Shelby’s Vacation
Synopsis: Shelby sets out from L.A. on a much-needed vacation to mend her heart from its latest unrequited crush and ends up at a rustic mountain resort where she meets manager Carol, who has her own memories that are getting in the way of creating a real relationship. Their casual vacation encounter turns into something more profound than either of them had bargained for as they learn what holds them back from living life fully in the present.
Genre
Rated
Language
Run Time
Starring
Laura Grimaldi (Shelby)
Directed by
Written by
Composer
Greg Conte
Cinematographer
Prod. Company
Director's Statement
I wanted to direct Shelby’s Vacation because I found it was a different kind of lesbian “love” story. I wanted to bring some freshness to the genre and it was challenging to work within a tiny budget and location restrictions due to recent fires. Casting some great actresses to play Shelby and Carol, I knew they had to have chemistry, be more than 20 somethings and look like people anyone could connect to. With great writing from Nancy Beverly, I knew that directing Shelby’s Vacation would be a great ride. We wanted to show that middle-aged lesbians are a viable presence in the world and deserved to be heard.
Director's Bio
After a successful and award winning 40 year career as a Supervising Sound Editor with over 200 feature film credits, Vickie Sampson retired six years ago to devote her time and energy to directing. She continues to work on sound projects for developing filmmakers as her time permits.
She has directed 7 award-winning short films, over 15 commercials and PSAs. She has an Emmy, 4 Golden Reel Awards and has worked on Oscar winning films for sound. She was one of twelve women (out of 600) selected to the Directing Workshop for Women from AFI.
She has also created and teaches post-production and filmmaking classes to students at USC, AFI, UCLA, Cal State LA, Video Symphony, Ball State University and guest lectures to LA Post Production Group and LA Final Cut Pro Users Group.
She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1988 in the Sound Branch, the Motion Picture Editors Guild since 1973, Motion Picture Sound Editors, and is Emeritus Board member of the Alliance of Women Directors, where she was also one of its original members in 1997.
Awards
Erie International Film Festival - 2019
Best LGBT Short (Film)
Lady Filmmakers FIlm Festival - 2017
Best LGBTQ short (Film)
Olympus FIlm Festival Los Angeles - 2019
Best Acting Duo (Brynn Horrocks and Laura Grimaldi)
Olympus Film Festival Los Angeles - 2019
Best Romance Short (film)
Nominations
Dyke Drama Film Festival - Australia - 2019
Audience Choice Award
LA Best Shorts - 2018
award of merit
Official selection
Cinema SYsters FIlm Festival - 2019
Reeling Chicago - 2017
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival - 2018
Outshine FIlm Festival - 2017
Quotes
The production values were excellent, the actors were great, and the director did a terrific job with both the performances and the compositions of the shots. I really enjoyed the bridge scene; I liked that the shot was held long enough for us to really appreciate the performances, and appreciated the way the shot was composed - the two actors having their arms up created a visual metaphor, highlighting each character's isolation with their heads in separate "boxes", until the point where Shelby lowered her arm to touch Carol's, and they became connected. Very nice.
I also like that it didn't have a "Hollywood ending," with Shelby and Carol ending up happily in each other's arms. You laid enough hints that they might reconnect in the future that it allows the viewer to decide for themselves whether they will or not, so the ending is bittersweet, yet hopeful - a much more mature approach.
- Bruce Scivally, Award winning WGA member
