In Honey Lauren's intersex drama, "Mistake," a single decision made at birth alters an entire life.

      "Honey Lauren’s Mistake," which wraps up the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival this week, begins with a birth and the parents facing a choice: their newborn exhibits both male and female characteristics, and they must determine if their child will be identified as a boy or a girl.

      The baby is born in the 1940s, a time when knowledge and conversations about intersex births were far less prevalent than today. The film primarily takes place in the early 1970s when the child has matured into Lawrence, or Larry. Dominic Bogart, an ex-college football player recognized for his role in "American Primeval," portrays Larry, who is driven by testosterone and shows violent tendencies, until he reaches a point where change becomes necessary.

      Lauren, who also plays Larry’s aunt Peg in the film, named the character after herself. As a child, she spent a year identifying as a boy named Larry. While her parents supported her decision, the broader society often did not, leading Lauren to eventually revert to living as female. In time, she uncovered aspects of her life that provided clarity about her feelings, which contributed to the development of "Mistake."

      We spoke with Lauren about her experiences in writing and directing "Mistake," her casting choices, and a moving incident that occurred on a tobacco farm.

      **Honey Lauren on Making "Mistake"**

      Writer-director Honey Lauren as Aunt Peg in "Mistake." Panik Piktures

      **MovieMaker:** In your press notes for "Mistake," you mention spending a year of your childhood as a boy named Lawrence before growing weary of fighting for that recognition. You also observe that with a newly broadened definition of intersex—which includes “a difference in sex-linked traits or anatomy”—you would fit that definition yourself. Can you discuss how these experiences influenced your filmmaking? And just for clarity, do you identify as intersex?

      **Honey Lauren:** Though decades have passed since my time as Lawrence, that "identity" and that period in my life remain vivid for me. Lawrence will always be a part of me and was the driving force behind my need to create "Mistake." I had an almost obsessive preoccupation with the boys’ white T-shirt and how Larry was dressed, as well as the physicality portrayed by Dominic, especially his arms in those 1970s short sleeves. All of these visual elements influenced both the film's cinematography and casting choices. I was born with differences; I was aware of one from the age of three, while I learned about another only during my childbearing years. It wasn’t until three months before we began filming, during my last round of research, that I discovered my differences fell under the expanded definition of intersex. Intersex exists on a spectrum. I do have intersex traits. I am intersex.

      This realization provided me with a profound sense of comfort, and I felt as though my entire life finally “made sense.” While I can’t pinpoint how this influenced my direction of "Mistake," I believe it instilled a sense of confidence in my work on some unconscious level.

      **MovieMaker:** Your festival run has been impressive. What has audience response been like, particularly from older viewers in red states?

      **Honey Lauren:** I aimed to present "Mistake" with compassion for each character—Mother, Father, Sheriff, Lily, Larry, Aunt Peg, everyone involved. I believe that through compassion, a film can influence emotions and thoughts. I’m pleased to report that my approach has worked. I’ve witnessed it firsthand, and therefore, I seek a broad audience without reservation.

      I’m grateful "Mistake" has made a significant impact on everyone who’s viewed it—literally everyone. Regardless of their geographical or pronoun affiliations, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m excited that "Mistake" has been invited to various festivals across the country and in Europe. It’s hard for me to discuss the film’s success without fearing I’ll come across as self-congratulatory. Thus, I encourage all audiences to judge the film’s quality and worth for themselves. The film speaks for itself, so I’m most comfortable simply asking for it to be seen.

      **MovieMaker:** Casting decisions can often attract scrutiny — I thought Dominic Bogart was wonderful as Lawrence, and I have no issues with his casting. Did you ever reconsider whether a cis man was the right choice for this role?

      **Honey Lauren:** Being intersex is a congenital difference. If I were casting a character with a congenital heart condition, I wouldn’t feel a need to find an actor with the same condition. I included many queer actors in this film in cisgender roles. Should I have restricted them to queer roles? Absolutely not.

      However, I do recognize that in today's climate of cancel culture, which often arises from emotional reactions leading to unreasonable industry demands on what actors—especially lesser-known ones—can portray, it becomes risky to