Baton Rouge natives and independent filmmakers Gray Fagan and Bailey Wax's "The Ballad of Rose Mae" will be part of the PBS Short Film Festival July 15-26.
The festival, featuring 25 short-form independent film submissions from PBS member stations and public media partners, will be available for viewing on all PBS digital platforms. The festival is part of a multi-platform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent films, and to provide a showcase for diverse storytelling that inspires and engages.
For the 12th straight year, Louisiana Public Broadcasting has sponsored an independent film in this national online event.
“Louisiana is known internationally for its food and music. Today, our filmmakers are also increasingly gaining a reputation for producing thought-provoking and quality content,” said Jason Viso, LPB’s director of programming. “We are proud to support these filmmakers and help them bring their stories to a larger audience.”
Set in 1918, the short musical drama "The Ballad of Rose Mae" follows a father who finds himself at the funeral of his child, Rose Mae, who is suspected of having fallen prey to a deadly, ongoing plague. Through twists and turns, viewers learn the truth behind her demise. The film ultimately tackles the question: Will love find a way?
Fagan's love for storytelling led him to LSU, where he studied film for two years before transferring to Chapman University in California where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in film production.
Since then, he has amassed more than 5 million followers across social platforms (@graysworld) with his original comedy and entertaining digital content. Now, in between live comedy performances and acting, Gray is focusing on writing and directing.
Coming from a family of actors and theatre directors, Wax's passion for the dramatic arts runs deep. Since graduating with a degree in creative writing from LSU, she has spent her time pursuing her filmmaking dreams while also sharing her knowledge, teaching film to Louisiana high school students.
Collaborating with creative partner Fagan, she often shuttles between Louisiana and Los Angeles, working on a wide range of projects.
Wax and Gray are gearing up to produce their debut feature film this summer.
Festival entries will be available at pbs.org/filmfestival and other PBS digital platforms. All 25 films will be available to stream on YouTube and Facebook. The network encourages viewers to watch the films via PBS platforms and learn more about the filmmakers at lpb.org/filmfest.
As in previous years, a panel of eight jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the juried prize.
The film festival has become a popular annual online event, generating more than 6 million streams over the course of its history.
For updates on the festival, visit LPB Facebook and follow #PBSFilmFest on Twitter.