Mr. Media Interviews By Bob Andelman

Today's Guest: Deborah Calla, screenwriter, producer, A Beautiful Life A Beautiful Life starring Bai Ling. Order your copy today by clicking on the DVD above! I haven’t spoken with her yet, but my sense is that Deborah Calla, who produced and co-wrote the new indie film A Beautiful Life, feels a strong connection to the lead character of Maggie. It’s just a sense, but the character of Maggie, a teenage girl running away from the sexual abuse of her father, doesn’t seem like an emotional story you would want to participate in telling unless it really spoke to your soul. Of course, I could be completely mistaken. Calla, a Brazilian native, first discovered Wendy Hammond’s play, Jersey City, back in 1996. It took a long time to translate Jersey City into A Beautiful Life, but I’m sure there is an audience out there for this alternately harsh and yet tender slice of modern life. DEBORAH CALLA podcast excerpt: "I think this is the best work Bai has ever done. This is a woman who looks amazing with makeup on, ama