Filmmaker Guillermo Ronco (BAD BLOOD)

BAD BLOOD, 19min., Argentina
Directed by Guillermo Ronco
Abandoned by the state and with his daughter’s life at stake, police officer Rafael chooses to break his deepest convictions and commit a crime to resolve his situation. But when what was supposed to be a robbery turns into a kidnapping, he discovers that there are limits he cannot cross.

https://www.instagram.com/lucero_audiovisual/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
In 2018/19, I began developing my first feature film, “Saints of Buenaventura”, but it was canceled due to the COVID pandemic. So, my next move to push forward this project was to shoot a short film with similar characteristics in terms of tone and artistic style. So, I took the structure of the third act of the first draft of that script and turned it into a story with a beginning and end in less than 20 minutes.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
During the development of Saints of Buenaventura, producers asked me to make a short film to showcase my storytelling and directing skills, so I made a treatment of Bad Blood back in 2020. But the real work took me three months of pre-production, three days of shooting, and another three months for the post. Six months in total.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Loyalty vs Morality.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Fetting a five-day shooting plan into three days.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was awesome! The way they got engaged and moved by the story, and their comments about the right pacing and the sound score building suspense and anticipation. I work so consciously on those topics that it makes me very proud that I got them right. Feedback is priceless for us filmmakers. Thanks so much for that!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Since ever! As soon as I could get my hands on a VHS camera, at age 11/12, I started shooting small thriller films with my friends, editing in-camera, using ketchup sauce as blood, and making up the story as we went along. We had a blast making that.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Jaws. Every time it is shown on TV, I have to watch it until the end. I can´t help it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Making effective connections with agents/producers. The hardest part of this path is to catch the attention of those who can make our scripts become movies. Help us with this, please!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How have your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FilmFreeway is a great platform. With more festival options than you can handle, and so easy to navigate and submit.

10. What is your favorite meal?
I´m Argentine; grilled meat is a classic for us.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I have a bunch of feature film scripts ready to roll!

Filmmaker Kiara Kiki Evans (FEARLESS)

FEARLESS, 3min., Canada
Directed by Kiara Kiki Evans
In a world where the line between existence and nonexistence blurs, ‘Fearless’ follows the journey of a young nihilist confronting the darkest corners of human fear. As he grapples with the allure of nonexistence, he’s forced into a terrifying confrontation with his deepest fears, forcing him to confront the true essence of his humanity.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I made Fearless as my last hurrah in my fourth & final year of film school. I had the story for Fearless maybe five years prior. I have always been drawn to tell this story but I wanted to have a portion in stop motion so out came Fearless the claymation horror short.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Fearless has gone through many iterations, starting as a short story back in 2018. It transformed into a script during my time at film school in 2021 and, by my final year in 2024, evolved into a claymation horror short. The story itself isn’t fully told yet, and I hope to expand on it and bring the rest to the screen someday.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Optimistic Nihilism

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The tedious nature of the stop-motion shooting process was a major challenge, especially since most of the prep and production was done by me alone. I was learning the craft as I went, which made it difficult to bring others in to help.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Watching the feedback video with most of the team was a really special moment. Hearing people’s thoughts is always rewarding—and it’s even better when they like what you’ve created!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I realized I wanted to make films when I recognized how much I loved escapism. I wanted to create the kinds of outlets that helped me navigate life.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Meatballs (1979)

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Clear and concise steps for submissions, feedback, and screenings would be incredibly helpful.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s been a good experience overall.

10. What is your favourite meal?

Spicy tuna poke bowl with lots of pineapple.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Hopefully, more stop motion! I’m also exploring creative direction, particularly for music videos. Beyond that, I’m writing, editing, and revisiting both new and old projects.

Filmmakers Ahmet Mete Balyan, Zeynep Su Topal (nor any memories of the turning backs)

nor any memories of the turning backs, 15min., Turkey
Directed by Ahmet Mete Balyan, Zeynep Su Topal
[poem_body_memory_voice]
none of them belong to each other and all of them belong to themselves an accumulation over the years// a practice of relating** on love, migration and mourning

http://metebalyan@gmail.com/
https://www.instagram.com/metebalyan/

Answers from Ahmet Mete Balyan and Zeynep Su Topal:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I think our main motivation is to bring together and make visible the materials and experiences we’ve collected over the years from different disciplines, which have been just sitting there on their own. From this coming together, seeing something that feels unique to us ended up shaping both the process and the outcome.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

This film is made up of materials from 4 years, including poetry, music, performances, installations, sound designs, unfinished projects, countries, cities, neighborhoods, and hundreds of independent videos. The process started on its own about a year and a half ago with the way the first two videos spoke to each other, and it’s grown into what it is now. So I guess making this film took about 4 years. or a year. :p

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

grief and joy.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Outside of the stereotypical production problems – and in fact the most internal – the main obstacle was ourselves. In this atmosphere, it was often difficult for us to find the motivation to make what is not, become.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

The idea of people from the other side of the world are watching and experiencing the film we’ve made, feels like madness on its own. I’d love to be in the place of an audience that watched without subtitles 🙂 I wonder what they saw, what they heard, and how they felt…

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

we both have personal and undateable moments that we decided to present ourselves with cinema and gaze at life with camera. but our artistic partnership started when we shot the first video for the movie ‘for no reason’.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

mete: i don’t know? I guess maybe wings of desire? i don’t know.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

More accurate visibility and presence for the artist and project. more diverse mediation between the audience and the filmmakers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I think it was very useful and user friendly platform.

10. What is your favorite meal?

aahahahahahh maybe lahmacun can be our middle point.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I think we both want to find a new method for ourselves to make a movie or performance that will be more artist friendly yet no loss from the authentic and powerful effect of it.

Interview with the creative team of MEROPE (Juan Carlos Zaldivar, Christel Veraart, Winifred Muench)

MEROPE, 8min., USA
Directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
The short film, Merope, follows a personification of the hidden star on a journey towards emancipation from the ties that historically have bound her and her six sisters, the Pleiades constellation, in a narrative about captivity and victimization, towards a new story where she claims visibility and a more authentic place in the universe for her and her sisters.

http://sedonaballet.org/merope-epk

Conversation with:
JC = Juan Carlos Zaldivar – Director/Producer
C = Christel Veraart – Co Producer/Narrator/Composer/Co-Founder Reflections Festival
W = Winifred Muench – Co-Producer/Co-Founder Reflections Festival

1. What motivated you to make this film?

JC: Winifred and Christel had the revolutionary idea of creating a multi-disciplinary art festival that would result in a collaboration. Merope was born from our group which included a composer, a filmmaker/animator, a collage artist, a photographer, a dancer, a poet, and a choreographer —with a wardrobe person and a camera person. Winnie and Christel acted as producers.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

One year

3. How would you describe your film in two words?

JC: a visual poem about emancipation.

C: Cosmic meditation.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Shooting in the dark. We had to be creative about lighting a forest with flashlights!
Shooting on a shoe string we had to be very resourceful. Our director is famous for making things look like a million bucks with noir lighting.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

The audience’s reaction was truly exhilarating! Watching people connect so deeply with our film and hearing their insights in the feedback video was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing the audience describe the film as wonderful, meditative, peaceful, harmonious, and touching was profoundly gratifying—it affirmed that our vision resonated deeply with viewers. Their heartfelt appreciation for the music and the emotions it evoked validated the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the project.

The soundtrack has been highly celebrated, with the composer’s brilliance shining brightly. The film has been awarded the coveted “Composer of the Future” at Cannes’ World Film Festival, “Best Film Soundtrack” at LA’s 10th Music Film Festival, Finalist “Best Soundtrack” at New York’s Oniros Film Awards Festival, and Finalist “Best Soundtrack” at New York’s International Film Awards.
The film itself has earned prestigious recognition, being named “Best Dance Film” at Tblisi’s Music/Dance Consonance, “Best Dance Choreography” at New York’s International Film Awards, “Best Poster” at New York’s Oniros Film Awards and nominated finalist for “Best Dance Film” at Cannes’ World Film Festival and Nominee “Best Dance or Poetic” at Lisbion’s Cinescape. These accolades celebrate the artistic vision and dedication of everyone involved, from the stunning cinematography to the way our Sedona landscapes framed the narrative in such a compelling way.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

JC: I have known it all my life. Ever since I saw an actor who I saw died in the movies come back to life in an interview after. I live in wonder of what a film actually is. I think moving images are nothing short of magic. The defy time and space, they defy death and emulate creation.

C: I realized I wanted to make films after years of creating my own visuals to accompany my music, which you can see on my website and YouTube. My music naturally evokes imagery, and over time, I felt the urge to bring those visuals to life in a more structured narrative form. As a composer, singer, lyricist, and world traveler, my work transcends boundaries, and film became a powerful new medium for me to express that vision. The transition into filmmaking felt like a natural extension of my creative journey, allowing me to blend music, storytelling, and visual art into one cohesive experience.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

JC: Hmm. I would have to say Vertov’s and Yevisaleta Svilova’s “Man with a Movie camera” . I show it to my students every year. This film, by the way, is sadly often only credited to Dziga Vertov as the director, but that film is 50% editing, the same way that Merope is 50% music.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

– JC: I have been to more film festivals I can probably name since 1986. The landscape has changed so much! Sadly most film festivals have become businesses. The word Festival comes from the Latin word “fester” or “festus” which denotes a celebration. As a filmmaker I used to love going to film festivals and celebrating with other artists and supporters. The celebration part is now missing. Films are collaborations. The aspect of meeting other people to work with was a key aspect of film festivals when they started. That aspect is missing these days. On the other extreme, some film festivals have become markets now, but they have all sorts of red tape and exclusions that take the fun and random pairing that a celebration atmosphere often brings.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

JC: Its convenient. Like the calendar reminders feature the most.

C: Submitting to your festival through FilmFreeway has been a smooth and efficient experience. The platform’s user-friendly interface and having all the necessary information in one place make the submission process much easier. It streamlines everything, allowing filmmakers to focus more on their creative work.

10. What is your favorite meal?

JC: Any meal. Food. I love food. I’m a foodie. I am always up for something new. I love tastings and multi course meals. I love the movie Babette’s Feast where a female chef who is fleeing her country during the war is sheltered in a small village, where she takes all of her money to create a poetic, last feast for the farmers that took her in, which gives them experiences they had never had had.

C: Same here, I am a foodie as well and I loved Babette’s Feast.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

JC: I am always making video objects. I am developing a feature doc to reframe the way we look at dementia, and a companion national outreach educational campaign that includes an interactive photography exhibit entitled The Gold Room to create a collection of golden portraits of people living with dementia. We need to start seeing the value of what this challenging disease is here to teach us and stop focusing on what it is “taking away from us”.

C: I am continuing to work on a series of Vignettes, based on my debut book “Santa Fe & Esmeralda” of which the first one won “Best Story” at your LGBTQ+ Festival

Screenwriter Gerard O’Neill (Terran Tapes – The Annunaki)

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

This is the tale of the immortal Vampire Goddess Lilitu of ancient lore and her near human lover Dougal, their three identical red haired daughters and an oblivious species known as humanity.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Science Fiction/Fantasy

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Since I first took up the pen to write this story I have watched as rewrites of successful films and sequels and prequels have graced our screens, some enhanced by more seasoned writing and special effects while others show little imagination or creativity and relying on the name of it’s original. This story has no comparison.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Sensuous thriller

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Hard to answer. I had a mother, have a wife and daughter. Now grandchildren, so you’re looking at Sound of Music verses Willie Wonka (the original), or numerous episodes of Bluey.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

First got the idea in 1986, so a very long time. But then again, the short back story was first written down in 1974 as an English Literature test in High School.

7. How many stories have you written?

I’ve written many stories through the decades, but I’ve found they all end up as part of this one.

After all, this story lasts almost eighty million years from beginning to end.

8. What is your favourite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

When you get to my age and I think you’ll find this with most of the Baby Boomers, we have many songs that fill us with sweet memories. Songs from the sixties, seventies and eighties.

Although I have had a fondness for Classical, Jazz and Blues from pretty much all eras.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Well, she’s still not finished.

The story has probably about another four hours of telling. That’s another two parts. But when it comes down to it, life is the obstacle in any artistic endeavour.

In the very early years, it took six months to write the original first part and a further three months to write the second part and lastly the third part was a year.

Then I married and the world turned upside down.

Leaving the artistic community where I belonged in Sydney to the country surrounded by mundanes, was unsettling enough, but almost immediately, my new wife became ill and has remained that way ever since, slowly deteriorating over the years.

This meant fully engrossing myself in the mundane world of country backwater Australia. So backwater, that at night, you can almost hear the banjos playing.

Even after moving to city edge the pursuit of work sometimes turned an eight hour day into a twelve including travel.

Then of course, with my wife’s illness, I am truly grateful to be in Australia rather than the US, because this screenplay would never have had the opportunity to be dragged out of the dusty cover for its next rewrite where the resultant maturity of the author has led to a story with depth and living individuals with real personalities.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

There are many things that interest me. I’m rebuilding a ’72 Norton motorcycle at the moment and I’m hoping to get it running on water, or at least a dual fuel machine.

I paint landscapes. I love rewilding places. My wife had a property outside of the city that was waterlogged and although there were a few big trees on it, most of them had been taken by the previous owner. I dug out a huge fishpond by hand and shaped the land for the run off to end there and then planted a forest all around it. Even built a bridge over the water. When we eventually moved to a 100 year old cottage on a tiny block of land, I couldn’t help but do the same thing all over again.

Acting. Before marriage, I was always either on the stage or working as an extra on a TV or film set.

Studying theatre arts prepared me in ways I couldn’t conceive of, from being able to read or send messages to others using body language alone to being able to become other people entirely in the blink of an eye no matter where on Earth they come from The Political World.

I know that no one wants to be interested in such a subject and I am told more than I would like, that both this and religion are subjects that should be avoided. I would corner Adventists, Jehovah witnesses and Mormons at the front door to prevent their escape. And be very careful about throwing some patriotic crap in my direction, I hone in on that like a tiger shark. Love to debate. Especially with politicians on subjects that really matter.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

I never consider entering a competition all that hard.

Admittedly, there are many programs out there that are really difficult to use, but as time goes on, those who are setting these sites up are getting better at the job. For me, it was easy.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

Being a Scot, the biggest problem I have is parting with the money, but this time I’d just drawn out some of my Superannuation to buy an old motorcycle, which I procured cheaper than I expected and so, there was a lot of leftover. The parts requiring replacement and for the upgrade were less expensive than I expected and there was the competition. Just sitting there in my email, looking all sexy and addictive.

My brother owns a CFX company that he operates out of Indonesia where he lives. His partners live all around the world and he is doing well for himself.

He has never believed in me and has intentionally gone out of his way to avoid letting me play with him, refusing to even glance at my story.

We were talking on the phone the day I entered the competition and I told him that I was getting tired of trying to get the screenplay sold. His response, being one of gratitude I was at last, showing some maturity in this matter by giving up this fantasy, gave me hope and so I immediately, on hanging up from him, opened the site and lodged my entry.

When I received the feedback, I was stunned. This story that lived within my mind like a second life, changing and writhing to be noticed had suddenly been heard.

I have won very few contests and with some, even the winnings were lost before they made their way to me, so I had not envisaged such praise and how the few failings in the work were mere technicalities.

Suddenly I was again hopeful that the world could share in my story, where I remain to this day. I look forward to sending a photo of my Best Screenplay Award to my brother.

Screenwriter Anita Bickle (The Politician’s Tap)

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

My screenplay (the long version) is about a journalist on the sidelines
watching as politicians get on their soapbox for their spiel. It’s designed
as a musical where different politicians will step up and sing their spiel.
As the broad spotlight takes in politician and press / supporters they will
cajole and charm and then as the spotlight focuses to them, it’s their
motives and thoughts. Needless to say in Australia we have had some funny
candidates over the decades, so you have your whip cracking gun toting
candidate to your passionate professional trying to do some good,
candidates for the money, others for the fame and power.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

It’s designed as a musical screenplay, fiction.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Probably the closest movies would be Chicago / Goddess. To be honest it would need some work to be movie worthy.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Musical fun.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

That is a hard one – it’s probably more of a list of movies depending on my mood. The Fugitive, Man of Steel, Dog Woman Dead Dog Walking,…

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Full length – as a hobby, a couple of years penning different scenes. All condensed into a 1page screenplay – probably an hour or so.

7. How many stories have you written?

Probably half a dozen in varying states of completion! :-p

8. What is your favourite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

You’re the Voice by John Farnham

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Time.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Bushwalking, rowing, art, photography

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

It’s a really easy site to use and upload to.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I saw the competition listed and thought I have a screenplay I could condense to one page, so I entered. Feedback has been positive to date.

Screenwriter Pamela Green (THAT SAME ROAD)

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

My screenplay is a testimony about some things that my dad went through in his life and how God brought him out and also about a promise that God made to my dad years ago that a movie would be made of his life one day and that it would be used to warn the world about the mark of the beast in the forehead.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

My screenplay falls under the genre of drama.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It depicts God’s faithfulness in times of trouble, and that God has a plan to warn people before impending doom strikes.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Fascinating and encouraging

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Mulan

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I have been working on this screenplay off and on for nearly sixteen years.

7. How many stories have you written?

So far, I have written two full screenplays and one partial screenplay.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I love the song “Eye of the Tiger”.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

For several years, when I would send in this script to WILDsound, I would be told that it was too long. So, finally, I reduced the contents of the story to 120 pages.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love to learn about history and love to encourage people. I also love to tell people that Jesus died for them and that He was buried and rose from the grave for them so that they can go to Heaven and have everlasting life if they believe on Him.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

My experience working with FilmFreeway has been pretty smooth and simple.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I entered this script into the festival after entering my first script, Gates of Hell in it, and then it being accepted and read online.But I fist learned of WILDsound after having a dream one night of someone holding my script while seated behind a desk and George Clooney was seated beside the desk. Then I pressed like on George Clooney’s social media page and began to receive advertisements about the WILDsound Film Festival,. I was pretty pleased with my initial feedback from WILDsound.

Screenwriter Stephanie Neroes (COLLATERAL HEARTS)

After spending their tenth wedding anniversary at the Mackinac Island, Jackson and Rebecca are in a tragic car accident which leaves her in a coma for 6 months and Jackson dead. After she wakes up, she has to grieve the loss and this takes a toll on her. She meets Patrick when he comes to the school to unblock a toilet one of her students filled with sand. He feels familiar to her but she brushes it off until she goes to a church to attend grief counseling, the same church he is attending AA meetings at. They become close until she realises that Patrick was the reason for the accident.

Get to know the writer:

1.. What is your screenplay about?
Collateral Hearts is about how one navigates the complexities of grief, forgiveness, and healing after experiencing profound loss and trauma.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama, Romance, Family

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I feel like in a world seeking empathy, forgiveness, and resilience, Collateral Hearts offers a timely exploration of the power of second chances and healing after unimaginable loss. As audiences resonate with universal themes of grief, addiction, and hope, this story speaks to the struggles and redemption many face today, making it both poignant and relevant.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Serendipitous and Universal

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Believe it or not, I’m going to say Grease or Ghost

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I started writing this film on August 1, 2024.

7. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written two features, 1 short, and 5 pilots.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
I don’t have a favorite song but I do have a favorite genre – indie folk-rock/singer-songwriters

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Can’t really say I faced any obstacles as much as I faced indecision. I have four different versions of this story and selecting one to focus on was challenging.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Editing. I am a picture film editor by day (so to speak).

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
I’ve had nothing but positive experiences.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Having polished the selected version, I wanted to submit it to a festival to see how it fared but I didn’t want to wait six months for announcements. So, I came across your festival via ISA and thought what better festival than one focused on romantic dramas. I’d get a very good idea as to how ready it is to shop around. I very much appreciated the feedback. The script has changed a bit as a result.

Screenwriter  Margie Jo Vess (BEAUTIFUL OCEAN)

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

A commercial fisherman wakes up to his contribution of oceanic wildlife endangerment.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Horror

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It’s a visual art that will elicit much more emotion and possibly compassion if not a better understanding about the devastation of sea life from pollution than in its current audio format.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Relevant / Unique

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

The Kingdom of Heaven

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

It took me a few hours to write, then I had it professionally reviewed for feedback, tweaked it, submitted it, and this is the current revision.

7. How many stories have you written?

Completed the five screenplays listed on ISA (two award-winning), seven in progress, and five on the to-do list

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

Neil Young, Heart of Gold

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Needed to research the commercial fishing industry a bit.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Social dancing (Argentine tango, WCS), and having fun in any mental/physical sport I try.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

Super easy. Fassssst turnaround. Helpful.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I was looking for a different creative marketing option for this piece and had not had a table read before.

Turning 49 Today: Michael Peña. Happy Birthday

Watch the best of films now by signing up for the FREE 7 Day trial. New Festival Daily: https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Born
January 13, 1976 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Spouse
Brie Shaffer (2006 – present) (1 child)

QUOTES:

I’m just an actor. If it’s drama, I add as much humor as the part will stand. And if it’s a comedy, add as much drama as you can, so it balances out; you don’t wanna be too serious.

I guess people recognize me, but I’m not a household name. Two out of every five people who come up to me know my name. The one thing I don’t want is to be followed by paparazzi.

My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I’d be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they’d make it before I did. I’d still be helping them while they were on movie sets and I had four lines on a TV show.

The joy of ‘Crash’ was that it was all about the work. It was my first real part. Before that, it was a line here and there, maybe a scene. ‘Crash’ was five scenes, a beautiful arc, a little vignette of my own. It really meant something.