Two aspiring wine connoisseurs in the heart of Niagara have their entire operation threatened when the top selling businessman in the region and his wife are invited over for dinner.

Interview with Writer/Director Cory Maddalena

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! I made this film because it felt like a passion project of sorts. I love film, I study film at Brock University, and I like to be creative. Making something short – even if it’s just 2-3 minutes a year – helps keep me sane. Fine Wine was sort of an exercise in narrative storytelling in genres that I really love and with styles I prefer to watch. So I saw Fine Wine as a mix of drama and horror, with a little bit of David Fincher and Alfred Hitchcock thrown in. All elements that lead me to study film at a university level, and have inspired me to try my hand at filmmaking.

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

The support would be nice haha! But really, I think it’s awesome that festivals like the EIFF are open to showing films from all across the world, at all levels of filmmaking. I am by no means an amazing filmmaker, and I expect a lot of people are just trying their hand at narrative storytelling to try and get a feel for it as well. I think audience reception really helps someone build on their craft and forces them to do better. In short, I’d say watch the film because it was something that myself and the cast and crew put a lot of hard work into. But I’d also ask you to watch it knowing that we took this step as a learning curve and hope to bring you more in the future.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Great question! Personal themes are consistent throughout. I think they usually are for filmmakers, and storytellers in any medium, really! We take what we know and feel and try and construct it into something entertaining for others. Whether it’s a joke or an idea or a theme that I want to explore that I find interesting, it always translates to something personal as soon as you start writing the story and characters. Universal themes are a little bit more broad, but I think also play into personal themes as well. Something universal like good versus for evil, or love conquers all, has the potential to be very personal, and I think Fine Wine (might?) exemplify some of those ideas.

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

I’m glad to say that not much of the script changed throughout production. The actors who I found really took on the personalities that I had envisioned for the characters – whether it was just their looks, or their nitty gritty mannerisms, and then some! The biggest things that changed were the minor details – which character is sitting next to which, where a certain conversation happens compared to where I had originally intended it to. And this was mainly because of the location that we had found. I pictured one style of home while writing the script, but of course with little budget and economic pull we improvised the surroundings. But it all worked, and I think the setting we got really does a great job compared to what I had originally envisioned.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It’s been great so far! We had a couple screenings at Brock University, and specifically with BrockTV who funded the film. Some students managed to come out and see it, and they seemed to enjoy it well enough!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes and no. Yes in the sense that any feedback will make you nervous and worried. You make a product that you’re proud of, but know that there is major room for improvement, so it challenges you to face those reactions and move forward. No, because the crew knew what challenges we faced while making the film and knew we were going to be called out for it. But that’s all constructive. As hard as it is to take, we take it nonetheless and move forward with those suggestions and try to make the next one better!

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

Again, it’s great that there are outlets that really put a focus on all levels of filmmaking! It’s not easy for everyone to “break into the business,” and for some that’s not even their goal. Just being able to communicate with storytellers is something that I value. I’d love for Fine Wine to get recognition wherever it can, if only because the cast and crew that I worked with put so much hard work into it I want to see them rewarded. But even still, I know that they are always open to working together in the future, and if these little successes add up, it will always end in reward.

Fine Wine - Mark Richards as Mr. Mansfield; Kaylyn Valdez Scott as Tanya.

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

I mean, I think we established everything we wanted to with the short film. We just wanted it to be an exercise in short narrative storytelling. Obviously things could have been done differently. But we’re happy with the way it is now. If the opportunity ever came up to turn it into a feature, I think we’d all like to take on that task, though!

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

Any reception would be nice haha! That way we can take what we’ve learned, see what people have to say, and improve on our next piece!

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

Something along the lines of “Is that what the Niagara Region wine industry’s really like?” Hahaha, no! Hopefully, something to do with the story or characters. Where the inspiration came from? I don’t know. But there is literally a laundry list of inspirations that went into making this story.

Would you like to add anything else?

Thanks for doing this piece on the film! Every single person involved in this production loves storytelling in some way, shape or form, and that isn’t going away anytime soon! So we just hope to continue doing what we’re doing and (hopefully) develop an audience who is willing to watch.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Always something! Either working in theater in Toronto, editing wedding videos, studying for exams, script supervising, writing, delivering pizza! Anything until the next bit of inspiration steps in.

Interview: December 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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Fine Wine

Two aspiring wine connoisseurs in the heart of Niagara have their entire operation threatened when the top selling businessman in the region and his wife are invited over for dinner.

Length: 21 minutes

Director: Cory Maddalena

Producer: BrockTV

Writer: Cory Maddalena

About the writer, director and producer:

BrockTV is a student run, on campus media hub at the heart of Brock University. Their goal is to develop and foster school spirit and community involvement, while at the same time providing entertainment for students. Cory Maddalena is a former BrockTV employee who is currently completing his Masters Degree in Popular Culture at Brock, hoping to continue his path into narrative storytelling.

Key cast: Kaylyn Valdez Scott, Tino Notarianni, Carly Loewen, Mark Richards, Rachel Romanoski and Michael Fusillo

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above

Funders: BrockTV

Made in association with: BrockTV

Where can I see it in the next month?

Waiting to hear back from other film festivals. To no avail, Youtube!