Below, executive producer Terry Trimpe, explains to the crowd at the Opera House how he almost didn't get involved with "16 to Life," but decided to take a chance. Trimpe, who has a weekend home in McGregor, insisted the film be made there. At Trimpe's left are director Becky Smith, who is an Okoboji, Iowa, native, and star Hallee Hirsh. Actors and staff from the film thanked the community for their support during a question-and-answer session after the film. (Photo by Trudy Balcom)

Director of
“16 to Life” not afraid of a challenge

By Trudy Balcom

Creating and promoting an independent film on a budget is not a job for wimps. Nobody knows this better than “16 to Life” director Becky Smith.

As the film continues to make the rounds of national and international film festivals, Smith knows that she will have to work tirelessly promote her film.

The economic downturn has made major Hollywood studios wary of picking up distribution of independent films, and more reliant on big-money blockbusters.

“This is a very challenging time for indie films right now,” Smith said in a telephone interview.

“I was quite disappointed at the realities of the distribution climate. I thought I had a good shot at being ‘the little indie that could’,” Smith said in an e-mail. “I’m more realistic about the climate for indie films now, and learning a lot about alternative distribution,” Smith explained.

But Smith has a history of personal tenacity and garnering industry acclaim for the quality of her work that just might win broader recognition for “16 to Life.”

Smith is not a newcomer to the film industry. She has directed and written for television, film and stage since her graduation from Stanford University film school in 1984. At first she directed small projects like public service announcements for T.V., and videos for clothing corporations like Levis and Espirit.

“I was really fortunate to be able to move right into directing,” she notes.

She received grants for screen writing from the California Arts Council, and worked in television.

Her break came in 1999 when she was captivated by the athletes on the Stanford University women’s basketball team. She knew they had a story worth telling, so she convinced the coach to allow her to follow the team for a documentary.

The result was the PBS Frontline television documentary, “In the Game,” which followed the Stanford women to the national championship. It aired in 2004.

The film won broad acclaim and brought Smith new directing opportunities in television. and teaching. She was hired as a professor at the University of California-Los Angeles undergraduate Film School not long afterward, and has a dual career directing and teaching ever since. She has worked on several well-known cable TV shows, and garnered an Emmy nomination for her work on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” in 2004.

She has made these accomplishments in an industry where five percent or fewer of all directors are women.

With all of her experience, “16 to Life” is is a different kind of project for Smith. It is her debut for writing and directing her own independent film.

It took her a year to complete work on the script. She said she envisioned the story as taking place in Iowa. The story revolves around small town teenage girl, Kate, who has yet to fall in love, and is dealing with her angst about her sexual inexperience.

“I’ve had some wonderful and unique opportunities, but there is a pure joy when every character comes out of your head,”

In September, “Sixteen to Life” screened at the Kansas International Film Festival and at the Napa-Sonoma Wine Country Festival. Through the fall and winter the film will also screen in Pennsylvania, as well as Istanbul, Turkey, and in the Chinese city of Macau.

Smith is working on deals with multiplex owners for limited theatrical release of the film in several Midwest cities next spring. Cities under consideration include Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines as well as Madison, Wis., and Kansas City.

“We have received an offer for TV and DVD , but we have not committed to anyone yet,” Smith said. “The theatrical exposure serves to create an awareness of the film and enhances DVD sales,” She explained. The film is expected to go to DVD distribution after next spring’s movie theatre release.