Above: Watch Director/Producer Alexandra Gaulupeau’s Life at a Snail’s Pace - part of National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase. In Life at a Snail’s Pace Marla Coppolino is on a mission to enlighten you to the plight of the lowly land snail through creative, intimate and unconventional means.

MEET THE FILMMAKER

ALEXANDRA GAULUPEAU is an emerging Documentary Director/Producer. Her film, Life at a Snail’s Pace - which We Are Moving Stories profiled in September 2017 - was completed while Alexandra was an MA student at Goldsmiths (University of London). It received the Excellent Dynamic Activism Award for Best Female Directed Short Film at DOXA 2017 and the British Universities Film Video Council's Learning on Screen Student Production Documentary Award in 2016. Alexandra’s film screened, notably, at the Academy qualifying Hot Docs, Palm Springs ShortFest, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Since our article was published Life at a Snail’s Pace has been acquired and broadcast on National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase and Alexandra was recently selected to attend the prestigious IDFAcademy 2019. CONGRATULATIONS Alexandra!

SUPPORT THE FILMMAKER

Alexandra is available to work on filming and editing documentary films. Her topics of interest include women, nature and niche stories. She is based in Australia, but can work internationally. She can speak English and French. Hire Alexandra here. With co-creator Corinne Innes and the support of Screen Australia, Alexandra is currently developing the short documentary web-series Strong Women. It’s about powerful and resilient women who support and empower each other while rivalling to become Australia's strongest woman. Alexandra and Corinne are raising funds and are interested in international co-production. If you are a production company outside of Australia or a streaming platform wanting to know more about Strong Women, contact them here to view their pitch document.

SUPPORT ALEXANDRA AND CORINNE!

Donate Now

In North America 95% of snails are smaller than a lentil

Life at a Snail’s Pace - Free Range Film Festival

Interview with Director/Producer Alexandra Gaulupeau

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Life at a Snail’s Pace is my graduation film from Goldsmiths, University of London. I knew I wanted to make a documentary film related to nature and I decided that it would be about snails. I am French and ate snails my whole life and it’s only recently, after visiting a snail farm, that I realised that I actually didn’t know anything about them. Finding Marla and listening to her passion for land snails convinced me to make Life at a Snail’s Pace.

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

You should watch Life at a Snail’s Pace because Marla is extraordinary, her advocacy for the lowly molluscs reaches branches that you couldn’t even have imagined. The film not only teaches about land snails but also entertains by immersing you into the diverse inspirations they bring up to Marla.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This is a personal story, all centred around Marla and snails. I guess even though we don’t all push our passions to this level, we all love some things that others can’t understand. I think this is a personal theme that a lot of people will relate to. Then, the idea that humans are disconnected from nature and that their habits have harmful effects on the environment is now universal and Marla’s message connects with that.

Life at a Snail’s Pace - Snail wrangler Maria Coppolino

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

As it is a documentary, there was never a script as such, but defined sequences and themes that I wanted out of the film. These evolved throughout filming as I learned more about Marla and snails. For instance, I had no idea about the miniatures and that was a fantastic surprise. Those scenes were very helpful to connect other sequences together but also to mix in with the scientific facts to keep the audience interest.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Most people have never seen snails under this light before and actually don’t really know much about them. Everyone seems to appreciate the cinematography and the macro shots.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

For a graduation film this is a huge compliment, because it means that the film manages to capture the beauty of snails and explores Marla’s perspective. I hope it helps to see through her eyes and have the potential to convince the audience to not be judgemental.

Life at a Snail’s Pace - snail and teapot

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

This is a great opportunity to communicate with the industry and the audience why Life at a Snail’s Pace needs to be seen.

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

Anyone who would like to help the snail cause!

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

My hope is that the film could change some people’s point of view of snails or want to learn more about them. Even if some people will never find them beautiful, at least understand that as every living being they are important for the whole ecosystem. In a similar line, even though some people may not believe in Marla’s quest, I hope the film makes people less judgemental and admire her dedication.

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

Did you know that 90% of snails in North America are smaller than a lentil?

Would you like to add anything else?

I would like to give a huge thank you to Marla for sharing her passion with me, thank you David Denyer for your amazing composition made with sole instrument: a snail shell, thank you to all the performing snails, thank you to Goldsmiths, University of London and thank you to everyone who contributed to this film.

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

Currently I am developing a short film about my grandmother’s origins through the little known history of the sandalwood trade in the Pacific.

Interview: September 2017 / Updated October 2019

_______________________________________________________________________________

We Are Moving Stories is the world’s largest community for new voices in film. We embrace 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

_______________________________________________________________________________

Life at a Snail’s Pace

Marla Coppolino is on a mission to enlighten you to the plight of the lowly land snail through creative, intimate and unconventional means.

Length: 23:00

Director: Alexandra Gaulupeau

Producer: Alexandra Gaulupeau

About the writer, director and producer:

Alexandra Gaulupeau has a knack for finding amazing and unusual stories in the unlikeliest of places and looks for the links between us all, be it human or even mollusc!

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Yes.

Social media handles:

Facebook: Life at a Snail's Pace

Twitter: @alexgaulupeau

Website: www.alexandragaulupeau.com

Made in association with: Goldsmiths, University of London

Official selection at festivals:
Hot Docs 2016; London Short Film Festival 2016; Palm Springs Int ShortFest 2016; Gold of Heart International Short Film Festival 2016; Environmental Film Festival Australia 2016; Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2016; Festival International du Documentaire Emergent 2017; DOXA 2017; Free Range Film Festival 2017; Salt Spring Film Festival 2018.

Awards:
British Universities Film Video Council's Learning on Screen Student Production Documentary Award 2016; Excellent Dynamic Activism Award for Best Female Directed Short Film at DOXA 2017.