Film Update: Fire Through Dry Grass

POV’s Digital Curator Anthony Yooshin Kim caught up with Fire Through Dry Grass filmmakers Alexis Neophytides and Andres “Jay” Molina to provide a window into the making of his film and reflect on the journey since the cameras stopped rolling.

Fire Through Dry Grass, a vivid and visceral portrayal of life inside a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the result of a powerful collaboration between co-directors Alexis Neophytides and Andres “Jay” Molina. Their combined vision and dedication have birthed a narrative that not only captures a moment in time but also serves as a rallying cry for justice and systemic change.

Jay’s journey to co-directorship began with the Reality Poets, a group of artists confined within the walls of the Coler nursing home who found solace and expression in poetry and art. “I called Jennilie (OPEN DOORS founder, FIRE producer), and we decided we had to make a film to let the world know what was happening inside Coler. Because the people in charge were lying,” he recounts, revealing the urgency and necessity behind the documentary.

Alexis, who met Jay prior to the pandemic, reflects on their burgeoning partnership. “I began mentoring him that summer on a film he wanted to make about him and his friends, the Reality Poets,” she recalls. With the onset of the pandemic, their mentor-mentee dynamic seamlessly transitioned into a co-directorial relationship, driven by a shared purpose to bring the harrowing experiences of Coler’s residents to the forefront.

The documentary’s creation was a testament to the power of collaborative artistry. “This was a very collaborative project—the Reality Poets are not only the documentary’s protagonists but also members of the film crew,” Alexis states. Their involvement ensured that the film was a genuine reflection of their lives and perspectives, though it also facilitated a careful orchestration of roles and responsibilities.

Alexis speaks candidly about the challenges of co-directing with someone who is both a subject of the documentary and a partner in its creation. “It was a balancing act between honoring Jay’s lived experience and intuition as well as my own experience as a filmmaker,” she admits. The film’s unique visual style, dictated by the constraints of lockdown, includes footage from digital meetings and smartphones, as well as animation styled to appear as though created within the confines of a nursing home room.

Since the film’s release, the audience’s reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the importance of the Reality Poets’ story. “Seeing the film in front of a huge audience for the first time at our world premiere at BlackStar was something else. The audience gave them a standing ovation and chanted Nursing Home Lives Matter,” Alexis shares, echoing the emotional power the film holds for both its subjects and viewers.

Jay’s hope for the film extends beyond its storytelling. He sees it as a means to restructure the very foundations of nursing home governance, advocating for the involvement of residents in the decision-making processes that affect their lives daily. “My vision for this film is that decisions about nursing homes are led by nursing home residents because we live with these decisions every day. By showing what we went through, what we’re still going through, how the people in charge treated us like garbage, and by getting our story seen widely, I believe we will force our way to the decision-making table and help transform nursing homes into places that really are homes,” he asserts with a visionary’s determination.

As for the future, Alexis and Jay are not resting on their laurels. They have embarked on an impact campaign designed to empower nursing home residents across the country by sharing their stories and advocating for better conditions and respect. Their goal is to ensure that the narrative of the COVID-19 pandemic includes the experiences and voices of those who are often marginalized.

Finally, the co-directors invite the POV audience to delve deeper into the ethos behind Fire Through Dry Grass, highlighting the collaborative filmmaking process and the mission for accountability and care detailed in a comprehensive case study by Peace is Loud. Their call to action is clear: engage, empathize, and enact change. Fire Through Dry Grass is not merely a film; it is a mirror held up to society, a beacon for advocacy, and a profound lesson in the power of giving a voice to the voiceless.

Fire Through Dry Grass premiered on Monday, October 30th and is available to stream through January 28th, 2024.