Production Photos

After 3 days of shoot, we wrapped up our principal photography. It has been quite a challenge in terms of location and one costume that didn't arrive in time but I managed to get an alternative. Though Sebastian has to really try to fit in it. I apologise to him but there are some things that however you plan, problems will be inevitable.

So for now, website is under construction, production notebook layout is already a work in progress. Post production here I come.

Shooting Day 1 27 Aug.

As usual the first day of shoot is the slowest when everybody is still getting into the rhythm of things. But so far, it was smooth. Though we couldn't do all the shots I need. So we will have to make things faster on our 2nd day. Will post pictures soon.

Reading for the Interrogation

Today, my two leads meet for the first time for their reading and a bit of rehearsal as well.

A lot of story exploration and discussion which I like as we dissect each character's motivations. I like this part of any production whether it is stage or film.

Maikel there seem to be a lot of chemistry between them, well, probably the picture speaks for itself.

I'm very happy with my two leads. So I have a week to make sure everything will be ready for the shoot.

Ideas, Inspiration and Film Language

Shots, color palette, location, costume, props... etc.

Takes awhile to produce everything in time for a shoot. Working on my storyboard. But meanwhile, here is my moodboard. 

Location permission is coming along. It seems though that I need to pay. Costume is also being gathered. Who said finding just one costume is easy? 

Two days before rehearsals on Friday. 

Casting the role of the Immigration Officer

Last July 20, I posted an ad on filmvacatures.nl to begin my search for an actor to play the part of the immigration officer. I received  more than ten responses including one from an ex-immigration officer. What I did, I read all their CVs, most of them have surprisingly vast experiences. Instead of meeting all of them, I narrowed them down to four.

After meeting them yesterday. I can now reveal that the role is given to:

Sebastiaan Geijtenbeek

Sebastiaan had his diploma and masters in Theateropleding at De Trap Amsterdam in 2013/2014 respectively. He is also trained in martial arts and stage fighting.

This was the link to my ad at filmvacatures:

http://www.filmvacatures.nl/?page=prikborden&action=view&id=60991

Casting Announcement

Barbaro Maikel Mendoza Muñoz 

Maikel will portray the character of Barbaro, one of the protagonists in the short film, The Interrogation. 

He is a Cuban dancer, actor, dance instructor and filmmaker. Currently pursuing filmmaking in SAE Amsterdam. He is my classmate whom I've worked with some of my recent film assignments at SAE. 

Yes, I named the role after him although it is entirely fictional. In the original script, the character is only labeled as The Man. Naming it as Barbaro creates an illusion of it being something personal to Maikel. Which I intend to do the same thing with the immigration officer's name once I cast that role.

The Story

I enrolled in a digital filmmaking short course at SAE Amsterdam in 2013. And during a lesson about creative thinking, our instructor Pauline, asked us to do an exercise on how to get creative inspiration from our experiences. We listed five memories of each basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear and anger. 

The next day, we were tasked to write a story and eventually a screenplay of our listed memory regarding fear. We were grouped in class. And my group chose my story to be our short film project. That's how my script was born.

It was my second visit to Amsterdam. The first was hassle-free so I thought the next one, I could be more relax knowing that the immigration officers will only look at my visa and wouldn't ask for anymore questions. Boy, I was wrong! I was taken aside to their office and was interrogated for more than 2 hours. It was a terrifying experience I didn't want to repeat. Until now, whenever I face a Marechaussee, I get so nervous. The trauma will always be there I think.

So I wrote a script about the experience I had but not necessarily the same scenario. Unfortunately, my group mates then changed my script drastically and turned it into a more action oriented sequence rather than my intended psychological driven drama. They made their version into a 5 minute film. It became an unintentional comedy. It was really bad. I did keep my original script though.

Flash-forward to 2015. Although I have a story in mind regarding my final film project, I was conscious that what I want to do may not be easy for the limited time we were given. Having to think of another story, I then went back to this already written script and read it. 

Jackpot! What a coincidence that this story is very timely to what is happening today. Migration issues. But my story is not about a general impression of immigration problems. It's very intimate. It won't be about right or wrong and good or bad. It's about my characters' humanity in the story.