Woods Hole Film Festival - Brooklyn In July
How far can a good man bend before a good man breaks.
Interview with Producer: Laura Delano / Bob Celli
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Our inspiration for this film was the song, Brooklyn In July, by Joe Crookston.
In the past few years incidents of racial bias have begun to get the media attention that is long overdue. It has always been our belief that people are taught how to be hateful. It is this learned behavior that we hope to portray with this film.
Social justice and equality for all people have always been important to us and the song was a perfect starting point for a short film about these subjects.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Now more than ever, we feel it is important that we as artists continue to make films that dig into the issues many would like to ignore. We feel it is imperative to relate the histories, stories, and legacies that continue to influence current events.
We all need to stay conscious and aware of this ingrained and regrettably long history of racism in order to change things for the better. Often a film, a painting, a piece of music, or a play can open people’s minds in a way a debate or news clips cannot.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
In our film we follow the personal story of Frank Walker, a black WWII veteran, on his first day of work as a chauffeur. He experiences the indignities and pain of racism of 1945. Unfortunately this is the experience of many people and groups throughout history.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As we delved into the history of the era to create Frank's backstory, the script became more intensely dark. We were confronted with our own naivete, of thinking that blatant discrimination was predominately the stain of the southern United States. Sadly, it was everywhere and still persists to this day both in the way adults model behavior for children and through longstanding governmental and institutional policies of our country.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We are humbled by the the incredibly strong emotional responses to our film.
People have thanked us for telling this story and have shared similar stories that they have heard from parents and grandparents. They have also shared incidents that have happened to them recently.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We set out to make a film that would elicit a strong reaction. So far no surprises, but we will keep you posted!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope to have as many people see the film as possible. By knowing our history perhaps we can make better choices in the present by taking action and/or reacting in a way that promotes equality for all.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above! We would love to entice a co-producer to help us make the full length feature of Brooklyn In July; we would love more media platforms to write articles about the project and us; we would love film festivals, colleges, and schools to invite us to screen.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Aside from what we already mentioned, we would like people to see this film and decide to take action in their communities and in the world to help change the policies that have continued to subtly or not so subtly entrench discrimination.
On a personal level, to have viewers examine their own attitudes and habits. To ask themselves how they can make a difference to bring us all closer.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What experiences and stories can you share about these issues?
What can we do as individuals to take action to prevent discrimination and promote equality?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are working on the feature length scripts of this short film and our last short film. We also have two short film ideas in development.
Our lead actor, Thaddeus Daniels, has just completed work on a film project with Steven Spielberg. He performs every week in the Off Broadway play "Black Angels Over Tuskegee",by Layon Gray. The play tells a story that all should know but few do.
Bob Celli will appear in the new season of the television series Gotham.
Interview: August 2017
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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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Brooklyn In July
How far can a good man bend before a good man breaks.
Length: 21 mins.
Director: Bob Celli
Producer: Laura Delano / Bob Celli
Writer: Bob Celli
About the writer, director and producer:
DelanoCelli Productions recently produced Figs For Italo, a short film based on a true story and inspired by actual events. The film was an official selection at 33 festivals in the US and abroad, and garnered 13 awards and 13 additional nominations, including Best National Short, Best Dramatic Short, Special Jury Award - Short film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
Together, Laura Delano & Bob Celli have worked extensively in New York City as producers and also as actors. Laura has appeared in Fame, Slow Dancing in the Big City, The Warriors, The Chosen, and Stardust Memories.
Bob has appeared in Gotham, As The World Turns, The Onion News Network, Going Home, Down Range, and Circle.
Key cast: Thaddeus Daniels
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): We are looking for producers, and journalists to help generate interest about the film, as well as Film Festival Directors who believe our film may be a good fit for their festivals.
Social media handles:
Facebook: @delanocelli
Twitter: @cellib4
Instagram: @cellib4
Other: www.delanocelli.com
Funders: Crowdfunding through Indiegogo and sponsored by Beth Davis in Good Company
Made in association with: N/A
Where can I see it in the next month?
We will be at the following festivals:
Trinity International Film Festival - Detroit MI - August 25 – 26, 2017
Massachusetts Independent Film Festival - Cambridge MA - August 25 – 27, 2017
Long Beach Indie International Film - Long Beach CA - August 30 – September 3, 2017
Montreal Black Film Festival - Montreal, Canada - September 27 - October 1, 2017
Golden Door International Film Festival - Jersey City, NJ - October 5 - 8, 2017