Ellen Goldfarb has produced and directed many projects. “Dare to Be Different” is her first feature film.
“Dare to Be Different” will premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 27.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
EG: “Dare To Be Different” is a nostalgic, fun look back at the world-famous radio station WLIR from Long Island, NY. It’s a David and Goliath story of a smaller non-corporate radio station that was operating with a temporary FCC license even as they tried to stay afloat while competing with bigger corporate radio conglomerates.
In 1982, the station made the decision to take a huge risk and change their music format, playing music that no other station was going to play. With this change, they made musical history and gave artists that had no other inlet to the United States a gateway to America.
Denis McNamara and his team of creative and rogue DJ’s kept the station going with great new music, interesting shows, live concerts, and amusing programs. The station became a phenomenon that was eventually recognized all over the world. It had an incredibly loyal fan base, and was unlike any radio station in America.
In the five-year-period which was the “Dare To Be Different” years, WLIR created a musical and cultural movement that defined the 1980s. In our film you will hear interviews from many of the artists and bands that had their first U.S. airplay on WLIR. The artists pay homage to the station and also talk about their history and the history of New Music.
There are also interviews with many big music industry executives, DJs, club owners, concert promoters, and fans all reminiscing about their beloved WLIR and these glorious years. You’ll hear and see many of the songs that made WLIR what is was,and you’ll also be able to take a tour of the old station though archived footage and B-roll all the way until its demise.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
EG: I have always loved WLIR and whenever I hear certain songs from that era, it brings me back to a special time in my life. When I noticed there were so many tribute pages on Facebook to WLIR and how many people were reminiscing, posting songs, and saying how much they missed the station after over 30 years, I realized that I was not the only passionate person whose life was changed by it.
However, no one really ever knew what happened to WLIR! One day it was just gone and there was a new station in its place. They tried to play the same music but the vibe was very different. I decided to do some research about the station and realized there was a great story to be told.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
EG: The importance of radio — what is was then and what is has become. I feel very fortunate that I grew up with WLIR and I want everyone to know what it was all about. I want people to appreciate what Denis and the staff at WLIR did for these artists and bands that may not be where they are today if it was not for the station.
Also, that this music was as important to history as the ’60s was with its British Invasion. The music of the ’80s was very influential on many levels, and it even influenced today’s music. This is a story that needed to be told and I am so excited for the world to know about WLIR!
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
EG: Money! Isn’t it always money?
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
EG: We formed an LLC, put our own life savings into this, did two Indie Go Go crowdfunding campaigns, gathered as many investors as we could find, and finished up what we have now. We still need finishing funds for music rights and we’re hoping a distributor can help us with that.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at Tribeca?
EG: It’s amazing! Truly amazing! We are so excited! And New York is the perfect place to have our world premiere since WLIR was a NY/ Long Island radio station! We are so grateful that they invited us to come and premiere at Tribeca and 2017 marks 30 years since WLIR went off the air!.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
EG: Worst advice: My sister-in-law said, “You really need to find a director for your film!”
Best Advice: “You need to be the director of this film!”
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
EG: Be tenacious. Don’t give up, even when you think you will never succeed. Protect your film like a mother protects their children. You can do it. Women can be just as successful as men are, and sometimes more so. Always remember that.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
EG: I have so many but one film in particular, from a fellow documentary filmmaker I really admire for her work is “Blackfish” from Gabriela Cowperthwaite. I was very impressed with this film.
I love Sofia Coppola’s work and would love to sit and chat with her one of these days.
W&H: There have been significant conversations over the last couple of years about increasing the amount of opportunities for women directors yet the numbers have not increased. Are you optimistic about the possibilities for change? Share any thoughts you might have on this topic.
EG: I’m absolutely optimistic about the possibilities for change. I think times are changing and it’s so refreshing to see so many talented women in film! I think there will be more and more opportunities in the future for we women filmmakers. It seems very positive. It took a while, but it is happening.
