By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

Roy Mazzagate III, of Orange and owner of RM3 Productions, felt compelled to make a film last year to provide healing for parents who have suffered a loss due to miscarriages, stillbirths, SIDS or other neonatal passings.

With his daughter, Emily starring and narrating it, Roy submitted the short film to a contest.

“So far, it’s won seven awards,” Roy said during an interview.

The awards include Best Mini-FIlm, Best Redemptive Short and Best Micro-Short. It has been officially selected into 15 fests including a fest in Jamaica, Branson, MO and Franklin, TN as well.

The story behind the film is just as moving as the four minutes cinematography.

“The Lord gave me the idea,” Roy said. “We knew someone with stillbirth and another with a miscarriage. It gave me the idea.”

He added it was also a way to honor the baby his family had lost.

https://vimeo.com/260308766

Once the idea struck, it was several months before it was put to film.

“I thought on it for months,” Roy said. “Then I picked the music.”

The musical background inspired the scenes of the film, including a solo dance routine by his daughter, Emily.

A former instructor of Emily’s, Dilyn Young, choreographed the routine.

“She has taken dance since she was two years old,” Roy said.

Originally, Roy considered asking a theater student to do the voice off in the film but again went with his daughter.

“She wanted to honor her sibling,” Roy said. “She took direction very well.”

Reaction to the film has been positive,

“Mothers are thankful and felt it brought comfort to them,” Roy said. “All over the country, we have heard the same thing and asking if it can be shared.”

As for entering it into the festival for competition, it too was for the opportunity for as many people as possible to see the message of a lost child comforting the mother left behind.

RM3 Productions is a videography service specializing in weddings, high school seniors and the occasional short film geared toward Christian subjects.

 

• Director – Roy Mazzagate III
• Producer – Roy Mazzagate III
• Writer – Roy Mazzagate III
• Cast/Voice-over – Emily Mazzagate
• Dance Choreographer – Dilyn Young
• Hairstylist – Laura Norsworthy
• Music – “Aperture” by Jordan Critz
• Associate Producer – Kimberly Mazzagate