A teenage girl grapples with feelings of shame and guilt after having sex for the first time, leading to a thoughtful exploration of generational shame, societal expectations, and self-worth.

Interview with Callie Carpinteri (Writer/Producer/Director) and Emma Parks (Writer/Actor)

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

EMMA: Thank you so much! Callie and I have always been driven to make films that uplift women and inspire conversation. The idea for our film was sparked in March 2023 over In-N-Out burgers during a candid conversationbetween myself and Callie about the social stigma regarding women’s sexual experiences and our shared experiences of feeling shame for our own choices. Though growing up female in this world will always be complex and challenging, we found a safe haven in our shared experience. The convo was a reminder that we are not alone.

CALLIE: The more we talked about the societal and generational expectations placed on us, the more we found commonality. We started talking to other friends and family members and found that whether stemming from religious beliefs, societal expectations, or personal relationships, many of the women in our lives have experienced shame for their sexual choices. Dirty Towel is an effort to change that narrative and empower women to be confident in their choices, free from the opinions of others.

Dirty Towel - Elizabeth played by Laura Coover (left) and Young Charlie by Laurel Nail (right)

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

CALLIE: It's easy to think that by 2024, we've moved beyond sexual shame as a society, and while we've made significant strides, small steps forward do not erase the shaming of past generations or address where the problem still exists. The longer we worked on the film the more we realized just how essential a story like this is to the world right now. In a time when everyone feels they should have a say on what a woman does with her body, Dirty Towel gives voice to the right of women to choose how they live their lives. It is a reminder that the only opinion that truly matters at the end of the day is your own.

EMMA: While Dirty Towel is built on this very important message, at the end of the day, it is a film full of heart. It will make you laugh and smile. It will move you and remind you that we are all human. It is a story of hope and what more could you ask for from a film?

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

EMMA: Unfortunately, almost everyone has felt shame at one point or another in their lives, especially in regard to their sexual choices. This can greatly impact your own self-worth, often leading people to hide parts of themselves or make decisions out of fear of judgment. In our film, we explore how this shame shapes our characters' lives and choices, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and the courage to live authentically despite societal pressures.

CALLIE: In regards to the universal theme of generational shame, the film highlights how toxic ideas can be passed down and perpetuated, often unintentionally, by people who have faced similar challenges and experiences. Like Elizabeth to Charlie in our story, these ideas are often passed down as a form of protection. However, it’s crucial to break this cycle and recognize that the issue lies not in one’s actions, but in how society influences our perception of ourselves.

Dirty Towel - Charlie played by Emma Parks (left) and Jack by Ben Krieger (right)

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

EMMA: Our initial idea for the script was actually to have Charlie and her mother, Elizabeth, as dual leads. However, we realized through developing the idea that we wanted to focus deeper and solely on Charlie’s journey for the short. The idea then continued to evolve from there as we honed in on key themes we wanted to explore, spoke to more people about their experiences, and got some really incredible notes and feedback on our script drafts.

CALLIE: Another thing we were balancing and that was constantly evolving was the tone of the film between comedy and drama. One could approach a story like this through a number of lenses, so we spent a decent amount of time exploring different tones and how they impacted the message and heart of the film. Of course, this exploration didn’t just end with the script. Through all of post-production, we made every decision with the goal of creating a film that audiences could relate to and see themselves in. The tone we settled on was a unique mix of both comedy and drama that together created a grounded, real story that also has moments of levity and hope representing an authentic representation of what life as a human in this crazy world can feel like.

Dirty Towel - Charlie played by Emma Parks

What type of feedback have you received so far?

EMMA: So far almost every person who has read the script or seen the film has told us that they experienced similar feelings to the protagonist Charlie. A lot of them referenced scary sex talks they received or moments where they felt judged for their choices.

CALLIE: We have also gotten a few responses from parents who saw themselves in Elizabeth. They discussed how their biggest fear is passing down your baggage to your children, even if you have good intentions. Others have told us that even if they don’t see themselves in the film, they feel like they could empathize with the characters and enjoy seeing a different perspective than their own on such a universal topic.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

EMMA: Hearing just how much people have responded to the material has been a pleasant surprise. While it was always our hope for our film to connect to people, hearing it actually has done that for people has been really special.

CALLIE: While nothing has specifically challenged my point of view, so much has just expanded it. With each story, comment, and feedback shared with us, I've just understood so much more about how shame has affected so many people, especially those from other countries and cultures.

Behind the scenes of Dirty Towel - Director Callie Carpinteri (right) and Lead Actress Emma Parks (left) rehearse for a scene on set.

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

The main hope is that our film finds people who need it the most. The reason we made this film was so that people, especially women, could see themselves in it and hopefully be empowered by it. By making our film more visible, we aim to reach a broader audience, including those who might not typically have access to such narratives.

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

We would love to find producers, journalists, distributors, festival directors, sales agents, and more to help us continue to share the message and support the film. The more we can get the film out there, the bigger the impact it can have. Producers can help us with additional resources and expertise to refine and promote the film as well as potentially collaborate on the feature adaptation. Journalists can amplify our message through media coverage, reaching a wider audience and sparking discussions. Distributors and sales agents are crucial for getting the film into theaters, online platforms, and/or various markets, ensuring it reaches diverse audiences. Festival directors can provide the film with prestigious platforms and exposure, increasing its visibility and credibility. By collaborating with these professionals, we can maximize the film’s reach and ensure that its themes of empowerment and breaking the cycle of shame resonate with as many people as possible.

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

CALLIE: My biggest hope for the audience of the film is for each person, especially women, to feel empowered and confident in their choices regardless of the opinions of anyone else. Additionally, I want to spark meaningful conversations and catalyze a collective shift in societal perspectives around sex and shame. By watching our film and engaging in discussions, I hope people will find a sense of community and realize they are not alone in their feelings.

Behind the scenes of Dirty Towel - From Left, Top Row to Bottom: Emilee Ford, Callie Carpinteri, Katrina Lee, Vanessa Nottingham, Cassidy Campbell, Emma Parks, and Bridget Perdomo

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

How do you stop the cycle of generational shame being passed down from generations? In a world full of judgment, how do you find yourself?

Would you like to add anything else?

CALLIE: I deeply value the representation of women both in front and behind the camera. When making Dirty Towel, it was my priority to build a team of uplifting, creative female filmmakers to help bring such a personal, female-driven story to life. I’m incredibly proud to share that our Dirty Towel crew was 76% women including an all-female key crew.

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

CALLIE: Emma and I are currently in the process of expanding Dirty Towel into a feature-length film. It has always been our intention to use Dirty Towel as a proof of concept as we are extremely passionate about this story and the characters who found life in it. While the short focuses solely on the main character, Charlie's journey, the feature version is a coming-of-age story for both Charlie and her mother, Elizabeth. The feature further explores the profound impact of generational shame on women’s choices unfolding amidst Charlie’s last two weeks of high school. Through following two protagonists from different generations we hope to create a film that people from all generations can see themselves in. We are thrilled with the script and are currently looking for producers to help bring the project to life.

Interview: June 2024

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

Dirty Towel

A teenage girl grapples with feelings of shame and guilt after having sex for the first time, leading to a thoughtful exploration of generational shame, societal expectations, and self-worth.

Length: 12:24

Director: Callie Carpinteri

Producer: Cassidy Campbell, Katrina Lee, Vanessa Nottingham

Writer: Callie Carpinteri, Emma Parks

About the writer, director and producer:

CALLIE CARPINTERI is an award-winning LA-based writer/director originally from South Florida. As a young female filmmaker, Callie’s passionate about telling complex, female-driven stories that empower women and inspire conversation. She’s also committed to the representation of women both in front of and behind the camera. Callie’s currently looking to develop Dirty Towel into a feature film, while working on other narrative film projects.

EMMA PARKS is a NYC-based actress, writer, and recent NYU Tisch drama program graduate. Along with her leading role and co-writing credit on Dirty Towel, Emma recently co-starred in her second feature film, The Short Game (2024), and made her Off-Broadway debut with the RJ Theatre Company in NYC. Emma is dedicated to telling authentic and moving female-driven stories.

CASSDIY CAMPBELL, a Florida-based producer and creative connector, is on a mission to empower the next generation of creatives. Through their debut as producer of Dirty Towel, she showcases her commitment to authentic storytelling and independent ambitious production. Passionate about fostering inclusivity in the film industry, Cassidy’s mission is to expand accessibility to femme-identifying and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers to create a more representative population in Hollywood.

KATRINA LEE is a regional Emmy award-winning producer from Fort Myers, Florida currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She recently graduated from the University of Florida and now works as a part of the Film Unit Production Staff at Saturday Night Live. She was selected to participate in the Gotham EDU’s Film & Media Career Development Program this past summer and was an NBCU Academy Fellow during the 2022-2023 academic year.

VANESSA NOTTINGHAM is a Brazilian-American actress, director, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. She began her on-camera debut as a child actor in South Florida. She is most notably known for the series Dhar Mann and can soon be seen in the feature film The Lemonade Files. In 2023, she co-founded the film studio called Divergent House which promotes inclusive narratives to amplify voices from a variety of backgrounds.

Key cast: Emma Parks (Charlie), Laura Coover (Elizabeth) , Laurel Nail (Young Charlie), Ben Krieger (Jack)

Looking for: journalists, producers, sales agents, distributors, film festival directors, buyers

Instagram: @dirtytowelmovie

Hashtags used: #Coming-of-Age #Indie Short #Short Film #Female Empowerment #Women in Film

Website: Dirty Towel

Other: IMDb

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

Tribeca Festival / New York City - June 7th at 9:15pm, June 10th at 8:45pm , June 15th at 8:30pm, and June 16th at 9:15pm.