Defying Gravity (2008 film)
Encyclopedia
Defying Gravity is a 2008 independent feature film produced by Balancing Act Pictures. It was accepted to 11 film festivals and won 4 awards. It is distributed by Indie-Pictures.
runaway girl, takes refuge in the Jewish cemetery
in which her mother is laid to rest. She is watched over by Jorge, the cemetery caretaker, an illegal immigrant.
Shore is a dynamic, handsome, and brilliant young man who also happens to be homeless. After almost hitting Cassandra in his dilapidated VW bus, he becomes fascinated by the gothic cemetery waif
and attempts to befriend her.
A sequence of events results in Cass getting lost. Jorge and Shore flee the cemetery in a stolen hearse to find Cassandra before her abusive stepfather does. All paths lead to Yermo, California
- the site of a roadside diner and a feisty but compassionate transvestite waitress named Lola.
Plot
Cassandra, a muteMuteness
Muteness or mutism is an inability to speak caused by a speech disorder. The term originates from the Latin word mutus, meaning "silent".-Causes:...
runaway girl, takes refuge in the Jewish cemetery
Jewish cemetery
A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
in which her mother is laid to rest. She is watched over by Jorge, the cemetery caretaker, an illegal immigrant.
Shore is a dynamic, handsome, and brilliant young man who also happens to be homeless. After almost hitting Cassandra in his dilapidated VW bus, he becomes fascinated by the gothic cemetery waif
Waif
A waif is a living creature removed, by hardship, loss or other helpless circumstance, from his original surroundings...
and attempts to befriend her.
A sequence of events results in Cass getting lost. Jorge and Shore flee the cemetery in a stolen hearse to find Cassandra before her abusive stepfather does. All paths lead to Yermo, California
Yermo, California
Yermo is a town in San Bernardino County, California. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for wilderness. It is located 13 miles east of Barstow in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 15, just south of the Calico Mountains...
- the site of a roadside diner and a feisty but compassionate transvestite waitress named Lola.
Cast
- Alexandra Mathews as Cassandra
- Willam BelliWillam BelliWillam Belli is an American film and television actor perhaps best known for his recurring role as transsexual Cherry Peck in Nip/Tuck. He has been in a few films including American Wedding , The Last Shot , Unbeatable Harold , and Big Top and Because I Said So...
as Lola - Macauley Gray as Shore
- Mario Martinez as Jorge
- Tony Franchitto (credited as Anthony Franchitto) as Lubitch
- Andrew Torres as Menendez
- Bea Bernstein as Psychic Lady
- Sara Corder as Destry
- Michael Francesco as Sebastian
- Ellen Gedert as Social Worker
- Andrew Hawley as Mercurio
- Ariel James as Zoe
- Mike McNamee as Penlorion
- Liniana Montenegro as Ofelia
- Carlos Luis Orrala as Arnulfo
- Joey Rivas as Pedro
- Tara Saunders as Edwina
- Jane Shepherd as Miss Grace
Production
- Director: Michael Keller
- Writer: Lisa Savy James
- Producer: Lisa Savy James
- Cinematography: Justin Talley
- Editor: Brian Voelkerding
Film Festivals and Awards
- Digital Video and Hi Def Festival 2008 - Best Story/Writing
- Fallbrook Film Festival 2008 - Director's Choice
- Action on Film International Film Festival 2008 2008 - Best LGBT Project
- Paso Robles Digital Film Festival 2008 - Festival Choice Award
- Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival 2008 - Best Narrative Feature
- Riverside International Film Festival 2008 - Official Selection
- Feel Good Film Festival 2008 - Official Selection
- Other Venice Film Festival 2008 - Official Selection
- La Femme Film Festival 2008 - Official Selection
- Red Rock Film Festival 2008 - Official Selection
- Beverly Hills Digital and Hi-Def Festival 2008 - Official Selection