DC Shorts - The Holy Cave
The story of high school kid willing to do everything to get the girl that he loves, even if that means destroying the life that he once knew.
Interview with Writer/Director Aleix Massot
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Well, I basically made it because when I was in high school most of the time I had my dad's apartment for my own since he travels abroad a lot because of his work. So, you know, it was around that age when most of my friends were starting to have their first girlfriends but they had an issue: they didn't know where to go to do "the act" so I offered my house to a couple of friends and they paid me some money. With that I figured that I could start some sort of a business, but it was just that. It didn't get big. Just among friends. So basically, The Holy Cave is about what would have happened if I would have really created a huge business with my apartment. Always trying to achieve that through comedy.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I am not forcing anybody to watch my film but, let me tell you something: if you really want to have a laugh and have fun for 15 minutes, that is the perfect movie for that.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I am a comedy lover. I have always been and I will always be, so I wanted to take that experience that I had in high school, which was pretty funny at the moment, and turn that into a movie that the audience can enjoy, and make it as funny as I can, joke after joke.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The script evolved a lot from the first draft until the last one. I wrote 22 different versions of the script until I had the one that I liked. First of all, the script was not funny at all, so we had to work a lot on that. In production, some scenes were deleted but basically all that was in the script we were able to shoot. Then in post, that was totally different: I knew from the beginning that the movie should have a really fast rhythm and pace throughout the 15 minutes and along with my editor, Raimon Valls, we worked a lot on that. Rhythm is key in comedy.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
So far, it has good. It's been to some festivals here in the US and around the world too. The audience enjoys it and they have fun, and that is really rewarding because in most of the festivals we are nominated or considered for the audience choice award, which is always a pleasure because that means that people really liked your work. My film would never win best short in a festival, but that is fine, we know that comedies are made for the audience. And I did mine for the audience as well.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback surprised me at first. It was more than one year working on that project so when it finally comes to light and you are starting to get the first responses, you get a little bit nervous. My film was well received in all the festivals and what is more important is that even if it was a bad feedback, I would still try to do what I like most: comedy in a really fast rhythm. I would only try to get better and better at it everyday.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
First of all, I would like to spread the word to all movie and specially comedy lovers to watch my short if they didn't have the chance yet, and with wearemovingstories.com I would like to get more people to know my story. And secondly, being an international filmmaker here in the US it is really hard to work as a professional filmmaker, so with that type of interview I wish I can get the artist or work visa, so I can stay a few years more here.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I do really need to come on board more journalists so that they can let people know the type of story I am trying to tell and get more audience attention.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
As I mentioned before if the audience has fun watching my work, I consider myself completely satisfied.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The main question that they ask me all the time is: did that really happen to you? And my answer is: Yes, but not as big and catastrophic as you see in the screen. The seed is original, the tree is not.
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes, I would like to thank my crew members for making this possible: to the amazing actors I had the opportunity to work with: Mario Marzo, Javier Bódalo, Anna Castillo, Alex Batllori. Great young talented actors I would love to work with them anytime. My cinematographer, Agnès Piqué and my production designer, Judit Ferrer for being able to create a high school comedy ambience and in a specific sense without having much to say. It looks like a Hollywood movie. My producer, Yaiza Navarro, for making that film as ambitious as possible; to my editor, Raimon Valls: without him the movie would not be the same. Albert Solà, the music composer for being a able to create in 15 minutes a huge variety of music, and , Claudia Ballester, sound designer and Joan Fuentelsaz, vfx artist for making that final touch and putting the short film into a whole new level. Thank you.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The key creatives they are all working in the industry back in Spain, and they are going all the way to the top. They are the best. Some of them, they have already been involved in movies, and in major roles, not just simple assistants. As far as for me, I am writing two projects: another short film and a feature.
Interview: September 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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The Holy Cave
Length: 15 minutes 20 seconds
The story of high school kid willing to do everything to get the girl that he loves, even if that means destroying the life that he once knew.
Director: Aleix Massot
Producer: Yaiza Navarro
Writer: Aleix Massot
Aleix Massot: Born in Barcelona (1992) he studied filmmaking. He has directed and edited several shorts. The Holy Cave is his first short to go overseas.
Yaiza Navarro: Born in Barcelona (1992) she studied producing. She has worked in commercials, TV, and movies.
Key cast: looking for journalists to spread the word about my movie.
Funders: ESCAC
Made in association with: ESCAC
Release date: May 2015
You can watch it in DC shorts fest on September 10th. Naperville International Film Fest the following and Lone Star Film Festival in Texas, next month.