HollyShorts/ Rhode Island Film Festival - Bagni / Toilets
Lea is a chubby old lady with a large pair of glasses perched on her nose. She has worked in the same public toilets for many years. She loves her job with its tidiness and cleanliness, but more than anything else, she loves to dream."TOILETS" is the story of Lea’s impossible dreams…
Interview with Writer/Director Laura Luchetti
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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In Rome’s Villa Celimontana Park, there are some very well kept public toilets. One day, as I was waiting in line, I found myself listening to the lady who has worked there for years. The lady told someone how, after many years of service there, she had finally been able to buy an apartment and a computer. Looking at the coins that some kindly customer had left in the tips dish, I had the idea for TOILETS: a story about how many coins it takes to make your dreams come true.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
"Toilets" is the story of an intangible, expectant, evocative world where one can continue to dream no matter what happens. It’s a simple story of somebody who manages to do their job well because they’ve discovered a mechanism to keep their daydreams alive. It’s an animated world where it is still acceptable to believe in dreams and the kindness of strangers…
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I believe that all personal themes are somehow universal. We are not so different from each other after all. To make one's theme universally understandable is the aim of every story teller....and mine....
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Because it takes a very long time to shoot animation (in our case we shot 6 months for a nine minute film) you have the chance to ponder how to improve your story but also you need to change your script according to the skills and limits of your puppets. This is my first time in animation, I had a lot to learn and to think. It is not an immediate process like filming a scene with actors. It is a long process that requires patience and the flexibility to do what your puppets can do rather than what you want them to do....
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have been very lucky with this project. The feedback is positive and encouraging. Some feedback was very helpful to improve a way of telling stories that I want to use again in the future. We have been selected for many prestigious Festivals and received several awards in Italy. It makes me feel that I want to improve the knowledge of this technique and do more stop motion animation soon!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I have been equally surprised and challenged!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope more people will get to know Lea, the grumpy/sweet old lady who is the protagonist of "Toilets" and maybe, by knowing her, dream with her for a handful of minutes.....
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The more people the merrier ! (Obviously distributors and producers will help me taking this project abroad or making a new one!)
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If I manage to get emotions out of my audience my job will be done....
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Can we still daydream?
Would you like to add anything else?
No matter what we should keep giving ourselves the chance to daydream.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
With my producer Giuseppe Gallo we are about to shoot my second film "Twin Flower" which last year has been selected at Cannes Film Festival Atelier and at the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. "Twin Flower" is a cruel tale about the flight of two young people, Anna an Italian girl and Basim a young North African immigrant, whose innocence has been robbed by their past.
Anna and Basim are the hundreds of kids whose innocence has been disintegrated in places where humans are smuggled, childhood is not respected, and kids that come crying for help to our countries disappear in the void of illegality and end up in the hands of local criminals. But kids have their own way to survive the hell created by adults. This is the story of two desperate kids and their dream that rises above harsh reality.
Interview: August 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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BAGNI" ("TOILETS")
Lea is a chubby old lady with a large pair of glasses perched on her nose. She has worked in the same public toilets for many years. She loves her job with its tidiness and cleanliness, but more than anything else, she loves to dream."TOILETS" is the story of Lea’s impossible dreams…
Lenght : 9 minutes
Writer/ Director/ Producer : Laura Luchetti
Laura Luchetti has directed short films, music videos, commercials, documentaries, theatre productions. Her first feature film "Febbre da Fieno" has been awarded at many International Film Festivals. She was part of Consenses Art International Exhibition with her first Video Art Installation. Her next feature film "Twin Flower" has been selected at the Cannes Film Festival's Atelier 2015, and at The Sundance Screenwriters Lab 2015. She has just completede her first stop motion project "Bagni". Bagni has just been nominated for the Silver Ribbon (Nastri D'Argento) for Best Animation.
Animation By: MOONCHAUSEN ( Marco Varriale & Lulu Cancrini)
Funders : DONKADILLO FILMS - MIBACT
In Association with : PICTURE SHOW- THINK CATTLEYA
Release Date : March 2016
Where Next : "Toilets" is going to be screened at:
- Opening Night @ RIIFF (Rhode Island International Film Festival ) - August 9th
- HollyShorts-Los Angeles- August 12th
- Salento Film Festival - Italy - September