Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways:
- Trust your instincts: Shooting on 16mm film helped Kaitlyn Mikayla focus and trust her instincts, enhancing the film's authenticity.
- Casting challenges: Kaitlyn's meticulous casting process ensured the right actors embodied her motocross world.
- Personal storytelling: Kaitlyn's childhood experiences on motocross tracks inspired the authentic, personal narrative of Ragamuffin.
As Ragamuffin prepares to screen at this year's HollyShorts Film Festival, filmmaker Kaitlyn Mikayla brings a personal touch to the motocross world. Drawing from her own experiences, she crafts a story exploring identity and resilience through the eyes of a young rider, Ryan Myles. Kaitlyn, along with producers Hannah Alline, Christina Jundt, Sailor Larocque, and Amber Neukum of Juice Box Films, and executive producer Jason Reitman, delivers a film that marries high-octane action with intimate storytelling.
What drew you to make Ragamuffin?
This film is a culmination of my childhood on and off the motocross track as a young rider in the Midwest. I wanted to tell a coming-of-age story that felt rooted in my own awkward and high-octane experiences. It's something that has lived inside of me for a long time, and I finally felt like I had the tools and the vision to bring it to life.
"The more you that you are, the more the world opens up to you."
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time?
The power of truth in film goes a long way. Upon meeting our Ryan, Eden Harper, she told me about her hearing loss in one of her ears. Learning that struck me, as I grew up riding with someone who was deaf and it’s always stuck with me. I wanted to give Eden the opportunity to put a little bit of herself into the role. It opened up this opportunity for quieter moments in the film.
What moment in the film feels the most you?
The "fly on the wall" b-roll that features the motocross community feels the most me. My background in photography and shooting in a voyeur-esque way has always been my approach. We captured the world authentically, as I saw it as a child. I love shooting for realism, and it was fun to rediscover the community I grew up in.
"At the core of all of my work is a desire to connect."
BTS shots from the making of Ragamuffin
What was the hardest creative decision you made?
The hardest decisions for me was the casting process. I really wanted to get it right, aiming for realism. We first went to real riders for Ryan's role, but it didn’t work out, so we turned to traditional casting. Finding actors who fit the world was meticulous and took the longest time. But because of that, we found a strong group of incredible actors.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I hope it inspires a generation to get curious and take risks. Ultimately, to be yourself and believe in yourself, even when the odds are stacked against you.
"The possibilities are endless and you have the freedom to approach the process in the way that you want to."
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for HollyShorts?
It's an incredible honor for us to play at HollyShorts. We're lucky to be among such an amazing lineup and to finally show our film to all of our friends is an added bonus.
Main Cast and Crew:
- Starring: Caroline Goodall, Hannah Onslow
- Kaitlyn Mikayla (Writer/Director)
- Producers: Hannah Alline, Christina Jundt, Sailor Larocque, Amber Neukum (Juice Box Films)
- Executive Producer: Jason Reitman
For more about Ragamuffin, visit their website and follow on Instagram @ragamuffinthefilm.
