Kate, a painter who hasn’t created new work in years, finds inspiration when she happens upon an adult ballet class and quickly falls for her teacher, Laura. As their lives intertwine, Kate is shocked to discover a side of Laura she struggles to accept.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Meghan Lennox

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you!

Honestly- I had been writing off and on my entire life but was insecure about my abilities as a screenwriter and director. My husband at the time is also a writer/ director who went to USC and AFI, and in some ways, as a woman who had just hit 40, I felt it was too late for me. Over the last 15 years, I have worked as a casting director, a production manager, an actor, and a producer, as a way to stay connected to a medium I love so much, but without having to really put my own work forward.

This was the first script I had relentlessly poured everything into and when I shared it with some close friends, they jumped to get involved. I had produced indies for others, but never for myself and once my DP, casting director and producers said they wanted to make this with me, I had no excuse. I had to move forward.

As I was teaching myself to edit to complete the film, the 'why' evolved to become more emblematic of my identity as a filmmaker and a queer woman.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s an unusual and unexpected film, but at its heart, Show Pony is a love story about self-discovery and how difficult it can be to share our authentic selves with others. The film challenges our perception of what normal or acceptable forms of self-expression can be.

I am so fortunate to have worked with the cast and crew that loved Show Pony enough to bring it to life. Cinematographer, Alex Naufel, shot a gorgeous piece of moving art. Britt Lower gives an incredibly nuanced emotional performance as Kate, and the chemistry between her and Clara McGregor, who plays Laura, the ballet instructor that she becomes enamored with, is really lovely. It also features dreamy music by Sarah Versprille and Dan Hindman of Portland’s Pure Bathing Culture.

See it to support female-identifying filmmakers and LGBTQIA+ projects. See it so single moms in their 40s believe it is not too late to pursue their dreams!

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Often when something is unfamiliar, we rush to make a determination on whether it should be labeled as good or bad, with little room for nuance.

It is a dangerous place we are heading with limitations on identity, authenticity and expression in this country.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

I had heard about Pony Play watching some reality show while stuck in bed for days with the flu. I had never seen anything like it. When the subject of the episode was bringing in her adult daughters to reveal this side of herself to them, the women seemed confused and horrified. I was fascinated by this woman's discovery of this community and her deep connection to it.

As I began writing the script, it evolved into a story about love and judgement and hypocrisy. What it is like as an outsider to encounter a lifestyle you don't understand and how it affects how we feel about someone we had previously put on a pedestal. What happens when we start to see them as a complete human (or a horse?). What makes exploring one's creative side by dressing up as a ballerina ok, but engaging in pony play too weird to reconcile? We feel threatened by things we don't understand and allow that fear to become an obstacle to human connection.

As the film progressed, it became more symbolic of my exploration of my sexuality in my 20s and how at the time, I let fear and judgement of relationships that were not commonplace where I grew up steer me away from really examining that side myself.

I originally had a longer cut of the film that matched the script, but it wasn't working. During Covid, I taught myself to edit and spent months and months on premiere recutting it from scratch and teaching myself to layer sounds and music. It was laborious and challenging and tedious and incredible. Once it was complete, I felt immense pride and a real connection to the finished product.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People have reached out to me to tell me they have seen it at a festival and absolutely loved it. Some people who are familiar with my essay writing are surprised by it. Those I have shared it with personally have told me it is beautiful and unusual. My mother has no idea why I made it but said the flowers are pretty. Some ask me why I chose this subject matter and wonder if I am into Pony Play. (I am not).

Sadly, I have never been able to attend a festival where it has been screened so have never seen it with an audience, but I would love to hide in the crowd and hear the reaction in real time.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I want to see more projects by female-identifying artists and more LGBTQIA+ films in the world. If I had more exposure to films like these growing up perhaps I wouldn't have waited until my 40's to come out as queer and start creating my own films. I want to make more movies with a more inclusive cast and crew. I have a lot of stories to tell and want to help other underrepresented artists tell their stories as well.

Show Pony - Kate Gets Ready for First Class

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I would love for Show Pony to have a home outside of my Vimeo page and I would love to continue to create. I am currently looking for a literary manager.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I want people to allow themselves to be curious.

If nothing else, I want women, especially moms, to know it isn't too late to keep finding yourself.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Is it any of our business how other people choose to live their lives and express themselves? Is it important to accept everything about your partner, even the things you can't understand or relate to?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I recently completed my first feature-length script, (Am I) Gay for Amy?, a queer coming-of-age comedy set in the suburbs of NJ during the early 90s and a comedic spec pilot, Niki & Val about two moms who, during their impending divorces, meet on a dating app and decide to 'mommune' and become roommates to help each other out of their current circumstances.

My producer, Julianna Gelinas Bonifacio, is in post on her directorial debut, a beautiful short film called Little Orange Flags that I was fortunate to produce with her.

Interview: May 2023

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Show Pony

Length: 17:41

Director: Meghan Lennox

Producer: Meghan Lennox, Julianna Gelinas Bonifacio

Writer: Meghan Lennox

About the writer, director and producer:

Having played many roles within the film industry over the last decade, from casting director to actor to producer, MEGHAN LENNOX has recently transitioned to writer/director with her debut short film Show Pony, a female-led queer drama starring Britt Lower and Clara McGregor. Meghan continues to focus on writing and has just completed her first feature-length script and a comedy pilot.

JULIANNA GELINAS BONIFACIO is an award-winning producer, screenwriter, & director. The script for her directorial debut, Little Orange Flags, won the BlueCat Screenplay Competition. Previous films include: The Quitter, which she produced and acted in, was released theatrically and on Hulu; Master Maggie (Apple TV +) marked her 4th film at the Tribeca Film Festival, won numerous awards, and qualified for the Academy Awards.

Key cast: Britt Lower (Kate), Clara McGregor (Laura), Adam Shapiro (Alfredo)

Looking for: buyers, sales agents, distributors and film festival directors

Twitter: @MeghanLennox

Instagram: @meghanlennox, @showponymovie

Hashtags used: #showpony #showponythemovie #showponymovie

Website: www.meghanlennox.com

Other: IMDb

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Show Pony is completing its festival run at The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival in the LGBTQ+ Showcase on Tuesday May 23 at 3:30PM- 6:00PM.