Santa Fe Film Festival - In God We Trust
Still Waters Run Deep
Interview with Director David C. Diaz
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I love filmmaking. The ability to tell a story through motion picture is so rewarding and I really enjoy films that have twists that the audience doesn't see coming and this is no exception. This started out as an idea I had that I pitched to my film partner who sat down and penned the first draft and from there we molded it into the film you see today.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
As I said I enjoy stories with twists because real life isn't as simple as sitcoms make it out to be. Most films will have a character come in contact with a problem and through the course of the film gain the tools to overcome said problem, but in this film we offer something similar but the reality of it is that our main character is only showing the tip of the iceberg - much like real life. This isn't a cut and dry story. By the time the credits roll you will have more questions than when you started.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think the theme of Good & Bad is the most universal of all the potential themes and we use it as something an audience member can identify with easily. However, once you're hooked by this concept it's very easy to see that it's not as simple as Black & White. What's Order to the spider is Chaos to the fly.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
This short film started out as an idea I had had and I pitched it to my film partner who does almost all of the writing for our projects. He took it and ran with it. Once the first draft was done we both went back and trimmed the fat, so to speak. From there we went to a table read and it just felt right and ready to go. We shot the entire script but when it came time to edit the footage some of the material just didn't work so in the interest of making the best short possible we scraped an entire opening. In my opinion losing that opening doesn't take away from the overall story or character development. Sometimes in film making you have to make really tough decisions like that. A group of people worked really hard on something that won't end up seeing the light of day. It's the nature of the beast.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have been receiving a lot of positive feedback which is great. From the actors on down to everyone who has seen it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I would say it's surprising because as an artist you put yourself out there for everyone to see. Film making, like any other art, is a collective of artists making themselves vulnerable for all to see and so with that comes the inner critic of an artist. And no critic in the world will be as scathing as the artist themselves. So when we put something out my inner critic hates, sees all the flaws, wishes I would have done something better or different and then people respond positively it serves as not only a surprise but kind of a smack in the face. It says to me that what we're doing is good work and here is the proof.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
My hope is that I can reach a few new people who enjoy independently made films. Touch people who like a more complex plot and maybe even help someone through something that they've been holding in. Art is powerful tool and has been known to all sorts of wonderful things for people. My hope is that this short film, at the very least, can inspire a green film maker to keep fighting the good fight because that's how my whole team started out. We saw these films and wanted to do it, so we set out and did it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We've always relied on word of mouth and self promotion in the past but now that we are becoming more present in the film festival scene it would be great if anyone who saw this film and genuinely enjoyed what was done would just give us nod. Something as simple as a message on a blog or twitter posting can make such a difference. We are still making our way so if you have any suggestions I am all ears.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
It would be great to receive all kinds of awards and prizes but I would much rather just one person watch this short and take away something positive from it. It's a dark story but it contains a lot of universal wisdom - I say universal because there is heavy religious connotations but this film isn't religious in nature. The church was used as a vehicle to facilitate the story. Every day people grapple internally with "demons" that most don't even know about so if this film can get someone to share something with someone else or realize that they don't have to grapple alone then it was worth it.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
With news emerging about soldiers returning from war to face joblessness, inadequate medical care and the inability to readjust to civilian life what is it that needs to be done to prevent the mistreatment of our veterans?
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope we can create some type of awareness that our vets are in desperate need of help once they come back from overseas.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As of this conversation we have another 2 short films in the works. One is currently cast and will be directed by my film partner Matt Raimo (who also wrote this project and his own). The second is currently in the script stages of being rewritten and reworked. Matt also has a short comedy that should be making its debut in January of 2017. We both have our eyes set on completing the first season of a web-based series as well that will be shot over the course of the summer and fall of 2017. In addition we are currently close to a final draft for our first feature film “86” (working title) and we have Joel Weiss (THE WARRIORS 1979) locked in for the lead and it is being written by Queens native Carmine Rizzo.
Interview: December 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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In God We Trust
Still Waters Run Deep
Length:
13 min
Director:
David C. Diaz
Producer
David C. Diaz
Kieran Sequoia
Writer:
Robert Dume
Matt Raimo
About the writer, director and producer:
Matt Raimo (writer) has been working in production for close to 20 years now in every position both in front of the camera and behind it.
David C. Diaz (Director/Producer) is a Cuban/Argentine filmmaker from the Bronx, he has been shooting and directing since he was 16 years going all the way back to Public Access Television.
Kieran Sequoia is a Canadian television, film and stage actor. She is new to producing and has enjoyed producing several independent short films.
Key cast:
Kieran Sequoia
Alfredo Diaz
Leo Petry
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
As of now we are looking for producers for our web series as well as funding for our web series and our feature film 86, and we are definitely looking for representation.
Funders:
David C. Diaz
Kieran Sequoia
Where can I see it in the next month?
Right now we are waiting to hear back from a few festivals. So far we have been screened in the Santa Fe Film Festival 2016 and Cannes Short Film corner 2016 as well.