Racheal Cain Stephens is a writer/director who began her filmmaking journey as a young actress. At a callback for a commercial in Miami, Florida, she suddenly realized that her heart was behind the camera and began focusing her efforts toward writing and producing several short films.
In December 2011, she graduated from Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts with a B.F.A. in Film Production and a focus in Screenwriting. She has since worked on numerous short films in various crew positions, as well as written and directed five short films and a documentary of her own. Those films include a psychological horror, Roaddog, and a dark comedy, The Clancy Family Funeral Home, which both enjoyed successful runs throughout the festival circuit.
Racheal’s first feature film, a “psychological thriller with heart,” entitled Alaska is currently in pre-production. Her entire behind-the-scenes independent process can be followed at instagram.com/alaska_the_movie. Check out the interview below to learn more about Racheal and Alaska.
When not working in film, Racheal enjoys running half-marathons, playing guitar, and snuggling with her dog Cowboy Dan (Source: Website).
Your career is off to an amazing start. Your first feature film Alaska received numerous industry accolades. You used Instagram to document the production process. Do you believe it played a huge role in the film’s success?
Thank you! The screenplay and idea for Alaska have received some great recognition, however, we aren’t finished with it just yet- In fact, not even close! We still need to secure the rest of the funding before we can head into production with the film. (Our fingers are crossed for mid-2017!) However, before we’ve even stepped onto set, the Instagram has definitely been instrumental to the process. It’s connected us to several of the artists who have become our team and it’s created the most incredible support system of people from literally all over the world who root us on at every milestone. I’m so grateful and hopeful that, by the time the film is finished, the Instagram (@alaska_the_movie) and other social media accounts will play a big role in word-of-mouth exposure and getting it distributed and seen!
Where did you get the idea for “Alaska?”
They say the best art comes from heartbreak, don’t they? Admittedly, I got the idea for Alaska after my first real heartbreak. I was driving down a back road in northern Florida one evening, feeling sorry for myself, when I rolled down my windows and a rush of cool air filled my car. So much that it pulled me directly into the present moment and suddenly, the inner discord, which had been my thoughts, ceased. It struck me: up until then, I had been living entirely in the past and the remnants of my idea for the future. I came to see, in that moment of presence, that nothing was actually wrong; nothing was lost; I was set free. I started jotting down notes (which would later become the first draft of Alaska) that night.
You began your filmmaking career as an actress. You soon realized your love is writing and producing. How long did the transition from acting to producing take?
I must say, I still equally love and appreciate acting but, above all, I always just wanted to be a storyteller. As a young actress, it didn’t take long to realize that the quickest and surest way to tell the stories I wanted to tell was going to be writing and producing them myself. Luckily, that was right around the time I was finishing up high school and I was fortunate enough to get accepted into a fantastic film school. I actually acted in one of the first shorts I wrote and directed there, so I’d say the transition was pretty fluid and didn’t take long at all! (Spoiler alert: I’ll also have a small role in the feature!)
If there was one thing you could change in your career, what would it be?
If I could change anything in my career, it’d definitely be having more opportunities exist for women and people from diverse backgrounds to have their stories told and voices heard. Film can be the most incredible platform for creating human empathy and understanding, bridging the gap for those who, otherwise, might only see someone from a different background as “other” or “separate from“. We need these connections, now more than ever, but unfortunately, underrepresented creators often face major push-back from higher-ups who question our capabilities because they haven’t seen them. It makes sense- they have a hard time envisioning what they’ve never witnessed. It’s probably the biggest reason I try to be transparent in documenting my process on social media- so that, at the end, there can be no question; that it was, in fact, a young woman who shouldered the project from the beginning. It’s what I’d change in my career and what I’m hoping to help shift for the careers of those who come after me.
Tell us about your short films. Which one was your favorite?
I’ve made several shorts but my most recent three stand out: a psychological thriller, Roaddog, a dark comedy/ family drama, The Clancy Family Funeral Home, and an experimental thriller, Everything Beautiful. There are different things I like about each of them but, if I had to choose a favorite, I’d probably pick Roaddog because I got to play with introducing a character subjectively and inviting the audience into a unique world. That, and thrillers are always fun to watch.
Is there a particular theme you use for your story line?
There is and it’s where the film gets it’s name! The theme of Alaska, simply put, is that we are not our thoughts. That, in order to face ourselves in the present moment, the only one that’s real, we must be capable and willing to disassociate from the constant stream of chatter in our minds. Until we can step back as the watcher and acknowledge that there exists a greater dimension within us, (one which, for the time being, I refer to as Alaska), we are held captive by and defenseless to each fleeting thought. The theme has shaped the entire story, the characters, and will heavily influence the sound design, music, and even production design, where you can find props and art allusive to thought clouds all over the place!
Is there a screenwriter you would like to co-write with?
Ha! Charlie Kaufman… That’d be a trip.
Any new projects you can share?
Right now, I barely have enough hours in the day for everything that is Alaska. However, I’ve had a growing itch, for quite some time now, to make a documentary. I’ve even started doing a little research. So if I had to guess, I’d imagine that’ll probably be what’s next for me. I’m in no hurry though!
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