Music is something that is very close to me and I understand how vulnerable one can feel when being on stage. When I read that, indie singer Maggie Rogers was in the middle of her concert and someone in the audience yelled for her to take her top off, my heart really hurt.
I knew that right away that I wanted to work on a project that dealt with these topics. Nicole Hayward, the writer of this film and I began to wonder, “Why is it so hard for us sometimes to stand up for ourselves?. After we mixed these two ideas “After The Glitter Fades” was born.
The characters in this film are very important to me as I wanted to portray womxn as authentically, messy, and complex as they are in real life. I knew as soon as I met each of our wonderful actors, Felix Evangelho, Julia Radchuk and Madison Holder that they could bring something special to each of their characters. The friendship that they have in real life beautifully translated onto the screen.
As Steff says in ATGF “People are going to say nasty things about us and that’s how it is” and that is a complete truth. In your life, there are going to be a lot of people who are going to call you names and say mean things about you (sometimes it can be your own voice in your mind) Insecurities can manifest into anger and make you doubt yourself and make you feel ashamed about who you are but we have a choice whether to run away or to stand up for ourselves.
I hope that while watching the film members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities feel as though they are not alone in their struggles. The power of film is that it gives us the chance to heal and to say the things we are too afraid to say out loud. Being open about your struggles is the first step to not being scared to share your truth.
Let’s be kind to one another and create a safe world together.
Tell your story. Speak your voice.
- Sydney
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
WRITERS STATEMENT
I have always been fascinated with the masks we use as human beings and how we cover up our personal deepest insecurities this being amplified for people who are constantly in the spotlight or sight of others literally having their career depending on if they are liked by others. Unfortunately, when people say bad things about Aimee, those opinions become Aimee’s opinions of themselves. I was watching several videos of powerful women like Lorde, Taylor Swift, and Heart performing and wondered what they are thinking at that moment. That’s when the idea sparked. Women and queer people are often not treated as they should be by the music industry.
- Nicole Hayward
