“The Sympathy Card” (Broken Gates Film / There You Are Productions) is a feature-length LGBTQ+ genre film that unravels an unconventional comic lesbian love triangle where three women navigate same sex marriage, cancer and deathbed ordered hall passes. Written, directed and edited by award-winning filmmaker Brendan Boogie and co-produced by Boogie and co-star Petey J. Gibson (“Transparent,” “Grace and Frankie” and "Broad City”) who plays “Emma,” the dying cancer patient that insists anxiety-ridden wife “Josie,” played by Nika Ezell Pappas (Netflix’s “Nia on Vacation”), use the “sympathy card” to get laid and start dating a free-spirited florist, “Siobhan,” played by Lauren Neal (“The Lovely Rejects,” “Spicy Wit”). The film is an Official Selection in the Fusion category at Dances With Films, screening on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at 12:30 p.m., at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California.
Co-producer / co-star Petey J. Gibson says, “We believe the lesbian community deserves a really fresh take on a lesbian love story that isn’t another ‘coming-out’ movie. Telling stories in the LGBT+ community—especially complex, funny, authentic stories—is vitally important. We bring the lesbian community to life in ‘The Sympathy Card’—the nuances, the love and celebration, the humor—with fully realized women.”
Director Brendan Boogie adds, “As a straight cis male, I try to be aware of my privilege. Most movies in the history of cinema have been made by and for people who look like me. It was important to me that we did justice to the LGBTQ+ community. Very early on, I enlisted as many queer collaborators and advisors as possible. Petey Gibson led the charge on making sure all voices were heard and considered at every stage of production. I feel strongly about doing my part to bring experiences other than my own to the screen.”
The film was shot in the Boston area featuring an all-local team made up of 75% female and 33% queer-identifying crew members. Several local queer-owned businesses such as Inman Oasis and City Girl Café were used as locations, and the Boston LGBTQ+ community was incredibly supportive.
The film is loaded with laugh out loud humor, including scenes of anxiety attacks, sexual domination and bad first dates. Emma even threatens to haunt Josie from the afterlife if she doesn’t go out and get laid.
Gibson adds, “The film also tackles cancer and end-of-life issues in a genuine, funny, and non-saccharine way. While many movies shy away or sentimentalize death, ‘The Sympathy Card’ invites the audience to feel love and grief in an authentic way. Movies like these help people going through difficult situations feel less alone.”
Worldwide Rights for “The Sympathy Card” are available.
- For tickets to the World Premiere, please visit: https://danceswithfilms.com/the-sympathy-card
- For the Facebook Event page, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/428619671252456/
- For more information about the film, go to: http://www.thesympathycard.com
About “The Sympathy Card”
“The Sympathy Card” is about the uncertainty of life and love and the balance between loving hard and letting go. When Emma’s cancer takes a turn for the worse, she presents her new wife Josie a deathbed order: find someone new while Emma is still around to approve of her choice. Reluctantly, Josie embarks on a painfully awkward pursuit to honor Emma’s wishes and play the field. After many hilarious failures, Josie finds herself developing feelings for Siobhan, her free-spirited florist. As her surprising bond with Siobhan deepens, Josie faces the dilemma of a time-limited present with Emma versus a possible future with Siobhan.
About Broken Gates Film
“The Sympathy Card” is the second feature film from Broken Gates Film. “Sundown” (2017)—a funny, touching family story about ravages and absurdities of living with dementia— is now available on Amazon Prime and won Best New England Film, Best Writing at the 2017 Massachusetts Indie Film Festival; Best Feature, Best Screenplay at the 2017 Long Island Film Festival; Best of Fest Audience Award at the 2017 Buffalo International Film Festival; Best Acting Ensemble at the 2017 Sanford International Film Festival; and Best Narrative Feature at the 2017 SNOB (Somewhat North of Boston) Film Festival.
About There You Are Productions
Launched in 2017 by Petey J. Gibson, There You Are Productions (TYAP) is an LA-based production company that is producing original comedy shorts, including "Baby St. Patrick" and "Somerville Christmas," as well as the half-hour pilot presentation “Somerville," an original project written by Gibson. TYAP's first full-length feature, "The Sympathy Card,” hosts its World Premiere at Dances With Films in Hollywood on June 22, 2019. Other upcoming projects includes the half-hour pilot, “Them,” about a collection of hardworking and loveable trans twenty-somethings. Worldwide rights are available.
- Website: http://www.thesympathycard.com
- Trailer: https://vimeo.com/337356220
- Twitter: @thesympathycard
- Instagram: @thesympathycard
- Facebook: facebook.com/thesympathycard
