Convinced she’s going to die during the solar eclipse, a woman steals her husband’s fortune to film her legacy – embarking on a dog-costumed odyssey through Arkansas with a disillusioned filmmaker, a bedazzled poodle, and an alligator man who may or may not hold the answers.
ROAD TRIP TO TOTALITY is a narrative-documentary hybrid feature set during Arkansas's 2024 total solar eclipse. When Kitty misinterprets a tarot reading and a routine doctor’s call as a death sentence, she sets out on a final journey to rehome her dog, Poodle Joe, and stage one last performance. She hitches a ride with AL, a broke documentarian who thinks she’s planning an assisted suicide. Believing he will immortalize her and film her legacy, Kitty transfers a million dollars to fund the film. Their road trip across Arkansas captures real Southern people and places, including the Dog Barkanalia and a scene-stealing alligator farm worker. As Kitty and Al bond through surreal experiences, including a misadventure on psilocybin mushrooms, their friendship frays when he learns she isn’t dying. Set against an awe-inspiring eclipse, Kitty reclaims her autonomy and finds clarity. Filmed on location with deep roots in the Southern landscape and community, with non-actors and space for improvisation, the film explores identity, mortality, and letting go.
Emily Railsback is a writer, director, producer, and co-owner of Burnt Sugar Productions. Since giving birth to her daughter, Emily's films have shifted focus towards feminism and motherhood. Her style blends narrative with cinema-vérité techniques, which can be seen in her feature film "AMERICAN PARENT" (BFI Flare 2023). Emily has partnered with actress, screenwriter, and executive producer Kristen Bush on three projects: "The Game Camera" (2024), "American Parent" (2023) and "Fear Not" (“Best Kansas Narrative Short- Tallgrass Film Fest, 2020). Their brand RURAL WOMEN FILMS seeks to tell female-centric stories that bridge the gap between urban and rural cultures, and educate and employ female filmmakers in rural areas of the midwest and south. Her other work includes “Our Blood Is Wine” (Berlinale International Film Fest, 2018), “GAMS” a music video for Gayerbear (Austin Music Video Festival, 2019), and many other short films.
Producer - Tara Sheffer
Actress - Robin Mullins
Actor - Michael B. Woods
Actress - Kristen Bush
