Sav Rodgers in conversation for CHASING CHASING AMY

It's June 9 in New York's historic Tribeca neighborhood, and I'm heading to the Roxy Hotel to meet with filmmaker Sav Rodgers to discuss the premiere of his eponymous festival documentary, CHASING CHASING AMY. The film tells the story of young Sav Rodgers discovering Kevin Smith's groundbreaking third film at the impressionable age of twelve and the ensuing awakening to seeing queer people portrayed on film in such a candid and open way. The movie had its first public premiere the night before, and although I couldn't make it to the screening, I was able to attend the afterparty. I mingled, drank complimentary whiskey, and chatted with many in attendance, all of whom praised the film's openness and clarity. I had shown the film the night before in my laundry room, further proof that there aren't enough hours in the day. The film I saw was not the film I thought I would see after seeing Sav's TED Talk, in which the young filmmaker explains his relationship to Smith's film. CHASING CHASING AMY is less about Sav Rodgers chasing the rocky legacy of a 1997 rom-com and more about chasing the person he was destined to become.

I am grateful ahead of the interview that the smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfire has gradually begun to clear in the city. When I rushed Wednesday afternoon to pick up my press pass for the Tribeca Film Festival, the city was blanketed in sepia tones. New York City looked like an old, worn photograph of itself. Today, he looks more like his new old self, and that suits me just fine. I notice while walking south from Port Authority that just after crossing 20th Street, everyone is holding hands. All the pedestrians seemed to have teamed up, and their diversity and fearlessness are palpable. It makes my own steps lighter, and I'm soon at my destination, and early to start. I'll meet Sav with producer Lela Meadow-Conner, whom I only met once and very briefly the night before. I sit at the bar and sip water until I get a phone call from the PR company letting me know we're ready to get started. The two are seated in a large semi-circular booth with a handy entourage dotted around the surrounding tables.

I arrive at the hotel bar with a CHASING CHASING AMY hat that I bought at the first party the day before, so naturally Sav and Lela compliment me on the hat.

Eric McClanahan - It's funny because I saw the hats and I knew I had to get one because of the moment in the movie where you're at the Secret Stash and you see the CHASING AMY crew hat in the window and I believe you were told you could have it but you insisted it was Kevin's hat.

Sav Rodger - Yeah, Kevin gave it to me and I thought… no, no thanks. It's your hat.

Lela Meadow-Conner - But Riley was like, "You deserve it."

SR - Yeah, Riley will always say take it, but I'm more like, "No, it's okay."

EM - Voice of reason. So, yeah, when I saw this I decided I needed a CHASING CHASING AMY hat, so thank you very much. So let's start with the current moment: you're in Tribeca. What does the enormity of this look like?

SR - I don't know if it's real for me yet. I've just tried to keep my head down over the past few years, occasionally providing updates to people saying "Hey, when's this coming out?" I would say "One day". So I'm really grateful that we can be here and be able to share the film with an audience. I was telling my mom this morning that it's strange to think that it's not something I'm working on anymore - now it's a done thing. It's something we did. How are you feeling Lela?

LMC - Yeah, and I think the funny thing about this movie is because collectively, as a production team, we know a whole bunch of people in the industry, we were always talking about the movie, and I think a lot of people thought it was already out. They were like, "Oh, I missed CHASING CHASING AMY" and we were like, "No, it hasn't been created yet." We talked so much about working on this project for so long, and last night was so amazing and special and the audience reaction was what we knew it would be. Better, in fact.

SR - Well, what you knew it would be.

EM - Were you nervous?

SR - Of course! There are a multitude of anxieties out there. But please continue.

LMC - I think that for any first feature film, it's already me...