Green - a Short Film by Rachel Ross
THE STORY
A young woman road trips to her father's house in Taranaki in order to check on him post a health scare. Except, she
hasn't seen him for some time and is battling severe health issues of her own.
They turn to marijuana for some light relief and it becomes healing in more ways than one.
___________________________________________________________________________________
WHY THIS STORY in Rachel’s words
This story is inspired by true events. My dad and I were both recovering from very serious illnesses' - my dad from
prostate cancer and I with Ulcerative Colitis (a bowel disease). I wondered if marijuana could be of assistance to
either one of us, so I drove to his place to find out.
It's no secret to friends and family that I've had a hell of a year with my diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. With the
failure of medication, gnarly side effects, not being able to work and losing the ability to even do the smallest of
things - it's been life altering. And then with my dad also experiencing huge health complications; it's been a
simultaneous journey of strength and support.
Although medical marijuana isn't yet legalised in New Zealand for all health conditions, I believe it could be
beneficial to a wide variety if so. My father and I haven't been able to reap the benefits of it but I do wonder, in the
right form/dosage, if it could.
I think medical marijuana is a topic worth continuing to discuss but this film is so much more than that - it's a story
of a father and daughter healing wounds, finding common ground and breaking relationship territory. In the end you can't
help but laugh, cry, laugh, cry.
__________________________________________________________________________________
BOOSTED and CROWDFUNDING
To get this story made I am crowdfunding $8,000 through The Arts Foundation’s BOOSTED platform. If you can’t donate, but still dig the project – I’d love for you to share the link with friends, family, and
networks!
You can read more about the campaign and donate here:
Morgan and I have incredibly supportive filmmaking networks already - but there are always hard costs associated with
making a film. This money will go towards paying the talented cast and crew and finishing the film to the utmost quality
in post-production. The costs can be broken down into production (e.g. cameras, crew, cast), post-production (e.g.
editing, sound design, finishing), and getting it out there (e.g. festivals and promotion).
If you're a NZ income earner, you qualify for a 33% tax credit on your donation! The Arts Foundation will email a
receipt after the campaign closes.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
WRITER/DIRECTOR - RACHEL ROSS
I live to tell stories that are not only bold and challenging - but are also joyful and hinge on playful connectivity.
For me, it's all about light and shade - vulnerable grit meets wit.
This story is exactly that. It taps into fragility, authenticity, whilst straddling many notes of relatable droll.
I am a writer/director of short films, music videos and I’m currently working on my first feature. My 2017 short Have you tried, maybe, not worrying? was selected for The Melbourne International Film Festival (among others') and while attending MIFF, I was selected to
take part in the 2017 Accelerator Lab.
In January of 2017 I was also a recipient of the New Zealand Film Commission’s Talent Development Grant. This $10k
screenwriting grant enabled me spend 3 months in New York attending the New York Film Academy developing my first
feature screenplay. I recently finished her 2018 short Number Two and is currently pending festival distribution.
__________________________________________________________________________________
PRODUCER - MORGAN LEIGH STEWART
Morgan Leigh Stewart has produced over 40 features, short films, commercials, and music videos. Projects include the
lauded splatter comedy feature DEATHGASM (SXSW 2015); K Rd Stories- a digital story project, and dark comedy short Stick To Your Gun (Palm Springs ShortFest 2016).
She has worked with local and international industry organisations including Melbourne International Film Festival, The
Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and Film Auckland. She has been involved in producing the 48Hours Furious
Filmmaking competition, the Make My Movie project, and the New Zealand Film Awards. She worked as part of the team
making hit children’s TV programme The Moe Show from 2015-2017.
Recently Morgan participated in the prestigious short documentary program Loading Docs – producing Joe Hitchcock’s Blood Sugar in 2016, and directing She Speeds in 2018. Rachel Ross and Morgan previously teamed up on Number Two due for release late 2018. Morgan continues to work with filmmakers around NZ on events, films, television and digital
projects.