HollyShorts 2019 – Moon Drops
A factory worker tired of his dead-end job assembles an enigmatic machine that produces liquid drops from the moon. The bottled drops are a hard sell at the town market. But all changes when their surprising effect is revealed.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Yoram Ever Hadani
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I'm lucky to be a busy commercials director and I didn't have the chance to do something that is detached from a client or brands. This was an opportunity to make something that is purely cinematic and humane. From the story point of view, I was also concerned if good people can end up doing a bad thing without the intention to do so and also without a real reason. I had a dream to make a drama with no dialogues. just had that dream...
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Take 16 minutes out of this noisy world to watch a non-dialogue story, with great original music (recorded by the Prague Philharmonic) and dive into a fairytale.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As I mentioned, it looks like the world is built in a way that even good innocent people may end up doing a bad thing without the intention to. I really wanted to check this issue through a simple basic fairytale. I choose the communist surrounding of Belgrade, a very simple factory, and a moon. Far away from any western urban life, to check it in the purest humane approach.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It's, of course, a journey. I believe a script is been written three times: when it's written, when it's shot, and when it's edited. You need to be 100% prepared yet ready to give up any idea for unplanned magic that happens later.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Overwhelming!
It still astonishes me that a film without dialogues, written and directed in Israel, shot in Belgrade with Serbian actors, and music recorded by Czech musicians, can cross borders and touch viewers around the world.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes. I'm overwhelmed. It proved real emotion work. One thing that I get again and again is the question: why is it not a happy ending? Maybe those who think that are right. Maybe I should have gone for the full fairytale.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I have no expectations. The journey of this film is amazing. We have been selected for 27 festivals including awards at the Comic Con, Gen Con, Film Merviellieux Paris, Serbia and Yubari France. What more can I ask for?
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I have a plan to turn this film into a feature of non-dialogue stories. whoever is interested is invited.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would love for people to switch to 16 minutes in another mode, with less noise, more music, more love, and a more sensitive notion about one another. Then they can forget about it and return to their life of Facebook or Instagram. 16 minutes of going into my dreams is long enough for me. Although I get a lot of people saying the film stayed with them.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why the end of the moon was as it was?
Why is the film shot in communist sets?
Why are there no dialogues in this film?
Would you like to add anything else?
It's important for me to say something technical. This is not a silent film. It's a non-dialogue film. People just don't talk. All the rest of the sound are there.
I would like to thank all my friends who are this film and to thank this incredible journey.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As mentioned, I'm working on several stories without dialogues adding them to Moon Drops and create a non-dialogue feature of 5-6 stories.
I already have three ideas that are almost completed.
Interview: August 2019
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
Moon Drops
A factory worker tired of his dead-end job, assembles an enigmatic machine that produces liquid drops from the moon. The bottled drops are a hard sell at the town market. But all changes when their surprising effect is revealed.
Length: 16:00
Director: Yoram Ever Hadani
Producer: Kobi Hoffman, Milos Djukelic, Yoram Ever Hadani
Writer: Yoram Ever Hadani
About the writer, director and producer:
After many years as copywriter and creative director in leading advertising agencies, YORAM EVER HADANI has become an international director of commercials. he directed for leading brands as Soda Stream, Volvo, Hyundai. Mitsubishi, and many more. As a writer, he wrote for TV five children books and a novel.
Key cast: Nikola Vuyovic, Jelena Stuplijanin
Website: www.yoramiko.com
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Hollyshorts/Los Angels, August 11th; Dragon con/Atlanta; Festival de Nancy, Sapporo/japan. There are many more we elaborate about.