Marie (10) has been lied to regarding the death process with the often-used “going to heaven” line. Now when her mother is in the hospital, she wants to understand what’s happening but both her half-siblings Nathali (16) and Adrian (25) are swept off their feet with house hold tasks, accommodating to new “family roles” and facing a possible loss.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Ioana Țurcan

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! I felt that there's a personal need to make it now. I had the script developed for a while, felt the graduation-rush kick in as I won't maybe have another chance to shoot it very soon; plus the crew I was working with was a very close and tight-knit so I jumped in.

I was working on several other films, teaching and trying to graduate, but I knew it was a risk I want to take.

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

Well if you are a time-stressed person, the film is only 7 minutes so why not? :)) If not, I think and hope it will make you reflect on how we talk and spend time with our children. Usually the audience is very silent after all my films and I hope they are meditating on the topic since it's hard to fall asleep in 7 minutes :))

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

They are both intersected. I believe I belong in this world of expression, especially through sound and image. Even if my point of view or any point of view isn't universal we can relate with different experiences, feelings and moods that can leave or offer a strong impression with someone. Somehow everything that I do is personal, experienced, encountered or shared in and trough my work.

When the Game Goes to Heaven / Când vânatul merge-n rai

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

Well, it was not as envisioned for sure but maybe it's stronger that way. I've learnt to work with what I gathered and let the film be in a new shape I didn't construct. I think it's something I haven't done before using these specific cuts or tones but I definitely feel I got some of the things I wanted and some others were offered to me.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's usually a very silent feedback as most of the people that watch it don't know what to say and I think or I hope that it is telling me something. Sometimes we do need time to go back, reconsider and sit with what we just witnessed. Also it's a different style that maybe not all people are attracted to when they watch something and it's quite a harsh story in a way.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The feedback that I got from friends that also work with film as a medium, is yes, it did. It made me think about my approach and revisit my own thoughts on the work. As mentioned I wanted to take a risk but I think I wasn't ready to accept the outcome.

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

Hmm, maybe direct attention to a raw way of filming (that was used before of course) but that it feels to me is less visible these days. I feel somehow we manage to focus more on the pretty image and less on the content, and of course this is not a universal opinion and maybe it's just me that I have been exposed to or came across these type of films more recently.

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

Distributors and film festival directors for sure as I feel that you can talk about a film but it's more important that you witness it; especially now when we lose touch with being less in the world as experience, feeling or actions.

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

I can't pronounce on that as I don't know and most of the times somehow people see more that I wanted to make and take the work further than I imagined. So I would like to leave room for that or room for not being well received, why not.

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

What lies do you tell to your children and how will that effect them in the long run? Quite intense :))

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am working on my first feature that I want to possibly co-write with a very talented being Arjuna Jayawardena 😊. I will pitch it in Portugal in June and hope that after we polish the script and see the outcomes of the pitch we can start a serious pre-production session.

Interview: June 2017

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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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When the Game Goes to Heaven / Când vânatul merge-n rai

Length: 7 minutes

Director: Ioana Țurcan

Producer: Ioana Țurcan

Writer: Ioana Țurcan

About the writer, director and producer:

Key cast: Caroline June Oktavec, Nathali Zachera, Vince Dalba

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): all of them if possible :))

Social media handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ioana.turcan

Instagram: ioana.turcan

Other: www.ioanaturcan.com

Made in association with: College of Visual and Performing Arts, equipment provided by Transmedia Cage

Where can I see it in the next month?

I really hope Oaxaca, Mexico - as it's the only place I just submitted to 😊