Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Film In Her Future
Jules Taylor wins Pitch Prize at annual festival
Ifeel as if I just found out I’m pregnant,” Jules Taylor enthuses. But this baby has been a lifetime in the making.
Raised in Texas, Taylor came to Fayetteville in 2004 and is known throughout Northwest Arkansas as a creative who performs music as Shaky Bugs “for the under-5 crowd and their fans”; instructs youngsters of all ages as a rostered Arkansas Arts Council Teaching Artist and for the past 18 years on the faculty of Arts Live Theatre; directs theater; appears with Phunbags Comedy Improv; and works as an actor on stage and in film. She also served on the board of the Fayetteville Film Festival for 10 years.
But it wasn’t until this year that she decided to make a pitch for her own film as part of the annual festival, held Oct. 20-22.
“One of my favorite events in the weekend is the Fayetteville Film Prize where we have Arkansas filmmakers sign up to pitch a film idea to a panel of industry professionals for a chance to win $2,000 to seed funding for their
film,” says Morgan Hicks, a member of the festival board. “This year, the pitches were so strong that the pitch prize sponsor, Rockhill Studios, made the spontaneous decision to award each of the five finalists $1,000. That certainly speaks to the creativity and passion demonstrated by the pitchers!”
As the overall Pitch Prize winner, Taylor receives not only funding but “the support of so many film professionals, including Rockhill Studios, the prize sponsor. Winning the prize also lends some recognition and prestige that may open doors and may help with film festival presence.
“Since the inception of the Pitch Contest, I’ve wanted to do it — someday,” Taylor says. “I challenged
myself to register this year, and that felt like a huge accomplishment — just signing up. The whole process was such an exhilarating experience. From the hospitality and support of Fayetteville Film Fest, to the exceptional panel of professionals that judged the pitches, to the wonderful bonding and encouraging of all the pitch contestants together — some of the finest creatives in our area and beyond!
“The second I won that prize,
I could think of little else, and production started at that moment,” she adds. “Making a movie is no small feat. There are a million pieces to bring together, and by winning the prize, you make a commitment to have a completed film to be shown at the next year’s Fayetteville Film Fest.”
Taylor says her short, narrative film is called “In a World Full of Loneliness.”
“It is a story of the universal power of love and connection to lift even the most desolate soul,” she says. “It’s the simple plot of a lonely man meeting new friends who introduce him to a world full of love and music and color. He experiences joy and awe for the first time in a long time, and his life blooms from that encounter.
“I am so touched and overjoyed at the support I am already receiving,” she adds. “I can’t wait to offer everyone a chance to be involved through crowd funding and/or following us on social media and cheering our progress!”
“The film fest is one of my favorite weekends of the year in Fayetteville, and I would say that this year was the rare combination of perfect fall weather, perfect company and an exciting lineup of panels and films,” Hicks enthuses about the festival. “I hope people keep this event on their radar for next year because they don’t want to miss out while it keeps getting better and better!”