The three soon realize, however, that they can’t survive without one another, and a new journey begins to build a family.

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Canada-born mother of four, Marina Rice Bader began her career as an actress in Texas. After moving to Los Angeles, she was repelled by the energy of the industry and embarked on a career as a photographer. After 18 years shooting magazine spreads with stars who make TMZ reporters foam at the mouth, she hung up her camera.

It’s clear from her new film, “Anatomy of a Love Seen,” that Bader has a keen eye. Every shot is a masterpiece of cinematography. Her lighting and composition are exquisite.

Shot in five days based around an outline, the actors improvise their way through a heartwrenching day. Two women who shot a love scene for a film are in to re-shoot the scene, but without nudity, so the film can air on broadcast television. One hitch, and it’s a big one, Mal and Zoey, the stars of the film, had fallen in love during that scene. Mal inexplicably exits the relationship, leaving Zoey devastated. Now, they must re-shoot that magic moment.

And action.

Without a script, the four principle actors make their way through the emotional aftermath of that first love scene. Like Bader, the film is raw, genuine and warm. Bader does an amazing job casting three actors and herself in the main roles. Yes, herself, she plays the director, so you actually see the director directing this movie within a movie.

It’s not Bader’s first rodeo, but it’s the first one we get to watch. She shot “Raven’s Touch” with Traci Dinwiddie (“Elena Undone”) and Dreya Weber (“A Marine Story”) last year. While “Anatomy of a Love Seen” was a rush job, it comes together beautifully and in time to hit festivals this summer.

“Anatomy of a Love Seen” screens Friday, July 18, 2014, at 7pm at THE DGA 1, located in The Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, California. The premiere will be followed by an exclusive cocktail reception after-party with the entire cast and crew.

Bader cut her lesbian film chops as executive producer of “Elena Undone” and “A Perfect Ending” with her production company Soul Kiss Films.

She took time from her busy schedule to talk to Lesbian.com.

You filmed “Anatomy of a Love Seen” in a remarkably short time, especially given that it’s improvised. What was the set like? How were you able to manage it on such a tight schedule?

The set was incredible. You had this group of 25 people attempting something quite difficult and out of the box, so we were like “we can do it” every day and every day we did. The way we managed was to shoot in one location. That was really the key. No company moves. Sets you could literally walk away from. All 12 hours each of the five days was spent shooting. It was so much fun.

How did you get started directing? What was your inspiration?

My inspiration was a lifetime of creating movies in my head, so when I finally got over the fear (it only took me 58 years), I jumped in with both feet.

You have another film coming out soon as well. Tell us about “Raven’s Touch.”

“Raven’s Touch” stars Dreya Weber and Traci Dinwiddie. It should be available this fall.

How do you balance your projects and family? What’s your secret?

Believe me, if I had a secret, I’d share it. It’s the universal working parent’s conundrum, right?

I’m happy that my kids are older now. They understand, “Honey, if I don’t work, we can’t pay the rent or go on vacations, etc.” They don’t like not having me available 100 percent of the time, but they know that it’s necessary.

What’s great is that when I’m not on set or in meetings, I work out of my home, so they see me all the time, even when I’m eyeball deep in a project.

What grounds or inspires you in your every day life?

I’d like to say my kids ground me, but my life with them is like a three-ring circus. My love for them grounds me. That makes more sense.

As for inspiration, I have to say that for the first time in my life, I’m inspiring myself. How cool is that?

Besides making films, do you have any hobbies?

Hmm, at the moment, I’m happy if I get a good book in. I just finished “Strength in What Remains.” There’s no walking away from that one unscathed. I do have my eye on rock climbing on real rocks, not plastic.

What advice would you offer to aspiring filmmakers?

Well, there are a thousand possible answers to this questions, but the best tangible piece of advice I can think of is this: Do something that really scares you. And I mean something that makes you want to cry just thinking about it. Terrified of snakes? Go hold one at a pet store. Afraid of the dark? Go spelunking in a deep, dark cave. Terrified of heights? Go ziplining. Once you conquer that fear, then make a movie. To survive in this world, you must be fearless.

What’s your favorite part of making a film?

I love putting the pieces together. I truly have my hands on everything from story to casting to wardrobe to the final post decision. The utter thrill of seeing everything come together, it’s pretty orgasmic.

What’s the most difficult part?

Funding. Nothing new there.

My plan is to make a film this fall for release next summer. Details are under wraps for now, but suffice it to say my audience will be welcomed into a world few have ever seen.

Then, in the fall of 2015, I’ll be filming a story very dear to my heart — It’s been in there a long time — called “Red Sky Theater” in Arizona. I’m so stoked to finally make this film.

Watch now on Vimeo.

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Writer/director Marina Rice Bader makes her directorial debut at the 32nd Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival with the world premiere of her feature film entitled “Anatomy of a Love Seen.” Previously, she was the executive producer of “Elena Undone” and “Perfect Ending.”

Outfest — the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting LGBT stories on the screen — officially announced on June 4 the complete programming lineup for its 32nd Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. The nation’s leading LGBT festival will be held July 10 through July 20, 2014.

Bader’s lesbian-themed feature film screens Friday, July 18, 2014, at 7pm at THE DGA 1, located in The Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, California. The premiere will be followed by an exclusive cocktail reception after-party with the entire cast and crew.

As the driving force behind Soul Kiss Films, Bader’s independent film company, her mind and artistic direction is only focused on one goal: Creating evocative, entertaining and compelling movies by women, for women and about women. And she’s already successfully planting the seeds to do just that with “Anatomy of a Love Seen” and the upcoming “Raven’s Touch.”

“Anatomy of a Love Seen” stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman. This film within a film explores love in all its painful and messy glory. The story takes us back six months, when actresses Zoe (Sharon Hinnendael) and Mal (Jill Evyn) fell for each other at exactly the same moment in time while filming a love scene. After five blissful months together Zoe was decimated when Mal walked away. Three miserable weeks later a very lucrativenetwork broadcast deal was in the works. They only had one request: Re-shoot the love scene. Welcome to the set.

Shot in five days, this improvised film based on Bader’s story, characters and outline fulfilled her desire to create a very organic and visceral experience.

“Anatomy of a Love Seen” was made on a small budget, but that hasn’t stopped a huge online buzz.

Released just a few weeks ago, the trailer for the film is making a lot of noise having already garnered well over 125,000 views.

Bringing a unique passion to her craft and desire to make her mark, Marina Rice Bader is one talented filmmaker to keep an eye on.

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Outfest, the world’s leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT stories on the screen, has announced the line-up of its second annual Fusion Lab. A pop-up micro-cinema and media lab, Fusion Lab will be housed at Kaos Network (4343 S. Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles) in Leimert Park. All programs, workshops and screenings are free and open to the public; Fusion Lab is open March 21–April 19.

Supported by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation, Fusion Lab provides free workshops in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, digital media storytelling and how to thrive as an artist. The workshops are taught by accomplished filmmakers, many of whom are Outfest Alumni, including Kyle Patrick Alvarez (“C.O.G.”), Doug Spearman (“Noah’s Arc,” “Hot Guys with Guns”), Lena Waithe (producer, “Dear White People”), D’Lo (“Coming Out,” “Coming Home”), Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield (“The DL Chronicles”), and Taj Paxton (veteran film exec and Outfest Fusion Programmer).

“Our first ever Fusion Lab in Highland Park last year was an incredible success,” said Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer, “Outfest is committed to nurturing emerging artists and to creating new forms of audience engagement. We are excited to see the stories that are created by the community of Leimert Park, and the films that come out of our One-Minute Film Competition.”

The screenings include audience favorites and award-winning films from Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival and Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival. Highlights are: “Mississippi Damned” (Tina Mabry), “Valentine Road” (Marta Cunningham), “Transvisible: The Bamby Salcedo Story” (Dante Alencastre) and “DL Chronicles – The Chadwick Journals” (Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield).

For the complete schedule and to sign up for free, visit OUTFEST.

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Outfest — the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBT stories on the screen — has announced the complete programming lineup for its 31st Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. The nation’s leading LGBT festival will be held July 11 to 21, 2013.

As previously announced, Outfest 2013 will open with Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s “C.O.G.,” based on the short story by David Sedaris, on Thursday, July 11. Prior to the opening night screening, the organization will honor writer-director Kimberly Peirce with its 17th annual Achievement Award. The festival closes on Sunday, July 21, with Darren Stein’s comedy “G.B.F.,” written by Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellow George Northy, and starring Megan Mullally, Natasha Lyonne and Andrea Bowen.

For more information and for a complete listing of films in the Festival, log on to www.outfest.org/fest2013 or call 213-480-7065.

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Kimberley Peirce

BY LESBIAN.COM STAFF

Outfest — the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media — announced today that Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s “C.O.G.,” the first film adaptation of David Sedaris’s work, has been selected as the Opening Night Gala of the 31^st Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival on Thursday, July 11.  “C.O.G.” is written and directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, based on the short story by David Sedaris, and stars Jonathan Groff, Denis O’Hare, Corey Stoll, Dean Stockwell, Casey Wilson and Troian Bellisario.

Outfest will also present its 17^th annual Achievement Award to writer/director Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry,” “Stop-Loss,” “Carrie”). The Achievement Award is Outfest’s highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media. The Achievement Award will be presented to Peirce prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “C.O.G.” on Thursday, July 11 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

“One of Outfest’s principal goals has been to celebrate the many voices of LGBT storytelling on film, and we couldn’t be more excited to honor Kimberly Peirce’s extraordinary filmmaking career while also heralding writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s stunning sophomore feature capturing David Serdaris’ hilarious tone. The mix promises to make this our most memorable Opening Night,” commented Kirsten Schaffer, Outfest Executive Director.

Outfest has previously given this award to John Waters, Jane Lynch, Bill Condon, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Don Roos, Donna Deitch, Kenneth Anger, Gregg Araki, Todd Haynes, Jane Anderson, Christine Vachon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Gus Van Sant, Ian McKellen, John Schlesinger, and Strand Releasing.

The nation’s leading LGBT film festival, and the oldest film festival in the city of Los Angeles, will be held July 11 – 21, 2013.

The complete lineup for Outfest 2013 will be announced at the beginning of June.

Outfest 2013: The 31st Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival is presented by HBO.  Grand Sponsors include Absolut and Ease Entertainment.

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