Layaway by Director Kaitlyn T. Busbee tells the story of two kids living on their own in Iowa. The film explores family dynamics, responsibilities, and the longing for “home,” all with a beautiful and authentic feel. We are thrilled to share our “5 Questions With” series, featuring Kaitlyn Busbee, sharing more about Layaway.
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What inspired you to start making films?
I grew up as a theater kid. My parents were often involved with local productions, sometimes even cast in the same show together. Between the ages of 3 to 5, I have countless memories sitting in the back of gigantic auditoriums, perched atop a cooler that my parents had packed with snacks, completely mesmerized by the actors on stage. Around age 6, I auditioned for my first play and was cast. This was the start of my venture into the arts.
A few years later, my mom began making films with her business partner at the time, broadening their efforts from coaching actors and producing theater productions, to pursuing full feature films. It all happened on the periphery for me as I threw myself into team sports, like most Iowa kids around that age. Then, when I was 12, she made an independent feature on 35mm film. I very clearly remember visiting the post-production office, feeling awestruck by the strips of film strung up high, hanging down. It all felt magical. That same year my neighbor stumbled upon his family’s VHS camcorder, and playing with it quickly became our favorite hobby. We’d create little films running around his basement, editing in camera with our cuts, then rush to the VHS player to watch our creations.
From that point, I was hooked. Going on to make films with my friends in high school, eventually studying cinema alongside theater in undergrad, paving my way towards NYU for my MFA in film.
Film still feels like alchemy to me, which is a big reason why I can’t let it go.
Were there any challenges in making this project?
This film was shot for a very modest budget, as are almost all student films. So, on a base level, the budget and the restrictions that came with that were a challenge throughout. At this level you also must wear many hats, balancing producing your own film with the necessary prep work as a director wasn’t always easy. Which is why casting the crew felt just as important to me as finding the right actors to bring this film to life. Once you find your teammates, and empower them to fulfill their roles, things become a lot more streamlined and certain burdens are lifted. That’s also when the project really comes to life for me, when the collaborations begin. That definitely happened with Layaway.
Is there any type of message or emotion that you hope the viewer takes away from watching this film?
Layaway all began with my obsession over the rising costs of being human. On both literal and emotional levels.
Admittedly, growing up I was cocooned. That’s what parents often strive to do, particularly in times of stress. Although my family struggled with money and financial instability was an unfortunate norm at times, I was only half aware; most of the time left blissfully lost in the whims of childhood and the comfortable picture that my parents painted. But, when I did become aware, it colored my world, my actions, my inner life. A seed was planted deep within, money equals stress.
That was the late 90’s. Twenty plus years later, the landscape has shifted and the gap in the economy has widened further. The National Low Income Housing Coalition released a report that examined the increasing gap between wages and rent. With rental costs rising faster than wages, on average, a worker earning the federal minimum wage would have to work 103 hours a week to afford just a one-bedroom apartment. When we couple low-wages with skyrocketing rent hikes and a shortage of affordable housing – the expense and sacrifice of surviving in America begins to grossly reveal itself. This is a driving element of what I want to explore within my work. I want to illuminate the people caught in this harsh reality, particularly the kids.
Layaway is set amongst the backdrop of a family faced with this dilemma. It is not simply a story about houseless teens, but how that manifests and feels; how circumstance impacts the actions we take and the thoughts that guide us. The film strives to delicately explore the complexity of family dynamics and roles with the increased responsibility that we place upon others and ourselves. It brings to light the universal feelings of yearning for what we don’t have and learning to live with and embrace what we do have. Many of these thoughts were tumbling through my mind in the 90’s, but now are matured and actualized.
I’m continually inspired and influenced by the work of Andrea Arnold: her rawness, the authentic feel of her films, the texture and atmosphere. I also worked to harness my background in documentary filmmaking approaches and ideas. Setting up loose guideposts to keep the action of the film alive while letting the actors play and explore the written script without the feeling of restriction. Embracing the natural imperfections. That’s my goal with all filmmaking, that it never feels stifling, but freeing and real. I believe we succeeded with Layaway in capturing that sense of freedom and play, all cushioned within circumstances that feel quite the opposite. That paradox of being human is what I hope the audience takes with them from watching this film.
How does it feel to be able to screen the film at HollyShorts?
Screening at HollyShorts is a genuine joy for me. This has been a fest that I’ve had my eye on for years. A festival that’s designed to celebrate the short film, independent voices and projects, all while working to help provide networks to further develop projects and filmmakers is really exciting. And, premiering Layaway at such an iconic venue as the TCL Chinese Theatre is inspiring.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I’m amidst my final year at Tisch, in prep for my thesis film early next year, another short. Currently, I’m surrounded by the stages of development, re-writes, fundraising, scouting, and inching my way towards pre-production. Meanwhile, I’m often traveling to crew on numerous thesis projects for friends at NYU, working as a DP, AD, AC, even editor. I’m also making it a priority to fit in some freelance work on the side. It’s an exciting phase of having one foot very much still in grad school, and one outside feeling the waters of the industry. During this time, I’m also continuing to write and develop a feature screenplay set in the world of Layaway. There’s a lot more story to be told there, and it’s been energizing and meaningful to explore it further, workshopping drafts of the script in classes and meeting with mentors to help push it along. This endeavor adds to the significance of getting this short out there, sharing it with audiences to get their reactions. I look forward to these adventures and others that may await.
Thank you so much, Kaitlyn, for sharing your responses! Moreover, be sure to check out Layaway at the upcoming HollyShorts 2023 Film Festival on August 15th at 5pm for “Student Film.” Click here to get tickets for the 19th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, running from August 10th – August 19th at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres.
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