Film South Florida.com: Describe Cat’s Bad Hair Day in 20 words or less.

Wolfe: Cat’s Bad Hair Day is a realistic look at a shy 13-year-old girl’s journey into womanhood.
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the film's source of inspiration?
 
Wolfe: The film was inspired by the need to purge personal experiences I had as an adolescent. Puberty for a young woman can be extremely traumatizing because often it isn’t discussed by anyone and the young woman is left feeling awkward and strange about the changes she is experiencing. I remember feeling alone as I faced growing boobs, periods, and mean boys. I never had anyone to assure me that I wasn’t some type of freak. I wanted to make a film that could show the world, especially young women that these things do happen, it is horrifying, but in the end everything will be OK.
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome while making Cat’s Bad Hair Day?
 
Wolfe: The biggest obstacle was convincing schools, parents, teachers, and other adults that I wasn’t making some type of profane teen movie and that I was actually making something real. Teens curse in the movie, sex is discussed, a girl has her period. This is the stuff of life and I didn’t want to sugar coat it and give the audience a fake interpretation of the adolescent experience. I had quite a few complaints when trying to make the film and I was often worried that I wouldn’t find parents that would allow their children to act in the film. In the end, however, I found people who understood what I was doing and the support from everyone that helped on the film was phenomenal.
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the most memorable moment of making Cat’s Bad Hair Day?
 
Wolfe: The most memorable moment was when I filmed my young actress Paulina Grochala in the scene where she has her period in the bathtub. It was a closed set with my DP John Rutland, Paulina, and I in a small bathroom. We did only two takes and I recall that on the first one I was so blown away by her performance that I was holding back tears. She was so incredible and I knew then that I really had something. I was only 21, this was my first time directing a 35mm film, it was the most money I had ever spent in my life, I was completely terrified and felt like a hack the entire time, but in this moment of filming a complete sense of calm washed over me and I felt like a true filmmaker who was going to have one stellar film. Well, at least one that I would enjoy anyway.
 
Film South Florida.com: How important is it to you and your film that it is screening during the FLIFF?
 
Wolfe: It is extremely important to have my film play in the town where I spent my adolescence. I shot the film in Orlando but I scouted locations that looked as close to Pembroke Pines, where I grew up, as possible. I think the South Florida audience will relate to the film on another level and I am very excited to see the results when it screens. FLIFF is an amazing festival with great people, wonderful films, and awesome parties. I am extremely excited to play there. They also gave me three screenings which is incredible, I don’t think I will find that elsewhere.
 
Film South Florida.com: How has living in Florida shaped your vision as a filmmaker?
 
Wolfe: It has shaped my vision in that there is this unique aura that emits from the locations and culture of South Florida. I moved to Miami from Northern California when I was eight years old and I remember feeling like I was stepping into this strange land full of people from all over the world, obscure county fairs, swamps, alligators, sun goddesses, and palm trees. Florida was such an inspirational and magical place to grow up and I feel like I will always reflect my feelings towards the Sunshine State in my work. It was also great to develop my craft in a place without the influence of Hollywood filmmaking and the pressure of extreme competition present in states like California or New York. Currently I am developing two feature scripts based in Florida. It is a goal of mine to shoot a feature here within the next two years.

Cat's Bad Hair Day will screen 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the AMC Coral Ridge. Visit http://www.fliff.com/2004/listings/cats.htm for more information.

The FLIFF's Sunshine Celluloid sidebar is dedicated to movies by Florida-based filmmakers.

FLIFF Sunshine Celluloid Q&A: Duncan Brinkhurst
FLIFF Sunshine Celluloid Q&A: Andrew Delaplaine
FLIFF Sunshine Celluloid Q&A: Dominic Traverzo

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