Alumni Spotlight: Sav Rodgers

SAV RODGERS (NFFTY ‘19) is a filmmaker and writer whose work often centers on telling highly specific, surprising stories involving queer characters. He is the director of Chasing Chasing Amy, an upcoming feature documentary about the controversy of Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy among LGBTQ+ people and the profound, lasting impression on his own life. Sav delivered a TED Talk on the subject titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” In 2017, Sav graduated from the University of Kansas. He is an alumnus of the Outfest and the LA LGBT Center’s OutSet Fellowship, TED Residency, and the Telluride Film Festival Student Symposium. His short films have screened at festivals like Slamdance, the Cleveland International Film Festival, and the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. Sav is the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world.

Our Interview with Sav:

Anyone who has watched your TED Talk knows that you were an avid fan of narrative (and superhero) films as a child. As you began making your own films, what drew you to documentary filmmaking? What do you enjoy most about working in that genre?

For me, it's all about what best serves the story. To tell the story of my relationship with Chasing Amy, I knew that had to be a documentary. It has been a massive undertaking, but I've also grown tremendously as a filmmaker through this journey. I really love how creative the genre is and, frankly, how the story reveals itself over time. There's nothing quite like seeing these moments unfold in real-time.

As an occasional programmer for various festivals, how do you feel that programming informs your own work as a filmmaker?

Programming improved my filmmaking practice because I was able to learn more about what I responded to as a viewer, a programmer, and also what resonated with me as a creative. It was essential in helping me understand how festivals actually make their decisions. Being a screener or a programmer can illuminate what not to do as a filmmaker - and every once in a while, you see something that challenges your own POV as a creative and dares you to improve on your craft. I highly recommend every creative do it at least once in their lives.

You founded your production company, Professional Amatuer Productions, when you were still in college. What has it been like to build that company to its present-day success as a young person in the industry?

I was certainly precocious. But it's been a lot of hard work! We're still developing new projects and trying to get to the next echelon, but I've learned so much from running a business on top of being a creative person. I'm super thankful for all the work we get, the projects we make, the collaborators we have.

In addition to your ongoing film work, you are the founder and director of the Transgender Film Center. What inspired you to take the leap in founding this organization? What was the biggest challenge in making it happen?

When the pandemic hit, I kept seeing arts-based nonprofits closing their grant funds. I was shocked. I had an idea kicking around about a nonprofit centered on trans creatives because I wished something like that had existed when I was coming out as trans. To my knowledge, no one had created a space for trans filmmakers before in this specific way. I thought we'd launch it in a few years, but festival organizer friends thought it was a good idea to pursue now. So, in November 2020 we launched the Transgender Film Center and announced our first initiative, the Trailblazer Grant. The biggest obstacle is always fundraising, but it's accomplishable. We're really excited about our future.

The Transgender Film Center was a participant at Sundance this year, as part of a panel on hiring and supporting trans people in the industry, and will participate again as a satellite partner for the 2022 festival. How were you connected with this opportunity, and what has it been like to work with a large and prestigious festival like Sundance? 

We're thankful that mama.film, an incredible arts nonprofit based in Wichita, KS, invited us to take part in their Satellite Screens programming for both Sundance 2021 and 2022. They gave us the platform and let us program whatever we wanted. So, it's been a great experience thus far. It's another lesson in allyship. This great organization lent us their platform, shared it, and we have been able to get the word out about the Transgender Film Center thanks to mama.film.

Do you have any advice for young filmmakers who are looking to start their own production companies or non-profit organizations?

Make sure you have a clear purpose. Whether you're a filmmaker developing your voice, or a nonprofit looking to support others, understand why it is that you're there doing that work. That clear, specific purpose will guide you in all you do and help you set realistic goals to help you achieve that larger-than-life thing you're trying to accomplish.

How has NFFTY impacted your life or career?

Screening at NFFTY was such an incredible experience! It's a truly one-of-a-kind festival experience. I only wished I'd found out about it sooner so I could have submitted more before I aged out.

You were in production for your feature documentary, Chasing Chasing Amy, right before the pandemic brought life to a standstill. How were you able to work through that challenge to bring the film to completion? 

We're still working through it! Thankfully, we've been able to keep filming and editing throughout the pandemic thanks to our stellar team. Hopefully it'll be ready to premiere in late 2022/early 2023.

We can’t wait for the release of Chasing Chasing Amy! What else is on the horizon for you? Anything we should be on the lookout for?

Thanks! My writing partner Taylor Gates and I wrote a script called I Love You, Felix McNeil that was in the Outfest Screenwriting Lab and the PGA Create program. We hope we'll get to make that someday. Until then, we're just working on the documentary and writing new scripts.