Sometimes All We Can Do is Mind the Gap

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “Mind the Gap,” from director Kristal Williams-Rowley and writer Marcy Holland. This highly acclaimed, 17-minute, family friendly film has won numerous awards, and deservedly so.

“‘Mind the Gap’ is a bold film that takes the audience on an emotional and spiritual journey
that ultimately veers toward optimism and hope.”
– Director Monica Moreno, Angelus Student Film Festival

A Brief Synopsis:
Sara, the 16-year-old protagonist, comes to terms with a classmate’s suicide — she jumped under a train driven by Sara’s father. Despite its rather grim theme, “Mind the Gap” is a bold film that takes the audience on an unforgettable emotional and spiritual journey.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:
My wife Terri often says, “I can only be as happy as my saddest child.” With four children (three boys in college and a 17-year-old girl at home), it is amazing how often that statement proves true. Many would argue that as parents we cannot, and should not, be so emotionally connected to our kids’ ever-changing emotions. Still, distancing ourselves is much easier said than done.

In “Mind the Gap,” Williams-Rowley explores this subject from a different perspective: that of a “child.” We see, and hear, 16-year-old Sara’s emotional journey artistically portrayed through writer Marcy Holland’s excellent script and Williams-Rowley’s voice-over narration. Young Sara struggles to deal with her feelings of bitterness toward her dead classmate, her own father’s inadvertent involvement, and her personal sense of injustice over the victimization of her father (who copes with his own feelings by keeping a collection of small items found on the bodies of people he has hit).

Williams-Rowley shows us how a “child” experiences pain when a parent suffers, and how much more that burden might weigh, given the limited scope of adolescent innocence. In an era where teens can be overwhelmed and stressed by a 24/7 environment, I appreciate the filmmaker taking the time to remind us that beneath the frantic texts, social media and apparent disconnectedness, our young people are paying attention. They are watching us, taking mental notes, and are deeply affected by us. Life, just like our relationships with our children (of all ages), is a journey of hope, forgiveness and redemption. This is a great reason for optimism.

Director’s Biography:
Hawaii native Kristal Williams-Rowley grew up in Australia, Singapore, Brunei (Southeast Asia), Utah and Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University, Utah, and a master’s degree in film production from Boston University in 2008. Her award-winning thesis film, “Mind the Gap,” was created using a BU Lalli grant and a terrific script by Marcy Holland. Williams-Rowley has also made several documentaries, including one that deals with challenges of development in a third-world country.

This filmmaker has worked as an entertainment reporter for XYTV, a production assistant for NBC and DirecTV, and as a teaching assistant for the New York Film Academy. Currently based in Boston, Williams-Rowley is freelancing as an associate producer, assistant director, production coordinator and editor.

Noted Honors, Screenings:
CINE Golden Eagle Award Fall 2009
Bulldog Student Film Festival 2009: Judges Award & Audience Choice
Angelus Student Film Festival 2009: Semi-Finalist
Provincetown International 2009: Special Jury Prize
Redstone West 2009: 1st Place
Foursite Film Festival 2009: Best Director
SouthEast New England Film Fest 2009: Best Student Film
Chlotrudis Short Film Festival 2009: Audience Choice
LDS Film Festival 2009: 1st place & Audience Choice
Honolulu International Film Festival 2009: Gold Kahuna AwardWindsong IPFW University Film Festival 2010
Bulldog Student Film Festival 2009
Heartland Film Festival 2009
San Francisco Women’s Film Festival 2009
Provincetown International Film Festival 2009
Connecticut Film Festival 2009
ONE WORLD Film Festival 2009
Boston International Film Festival 2009
South East New England Film Festival 2009
Boston Cinema Census 2009
CineRail Film Festival 2009
Foursite Film Festival 2009
Female Eye Film Festival 2009
International Family Film Festival 2009
WIFVNE International Women’s Day Film Showcase 2009
LDS Film Festival 2009
Redstone Film Festival 2009
Redstone West Film Festival 2009
Kent Film Festival 2009
Chlotrudis Short Film Festival 2009