In the atmosphere we live in in the United States, putting up a title card for your film's first shot that says "in solidarity with Planned Parenthood" and then screening it in red states is brave. That's just the reality. But when you hear from my guest, Lauren Melinda, about her film BEFORE YOU (2025), she tells you this was not her intent. She was not trying to make a political film or send a message on the issue of abortion. In some ways, that would be the easier thing to do...pick a side.
Instead, Lauren created a deeply personal film that gets at emotion and unseen feelings better than anything I've seen before. She does it through transition scenes that shows a person in flux and sometimes in despair. Film is a visual medium, and too often directors don't use it to tell an emotional story.
The logline is "a woman navigates the echoes of a life-changing loss" but it's so much more than that. It's the story of an amazingly creative filmmaker grappling with her art, using all the tools she's accumulated in photography and artistic expression, and I'm so glad to have director Lauren Melinda here to talk about her career and her beautiful film, BEFORE YOU.
In this episode, Lauren and I discuss:
- How she got started and the big influence of her photography background;If her executive producing has allowed her a more precise vision for her filmmaking;The role of her production company, Simbelle Productions, and why it’s a nonprofit;Why she focuses on narratives rather than documentaries;How she feels about our film festival system for distribution;What audiences should expect before they watch BEFORE YOU;The amazing transitions in the film and how to get at mental struggles by showing (not telling);How the film’s first scene is a title card that announces it is “in solidarity with Planned Parenthood” — what has the reaction to that been like?Why she was willing to push boundaries that we don’t always see from filmmakers;What’s next for her and Simbelle Productions.
Lauren’s Indie Film Highlights: BLUE HERON (2025) dir. by Sophy Romvari; FAMILIAR TOUCH (2024) dir. by Sarah Friedland;
Memorable Quotes:
“I’ve always been interested in the female experience in the way that society and culture and even our environment impacts us and our identity.”
“When I say I work in social impact and film people automatically assume it’s documentary.”
“It’s scary to talk about things where you feel like you might be attacked.”
“Something we’re really interested in is not only supporting female filmmakers but it’s about the films themselves.”
Links:
Follow Lauren On Instagram
Follow Simbelle Productions On Instagram
Follow BEFORE YOU On Instagram
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