Austin Film Festival 2018 - ORIGINAL SIN (PECADO ORIGINAL)
A Paraguayan housewife buys an erotic painting, seduces a Mexican artist, and tries to fellate her uptight Spanish husband all before dinner with the in-laws.
Interview with Director Jean Lee
Watch Original Sin (Pecado Original) on Prime Video, iTunes and HBO
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We wanted to make an opportunity for ourselves by using the limited resources we had to create an entertaining and thought provoking first feature.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because you'll experience 75 minutes of entertainment and laughter!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
One theme that the film explores is the concept of relief: relief from being different than everyone around you, relief from societal expectations of gender, race and class…even relief from your own repressed feelings. And I think that this kind of relief is a type of freedom that everyone can relate to and that everyone longs for. Especially women.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
One aspect of the script that evolved organically was Luis's character (the painter). We had a general idea of who he was, but it suddenly became very clear after we met the Paraguayan artist, Cacho Falcon. Cacho is this deeply sensitive, brilliant, and thoughtful painter who puts a lot of himself into his work. As we learned more about Cacho's personal story and his art (the painting in the film is one of his creations), we were so inspired, and Luis's character suddenly took on this new life!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Overall, people have felt moved, especially by the ending, which is always great to hear. I've also sat with a few audiences and heard lots of laughter, which is always great!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Some people who loved the film have asked for more content and have taken interest in our next projects! You always hope to hear that, but it's nonetheless surprising.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Because we are an independent film with no star power in front or behind the camera, opportunities to gain more exposure and visibility like this one are important in promoting the film!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Sales Agents, Buyers, Distributors, Film Festival Directors, and Journalists!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
In serious times like these, it's important for comedy to both entertain and raise dialogue. Thus, through our film, we hope to bring our audiences joy and laughter, and incite some lively conversations!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In the film, the two main characters' relationship is at jeopardy, so a lot of people wonder throughout the film: will Eva and Adrian end up together?
Would you like to add anything else?
Recently, someone asked me about the significance of ending the film with with a prayer. I don’t think I answered that well so I’ll take the opportunity to do it here!:
Throughout the film, the characters go through a rebellion. Part of this rebellion is that they push back against the austerity of institutionalized religion. By openly pursuing their desires, and confronting their pain for the first time (albeit in an imperfect or broken way), they end up gaining a clearer understanding of love, their marriage, forgiveness, and God. So I wanted to show that in a prayer - that their eyes have been opened to these things, and that at the end of the day, they are still people of faith, and perhaps that by learning and growing from their mistakes, their faith has been strengthened.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm in post-production on a Sci Fi YA short film called STRONG, which is a proof-of-concept for a series, and is supported by grants from Google & the Sundance Institute. I'm also developing a horror-comedy feature film called Killer Sex Doll written by Teddy Cecil, which I'll be directing sometime next year.
Finally, Maia Nikiphoroff (the co-writer for Original Sin) and I are working on another absurdist comedy, even funnier and crazier than Original Sin. It's a Korean-Latina anthology series about women in desperate pursuit of happy endings!
Interview: October 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
ORIGINAL SIN (PECADO ORIGINAL)
A Paraguayan housewife buys an erotic painting, seduces a Mexican artist, and tries to fellate her uptight Spanish husband all before dinner with the in-laws.
Length: 75 Minutes.
Director: Jean Lee
Producer: Maia Nikiphoroff, César Di Bello, Cacho Falcon
Writer: Jean Lee & Maia Nikiphoroff
About the writer, director and producer:
JEAN LEE (writer, director) is a writer/director focusing on world cinema. She and her works have been selected by Berlinale, Film Independent, AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Ryan Murphy's HALF TV Directors Mentorship and Fox Filmmakers Lab. Recently, Jean’s Young Adult Sci-Fi short, STRONG (a proof of concept for a series), won the Google Grant and Sundance Institute Knight Foundation Grant. Original Sin (Pecado Original) is her feature directorial debut.
MAIA NIKIPHOROFF (writer, actor, producer) is originally from Paraguay and of Italian and Russian descent. She started off as a dancer and before she studied at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles, she lived in Dubai where she worked as a flight attendant and got her BA in Marketing. She speaks fluent Spanish, English and basic German and Portuguese. Maia won best Actress at the 2017 Hollywood Short and Sweet Film Festival for her performance in the short film, PALOMA, directed by Jean Lee. The short film was also an Official Selection of the 2017 NALIP Latino Media Fest. Maia’s debut as a writer, producer and lead actress is in the feature film ORIGINAL SIN.
CÉSAR DI BELLO (actor, producer) is a Spanish Argentinian actor. At the age of 28 and after working as an Anti-Money Laundering consultant he decided to try a new hobby, acting, and attended the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles. César won the Special Jury Prize at the 2017 Hollywood Short and Sweet Film Festival for his role of Enrique in the short film, PALOMA, directed by Jean Lee. The short film was also an Official Selection of the 2017 NALIP Latino Media Fest. ORIGINAL SIN is César’s debut as a producer and lead actor in a feature film.
Key cast: Maia Nikiphoroff, César Di Bello and Alejandro Torres Menchaca
Looking for: sales agents, buyers, distributors, festival directors, journalists, and any other amazing folks who can help champion our film!
Facebook: Pecadooriginallapelicula
Twitter: @originalsinfilm
Instagram: @original.sin.film
Official Website: www.originalsinfilm.com
Made in association with: Rabiffulo Pictures, Foster Productions, Sector Siete Films
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Austin Film Festival, Milan International Film Festival, and Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival