The Coven is a female-driven horror-comedy filled with heart about a young woman desperate to make BFFS with her unconventional roommates, who unbeknownst to her, happen to be two witches with a nefarious plan.

Interview with Writer/Producer/Actor Adriana Natale

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I love magic, and I love comedy. I wanted to put these two genres together to tell a story about a girl who is so desperate to be liked that she is willing to overlook her new roommates’ apartment complete with bats, cauldrons and demons. Ultimately this is a smaller story of a larger series I’ve been working on about finding your power and owning it.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s a fun quirky ride that’s filled with magic and heart. Think What We Do In The Shadows meets Kimmy Schmidt but with witches.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think when you write about personal struggles that’s when it becomes universal and relatable. Though I have never lived with witches, I have struggled with wild roommates and losing myself while trying to fit in.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

This short is based on a pilot I wrote of the same name. During the writing process, I found the more I revised the script, the more focused and deliberate it became. You only have a short amount of time to tell your story, and every line has to have a purpose to move it along, while also showcasing your characters. Once we got to filming I had to relinquish a lot of control to make room for my talented team to do what they do, which only elevated the final project.

How did you do that all while pregnant?

I had started preproduction on The Coven while my husband and I were trying for our first child. To both of our surprise, I got pregnant immediately. I had been wanting to film a short for years and wasn’t about to let this stop me. I took everything one step at a time through morning sickness waves, extreme fatigue, and indigestion, and successfully crowdfunded the film, finalized the script, managed the production meetings, and ultimately filmed and finished the short. Thankfully I had a great team who helped every step of the way.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Although I haven’t had any constructive feedback yet about the short - mostly positive comments. I look forward to taking any feedback and applying it to future projects.

The Coven - Driscilla and Hazel working on their mysterious potion

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

The dream has always been to turn this into a series. I would love to be able to delve deeper into the misadventures of Frances, Driscilla and Hazel. How they not only form a closer friendship but also grow into their power. All the while, getting in trouble casting spells and brewing potions.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I’m looking for passionate industry leaders of all kinds who love fantasy and dark comedy and feel inspired to join our coven and help take this story to the next level.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Firstly, I hope people enjoy it. But I also hope that it inspires others to make their own stories. Maybe even hire me to help them!

Behind the scenes of The Coven - Producer Stacy Snyder slating the scene with actors Danni Vitorino and Debba Rofheart

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What have you been willing to overlook in order to fit in? Whether out of fear or convenience.

Would you like to add anything else?

Creating and sharing The Coven has been a dream come true. It has taken a little longer than I expected, and there were a lot of twists and turns on this journey. But I am so happy with where this short has taken me, and I know there’s still more to come.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’ve written four original comedy pilots that range from a dark comedy about an actress and her demon best friend to a network comedy about three siblings who inherit their parent’s Italian restaurant after their father dies. In addition to flushing out season arcs for these series, I’m also working on proof-of-concept shorts to help pitch them.

Interview: April 2024

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

The Coven

Length: 8:06

Director: Melissa Vitello

Producer: Stacy Snyder

Writer: Adriana Natale

About the writer, director and producer:

MELISSA VITELLO is an award-winning Producer/Director/Writer based in Los Angeles with a focus on thriller/horror and drama. Melissa has 10 + years of experience with four feature films, over fifty short films, and a handful of corporate commercials and music videos under her belt. Melissa received an award for Best Screenplay from the Pasadena International Film Festival, was a top 50 finalist for the ISA Screenwriting Fellowship and recently received Best Dramedy from the Austin Revolution Film Festival.

ADRIANA NATALE is a first-generation Italian American award-winning dark comedy writer and SAG/AFTRA actor from the suburbs of Southern New Jersey. A Los Angeles transplant, she's spent the last decade honing her craft with the best in the industry. In addition to appearing in National Commercials and Television. Her scripts have been placed in numerous award festivals. Most notably, as a 2022 finalist in The NYC International Screenplay Awards.

STACY SNYDER is an award-winning actress and producer known for Heartless, Feeding Time, and The Sound of Settling. Her work has been showcased in over 75 horror film festivals with 47 award nominations and 20 wins. The short film My Left Arm, produced by Stacy, premiered at Dances with Films 2022 and was just nominated for Best Horror at the Pasadena International Film Festival. Stacy is the producer for the BRIC Foundation Annual Entertainment Industry Summit, working closely alongside top professionals at Warner Media, Netflix, Skydance, Disney, and more to create equitable pathways for women and underrepresented groups.

Key cast: Adriana Natale (Frances), Danni Vitorino (Driscilla), Debba Rofheart (Hazel)

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers, producers, journalists

Instagram: @theadriananatale

Hashtags used: #TheCoven

Website: Adriana Natale

Other: YouTube

Funders: https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-coven#story

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Hollywood Shorts Comedy Festival May 3-5 at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas in Glendale (128 Artsakh Ave, Glendale, CA 91206) & virtually on Bitpix