When writer and director Leslie Hardy returned to Goodwater, Alabama, she wasn’t just coming home to a familiar childhood memory; she was answering a lifelong calling to bring Southern stories to the big screen and showcase the power of small-town communities.
During her 35 years in Los Angeles, California, Hardy was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and made a career for herself as an actress in commercials and episodic television. During this time, Hardy began writing, honing her craft and learning what it takes to work on a set–lessons she now applies to her newest film project in Goodwater.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp?5 H92E D96 7@F?5 E9C@F89@FE p=232>2’D 7:=> 4@>>F?:EJ DFCAC:D65 96C] %96 C6D:56?ED 925 E96 D2>6 6?6C8J[ 6286C?6DD 2?5 E6?24:EJ D96 D2H :? {@D p?86=6D[ 3FE H:E9 2 42?\5@ DA:C:E E92E 76=E C67C6D9:?8=J 5:776C6?E] %96 6IA6C:6?46 DA2C<65 w2C5J’D G:D:@? E@ 96=A 3F:=5 p=232>2’D 7:=> D46?6[ H:E9 9@A6D @7 EFC?:?8 E96 DE2E6 :?E@ 2 56DE:?2E:@? 7@C :?56A6?56?E 2?5 >2;@C AC@5F4E:@?D[ D:>:=2C E@ pE=2?E2[ v6@C8:2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“xE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ >6[ 2D 2 D4C66?HC:E6C 2?5 7:=>>2<6C[ E@ 3C:?8 7:=>:?8 @7 $@FE96C? DE@C:6D E@ p=232>2[” D2:5 w2C5J] “%96C6 :D A@H6C :? E96 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 2?5 :E 4@F=5 36 2 7FEFC6 C6G6?F6 86?6C2E@C 96C6 H:E9 >@C6 DFAA@CE]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmvC@H:?8 FA :? r92A6= w:==[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 pE=2?E2[ v6@C8:2[ w2C5J DA6?E 96C 49:=59@@5 G:D:E:?8 96C 8C2?5A2C6?ED :? v@@5H2E6C[ 2 A=246 E92E =67E 2 =2DE:?8 :>AC6DD:@? @? 96C] $96 C646?E=J :?96C:E65 E96:C `hc_D 9@>6 2?5 ?@H =:G6D E96C6 7F== E:>6[ DFCC@F?565 3J E96 72>:=:2C D:89ED 2?5 D>6==D @7 96C 49:=59@@5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm{6D=:6 w2C5J @7E6? C67=64ED @? 7@?5 >6>@C:6D @7 8C@H:?8 FA :? E96 $@FE9[ 2?5 D96’D BF:4<=J D6EE=:?8 :?E@ E96 C9JE9>D @7 D>2==\E@H? =:76] x? 96C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ DFAA@CE:?8 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D[ D96 3FJD AC@5F46 7C@> 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 DE2?5k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm2 D:>A=6 24E E92E 3C:?8D 324< G:G:5 >6>@C:6D @7 49:=59@@5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“*@F <?@H :E’D DF>>6CE:>6 H96? E96 42?E2=@FA6D 2?5 E@>2E@6D 2C6 @FE[” D2:5 w2C5J] “(2=<:?8 :?E@ E96 9@FD6 2?5 92G:?8 E96 D>6== @7 42?E2=@FA6[ x’> 6:89E J62CD @=5 282:?[ 2?5 492D:?8 =:89E?:?8 3F8D :? E96 J2C5 H:E9 @FC ?6:893@C9@@5 <:5D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm(9:=6 w2C5J ?6G6C =:G65 :? v@@5H2E6C F?E:= ?@H[ D96 2=H2JD 42CC:65 2 =@G6 7@C E96 E@H? 2?5 E96 >6>@C:6D :E 9@=5D] %92E 27764E:@? :?DA:C65 96C =2E6DE AC@;64E[ k6>m“':@=2[” k^6>m2 D9@CE 7:=> :?DA:C65 3J 96C 7F==\=6?8E9 D4C:AE[ k6>mr@F?EJ @7 r@@D2]k^6>m %96 7:=> E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 2 H@C<29@=:4 (2D9:?8E@? s]r] =@33J:DE H9@ C6EFC?D E@ E96 D>2== E@H? H96C6 D96 DA6?E 49:=59@@5 DF>>6CD] %96 492C24E6C 4@>6D 324< E@ @G6CD66 E96 D2=6 @7 96C 8C2?5A2C6?ED’ 9@FD6 2?5 7:?5D 96CD6=7 5C2H? :?E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ’D DECF88=6 282:?DE A@G6CEJ 2?5 C6D:DE2?46 E@ 492?86]kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 DE@CJ[ =:<6 E96 E@H? :ED6=7[ :D 4=@D6 E@ w2C5J’D 962CE 2?5 :?DA:C65 3J >@>6?ED 7C@> 96C @H? =:76]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“x’G6 D66? E96 564=:?6 @7 2 =:EE=6 E@H? =:<6 v@@5H2E6C[ 2?5 E96J’C6 F3:BF:E@FD[” w2C5J D2:5] “%96C6’D D@ >2?J E@H?D =:<6 v@@5H2E6C E92E 92G6 925 36EE6C 52JD[ 2?5 42?’E D66> E@ BF:E6 86E 324< @? E96:C 766E] p?5 E92E :D 2 A2CE @7 E96 DE@CJ H6’C6 E6==:?8] (6 5@?’E 92G6 2?J 2?DH6CD[ 3FE :E’D ;FDE H@?56C:?8 H9J[ 2?5 H92E 92AA6?65n”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 7:=>’D E96>6D 2C6 566A=J A6CD@?2= 7@C w2C5J[ H9@ 92D H:E?6DD65 v@@5H2E6C’D 6G@=FE:@? @G6C 564256D @7 G:D:ED] w6C =625 492C24E6C’D ;@FC?6J >:CC@CD E96 3:EE6CDH66E 6IA6C:6?46 @7 C64@??64E:?8 H:E9 2 A=246 E92E D92A65 @?6’D 62C=:6DE ;@JD[ @?=J E@ 7:?5 :E 492?865k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm2?5 DECF88=:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmw2C5J’D H@C< @? k6>mr@F?EJ @7 r@@D2i ':@=2k^6>m :D 2D >F49 23@FE 4@>>F?:EJ 2D :E :D 23@FE DE@CJE6==:?8] $96 2DD6>3=65 2 4C6H =2C86=J 7C@> p=232>2[ 5C2H:?8 @? =@42= E2=6?E E@ 3C:?8 E96 7:=> E@ =:76] pE=2?E2\32D65 24EC6DD r96CC:6 |4#26 A=2JD E96 =625 C@=6[ H9:=6 q:C>:?892>’D zC:DE:? s@36C D6CG6D 2D AC@5F46C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmw2C5J 2=D@ 4@==23@C2E65 H:E9 pr% xx[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ E962E6C :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ] %96 8C@FA @A6?65 :ED 5@@CD 7@C 2F5:E:@?D[ E23=6 C625D 2?5 H2C5C@36 D6DD:@?D] s6?:D6 vC2G6D[ pr% xx 3@2C5 >6>36C[ DE6AA65 :? 2D E96 7:=>’D AC@5F4E:@? 56D:8?6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“pr% xx 92D AC@G:565 :?G2=F23=6 DFAA@CE[” w2C5J D2:5] “~E96CH:D6[ H6’5 36 9@=5:?8 2F5:E:@?D 2E 2? @FE5@@C 4276 D@>6A=246]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? 2 F?:BF6=J =@42= E@F49[ w2C5J 42DE p=6I2?56C r:EJ C6D:56?ED :? >2?J @7 E96 7:=>’D DFAA@CE:?8 C@=6D[ 3C:?8:?8 9@>6E@H? E2=6?E E@ E96 D4C66? 2?5 255:?8 2FE96?E:4:EJ E@ E96 DE@CJ] %H@ v@@5H2E6C C6D:56?EDkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmq:==J #2J vF?? 2?5 |2CJ $:>>@?Dk^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm2=D@ A=2J <6J A2CED] vF?? :?DA:C65 2 492C24E6C 27E6C w2C5J DA@EE65 9:> H@C<:?8 :? 2 ?6:893@C’D J2C5[ H9:=6 $:>>@?D 2AA62CD :? 7=2D9324<D 2D E96 8C2?5>@E96C[ 2 >6>@CJ @7 E96 E@H?’D A2DE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“%96:C 6DD6?46 :D D@ >F49 E96 962CE @7 E9:D 7:=>[” w2C5J D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm{@42= 3FD:?6DD6D H6C6 6DD6?E:2= :? 96=A:?8 3C:?8 E96 7:=> E@ =:76] t5’D r27é[ @H?65 3J s@??2 2?5 t5 r2=9@F?[ AC@G:565 42E6C:?8 5FC:?8 AC@5F4E:@?[ 2?5 w2C5J >256 :E 2 AC:@C:EJ E@ H@C< H:E9 ?62C3J G6?5@CDk^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmA2CE @7 96C >:DD:@? E@ D9@H 9@H 7:=>>2<:?8 42? DFAA@CE D>2==\E@H? 64@?@>:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“~?6 @7 @FC 24E@CD 962C5 D@>6@?6 D2J[ ‘*@F’C6 7:=>:?8 :? v@@5H2E6Cn w2G6 J@F D66? 9@H v@@5H2E6C =@@<Dn’” w2C5J D2:5] “%92E 2EE:EF56 :D A6CG2D:G6[ 2?5 :E’D @?6 @7 >J 5C:G:?8 6?8:?6D] xE’D G6CJ 62DJ E@ D:E @? E96 D:56=:?6D 2?5 4@>>6?E 23@FE E96 8@@5 @=5 52JD[ 3FE G6CJ 76H 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ 96=A] '6CJ 76H A6@A=6 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ 5@ 2?JE9:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmw2C5J H2D D6=64E65 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 $E@H6 $E@CJ }2CC2E:G6 {23 =2DE DF>>6C H:E9 E96 7F== =6?8E9 G6CD:@? @7 k6>mr@F?EJ @7 r@@D2]k^6>m %9:D HC:E:?8 H@C<D9@A H2D 96=5 :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 E96 $:56H2=< u:=> u6DE:G2= :? q:C>:?892>] w2C5J H2D E96 @?=J p=232>2 HC:E6C :? E96 AC@8C2>[ H9:49 5C6H A2CE:4:A2?ED 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 36J@?5] %96 6IA6C:6?46 96=A65 D@=:5:7J 96C G:D:@? 7@C E96 7:=>[ :?DA:C65 96C E@ HC:E6 2?5 AC@5F46 D6G6C2= D9@CED 7C@> E9:D DE@CJ 2?5 4@??64E65 96C H:E9 <6J 4@==23@C2E@CD]kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“xE H2D H@CE9 6G6CJ 5@==2C E92E x DA6?E 7@C E96 42>2C256C:6[ E96 DFAA@CE @7 E9:D DE@CJ 2?5 E96 D9@CE 7:=> H6’G6 ;FDE 4@>A=6E65 H:E9 2?@E96C @?6 :? E96 H@C<D[” D2:5 w2C5J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmuF?5:?8 7C@> 6?E6CE2:?>6?E =2HJ6C $E24J s2G:D[ H9@ DFAA@CED 76>2=6 D4C66?HC:E6CD @G6C c_[ 2=D@ 96=A65 w2C5J 2EE6?5 E96 =23 2?5 25G2?46 E96 AC@;64E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmu:=>:?8 E@@< A=246 :? |2J[ H:E9 E96 AC@;64E ?@H :? A@DE\AC@5F4E:@?[ 2?5 w2C5J 9@A:?8 E@ 6?E6C k6>mr@F?EJ @7 r@@D2i ':@=2k^6>m :?E@ 7:=> 76DE:G2=Dj 9@H6G6C[ E96 3C@256C 8@2= :D E@ 96=A 6DE23=:D9 p=232>2 2D 2 A=246 H96C6 7:=> 2?5 E96 2CED 42? E9C:G6] {:<6 ?6:893@C:?8 v6@C8:2[ w2C5J 36=:6G6D p=232>2 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 2EEC24E >@C6 7:=>>2<6CD[ 4C62E6 ;@3D 2?5 3@@DE =@42= 64@?@>:6Dk^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm–k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm:7 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 =6256CD 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ DFAA@CE E96 :?5FDECJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“xE’D C62==J 23@FE 7@4FD:?8 @? E6==:?8 p=232>2 DE@C:6D[” w2C5J D2:5] “p?5 3C:?8:?8 >@C6 7:=> H@C< 96C6[ 2?5 FD:?8 2== @7 E96 C6D@FC46D E92E H6 92G6 96C6] %9:D 4@F=5 C62==J 36 2 3:886C D@FC46 @7 C6G6?F6 7@C p=232>2]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmu@C w2C5J[ k6>mr@F?EJ @7 r@@D2k^6>m :D >@C6 E92? 2 4C62E:G6 AC@;64E] xE’D 2 EC:3FE6 E@ E96 D>2== E@H?D 2?5 A6@A=6 H9@ 96=A65 D92A6 96C[ 2?5 2 C67=64E:@? @7 E96 =@42= DFAA@CE E92E >2<6D :?56A6?56?E 7:=>>2<:?8 A@DD:3=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
