From Myers Park to Manhattan: A Queens Duo Reflects on Friendship, Film, and Finding a Voice

For Sally Wheeler Maier ’89 and Elizabeth Martin, the road to a creative partnership didn’t begin in a studio or a writer’s room. It began in an elevator. More than a decade ago, the pair sparked an immediate connection on their way to a Queens University of Charlotte alumni event at the University Club in New York City.

“I met Sally in the elevator,” Martin recalls, noting she was there with her mother-in-law, the late Elizabeth “Beth” Curry ’63, a former Board of Trustees member and avid supporter of Queens. That chance meeting sparked what Martin describes as “friendship at first sight.”

“We aligned in so many areas and points of connection in our lives, beginning with Queens,” said Wheeler Maier.

Over the years, their bond moved beyond social circles and into the realm of professional collaboration, fueled by similar views, shared artistic interests, and the common experience of navigating and thriving in New York City.

Owning the Narrative: “Rosalie Gets a Dog”

Though friends for some time, it wasn’t until recently that the two decided to come together to create a short narrative film titled “Rosalie Gets a Dog.”

While Wheeler Maier wrote the story and stepped into the director’s role, she relied on Martin’s prodigious experience as a film producer, legal expertise, and deep-seated knowledge of filmmaking to bring her creative and artistic vision to life. Fellow Queens alumna, Mary Hallett Washer ’89, served as the art director of the film.

Martin, who founded the domestic violence legal platform WomensLaw.org early in her career and is now a partner at the law firm Kelley Martin Capozzi LLP, provided the legal and operational skills necessary to move the film toward completion.

“We have different skills and abilities that complement each other’s strengths,” said Wheeler Maier.

Although the title suggests a gentle coming-of-age tale, the reality is far more complex. The story follows a young girl who is being targeted and preyed upon. With no one stepping up to protect her, Rosalie takes matters into her own hands. Wheeler Maier describes it as a “revenge fantasy” in the vein of “Inglourious Basterds.”

Ultimately, they envision this film as a catalyst for transforming silence into strength, ensuring it resonates as a powerful anthem for those who are denied a voice. “The wrong people are always carrying the shame,” Wheeler Maier says. “This project is about sharing a story of the victim winning.”

Queens’ Lasting Impact

Despite living more than 600 miles away in the heart of New York City, both women remain deeply connected to Queens. Martin and Wheeler Maier currently serve on the Board of Trustees. Wheeler Maier cites the mentorship of her former professors as the foundation that gave her the courage to venture into the uncharted territories of her creative career. “I owe everything in my professional and personal lives to Queens,” Wheeler Maier admits. “It was a magical experience.”

Martin’s connection to the Myers Park campus is also strong. As a child, she enjoyed spending time on campus, and her father, Joe Martin, served in the administration of former president Billy Wireman.

Following Curry’s passing in the fall of 2015, Martin assumed her mother-in-law’s seat on the Board of Trustees in early 2016, continuing a legacy defined by a deep-seated passion for giving back to the institution that fueled her success. Today, Curry’s enduring impact remains a visible cornerstone of campus life, most notably within the heartbeat of the university, Curry Arena.

Martin went on to serve two terms of her own after that. “Engaging with students and leadership as the university has navigated changing times has been inspiring,” she said.

Looking Ahead

As they prepare for film festival submissions, Wheeler Maier and Martin look toward the future students of Queens with a message of proactive innovation.

“When I started WomensLaw, the Internet was a little bit like what AI is right now. You could see the writing on the wall,” Martin reflected. “Everyone had their dot com idea to make money, but I had a dot org idea to use the new technology to help people. I hope a Queens student will think about AI in that way — how it can be used on a social services level.”

Wheeler Maier is equally confident in the potential of future graduates. “Take any class you’re interested in and explore your passions,” she encouraged. “When you lean into them, the entire world opens up for you.”

For information about the film, visit www.rosaliegetsadog.com.