Station MVP explores the behind-the-scenes world of a public radio station and the characters who work there. The protagonist Jamie is in over her head—she must navigate a demanding new job, her zany colleagues, and ongoing threats from her estranged husband. She’s a no-nonsense woman who battles the highs and lows of dealing with a position of power while trying to forget the time when she had hers taken away. Despite it all, she still has her sense of humor, and the fictional Maggie Valley Public Radio—WMVP—is lucky to have her!
This film project is intended to bring more awareness to domestic violence and break stereotypes of a typical victim. It. Could. Happen. To. Anyone. By blending comedy and drama, the hope is not only to provoke a discussion about a serious issue, but also to encourage laughter, which can often be great medicine in the healing process. The writer and director of Station MVP, Kim Carr,believes in a “Film It Forward” philosophy. She strives to make films that not only entertain and inform, but also support local communities and the nonprofits that serve them. With this film, the goal is to support the mission of the Domestic Violence Shelter in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Although it’s a comedy, Station MVP touches on the serious topic of domestic violence in all its forms: physical abuse, verbal threats, insults, stalking, gaslighting, and any other behavior that allows an abuser to gain and retain control. Specifically, it will showcase how difficult it can be for a person to extricate themselves from the toxic relationship and the lasting effects it can have on a person’s psyche. Instead of presenting this serious topic in a purely dramatic narrative, it’s synthesized with the comedy genre. Carr believes that comedic content has the potential to reach more audiences, and humor can often help people heal.
This project seeks to find humor in a horrible situation. This sounds disturbing, but in the documentary The Last Laugh, where comedians discussed whether it was appropriate to make fun of the Holocaust, Rob Reiner says, “The Holocaust itself is not funny. There’s nothing funny about it. But survival, and what it takes to survive, there can be humor in that.” That idea continues to motivate the project, in the hopes that it will speak to survivors of domestic abuse.
Kim Carr’s work as a filmmaker tends to focus on the underdog’s evolution of growing into a stronger, better version of themselves and encourages audiences to reflect on their own biases or issues by exploring themes of self-improvement, perseverance, and grit. This short film doubles as a television series pilot script she wrote after working as a graduate fellow at a local North Carolina public radio station. The long-term goal is to create a series with multiple subplots featuring station employees, community members, and newsroom interview participants that are woven into Jamie’s storyline. The dramatic and comedic tone will mine the chaotic atmosphere of a struggling nonprofit enterprise and the flawed but sympathetic people who must struggle to keep the station and their own careers afloat. Station MVP will be her final student film before branching into the professional industry.
Film Matters: Tell us a little about yourself; how did you get started in film?
Kim Carr: I was a teacher for about twenty years, but I’ve always loved movies and television. Funny enough, my journey into filmmaking first began by taking acting classes in Charlotte several years ago. Seeing the scene on the page during acting exercises inspired me to start writing my own screenplays and TV specs (sample scripts for existing television shows). After I had written several scripts, I wanted to take the next step and gain the knowledge to physically make my words come to life in front of the camera.
FM: Why pursue an MFA?
KC: The MFA not only provides smaller class sizes with more intense learning experiences, but the degree itself makes me eligible to teach at a university, an interest I may pursue after graduation.
FM: What is the graduate student experience like?
KC: The graduate student experience has been wonderful. I was able to surround myself with other creatives in the film program and fully immerse myself in all aspects of filmmaking, essentially saying yes to any film opportunity. I also served as UNCW’s Graduate Student Organization president and vice president, 2022-2024, which was both rewarding and invaluable.
FM: How has your work on your previous films prepared you for this latest project?
KC: Feeling like a “late bloomer” in the film industry instilled a sense of urgency in me. Since I was essentially making up for lost time, I was determined to be as informed and knowledgeable as I possibly could. I listened to film-related podcasts, watched YouTube tutorials, read scripts, and viewed critically and commercially successful films and television shows. I also wrote and made films outside of class, beyond what was required. My quest to build my experience and resumé is still ongoing, but I now feel confident in my abilities as a filmmaker because I can confidently speak to more experienced film professionals about lighting, cinematography, or other film-related topics.
FM: What inspired you to choose this subject for your project?
KC: Along with news clips of abuse being caught on video, I had also seen several famous actresses talking about their personal experiences of being in abusive situations. The more I researched, the more I discovered that domestic abuse crosses boundaries of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and level of education. There are several films that tell stories of domestic violence, but most, if not all, focus on the woman while she’s in the abusive relationship and/or her efforts to escape. I was really interested in what happens psychologically and emotionally after she physically extricates herself. How does she move on? What emotional scars does she have? How does she react to triggering events? Specifically, I wanted to examine the PTSD that occurs. Furthermore, I wanted to challenge myself to balance this sensitive topic with a lighter, comic story. After all, laughter can help with the healing process.
FM: What has the preparation process been like for a project of this size?
KC: Fortunately, I had wonderful professors who helped me prepare for my thesis film, namely Dave Monahan who served as my thesis advisor, and Shannon Silva, who taught my thesis pre-production class. I also had an amazing producer/assistant director who was my right-hand (wo)man! Together, she and I brought together a talented, hard-working crew. Since there are so many little tasks that need to be done before anyone steps foot on set, I strove to surround myself with great people to help bring my vision to life. That way, once filming begins, things run smoothly and efficiently (and I don’t stress out!).
I wrote and revised Station MVP‘s script for several months, and since I had been working as a graduate fellow at WHQR Public Media for three years, I made the main character a manager of a public radio station. (An NPR affiliate is a gold mine for stories, and WHQR employees are the best!) They allowed me to film at the station, but I also secured other filming locations around town. We held auditions, and I couldn’t have been happier with the final cast, which totaled upward of twenty people. Creating a good team is paramount for a successful film project.
FM: In what ways do you hope your film engages the audience?
KC: I hope audiences find my thesis film Station MVP provocative. In the lighter moments of the film, I want them to laugh, and perhaps even be a little surprised at the edginess, but I also want them to have a strong reaction during the more intense scenes that deal with the topic of domestic violence. The actor who plays WMVP’s station manager, UNCW theater professor Robin Post, gives a gut-wrenching performance that brilliantly demonstrates how the emotional effects of domestic violence remain long after physically leaving the abusive situation.
FM: How has the University of North Carolina Wilmington impacted your journey as a filmmaker?
KC: I attempted to make the most of what UNCW had to offer, whether it was internships, grants, clubs, activities, or job opportunities. Some of those jobs were working in the film equipment room in the new University Film Center or working as a production assistant in the Media Production department of the Office of University of Relations (OUR).
For more information about Kim Carr and Station MVP please visit the project website.
Author Biography
Sophia Fuller is a University of North Carolina Charlotte student majoring in both communications and film production with a minor in film studies. She has a passion for all things film-related and is currently interning with Film Matters.
