5Q's w/Donna Bonilla Wheeler "The Girl Next Door" Director
#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it?
It's about 2 female musicians in rural America fighting against how, as women, we’re often silenced and forbidden from following what we’re truly passionate about.
#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?
It's not about the typical 'girl next door," and in fact we're calling attention to that female trope in the film's theme and story. It's about the opposite idea: 2 unusual and distinct women, who live next door to each other, and who upend each other's lives as they choose to join forces to follow their music careers.
#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.
I started my professional directing career writing/directing projects for Walt Disney theme parks while in graduate film school. After that, I worked on set in production, and in the production office, mostly for networks. I then moved to post production for the networks, studios and cable TV: The History Channel, Paramount, A&E, Disney/Polygram, PBS, The Discovery Channel. I worked several roles in post, including negative cutting, and up to post production supervisor. After a slow down in the economy, I jumped over to writing and directing my own projects: shorts, web series, docs, and narrative feature. Also at that time, I learned how to package and develop features and TV shows as a producer/director.
#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?
To make extensive pre production plans with as many of the film Team as possible, and to allow for happy miracles and accidents while on set. To listen to your creative intuition and honor your original vision. And to utilize audience test screenings and audience preview feedback while in post production.
#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?
I made this short film, The Girl Next Door, as a prelude for the feature version. I'm developing and shopping the feature screenplay, looking for the best co-pro partners, and matching investment sources. I'm also developing a limited series, and am attached as director on a new dramedy feature project.
