A Truly Meaningful Mullet?

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “She’s a Fox” by Cameron Sawyer. With this highly acclaimed, 18-minute, family friendly comedy, we invite you to ponder whatever you find to be truly meaningful, and why.

A Brief Synopsis:
Infatuated with Talia, the school’s hottest hottie, 6th-grader Cameron Sawyer puts everything on the line — including his mullet — to win her love.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:
Sawyer shares the main character’s name and also narrates this hilarious, live action, coming-of-age short film that could easily have been titled: “Of Mullets and Middle School.” I love the way “She’s a Fox” showcases Sawyer’s well-written script, keen cinematic eye, and a really fun musical score. (Just think about winning a girl’s heart to the theme from “Chariots of Fire,” then losing her to “Love Hurts.”)

And, since this filmmaker has an undergraduate journalism degree, I wonder whether he might  be “investigating” something a bit deeper than a middle-school crush and stealing a girl from Jake Magnum (the guy who has everything, including bulging biceps and cool T-shirts). In fact, I think Sawyer may be inviting us to consider the idea that we must be willing to sacrifice something important (like Cameron’s mullet) in order to get something that truly means something (like Talia, the film’s “fox”).

Think about it: What is truly meaningful? What stands in the way of finding it? Do we always have to sacrifice something in order to gain something else? And, are we looking for the right thing(s) in the first place? Sawyer’s film provides the perfect framework for an intriguing dialogue about these questions and more. Windrider viewers: Crank up some ’80s tunes … and jump right in. I’m there already!

“The bittersweet, angst filled journey of young love infused with music from the period and comedic film artistry at it’s best.”
- Monika Moreno, Director Angelus Student Film Festival

Noted Screenings, Honors:
An Angelus semi-finalist, “She’s a Fox” has also played at a number of popular fests on the circuit including the Heartland Film Festival, the L.A. Shorts Fest, the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, and in cities everywhere — from Asheville to Anchorage.

Director’s Biography: 
Writer/director/actor Cameron Sawyer grew up in Orem, Utah, a small city located at the base of Sundance ski resort. He earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University (2002), and a Master of Fine Arts in film directing (2009) from Chapman University (Orange, Calif.). Sawyer has produced and acted in a number of short comedies, and is currently developing the feature-length high school comedy, “Edmund, Stay away from Talia, or I’ll Break Your Legs.” He lives in Los Angeles and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.