Can you tell us about your latest film project and the process you went through in bringing it to life?

‘’An imposible secret’’ is my first short film. I was inspired by a wonderful lady of Italian origin. Her dad an Italian prisoner of war was brought to Wales to work on farms during the Second World War. She was born and brought up in Wales. She later on studied and became a lecturer at the University of Bangor in Wales. The story of the film is fiction but based on true events that took place in Wales during the Second World War. During that time Italian prisoners of war were brought to Wales to work on farms due to a shortage of local men. 

After numerous discussions with the lady that inspired me to write ‘’An imposible secret’’ I did more research into the events of that era by borrowing relevant books from the library, speaking to older, local people and searching for relevant sources of information on the internet. 

 

In ‘‘An impossible secret’’ a young student decides to visit her mother in Wales during the 1990s to share some important news. However her plans take an unexpected turn when she uncovers a long-held family secret. 

 

What inspired you to become a filmmaker and pursue a career in the film industry?

I love cinema and from a young age I started watching many films of local and international production. I also love reading and writing stories. I always wanted to write my own story and then turn it to a film. I just find cinematic storytelling fascinating as it is a very effective, visual way of communicating with others on a global scale. Through a film you can communicate ideas, emotions, feelings and reach an audience on an international level. 

 

What challenges did you encounter during the filmmaking process and how did you overcome them?

As most independent filmmakers some of the challenges I faced were financial restraints, finding the right shooting locations for the film, availability of cast, crew and filming locations, weather conditions for the external shoots. I overcame those challenges by sourcing locations that were more economical to shoot, adjusting the script by taking into account the budget I had available and being flexible with filming days and times to accommodate all cast and crew members. 

 

What was the most memorable moment for you during the production of your film?

When we were trying to shoot some scenes at the farm the noise that the animals were making was too loud so we had to wait for them to get quiet in order to shoot the next scene! 

 

Can you share any interesting anecdotes or behind-the-scenes stories from the making of your film?

The dad of the farm’s owner wife was very interesting to speak to as he shared with me his memories from the Second World War. He actually remembered one of the local prisoner-of-war camps in Wales and some prisoners working on nearby farms. 

 

How do you approach storytelling in your films? What themes or messages do you try to convey?

For me storytelling is all about connecting with your audience on a deep, emotional level. The goal of storytelling in my films is to create a compelling story that the audience will find fascinating and also can connect emotionally with it. In that way you can communicate with your audience in a more effective way as they will engage more with your story. The use of lighting, lenses, visual techniques , great acting can all help convey the story and create a certain mood, atmosphere but having a great story is the most important element in filmmaking. Some of the themes that I try to convey are love, betrayal, moral ambiguity, family relationships, hardship, corruption, internal vs external conflict, good vs evil. I am very interested in exploring the depths of human emotions and also the dark side of human emotions. 

 

What is your preferred genre of filmmaking and why? Are there any specific directors or filmmakers who have influenced your work?

My favourite genre is drama. I’ve always been a huge fan of drama work both in terms of films and books. I find them the most exciting as they are real mostly based on true stories and people, situations you can resonate with. I am very interested in human emotions and behaviour. Some of the directors that I loved their work: Joe Wright who directed ‘’Atonement’’, Nick Cassavetes who directed ‘’The notebook’’ and Francis Ford Coppola who directed amongst other well known films ‘’The godfather’’. 

 

How do you select your cast and crew for your film projects? What qualities do you look for in collaborators?

I usually look for people that are good in what they are doing whether is camera operating, acting etc but also it is important to be able to work together as a team so good team players. I select cast and crew that I have worked before and also cast and crew who have been recommended to me. 

 

How important do you think film festivals are for independent filmmakers, and what has been your experience with film festivals so far?

Film festivals are very important for independent filmmakers as it is a great opportunity for them to showcase their projects, get feedback, share their experiences with other filmmakers and build up important connections in the industry. My experience with film festivals has been very positive so far. I was able to showcase my project, receive constructive feedback from the jury, watch some brilliant films and build up connections in the industry. 

 

Can you tell us about any awards or recognition your films have received and how they have impacted your career?

My first short film ‘’An impossible secret’’ is currently doing very well in festivals. We have won numerous awards on a national and international level for best short drama, best low budget short,  best cinematography, best actor and actress, best director, best original story, best cast, best music score. I was also invited to join a filmmaker community and our film has already received more awards from their festivals.  It is still early days so I haven’t seen the full impact yet on my career but certainly so far it has been very positive. 

 

How do you handle feedback and criticism of your films? How do you use it to improve your craft?

I always take on board any feedback and criticism of my films as it is very important as a filmmaker to see how your project has been received, what has worked well and what needs improvement. 

 

What do you enjoy most about the process of filmmaking? Is there anything you find particularly challenging?

I really enjoy bringing stories to life and express myself in a creative way. I also enjoy working with cast and crew in order to complete a project we are all proud of. It is great to see everyone’s input and how this shapes the final project. The process of filmmaking can be challenging when you have to meet deadlines, co-ordinate cast and crew and handle stress between cast and crew members. Also it is very stressful to secure project financing. 

 

How do you approach the distribution of your films? What strategies do you employ to reach a wider audience?

I’m still working on those strategies to be able to reach a wider audience. Currently I am participating in film festivals hoping that my film will be chosen for distribution. 

 

What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers who are just starting their journey in the film industry?

As an aspiring filmmaker myself I would say that you just have to keep going, take on board any feeback and criticism, reflect, work on the elements that need improvement and never give up. 

 

Finally, can you share with us your future plans and upcoming projects as a filmmaker?

I am currently working on my next project which is a short film noir set in 40s Wales. It is going to be a more challenging project but also very exciting!