This project started by examining how far someone would be willing to go to escape from a controlling and abusive partner. Some of the questions I explored were: Where does one draw the line of morality? How far over the line would one go to become free? Is there historical context to these questions? If so, have partnership dynamics changed over time? If they have, can we include this in the storyline?
Now that it's complete, when people ask me what SHEath is about, I realize I can answer this in several ways. Sometimes, I say it's a snapshot into a moment in time within a complex relationship. Other times, I say SHEath is a narrative allegory about a couple that symbolizes the arduous struggle experienced by countless women in relationships over the past 10,000 years (or so) in this male-dominated patriarchal epoch. More research supports the idea that human societies may have been more egalitarian in our hunter-gatherer times. However, that egalitarian mindset now seems neglected, especially after anthropological evidence since the agricultural revolution. Writings by Riane Eisler, Daniel Quinn, and others have slowly lifted the veil in this more harmonious and collaborative human nature. Recently, Dr. Cara Wall-Scheffler's paper The Myth of Man the Hunter: Women’s Contribution to the Hunt across Ethnographic Contexts (link to the paper here ) combs through data from 391 foraging societies worldwide. This research showed that 80% had data showing that women participated in hunting. Although research into this field over the past 50 years has slowly disrupted the old notion that men hunted and women were the caretakers, for some reason, the idea of man the hunter has remained a meme -- even supported by trained historians!
More importantly, I want viewers to answer "What is SHEath about?" for themselves. After viewing SHEath, I hope viewers will further dissect the story, the dialogue, and the characters' choices. Whether they examine the choices in the relationship or explore the much broader societal implications of the film, I look forward to listening to them, exchanging ideas, and learning even more about this film. Although SHEath is not based on an actual event, I have learned from countless acquaintances over the years that the characters' situational confrontations and contemplations in SHEath are quite realistic.
Greg Lowe - July 2023
Los Angeles-based actor Beth Gallagher graduated from a 2-year Meisner/Chekhov integrated training program at MCIT Studios in San Diego, CA, and got her MA in Acting (Classical and Contemporary Text) at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which was recently named 3rd in the world for performing arts education. While at RCS, she also completed an intensive month of training at Shakespeare's Globe in London.
Ivy Margaret is a native of Ramona, CA. She relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2016 to get more involved in television and film. Ivy has appeared in various TV shows, including American Dreams and The Human Project.
Bryan currently lives in San Diego with his wife and daughter. He is a native of central California and is balancing his passions as an actor and entrepreneur.
After a 16-year teaching career, Greg took a three-year hiatus to follow his passion for film by working on over ten short films in San Diego, including two of his projects. In 2018, he moved to Seattle to find a balance between making films and teaching physics. While in Seattle, he completed his third short film, Sofi. In 2021, he spent a year teaching in San Jose and completing his fourth short (experimental) film, Voler Seule (Fly Alone). Greg now lives in southeast Pennsylvania, teaching STEM and working with regional filmmakers in Baltimore, Philadelphia, D.C., and New York. The SHEath is his fifth short and was completed in the summer of 2023.
John is a full-time filmmaker with ten years of experience working on short films, commercials, and various feature films. With a passion for directing, editing, and cinematography, John works to create mostly dark and dramatic cinema.
Demi is a cinematographer, director, and writer based in southern California, working primarily with short films and featurettes of multiple genres.
Brian Cobb is an active composer, performer, and music educator who resides in Seattle, WA. Brian's diverse composition catalogue includes music for voice, wind ensemble, orchestra, dance, film, electronic media, and numerous chamber settings. Brian's music has been performed throughout the United States and Western Europe.
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