How One Fatal Mistake Can Change Your Life

1.  Can you please briefly introduce yourself to my readers?

My name is G-Na Casazza, I am 23 years old from Sayville, New York. I graduated from Hunter College in 2011, with a degree in Film and a Minor in Theatre. I live in Los Angeles and am working on the television show Dancing with the Stars.

 2.  How did you feel when you learned that your grandmother had lost her life because of a drunk driver?

3.  Why did you decide to make the film One Fatal Mistake after your grandmother’s accident?

At the time of the accident, I was in my first semester of college, dreaming of becoming a movie director. After the accident, I saw firsthand how it affected a family. People are selfish.

They don’t realize how their actions can affect more people than just themselves. I was in a documentary class thinking of what documentary to make, and there was no better choice. Making a film on the affects a victim’s family goes through after losing a member to a drunk driver is very powerful and I believe is an important message.

4.  What message do you want to send with your film?

I want to teach people that there are consequences to everyone’s actions. One choice can affect a whole school of people in either a positive or negative way. Unfortunately in this case, the choice was negative and resulted in my grandma’s untimely death.

I also didn’t want the film to come off as a “scare you straight”drunk driving film filled with just facts (although they are important), I wanted it to teach people why; I brought in people who admit to driving drunk, I added Sophia Santos’ transcript from her parole hearing and brought in other families who also lost members to a drunk driver. I want to teach people that many people are affected by one choice you make, whether it is less than a mile to your destination or ten miles, and things can happen.

Why take that risk? It’s different when you put your own life in danger, but to put everyone else’s life on the road in danger, too, is so wrong and affects a myriad of people. I want to get that message through to people: there are consequences to your actions, and one choice hurts so many people.

5.  What were your challenges in making the film?

There were so many challenges I faced while making One Fatal Mistake. One of the many challenges was finding people admit to driving drunk. So many people do it, but no one seems to want to admit to it or talk about it, even after promising to black out their faces and disguise their voices. I didn’t want to give up on finding people and convincing them to be a part of this film.

I really thought that was important. Another problem I faced was technical; my hard drive crashed twice. Things went wrong during a few shoots, but that was how I learned. Everyone was great in getting interviews with, and through all the challenges, I was very happy with the result.

6.  What advice can you offer to other families who have suffered a loss due to a drunk driver?

It’s completely hard, and every loss is different. Even within my own family we all lost my grandma and each grieved differently, each family member faced it differently. A loss is a loss no matter what way you look at it.

It’s sad, tragic, and extremely upsetting; nothing can heal that loss. There will always be a hole in my heart because I never got to say goodbye. My grandma’s life ended because of one girl’s foolish mistake, and that hurt so much because it could have been prevented. Nothing I say can fill that hole or make the grieving process easier because it’s hard.

7.  What are your suggestions for anyone tempted to drink and drive?

Everyone is tempted, even I am tempted when I go out with friends, but I understand the damage drinking and driving can do. It’s not a risk I want to take, no matter how tempting it can be. ALWAYS plan ahead.

Decide before you go out who the designated driver is. Are you getting a taxi? If so, put the number on your cellphone. Don’t put yourself in that situation, and you won’t be tempted. Be prepared and understand that Drinking and Driving is a HUGE risk and can affect more people than just yourself.