re also involved with the creation of the anthology film “Love Scars.” What can you tell us about how this came together?
RA: Love Scars is a DVD compilation that I put together through my production company, Cyclamen Films. It explores different types of love and the desperate, sometimes horrific, lengths we go to attain it. It includes all three of my award-winning short films: Jax in Love, Boo, and Still. It also has tons of extras like director commentary, trailers, teasers, crowdfunding videos and interviews, bloopers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more! It’s really cool to have something that encapsulates the last 9-10 years of my life and the whole of my filmmaking journey so far. All three of them have something to do with a toxic kind of love. The kind of love that touches your soul and hurts like hell. Love Scars is a play on words. It’s a statement, but it’s also a verb. I’m really proud of all three films and excited to have them all in one place with all the fun bonus material!
Me: What was it like going back to revisit these projects once again? What type of work went into collecting extras and other materials for the collection?
RA: It was weird to watch them all back to back. There are so many similarities between them. While there are many, many things I wish I had done differently, I think they all perfectly encapsulate that particular time period in my life. It feels almost like a diary because each film is rooted in a real experience, a real relationship that I’ve had, and is an attempt at understanding the dynamics of each of them. I had most of the stuff ready, but a special thank you goes out to my friend Michael J. Epstein, a co-producer and sound mixer on Still, who helped me capture the director's commentary and edit it into the films. I’m really lucky to have friends like him.
Me: Did this give you any further appreciation for any of your past films, revisiting them in this manner?
RA: It totally made me appreciate my abilities as a filmmaker and how they have changed and grown over time. I started making short films to give myself more dramatic work as an actor, and I can say confidently that I am happy with my performances in each, and I have proven to myself that I can take on any challenge.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
RA: I’m currently working on a few feature scripts, including a horror called New Mom and the feature version of Boo. I have some ideas for shorts as well, and shorts or two I’d love to get made when I have the money. If anyone is looking to collaborate with me or finance a short in exchange for a producer credit - hit me up!
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself?
RA: There is plenty of room at the table for all of us. I hope that we can support one another in this industry instead of seeing each other as competitors. We will do better if we can lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. If you want to make something, make it. Just do it. Even if you think you can’t, you won’t know until you try! I’m proud to be a woman and filmmaker in this industry, and I hope to continue to contribute personal and meaningful art to the genre.
Thank you for including me!
Thank you again for your time!
Here is the ALTER link to watch STILL:
The other film links are available on our website: CyclamenFilms.com
Click the banner below to check out and read the rest of this year's celebrations!
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