Caleb Stewart 8/1/25 Caleb Stewart 8/1/25

A Win in Sweden: Norse Gods and Hot Rollers

The opening scene features my mother, Robyn Stewart, preparing for her day with meticulous care — winding her hair in hot rollers. At first glance, it’s a simple act of routine, a nod to elegance and grace. But through the lens of the award and the festival’s Nordic heritage, I saw it differently. The smile she wears, so subtly defiant, reminds me of Thor — the Viking god of strength, protection, and the storms she weathered over decades flying for American Airlines.

The first shot of my documentary features my mother getting ready for a flight in her cinema verité style. I chose it instinctively (a quiet moment of intimacy and routine). But this week, I received an unexpected email from the Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF). Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path had been selected as a winner in their 46th edition.

When I clicked the March 2025 Winners page, I realized something I hadn't seen before. In that same frame, placed just below the mirror, is the prayer card from my father's funeral.

Documentary opening shot showing mother getting ready with father's prayer card visible below mirror

Without knowing it, I had opened the film with a quiet altar to grief, dedication, and memory. They featured that exact frame on their winners page. When I noticed it, I got goosebumps and my eyes instantly welled up with tears. I was thankful not only for the award but for the self-realization.

I unknowingly opened my film with both of them.

A woman and the man who stood beside her for decades. He was still there, frozen in time and watching her get ready. He's been doing that for every flight in the decade since his return to Valhalla. (sorry, I had to)

Award recognition image from Swedish International Film Festival

In that moment of revelation, I imagined the Viking god Bragi. There he was with his golden-winged helmet and mighty harp squeezed into a middle seat on a transatlantic flight. He would be there grumpy but he would still serenade his new travel buddies. I envisioned him guffawing at my accidental symbolism and blessing the whole thing with a nod.

This was the hardest shot of the film for me. Why you ask? My mom did not want me in the bathroom getting shots of her without makeup or without her hair done.

The day we filmed something in my gut kept telling me I needed to get this shot. It was the one shot I had already made a storyboard for in my head. And I was politely told no five or six times before she finally relented. I assured her this was a student film no one would ever see (I genuinely believed that at the time.)

Filmmaking (if you are lucky) is essentially a medium of accidents. Sometimes they kill your production, other times they are happy ones that reveal the duplicitous nature of this art form.

This film is still coming together and I continue to make happy accidents. As my mom approaches her 75th birthday and 55th year in the sky...

Okay I'm just going to say it. This happy accident was no accident at all. It was my dad. Saying he's been here beside me as well. Since the beginning of this filmmaking journey.

He's quietly keeping watch over me just like he does for my mom.

Not to put too fine a point on this ghost dad helps his son make a film thing but about 2 minutes after I sent Anne my email I got this response:

This film touches the hearts of many. It creates joy and happiness. This resonates with audiences from all walks of life. It's making people's days one heart at a time, reminding us of the power of kindness, love, and togetherness. Merry Christmas in July everybody!!!

🎬 Learn more about the film and the people behind it:

Bragi Q&A — Sundance Meets Runetech

Bragi arriving at a snowy film festival premiere — **❓What is the meaning behind the title *Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path*?**
**Bragi:** Golden wings are not merely for gods or Valkyries... A title worthy of saga.

Bragi, styled in editorial fashion — **❓Why are you, a Norse god, answering these documentary film questions?**
**Bragi:** The filmmaker, though mortal, composed a ballad through his lens. So yes, I flew coach—harp and all—to attend.

Bragi in an interview setting — **❓What is cinema vérité and why was it used?**
**Bragi:** Cinema vérité is the forge of truth. No illusions—just real life.

Bragi sipping coffee — **❓Why was the prayer card below the mirror so meaningful?**
**Bragi:** It is an altar of memory. Not a prop—but poetry.

Bragi laughing and toasting drinks — **❓Is grief a kind of storytelling?**
**Bragi:** Aye. Grief sings the deepest notes. The film? A hymn for those who remain.

📽️ Final Words from Bragi

“To all storytellers: Keep the lens honest, the heart open, and the harp tuned. For every frame carries a whisper from the gods — if you know how to listen.”

Caleb Stewart 5/7/25 Caleb Stewart 5/7/25

✨ Star Wingz: A New Hope (for My Hard Drive)

I DM’d the Regal social media team with the desperation of a stranded Jedi:

“Help me, Regal Social Media Team. You’re my only hope.”

Quick Note from Caleb 🚨

Hey everyone! First off, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who let me know the teaser link from my last update was broken. My head was deep in DCP (that’s a Digital Cinema Package—basically a fancy, encrypted G Drive file that theaters use to screen your film) creation mode, and clearly, my link-sharing skills were compromised! 😅 Here's a fresh, fully functional link—no scavenger hunt required:

👉 Watch the teaser here: https://bit.ly/starwingz

And now, back to your regularly scheduled Star Wingz programming…

🌌 Episode IV: A DCP Misplaced

It was May the 4th — a day of lightsabers, Wookiee growls, and poorly aimed Stormtrooper cosplay. The energy at Regal LA Live was electric — a perfect setting for the screening of Golden Wings at the Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival.

I arrived with my DCP in hand. I handed it off to the manager. He passed it to the projectionist.

Boom. The lights dimmed.
Boom. The film played.
Boom. The credits rolled.

The screening was a dream — until it ended.

In the post-screening shuffle — “everyone out, next film’s starting!” — I forgot to retrieve my $120 hard drive. One moment I was floating on audience feedback, the next I was back in my car realizing I’d left behind the one piece of tech that held everything.

Festival director Chez emailed the theater. Nothing. I tweeted. Crickets. I DM’d the Regal social media team with the desperation of a stranded Jedi:

“Help me, Regal Social Media Team. You’re my only hope.”

🧙🏼‍♂️ Wisdom from the Jedi Council

The Q&A after the film was one of those beautiful surprises that no director can plan for.

First question from the audience:

“Now that Bette Nash has passed, who is the most senior flight attendant at American Airlines?”

I paused, then grinned.

“You know who that’s a perfect question for? My mom. Robyn, would you mind?”

She stood—composed, proud, and more than ready. Like General Leia with a flight pin.

The audience loved her. People came up afterward to tell me how much the film moved them. One man asked for a photo with her. Another told me, “I called my mom right after watching.”

That, to me, was the real prize.

Thats not how you hold a light saber, Mom…

📊 The Awards Ceremony: The Snub Strikes Back

Golden Wings was nominated for Best Short Doc, but we didn’t take home the trophy. And yeah—I felt the sting.

But the audience’s reaction? The personal stories people shared with me? The moments when they connected with my family’s story—those were the wins that really mattered.

You don’t need a statue to know your film landed

schlurp-B will be voiced by a digitally ressurected ai version of Gilbert Gottfried

🛋 A Glitch in the Cargo Hold

Now here’s where the story leaves Earth’s atmosphere and swerves into deep space.

On the ride home, something thumped against my windshield. It was small. Green. Alive. And very, very clingy.

At first, I thought it was a toy or some weird festival promo leftover. But it blinked. Then it burped. Then it refused to let go.

I later found out he was called Shlurp-B—a failed byproduct of a secret Empire-aligned bioengineering project known as Shlurp-A. All the good stuff went into Shlurp-A. Shlurp-B? He was the leftovers. The experiment they jettisoned with the trash.

And yet, here he was. Clinging to my ship. Imprinting on me. Refusing to die in the vacuum of space.

He hums during hyperspace. He might be Force-sensitive. He might just be... mine.

I didn’t adopt him. He adopted me.