MINDIE (Miami Independent Film Festival) - Like A Summer Sonata
“Two Strangers, one Secret, a lot to lose” Paloma shares a dark secret with Stephen that she uses to play with him according to her rules. Torn in between being attracted and scared of him, she starts following him everywhere he goes, trying to find out more about him and his secret.
Interview with Writer/Director Natalie MacMahon
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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thanks! I'm happy to be part of the Miami Independent Film Festival with my second short film “Like A Summer Sonata”.
My original thought was “what if someone does something terrible and forbidden, but instead of being shocked and running away, another person is rather fascinated and even feels some sort of attraction to that person”. I think it is an interesting scenario, that although we know something is completely wrong and our intellect tells us to get away from that person or situation, our curiosity brings us closer and does exactly the opposite of what we should do.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
First of all, I think it is quite different from other short films, which is also one of my main goals: to create something unique. And although we get an idea what the story is all about in the first couple of scenes, the truth is only revealed at the very end. Apart from that think it is interesting that it;s a film that belongs to different genres.
“Like A Summer Sonata” is a psychological drama with thriller elements that are very subtle and it also has a film noir feel to it. I personally like short films that make me want to see the story in more detail as a feature film. “Like A Summer Sonata” has that potential. It tells the whole story in just eleven minutes, but one could imagine what this might be like as a feature.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Although the story itself is pure fiction, different character traits of the two main characters are inspired by people I know and the personal element is a question I often ask myself: “Why do we put ourselves in danger, although we know it's probably not going to end well for us?”. I'm very interested in human curiosity. I'm a very curious person myself and sometimes I'm also more driven by my curiosity than my mind.
The question of whether something is right or wrong is a very universal element in the film. Society gives us a pretty clear idea from an early age, what is right or wrong, forbidden or allowed or moral or immoral. But what if we know all of that, but feel something different? Like “Paloma”, the protagonist, who knows this man has done something horrible, but feels this strange attraction to him and even starts following him
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
When writing this story I already had a pretty clear idea, what it would look like. So in between thewriting and shooting stage of the film, I didn't change a lot. I only shortened dialogues and got rid of a few scenes. Once Jacopo Vannini, the composer of the soundtrack, showed me the film together with the music, it felt much more complete, because the music supports the atmosphere and the tension between the two main characters really well. It also gives us the idea, that it is not a super serious film, but more like a game between Paloma and Stephen, it's a dangerous game, but they both enjoy it.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been accepted at some great international festivals so far and people liked that it's quite unique and I also heard from different people, that this would make an interesting feature film- which is great. When I wrote the script, I didn't have that in mind, but once I started writing I had so many ideas that I also thought to myself: “too bad I don't have more time to tell the story”. All I can say is, as a feature it would focus more on the thriller elements and developing attraction between the two characters. So I leave it up to the audience' imagination, what else could happen between “Paloma” and “Stephen”. And of course I'm always happy to receive more feedback or questions!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I knew that its not a typical crowd-pleaser kind of film, meaning that I didn't choose a theme that I knew would be very popular with audiences. It is a bit thought-provoking and makes us question ourselves- what if I was in that situation or what if I felt that curiosity and strange attraction like the main character? What would I do? It is a “what-if film”.
I don't support any violence, but I do like to talk about “what ifs” and also enjoy choosing themes, that are not talked about a lot. I think that's the magic and power of film. We all know it is just fiction, so we don't have to feel bad to think about certain themes, that we might not come across in our every day lives.
I only make a film, if the theme and story excites me a hundred percent and I was very interested in exploring this attraction between two people that is not based on something good and will probably not end well.
Although so far all feedback has been very positive, I wouldn't blame anyone, if it is not their kind of film. It's all a matter of personal taste in the end and I'm still happy if people took the time to watch it.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
“Like A Summer Sonata” only premiered this May at the “Cannes Short Film Corner”, so most importantly I would like to show it at as many festivals as possible and reach a big international audience. So if any festivals are interested in showing the film, I would be happy to hear from them!
And it is also a great opportunity to give the audience more background information on “Like A Summer Sonata”, to be able to explain the idea and thoughts behind it. If people liked this film, they can already look forward to my new projects. I'm currently working on another short film, a new web series and some ideas for my first feature film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would definitely be helpful to get some more festival directors' attention and journalists also help a lot to amplify the message. Every interview is a bit different, so I would be happy about more opportunities to talk about the film. “Like A Summer Sonata” just found a great distribution agency called “Gonella Productions”, but I have two other short films that are still looking for a distribution agent. And for my upcoming projects I'm looking for producers.
So I'm looking forward to hearing from people from different fields who are interested in collaborating!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
“Like A Summer Sonata” could definitely spark some interesting conversations and discussions. I hope that this film gets the opportunity to be part of many international festivals. (The film is also available with Spanish, Italian, French and German subtitles) So far it has already travelled to Australia, America and Europe! It would also be great if after watching this film, people would like to see more of my work.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is right or wrong would be the most general key question to start a conversation about this film. Who says that something is right or wrong? Or also what is stronger, or logical mind or our feelings and curiosity? Can we fight our feelings? There are quite a few questions this film could ask...
Would you like to add anything else?
I would like people to watch it with an open mind and just go on that journey with the two main characters. Don't take it too seriously and enjoy the game just as much as they do.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Our composer Jacopo Vannini is the director of “Kolloagency” and has been working on several other international film projects as a sound designer and composer. Amber Palmer, our DOP, has been shooting two more short films with me as well as other independent productions in Berlin, our lead actor Jonathan Florez has not just been working as an actor, but also as a producer, actress Ekaterina Prokofyeva has been working as an actress in numerous film productions and as already mentioned, I'm already busy working on a new short film, as well as a web series and my first feature.
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“Like A Summer Sonata”
“Two Strangers, one Secret, a lot to lose” Paloma shares a dark secret with Stephen that she uses to play with him according to her rules. Torn in between being attracted and scared of him, she starts following him everywhere he goes, trying to find out more about him and his secret.
Length: 11:26min
Director: Natalie MacMahon
Producer: Natalie MacMahon
Writer: Natalie MacMahon
About the writer, director and producer: (25 words each)
“Like A Summer Sonata” is the second short film of newcomer writer & director Natalie MacMahon, who also produced the film herself. She started out as an actress at a young age and after her studies at a Film Acting School, Natalie became more and more interested in writing and directing her own films. Her first short film “The Man Who Couldn't Cry” premiered at the “Sydney Indie Film Festival” in 2015 and has since then been shown at numerous other international festivals. “Like A Summer Sonata" premiered this year at the “Cannes Short Film Corner” and was just shown at the “Melbourne Indie Film Festival” as well as the “New York State International Film Festival” and the “Miami Independent Film Festival”. At the moment Natalie is working on a new short, a web series as well as her first feature film.
Key cast:
Jonathan Florez
Ekaterina Prokofyeva
Natalie MacMahon
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
At the moment I'm looking for producers for my upcoming projects as well as festival directors for “Like A Summer Sonata” and for my third short “Lola wants to see the sea”. Of course apart from that I'm interested in finding international journalists, who would like to write about this film or my new projects and two of my short films are also still looking for distributors.
Funders: self -funded
Made in association with: self-produced
Release date: It premiered in May 2016 at the Cannes Short Film Corner and just had its Australian and American premiere
Where can I watch it in the next month?
The next screenings/ festivals will be the “Venice Film Week” at the end of this month, and then the “Toronto Film Week”, the “New York Film Week as well as the “Headline International Film Festival”. At the moment “Like A Summer Sonata” is part of the “Miami Independent Film Festival”.