Documentary Short Film, 26 minutes, Rio Grande Valley Premiere

Synopsis:

The Girls From Sweetwater tells the inspiring story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a pioneering group of female aviators who trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, during World War II. This select group of women was trained by the US Army to fly military aircraft and free up male pilots for combat duty. Through vivid accounts of their time in Texas, they reveal the challenges they faced—from grueling training and skepticism to the abrupt and disheartening end of their program. Though their mission was cut short, the legacy of these trailblazing pilots lives on at the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, where their courage and service are honored and remembered.

Jon Timothy Anderson & Rachel Becker Wright

Bio:

Jon Timothy Anderson - Director

Jon Anderson’s passion for filmmaking began in early childhood, sparked by the discovery of his family’s Super 8 movie camera. What started as a childhood fascination led to a lifelong pursuit. He earned an A.S. in Film Production from Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, followed by a B.A. in Liberal Studies from Florida International University in his hometown of Miami.

In 2004, Anderson directed Silver Wings & Civil Rights, an award-winning documentary about the Tuskegee Airmen. It was during this project that he was first introduced to a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and Anderson knew he had to share their story. These experiences nurtured a deep affinity for documentary filmmaking, especially stories rooted in history, resilience, and underrepresented voices - an area he continues to explore with passion and purpose.

Rachel Becker Wright - Producer and Editor

Rachel Becker Wright is a photographer, editor, and storyteller at heart. Her love of storytelling began early, first through an interest in theater, which she pursued throughout her youth and into college. Never one to be confined to a single creative outlet, she expanded her skills with certificates in Digital Media and Sound and Music Technology from Valencia College, and later earned a B.S. in Photography from the University of Central Florida. Her work has been featured in multiple exhibitions at the Southeast Museum of Photography.

As the daughter and granddaughter of Army officers, Wright holds a profound appreciation for the Armed Services. She was thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to this film, a project that combines her creative passions with her respect for military history. She previously collaborated with director Jon Anderson on Silver Wings & Civil Rights and was honored to join him again, not only to help tell the extraordinary story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), but also to work alongside the brave women who lived it.