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

      Honey Lauren’s Mistake, which serves as the closing film for the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival this week, begins with a birth and the parents faced with a choice: their newborn exhibits both male and female characteristics, and they must determine whether to raise their child as a boy or a girl.

      The infant is born in the 1940s, a time when there was even less awareness or conversation about intersex births compared to today. The story primarily unfolds in the early '70s, when the child has grown and is now known as Lawrence, or Larry. Dominic Bogart, an ex-college football player recognized for American Primeval, plays Larry, who is filled with testosterone and has a tendency for violence—until he pushes the limits so far that a change becomes necessary.

      Lauren, who also appears in the film as Larry’s aunt, Peg, chose the character's name in homage to her own experiences. As a young child, she spent a year identifying as a boy named Larry. While her parents supported this identity, societal acceptance was often lacking, leading Lauren to eventually return to living as female. Over time, she would discover aspects of her own life that deepened her understanding of her feelings, which were instrumental in shaping Mistake.

      We spoke with Lauren about her experiences writing and directing Mistake, her casting choices, and a surprisingly poignant moment filmed in a tobacco field.

      Honey Lauren on Creating Mistake

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

      MovieMaker: In the press notes for Mistake, you mention spending a year in your childhood living as a boy named Lawrence before becoming weary of the struggle for recognition in that identity. You also highlight that with a recently broadened definition that includes "a difference in sex-linked traits or anatomy," you personally would identify as “intersex.” Can you elaborate on how these experiences influenced your work on the film? And for clarity, do you identify as intersex?

      Honey Lauren: Although it has been many years since I was Lawrence, that identity and period in my life feel ever-present and relevant. I recognize that Lawrence will always be a part of me, driving my desire to create Mistake. I found myself fixated on the white T-shirt worn by the boys and Larry's attire, almost obsessively. Additionally, the way Dominic's arms looked in the 1970s short sleeves influenced both the film's visual style and casting choices. I was born with certain differences—one I was aware of since age three, and another that I discovered later during my childbearing years. Just three months before we started filming, while conducting final research, I realized that my differences fell under the expanded definition of intersex. Intersex exists on a spectrum, and I do possess intersex traits; I am intersex.

      This realization brought me an unexplainable sense of comfort, and I felt that my entire life aligned in a new way. I can’t pinpoint how this influenced my directing of Mistake, but I believe that on some unconscious level, it gave me confidence in my work.

      MovieMaker: Your film is currently enjoying a successful festival circuit. Can you share how audiences have reacted, including older viewers from conservative areas?

      Honey Lauren: I aimed to present Mistake through a compassionate lens for each character—Mother, Father, Sheriff, Lily, Larry, Aunt Peg, and others. I believe that fostering compassion allows the film to impact perceptions and feelings. I’m pleased to say my expectations have been met; the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, regardless of audience background or the pronouns they use. I’m thrilled to report that Mistake has gained invitations to various festivals across the U.S. and Europe. It’s difficult for me to discuss the success of Mistake without seeming self-serving, but I hope audiences can evaluate the film's quality and significance on their own. This film stands on its own, and I feel most comfortable simply asking for it to be viewed.

      MovieMaker: The topic of casting is often contentious—while I found Dominic Bogart to be an outstanding choice for Lawrence, did you ever have doubts about casting a cisgender man in this role?

      Honey Lauren: Being born intersex is a congenital difference. If I were casting for a character with a congenital heart condition, there would be no need to seek an actor with that exact condition. I cast various queer actors in this film who portray cisgender characters. Should those actors only play queer roles? Absolutely not.

      However, I am aware that in today’s cancel culture, where emotions can lead to unreasonable expectations regarding casting, especially for lesser-known actors, it's a risk to defy such social pressures. In short, I chose to take that risk without second-guessing my aim to select the best actor for each role.

      MovieMaker: River Gallo’s Ponyboi is the only other film I recall featuring an intersex protagonist. How do you feel