Tenacity and calculating measures are paying off for seven, hard-working New York Latino filmmakers and actors whose careers are reaching higher ground by virtue of their work in a short films at the internationally acclaimed Cannes Film Festival. Acceptance into the Festival de Cannes will benefit from a prime viewing position within the Short Film Corner from May 13-24th. The talent traveling to France do so with the intent on networking with industry players, institutions, financiers and the most important international reps in the film business to develop their next project – possibly a feature film. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the journey that got them there.
The Seven
Sebastian Rea Plinio Villablanca Pablo Andrade Francisco Lupini Basagoiti Adel Morales Monica Palmieri Brandon Polanco
SEBASTIAN REA
Short: Sudden Strangers
Writer/Director/Producer/Editor
(Wilberto Rivera, Jr., co-wrote the screenplay and Matthew Charof was Sebastian’s co-editor)
Synopsis: a narrative film set in NYC exploring the increase of domestic shootings in America.
He’s referred to affectionately as, “Don Sebastian” because he’s under 30 and he’s accomplished more than some do in a lifetime. He’s the Content Operations Manager at Tribeca Enterprises and you can’t attend the Tribeca Film Festival and miss him. He’s the Founder of the flourishing 30under30 Film Festival, 2015 kicks off the third one. He was named a Young Ambassador at the Smithsonian Institute’s Latino Center. He wrote and directed a feature length film, documentary and social-oriented shorts and worked as a videographer in Spain. He was selected by the Council of Urban Professionals into the 2015 CUP Fellows Program, a 10-month leadership development program coupled with civic involvement. Now he’s off to Cannes with his short narrative film, Sudden Strangers exploring the increase of domestic shootings in America.
Tio Louie: What propelled the making of Sudden Strangers?
Sebastian Rea: The lead actor in the film, Emmanuel Rodriguez came up with the story based on a real-life incident that took place in Teaneck where he was from. Plus the film was about addressing an increase in gun shootings and that the U.S. has the highest incidents of gun violence in the world. Who’s right and wrong? Why do they do what they do? When you watch media reporting on mass killings, they never refer to the perpetrator by their name – it’s always criminal or shooter. It’s dehumanizing and sets a precedent for the audience to never associate with the shooter as a human being. I used the name of Adam for the protagonist in the film as the name for the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and also harking back to Genesis with Adam and Eve. When the Santa Barbara shooting took place in May 2014, I was in post-production on this film when the shooter, Elliot Rodger released a 137-page manifesto that smacked like it had come from my film. What stood out was that he was asking for help – acceptance. He didn’t feel that he fit into society. Media has desensitized us with violence that is rampant and accessible through video games, movies and with war that we have been involved in for the past 14 years.
TL: Tell me about the actual production shoot in Manhattan’s neighborhood of SoHo?
SR: We did it in two consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday. We did it with permits. We had police officers with us. I had a license to have the fake AK47. When we had planned for the shoot we aimed for sunny skies. The day before it said there would be rain for two days and I was taken aback. We shot in the rain and it added a whole other dimension to the film that we could not have replicated otherwise.
TL: Tell me about the CUP 2015 Fellowship for which you were selected?
SR: It’s a one-year program that cultivates young urban leaders to further their careers in order to make a lasting impression on society. We have gotten together twice this year for lectures and presentations by government leaders and personal coaches who will be aligned with us for the rest of the year. I was nominated and accepted into this competitive program. Everyone in my group is in government, law, business and entertainment. Whenever we have discussions it’s always about how we want to change society and we are comprised of this wonderful mix of power by inspiring each other. No one in the group wants to let anyone down. It makes you want to be a better person. It’s about building and being a team.
TL: What is your 10 cents of wisdom that you would pass on to an artistic entrepreneur?
SR: Be confident. There’s nothing like someone who is passionate about their work and research, because you exude a completely different energy that becomes infectious when you tap other people to get involved. It draws accomplished and successful people, as well as people who want to mentor you.
TL: What’s next?
SR: I am writing three feature films. One is a Sci-Fi Drama, a Family Saga based on my life and another one is a Dark Comedy on love. And just as important, I am developing my 30under30 Film Festival that is entering its third year.
Web link to Sudden Strangers:
TIO LOUIE/Louis E. Perego Moreno
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