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.