When he was just 29 years old, Clay Gould — a husband, father and coach of the University of Texas at Arlington baseball team — died after a battle with cancer. A few years later his wife, Lake Highlands resident Julie Gould, embarked on a therapeutic project while pursuing a film degree — a short movie that would bring personal catharsis and, hopefully, touch others hurting from the loss of a loved one. This year, the finished short film, “8”, is making its way around the festival circuit, debuting and winning “best short” at March’s South By Southwest (SXSW) film festival in Austin. It screened at the Dallas Independent Film Festival and Sarasota Film Festival in April, and in Boston’s Independence Film Festival this month.
How did “8” come to exist?
In 2001, my husband died. At the time, our daughter Logan was 10 months old. This movie is a gift to Clay, Logan, myself … and it’s for other widows. I’d always known I wanted to make movies. I’d tried other things — like being in front of the camera — but I went back to school at UTA two years ago, and I was encouraged to make something based on personal experience. It was a therapeutic project. Two other UTA guys, cinematographer Bret Curry and co-director Daniel Laabs, eventually got on board.
What is does “8” mean?
That was Clay’s baseball jersey number. Baseball was a big part of his life — he coached the UTA team. The film is about the anniversary of his death and how a mother (me) and a daughter (Logan, 9 years old now) commemorate it. Logan and I play ourselves — we considered hiring actors but decided it would be more special and personal this way. Some of it is scripted, and some ad-libbed. We call it an experimental documentary for that reason. It’s shot mostly at the UTA baseball field in Arlington. It’s about a daughter who is more interested in having a fun day, and a mother who feels a duty to use that day to teach the child about her father.
How much does Logan know about her father?
She has always seen photos and watched videos of her dad. We have stayed close with the UTA coaching staff, and we still go to the baseball games. He’s always been around, just not physically.
How did she do with the filming?
She did well — took direction well. We filmed in Arlington in July and August, so it was a little uncomfortable.
What do you hope the audience will take away from “8”?
I always wondered how other people dealt with grief and death. I realized everyone dealt with it differently, and I hope this will positively impact people who have had someone die. I have gotten some good feedback: People say it is visually beautiful, subtle and sweet.
The panel at SXSW liked the movie, yes?
Yes, we received the Jury Award in the Short Film category.
Do you have more projects in mind?
We — the same team that worked on “8” — want to make a feature-length movie next. I have a lot of ideas, but I want to do something totally different this time.
