Chicago filmmaker, writer and photographer Wendy Jo Carlton is riding high after her advantageous feature film release and distribution of Hannah Free starring Queer As Folk's Sharon Gless, but she isn't resting on her laurels. With more than 20 years in the independent film community under her belt, Carlton has the swagger of a champion and the heart of a young lover's dream in her new romantic musical comedy, Jamie and Jessie are Not Together.
The film stars Jacqui Jackson (who played Greta in Hannah Free), Jessica London-Shields and Fawzia Mirza. The coming-of-age musically enhanced story surrounds the friendship between Jamie (Jackson), her best friend Jessie (London-Shields) and the not-so-secret love that inevitably sandwiches the pair in an uncanny way.
Windy City Times: The cast of Jamie and Jessie are Not Together is diverse, original and pretty stellar. You had previously worked with Jacqui Jackson on the film Hannah Free. How did she become incorporated into the role of Jamie in this film?
Wendy Jo Carlton: Jacqui [Jackson] came in and auditioned for Hannah Freeit was an open call. I had worked with Tracy [Baim] during the Gay Games a couple years before and we worked together on that film. We had a lot of downtime during auditions and would chit chat and decided to make a lesbian film together. We interviewed Claudia Allen because Tracy had the idea to adapt something that had already been successful [as a play] and that was where Hannah Free entered.
When Jacqui came in, she did not know anybody and was a fresh face. Many people showed up, but Jacqui really stood out and I felt strongly about her for the role of Greta. She was very unpretentious and worked her ass off. She was younger than most everybody and was working at IHOP and took trains to get over to the set after working until 3 a.m.until I found out and told her, "No, you're not taking the train or the bus! We'll send a PA to pick you up!" I just had a real affection for her from the get-go. She has a natural talent and charisma. The camera also loved her.
WCT: Is it true that you created Jamie and Jessie are Not Together partly because of Jacqui?
Wendy Jo Carlton: I started writing a screenplay with her in mind to play one of the leads for a different story that was set in the '80s. It was kind of based on parts of my own life growing up in Michigan. It's also a love story that's kind of a buddy movie about two friendsone being straight. The one who is queer has a love affair with another woman and they both play off of it in an office building. … I was talking to Jacqui for awhile about her playing that queer lead and she was into it. A month passed and I was working on that and we kept running into each other at Hannah Free events. This past June, Jacqui and I went to the Dyke March in Chicago when Sharon Gless was there to sign the Hannah Free DVDs and the idea came to me when we went to go pick up Jessica [London-Shields].
At some point, I was watching them interact because they are good friends and they are both actors and I liked what I was seeing. Right then was when the thought occurred to me to create Jamie and Jessie are Not Together. I drove them home and basically said to them, "I am writing a film and you two are going to be the leads." I am a firm believer in listening to your intuition. It really does bring you the pot of goldthe satisfaction. I had the title about a week later.
WCT: That seems like divine intervention. So, you filmed in Chicago then?
Wendy Jo Carlton: Yeah. Jacqui was planning to move to New York City about a month later and we tried to film it all in Chicago before she left. She ended up extending her departure time and then I also brought her back to Chicago to finish filming. The logistics worked out. I wrote the script in July and August, had meetings with Jacqui and Jessica and then shot it.
WCT: Jamie and Jessie are Not Together looks like a lot of fun from the outside. There are musical numbers and more serious parts, but generally it's a feel-good film, right?
Wendy Jo Carlton: Yeah, yeah, I think when you see it, there's a lot going on and it's a multi-dimensional film. It's definitely full of pathos. It's a romantic comedy with musical numbers. It's a fantastical diversion and expression and the main themes are character processing. It's fun and weird. I do want to entertain and I picture myself in the theater when the lights go down and imagine the movie that's coming up and what I want it to be.
I want folks to relate to the characters. Jessie is the main protagonist. I think that to have a cornerstone of a narrative, you have to kind of choose who the main protagonist will be. Jessie is the one feeling left behind and unrequited love in the beginning. I'm presenting Jamie as being the one who has things come easier for her. She probably gets the role without trying as hard. She's got more confidence and has an easier time getting chicks. That's definitely very readable when you watch the movie.
WCT: How does Fawzia Mirza enter the picture?
Wendy Jo Carlton: Fawzia plays RhondaJamie's, well, kind of her fuckbuddy. In terms that we can package more easily … Rhonda is the one-night-stand that became a three-month fling. Rhonda is older than both Jamie and Jessie. Rhonda symbolizes the older version of Jamie. Rhonda does not expect after the one-night-stand-turned-three-month-fling to have her heart broken.
WCT: Do you know where the film will premiere?
Wendy Jo Carlton: We [were] trying to get a rough cut by early February and I would like to premiere at Frameline [June in San Francisco] like we did with Hannah Free. Closing night was super-fun for Hannah Free. I think opening night is also fun, but I think there is something about closing night that is so energizing. So, that is my goal. I've also applied for a couple grants so we'll see where those go. If I can try to get into mainstream film festivals, that would also be great.