Dabney Day

Dabney Day is the writer and director of independent film “The Gardener,” which will be screened April 28 in Oxford as part of its national release.

Q: “The Gardener” is being screened in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Honolulu and many other cities around the country. Why is it important to you to show this film in Oxford?

A: As a Mississippi native — and specifically from Greenville — Oxford has always been one of my go-to places when the senses long for calm in a chaotic world. A simple walk around the Square, a stop at Square Books, sitting quietly on a porch with a cup of coffee and a gentle breeze — Oxford has a way of restoring the soul.

Oxford is also deeply personal to me. Both of my daughters are Ole Miss alumnae, and now my grandson, Minor, is a freshman — fulfilling a dream he’s had since he was eight. Oxford has felt like a second home to our family.

That is why “The Gardener” feels so at home in Oxford. “The Gardener” and Oxford share a kind of symbiotic spirit — as though they were always meant to meet.

Q: What do you hope people take away from the film?

A: This is a film that speaks quietly but deeply — to students, teachers, shop owners, visitors — to anyone willing to listen. It invites laughter, reflection, and perhaps even a few tears. For an hour and 47 minutes, it allows audiences to step away from the noise of the world and experience something meaningful, layered with symbolism and metaphor that lingers long after the lights come up.

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Q: Can you talk a little about what’s special about independent film?

A: I don’t know if “special” is always the first word that comes to mind — maybe “adventure” is more fitting. Independent filmmaking is equal parts passion, chaos, and determination. It’s stressful, unpredictable, and often feels like herding cats — but that’s also what makes it unforgettable.

Years ago, I worked as a PA on “A Time to Kill” with director Joel Schumacher, and even with a full studio budget, it felt like film school as I learned so much those nine months. Independent film, however, takes that challenge to another level.

But when an indie film finally comes together, it’s a dream realized. And because we all know what it takes, we celebrate each other.

Q: This is your directorial debut, but the project has been in the works for years. What advice would you offer to people who want to turn their creative ideas into reality?

A: The number one thing I always remember is we are not on our time but on the universal time. And the universe is always on time. Also, there is no such thing as a problem or an obstacle, only solutions. Never give up as you keep that idea in your head as an already visualized, finished reality.