A grad student who studies the alcohol consumption habits of sexually-deprived fruit flies observes parallels between her study and personal life. When a friendship with a colleague has the potential to turn sexual, Sophie must make a decision about how to navigate her career and her love life.
A grad student who studies the alcohol consumption habits of sexually-deprived fruit flies observes parallels between her study and personal life. When a friendship with a colleague has the potential to turn sexual, Sophie must make a decision about how to navigate her career and her love life.
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Story
Mission Statement
Women are statistically underrepresented in the STEM fields, and Bar Flies is a dark comedy that addresses issues women in science face. Bar Flies also shows a woman turning down a man's sexual advances, and he respects her and accepts her decision.About The Project
How are you like a
sexually deprived fruit fly?In more ways than you think! ;)
We all have that one friend who ends up drinking too much after a failed hookup attempt...or maybe you're that one friend... Sophie's character studies the alcohol consumption habits of sexually deprived fruit flies, which is inspired by a study published in 2012 by scientists at University of California, San Francisco. Scientists used fruit flies to study a reward pathway in the brain that is activated by sex. They found that if fruit flies can't have sex, they'll artificially activate that reward pathway by drinking alcohol. Not surprisingly, this behavior is observable in humans, too!Humans understand the world through stories, and we find inspiration in characters. I wrote Bar Flies because I wanted to write Sophie as a smart, relatable female character who isn't a nerd or a reclusive super-genius. I also want to create more awareness about the difficulties women scientists face, and draw attention to the belief that some women think they must choose between family and career. Sophie's colleague, Luke, is a male character who expresses his masculine strenth by respecting her....he is not emasculated or threatened by her ambition or intelligence. They are equals, and they both feel the fear of vulnerability.
Though Sophie doesn't quite see it at first, she is just like her sexually-deprived flies. When an animal performs an activity that helps it to survive or procreate, it's rewarded with a dose of feel-good brain chemicals. Sophie wants those feel-good chemicals, but she has a hard time dating because she's highly educated and intelligent. Though many men will tell you that they love smart women, studies suggest that men are less attracted to women who are smarter than they are. Consequently, Sophie's dating pool is (generally) only as expansive as men who are equally or more intelligent than she is. She doesn't want to date anyone in her lab because she doesn't want to mix her professional life and personal life, and if things were to end badly it would have a detrimental effect on her career. The negative effects of having a family on women scientist's careers are documented, so she wonders if it's even worth pursuing any kind of relationship. She feels that she can only rely on herself and her career, even though at the end of the day, she is still a human who craves connection.
Sophie's story is about the struggles we all face in deciding whether or not we want to fall in love, defining our careers, choosing priorities, and the fear of taking the plunge with a potential romantic partner.
OUR TEAM
CAST
Megan Brotherton earned her MFA in Acting at the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University, which included a 3-month residency at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia. She writes and performs sketch and improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and directs shorts for Funny Or Die. She also wrote, directed, and starred in two short films Everybody Does It and Buttercup, which earned awards and rave reviews. Megan was recently awarded a Telly award for her PSA for Access Books, produced by Women In Film.
Aaron Murtagh is a filmmaker and actor based in Montana. His latest short film White Elephant screened around the state and in Portland. He also co-stars in (and produced) the award-winning indie Present Company Excluded, available on Amazon Prime.
CREW
Writer/Director- Anna Sagatov studied Science and Natural History Filmmaking at Montana State University. She has directed several short documentaries, but she developed a taste for fiction film after working on the crews of several feature films in New York and Montana. Bar Flies is her first fiction film, and she is incredibly excited to be working with such a talented team! She has always been passionate about science communication, equality, and encouraging critical thinking, and she hopes to continue to promote those values by creating relatable stories and characters in fiction film.
Producer- Kate Chapin is a filmmaker and photographer whose work has won awards as well as having been featured at film festivals. Kate took 1st place at Personal Vision, a juried exhibition at Montana State University in the spring of 2016. Her documentary "Consexual" premiered at the inaugural Bozeman International Film Festival in 2018 and her documentary “Sharp” was shown at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2017 in Missoula, MT. Kate graduated from Montana State University in the spring of 2017 in film and photography.
Director of Photography- Nathan Norby is best known for grabbing whatever gadget he can find and creating a story. Through this process he has unwound projects in experimental media, travel films, and traditional documentary. Originally from small town South Dakota, he has found himself wandering from the tip of Alaska, to the Southernmost point of Argentina exploring the medium of film and photography. When not vagabonding, he resides in Bozeman Montana.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE
"Aren't there already women scientists?"
Yes, but...not nearly enough.
From top left (clockwise), Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Mary Leakey, Mae Jemison, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin. Photo courtesy of National Geographic.
"If we're going to solve the problems of the future,we need all hands on deck."
Women and diverse voices offer creative solutions and innovations, and we need to consider all humans in solving problems of the future. What science decides to solve and for whom things are designed have a lot to do with who's doing the scientific inquiry.
Analysts say that more women are needed in research to increase the range of inventions and breakthroughs that come from looking at problems differently than men typically do.
Involving more qualified women, as well as additional "social identities"—gay people, African Americans and Latinos, those with physical disabilities, and others—can enrich the creativity and insight of research projects and increase the chances for true innovation.
-Scott Page, a professor at the University of Michigan who studies diversity in complex systems.
The corporate world is already ahead in terms of gender equality in the workplace...
"Half a dozen global studies, conducted by the likes of Goldman Sachs and Columbia University, have found that companies employing women in large numbers outperform their competitors on every measure of profitability."
-Atlantic Monthly magazine's cover story in May
That women are also raised to be more socially aware than men points to another largely untapped quality in women, particularly in the realm of leadership. What difference might broader emotional intelligence make?
Gender bias is still definitely a problem.
"Today's women scientists believe that attitudes have changed, until it hits them in the face. Bias against female scientists is less overt, but it has not gone away."-Laura Hoopes, Pomona College in California
"Faculty participants rated the male applicant as significantly more competent and hireable than the (identical) female applicant. These participants also selected a higher starting salary and offered more career mentoring to the male applicant. The gender of the faculty participants did not affect responses, such that female and male faculty were equally likely to exhibit bias against the female student. Mediation analyses indicated that the female student was less likely to be hired because she was viewed as less competent."
And for any of you doubters...
"...biological sex differences in inherent aptitude for math and science are small or nonexistent"
Bar Flies is about equality, confidence, and critical thinking!
Incentives
$10
Post Cards, Buttons, Stickers!
We have post cards, buttons, and tote bags with original art by Bozeman's Jasmine Lilly inspired by the film so you can show your support for science and love!
Limit 5 items per reward.
$15
"Fly-brator"
The joke will make sense once you watch the film...but why not do yourself a favor and get a bullet vibrator for a good cause? We'll also include other sexy goodies (condoms and lube) for a contribution of $15 dollars! Have fun! ;)
Claimed: 5 of 50
$25
Lifetime Film Access
Congratulations, you have purchased the film! We will send you a link after the film has been publicly screened. You will also recieve a social media shout out, and you may choose from the other incentives above!
$50
Erotique Gift Bag
Erotique, Bozeman's local sex shop, is donating cool dopamine t-shirts and more substantial vibrators! For $50 dollars, you'll recieve this gift bag as well as your choice of the other incentives above.
Claimed: 2 of 20
$100
Early Access
You will be provided with a private link to the final cut of Bar Flies before it is screened anywhere else, as well as your choice of anything included in the incentives above.
$100
Script Supervisor
This reward gives you digital or physical access to the final copy of the script, as well as your choice of the other incentives above.
Claimed: 1 of 50
$500
Behind the Scenes
As a Behind the Scenes donor, your name will play in the "Special Thanks" section of the credits. You will have access to the production stills after the shoot, the online look book for the film, and your choice of any of the incentives above.
Claimed: 2 of 20
$1,000
Associate Producer
As an associate producer, your name will play in the credits along side the cast and crew. You will be invited to a Skype meeting with the director, producer, and selected cast members, and to the wrap party (travel cost not included)! You'll also have your choice of the incentives above.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$5,000
Executive Producer
If you choose to contribute $5,000 or more we would love to give you an executive producer credit on the film. Your name will play in the credits along side the cast and crew. If you so desire, you are welcome to join us on the set of Bar Flies and check out the filming process. You're also invited a private dinner with the director, producer, and selected cast members, and to the wrap party (travel cost not included)! Additionally, you are welcome to choose from any of the incentives above.
Claimed: 1 of 3
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Post Cards, Buttons, Stickers!
We have post cards, buttons, and tote bags with original art by Bozeman's Jasmine Lilly inspired by the film so you can show your support for science and love!
Limit 5 items per reward.
$15
"Fly-brator"
The joke will make sense once you watch the film...but why not do yourself a favor and get a bullet vibrator for a good cause? We'll also include other sexy goodies (condoms and lube) for a contribution of $15 dollars! Have fun! ;)
Claimed: 5 of 50
$25
Lifetime Film Access
Congratulations, you have purchased the film! We will send you a link after the film has been publicly screened. You will also recieve a social media shout out, and you may choose from the other incentives above!
$50
Erotique Gift Bag
Erotique, Bozeman's local sex shop, is donating cool dopamine t-shirts and more substantial vibrators! For $50 dollars, you'll recieve this gift bag as well as your choice of the other incentives above.
Claimed: 2 of 20
$100
Early Access
You will be provided with a private link to the final cut of Bar Flies before it is screened anywhere else, as well as your choice of anything included in the incentives above.
$100
Script Supervisor
This reward gives you digital or physical access to the final copy of the script, as well as your choice of the other incentives above.
Claimed: 1 of 50
$500
Behind the Scenes
As a Behind the Scenes donor, your name will play in the "Special Thanks" section of the credits. You will have access to the production stills after the shoot, the online look book for the film, and your choice of any of the incentives above.
Claimed: 2 of 20
$1,000
Associate Producer
As an associate producer, your name will play in the credits along side the cast and crew. You will be invited to a Skype meeting with the director, producer, and selected cast members, and to the wrap party (travel cost not included)! You'll also have your choice of the incentives above.
Claimed: 0 of 10
$5,000
Executive Producer
If you choose to contribute $5,000 or more we would love to give you an executive producer credit on the film. Your name will play in the credits along side the cast and crew. If you so desire, you are welcome to join us on the set of Bar Flies and check out the filming process. You're also invited a private dinner with the director, producer, and selected cast members, and to the wrap party (travel cost not included)! Additionally, you are welcome to choose from any of the incentives above.
Claimed: 1 of 3
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Anna Sagatov, writer/director: Anna Sagatov began her film education by pursuing an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University. Though her original intention was to make creative science documentaries, her interests have shifted to using fiction film and the creative control it allows to challenge audience’s perceptions of social issues and science by creating relatable characters and relationships. She has made scientific art installations and produced and directed several short documentaries ranging in topic from the new life growing in the toxic waters of an abandoned pit mine to the science of meditation. Bar Flies is her first narrative short.
Kate Chapin, producer: Kate is both a filmmaker and photographer whose work has won awards as well as having been featured at film festivals. Kate took 1st place at Personal Vision, a juried exhibition at Montana State University in the spring of 2016. Her documentary "Consexual" premiered at the inaugural Bozeman International Film Festival in 2018 and her documentary “Sharp” was shown at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2017 in Missoula, MT. Kate graduated from Montana State University in the spring of 2017 with a double degree in film and photography.
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