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.
Headshots of Flight Attendant, RObyn Stewart and film director Caleb Mills Stewart. A candid photo of Henry Stewart. (botom left) A satirical depciction of the Norse God, Bragi.
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.
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)
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: Golden wings are not merely for gods or Valkyries... A title worthy of saga.
Bragi: The filmmaker, though mortal, composed a ballad through his lens. So yes, I flew coach—harp and all—to attend.
Bragi: Cinema vérité is the forge of truth. No illusions—just real life.
Bragi: It is an altar of memory. Not a prop—but poetry.
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.”
✨ Star Wingz: A New Nope (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.”
You’re my only..nope
🧙🏼♂️ 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.
u know we have to make it canon
📖 Classified: STARPEDIA Entry [SHLURP-B]
Name: Shlurp-B
Origin: Empire BioLab Delta-19
Status: Experimental Clone Runoff
Species: Unknown (Sticky Neutral)
Abilities:
Survives in space
Bio-adhesive cling
Possibly psychic
Emits emotional static
Risk Level: High (may chew HDMI cables)
a scene from comi-con 26
🎥 The Encounter: Storyboard Snapshot
Panel 1: Empire scientists arguing over leftover DNA goo…
Panel 2: A pod labeled “SLURP-B” is jettisoned into space.
Panel 3: It bonks my windshield. I stare. It stares back.
Panel 4: Shlurp-B grins. I sigh. A legacy begins.
the origin ripoff— I mean, story
🎯 Merch of the Future
✔️ Trading cards? Oh yeah.
✔️ Storyboard? Fully illustrated.
✔️ Funko Pop concept? Photorealistic and terrifyingly cute.
Shlurp-B isn’t an afterthought. He’s my franchise soft launch.
You came for Golden Wings…
You stayed for the goblin.
A funco pop of schlurp-B
May the legacy be with you.Always. (((three snaps)))
— Caleb StewartFilmmaker | Star Wingz Founder | Emotional Host to a Sticky Goblin
Golden Wings Soars: Website Anniversary Celebration & First Look at Our New 3-Minute Teaser!
Darlings, can you believe it? One year ago today, I nervously hit "publish" on GoldenWingsRobbie.com, wondering if anyone besides my mother (the documentary's star) and possibly my therapist (the documentary's unofficial emotional consultant) would ever visit. Yet here we are – one trip around the sun later, with festival laurels sprouting like enthusiastic kudzu and a MAJOR screening at the Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival at LA Live Regal Cinema!
Robin with Marie. and J Ricks at her graduation ceremony from flight attendant school in 1971.
Where it all began: Three generations of aviation dedication captured in this newly restored family treasure. My mother (center) in her early American Airlines uniform, flanked by her proud parents - my grandmother and grandfather, himself an American Airlines veteran who helped develop training for the Boeing 747.
EXCLUSIVE: Watch Our Brand New 3-Minute Teaser!
As a special anniversary treat, I'm thrilled to share the first three minutes of Golden Wings with you right here, right now! This newly updated opening sequence represents quite a departure from earlier cuts – a testament to how the film has evolved since its humble student project beginnings.
The teaser sets the stage for my mother's remarkable 50+ year journey through the aviation industry's most transformative decades. From the glamorous yet restrictive early days to the challenges of 9/11 and beyond, these opening minutes offer just a taste of the emotional journey that awaits in the full documentary.
For those keeping score at home (hi Mom!), that's the STAPLES Center-adjacent venue where actual celebrities with actual IMDb pages longer than a CVS receipt regularly grace the red carpet. Meanwhile, I'll be there clutching my filmmaker badge, trying not to spill overpriced popcorn on what I've optimistically labeled my "festival blazer" (it's seen four festivals and exactly zero dry cleanings – the documentary filmmaker's equivalent of a lucky charm).
Mark Your Calendars: May 3rd, 11:30 AM, Theater 12A!
Set those alarms, cancel those brunch plans, and prepare your applause hands! Golden Wings takes flight on Saturday, May 3rd at 11:30 AM in Theater 12A, nestled comfortably between "Haven't Seen Her" (a breezy 4:35) and "Bola at Buhay/Ball and Life" (clocking in at 11:02). Sure, we're not in the primetime 7:30 PM Saturday slot (looking at you, "Water Lillies" with your extravagant two-hour runtime), but breakfast screenings have a certain charm – like watching aviation history with your morning mimosa!
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Adjacent
When I first created this documentary as a student project, I was filming on a Samsung phone and bribing my mother with promises of dinner to let me follow her around with a camera. "It's just for class," I assured her, conveniently omitting that I already had visions of festival screenings dancing in my head like sugarplum fairies with better lighting equipment.
Now look at us! My mother's 50+ year career as a flight attendant has taken wing on screens across the country. From the tear-jerking letter to my father that closes the film to the surprisingly emotional admission about her struggle with sobriety, audiences have connected with this story in ways I never imagined. Like that woman at NewsFest who approached me after the screening – around my mother's age – who shared through tears how much the film meant to her as a mother. Those moments, my friends, make all the RAM installations and technical glitches worthwhile.
The Festival Circus Continues (With a Side of DCP Drama)
Saturday's screening feels like we're entering the big leagues – like suddenly being upgraded from economy to first class without having to use any miles. I'll be there with my lucky blazer, a mouth full of talking points, and a heart full of gratitude. Plus, in true indie filmmaker fashion, I'm making a special pre-screening pilgrimage today to personally deliver a replacement DCP because apparently, I missed the class on "How to Create a DCP That Won't Make Projectionists Weep."
Thank the cinema gods I live in LA and not Ohio, or this last-minute dash would involve more than just battling downtown traffic and practicing my "I totally know what I'm doing" face while handing over what is essentially my digital baby to a stranger with an actual projection booth. The glamorous life of a documentarian involves far fewer red carpets and far more panicked drives clutching hard drives than the brochures suggested.
If you're in the Los Angeles area, tickets are still available! Come witness the magic that is my mother's journey through five decades of aviation history, and stick around for the Q&A where I promise to share at least one embarrassing story that didn't make the final cut. (Spoiler alert: it involves the time she had to deal with a passenger who tried to bring a live chicken onto a flight to Frankfurt. Yes, really.)
Looking Forward, Looking Up
As Golden Wings continues its festival journey, I'm constantly reminded of something my mother taught me: showing up is half the battle. Well, Mom, I'm showing up Saturday morning, blazer and all, to celebrate your legacy on the big screen – right after I show up today with the correct DCP, because that's definitely more than half the battle.
This is just the beginning, folks. Keep your seatbelts fastened, your tray tables in their upright and locked positions, and your eyes on this space for more updates as Golden Wings soars to new heights.
And to everyone who's supported this journey so far – from the three people who showed up to my disastrous virtual premiere (my first-grade teacher, my cousin, and my mom's high school friend deserve medals) to the festival programmers who saw something special in our story and mercifully overlooked my first DCP attempt – thank you for being part of our flight crew.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to practice my "oh-this-old-thing?" face for when someone inevitably compliments my festival blazer on Saturday, and perfect my "oh-I-always-hand-deliver-my-DCPs" casual stance for today's adventure. It's all about selling the illusion of effortlessness, darlings – something both documentarians and flight attendants understand all too well.
See you at the movies! ✈️
P.S. In case you're wondering – yes, I did finally remember that password. And no, it wasn't "Danny2023!" Some things are better left in the past, preferably in a folder marked "Recycle Bin."
P.P.S. I no longer forget passwords. I've now graduated to losing entire wallets. Who needs a wallet anyway? Clearly not me – I'll be the guy at the festival concession stand patting his empty pockets with increasing panic while the line behind me collectively sighs. Consider it performance art. Or just consider buying your own popcorn
Oh and a special bonus:
The first three minutes of the latest cut
BHIFF here we come!!!!!
As we reflect on this incredible journey, we extend our deepest gratitude to our supporters, friends, and family. Your unwavering belief in our project has been the wind beneath Golden Wings. As we approach this significant milestone, we kindly ask for your continued support in spreading the word. Sharing our story can magnify its impact, inspiring even more hearts across the globe. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path – A Finalist at Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA, April 17, 2025 – Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path, a heartfelt documentary by Caleb Mills Stewart, has been named a finalist at the Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival (BHIFF) 2025. This film, celebrating the lives of flight attendant Robyn Stewart and flight engineer Jay R. Ricks, will be showcased at Regal L.A. Live, Los Angeles, on May 2nd or 3rd, 2025.
Directed by their descendant, Caleb Mills Stewart, Golden Wings delves into the impactful lives of Robyn Stewart and Jay R. Ricks. Their stories, emblematic of resilience and dedication, have significantly influenced both their lineage and the broader aviation realm.
Caleb Mills Stewart shares, "Being recognized by BHIFF is a profound honor. This film celebrates my mother and grandfather's remarkable journey and the indelible legacy they have left behind. It's a story about the strength of love."
For further details visit bhiff.org or follow @beyond_hollywood.
About Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path
Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path is a 22-minute documentary that explores the lives of Robyn Stewart and Jay R. Ricks, whose contributions to aviation span over five decades. Directed by Caleb Mills Stewart, the film is a testament to their enduring legacy, showcasing the profound impact of love, resilience, and dedication through intimate interviews and rare archival footage.
The Project Coordinator for this film is the talented wallflower Jonah Krause.
Contact:
Caleb Mills Stewart, Director
Email: info@golden-wings-robyn.com
Phone: (562) 523-9620
Website: golden-wings-robyn.com
The journey of Golden Wings: Fifty Year Flight Path from a deeply personal project to a celebrated piece of cinematic art is a testament to the power of storytelling. As it prepares to take the stage at BHIFF, the film not only honors the legacy of Robyn Stewart and Jay R. Ricks but also serves as an inspiration to all who believe in the strength of love and the resilience of the human spirit.
As we reflect on this incredible journey, we extend our deepest gratitude to our supporters, friends, and family. Your unwavering belief in our project has been the wind beneath Golden Wings. As we approach this significant milestone, we kindly ask for your continued support in spreading the word. Sharing our story can magnify its impact, inspiring even more hearts across the globe. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
THE MIDDLE SEAT MANIFESTO: A SURVIVOR'S GUIDE
Flying in the middle seat doesn’t have to be miserable. With strategic planning and a little bit of confidence, you can transform your experience from suffering to success. Read on for the ultimate survival guide to middle seat mastery.
Captain Cutiepie at your service
(A Guide from Someone Who's Been Flying Since the Womb)
Listen up, fellow air travelers. When your mother is a flight attendant for 50 years and your grandfather helped train the first Boeing 747 pilots, you learn a thing or two about surviving the skies. I've been flying standby since before I had teeth, which means I've spent approximately half my life wedged in the middle seat. It's like being the middle child of air travel - not the favorite, but definitely the most resourceful.
I've mastered the art of maintaining dignity at 35,000 feet while sandwiched between strangers. I've survived the great recline wars of the early 2000s, navigated the emotional turbulence of post-9/11 travel, and developed a sixth sense for identifying which airport bathrooms are secretly luxurious. By the time I was making a documentary about my flight attendant mother's journey from girdle checks to sobriety in the sky, I had earned a PhD in middle seat survival.
So whether you're a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, these rules will help you transform your middle seat experience from a test of endurance into an art form. Because sometimes the only difference between suffering and success is knowing how to assert dominance over both armrests.
Welcome to The Middle Seat Manifesto. Fasten your seatbelts - dignity and survival tips are coming in hot.
RULE 1: THE ARMREST DOCTRIne
The middle seat’s rightful throne
Let's establish the fundamental truth of air travel: both armrests belong to the middle seat passenger. This isn't entitlement; it's cosmic justice. Window seat gets the view, aisle seat gets the freedom, middle seat gets both armrests. This is the natural order of things, as sacred as airline coffee is terrible.
Establish your armrest dominion immediately upon sitting. No apologies, no hesitation. Just quiet, confident ownership, like someone who's been practicing armrest diplomacy since their mother was doing breathalyzer tests at cruising altitude.
RULE 2: PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE SEAT RECLINE DEFENSE
Have that laptop ready
When the person in front of you decides to recline their seat into your personal space, deploy the laptop defense. Every 30 seconds, let your laptop make gentle contact with their seat back. Think of it as a subtle reminder of human decency.
This isn't aggression - it's a quiet conversation between your MacBook and their poor life choices. They'll either get the message or assume there's turbulence. Either way, you've made your point without saying a word.
RULE 3: OLFACTORY MASTERY
the essential oils will have you feeling like this lady ight here
After years of standby middle seats, I've developed the ability to shut off my sense of smell on command. It's like a superpower, but instead of fighting crime, I'm fighting the guy who thought bringing a tuna sandwich on a 7am flight was acceptable behavior.
If you haven't mastered this skill yet, strategic breathing techniques and a good eye mask (which doubles as a nose mask in emergencies) can save your sanity. Remember: what happens in row 14 stays in row 14, especially smells.
Pro tip: Always travel with an arsenal of your own scents. A tiny bottle of lavender oil can be the difference between maintaining dignity and having an existential crisis at cruising altitude.
RULE 4: THE EXIT STRATEGY
You can be in the aisle before anyone else hears the seatbelt sign chime.
The moment that seatbelt sign dings, you transform from middle seat survivor into escape artist. Your previous three hours of dignified suffering have earned you this moment. Stand up immediately - not aggressively, but with the quiet confidence of someone who's been training for this moment their entire life.
Move with purpose, but maintain dignity. This isn't a sprint; it's a choreographed dance you've been rehearsing since your first middle seat assignment. The aisle now belongs to you. Use it wisely.
RULE 5: BATHROOM INTELLIGENCE
Family Changing Rooms
After decades of flying standby, I've mastered the art of airport bathroom reconnaissance. Here's the truth that frequent flyers don't want you to know: family bathrooms are the hidden gems of airport facilities. Clean, spacious, and mysteriously empty - they're the VIP lounges of airport bathrooms, minus the pretension.
Pro tip: Time your airplane bathroom visits like a professional. Movie time = bathroom time. When the drink cart is out = stay put. It's all about strategic timing.
These bathrooms
when you find them, they will not seem real.
BONUS TIP: THE FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE: UNDER-SEAT SUPREMACY
You must have a permanent go bag
The truly enlightened traveler knows that overhead bin warfare is for amateurs. It's like going to therapy when you could just write blogs about life as a standby passenger.
The secret is a perfectly packed personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. Think Mary Poppins' carpet bag, but with more compression socks and less magical furniture.
THE ESSENTIALS:
One change of clothes rolled tighter than my grandfather's military corners
Toiletries smaller than my patience for rudeness to fight crew
Electronics more organized than Joan River's punchline file cabinet
Snacks more discrete than Lindsay Graham’s Grindr profile
A book thinner than my chances of getting upgraded
This isn't just travel advice - it's a philosophy. While everyone else is performing their overhead bin ballet, you're sitting in 14B, cool as a cucumber, with everything you need within arm's reach. It's like being the one person at a family reunion who didn't bring emotional baggage.
Everyone will be envious of your middle seat
Wrapping Up the Holidays and Soaring into New Beginnings: A Sneak Peek into Our Next Big Adventure (Copy)
A 747 taking an emergency landing on a Pacific Northwest highway—with Santa making a cameo! Stay tuned for more high-flying surprises.
Directing the naughty list—filmmaker vibes activated!I was in charge of the naughty list this year
Hey everyone!
I hope your holiday season was filled with joy, cozy moments, and maybe even a few too many cookies. While you were perfecting the art of sipping hot cocoa without burning your tongue, I was busy wading waist-deep in the wonderful—and occasionally treacherous—world of Mocha masks. I’ve been up to my neck in Mocha masks and color correction this winter, learning that even the best of us have our lighting fails. But trust me—every misstep is just a setup for an epic comeback."Yes, I learned the hard way that “It’ll look cool in a moody, indie way” quickly translates to “We’ll fix it in post,” and trust me, even the best editors wince at that one!
Robyn's festive layover: A North Pole flight attendant moment
Holiday Highs (and Post-Production Fails)
This past winter was a mixed bag. On the bright side, I landed an acting gig and even got a callback—talk about starting the new year with a win! On the documentary front, Golden Wings had a fantastic run at NewsFest in November, a true high point in our journey. But, oh, those lighting choices during my mom’s interviews! It turns out that relying on a single lamp and some fairy lights isn't quite the cinematic magic I envisioned. Cue the Mocha masks and Beauty Box rescues.
Lulu, the Golden Wings mascot, decked out for the holidays
The Festival Rollercoaster
Let’s be real: the festival circuit can feel like a rollercoaster. While I celebrated the wins, I also faced a few rejections—from Austin to San Francisco, Oregon, and even the Toronto Queer Film Festival. It stings, no doubt, but each “no” only fuels my determination to keep pushing and polishing every frame until it sparkles (yes, even that scene with questionable lighting).
The Golden Wings documentary logo with a wintry theme
Big News on the Horizon
Well, I’m keeping this one under wraps for now, but let’s just say something exciting is coming our way in March. (I promise you, it’s a game changer—but mum’s the word!) For now, consider this your exclusive, hush-hush sneak peek. Stay tuned, because the coming months might just take us to unexpected, high-flying heights.
With no new festival selections we’ve been snowed in this winter!
Before & After: Lighting to the Rescue
Take a look at this transformation! The original side lighting made it look like Robyn just got off a 14-hour flight from Tokyo. Now, thanks to some Mocha masks magic, she looks 20 years younger—no filters, just proper lighting doing its job. And hey, it's not cheating—this is simply what proper lighting would have naturally achieved. Sometimes, all it takes is the right touch in post to reveal the real beauty behind the lens!
Pre and Post Boris FX Mocha Mosk
Join the Conversation!
Your thoughts and suggestions are what make this journey extra special. I’d love to hear how you’d spice up our creative process or any ideas that help us all grow together. Click below to share your feedback and be part of the Golden Wings crew!
Dont forget to check out our sister blog where I explore my personal journey as a first time director
Heres a link to last blog post about my Grandfather’s Magical Jumbo Jet
https://bit.ly/indiedocjourney
