#crowdfunding - Juliet
Juliet, an astrophysicist, struggles to acclimate back to society after the passing of her husband. The film follows her during a series of encounters on the one year anniversary of her husband's death.
Interview with Writer/Director Bandar Albuliwi
Congratulations! Why are you maiking your film?
This is my most personal film to date. I felt I needed to write/direct this project in order to release an inner demon that has been harboring inside of me for most of my life. Juliet is me. She is a broken soul searching for meaning and purpose in her life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one, whether it be through death, infidelity, etc… would relate to this movie and the themes it explores. Science plays a big part in this movie. Juliet is an astrophysicist who specializes in the multiverse theory. The film ultimately gives our audience hope that even though we may have screwed up in this universe, perhaps we didn’t in another.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As stated earlier, this is my most personal film to date. On February 19, 2017 I was involved in a car accident as a pedestrian where I suffered a traumatic brain injury and fell into a coma in a critical condition. I was basically dead, back to nothingness, the end. This film explores themes of love, loss and the possibility that perhaps there is another universe where things we did in this lifetime are drastically different. Perhaps in another universe the car missed me and I never got hit? Maybe my close friend didn’t commit suicide merely weeks after I was released from the hospital? I could go on and on… but the point is, we all wish we could change back time and do something differently.
As Juliet states to her students during one of her lectures in the script, “The theory of eternal inflation states that our universe is part of the multiverse. This vast structure is made up of an infinite number of universes, each of which can spawn an infinite number of daughter universes. That means anything that can happen will happen an infinite number of times.”
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have received extremely positive feedback on this script so far and people can’t wait to see if I succeed in getting it onto the big screen with such a limited budget.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes, I didn’t think people would care about a protagonist who is an alcoholic astrophysicist that is extremely troubled and flawed. My theory was incorrect. People have connected with Juliet and her character.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I need producers to come on board and journalists to get my personal story out there for the world to see - which is detailed in my Kickstarter campaign.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’d like for people to learn something about science without it being in a classroom setting. Our protagonist gives a lecture of the multiverse theory to her students while wired and high on cocaine. This is reality (at least for me).
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do we live in a multiverse?
Would you like to add anything else?
My project’s success depends on people reading my personal story and struggles which is listed on my Kickstarter campaign.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently in pre-production on another feature film, A BROTHERHOOD, being executive produced by two-time Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad.
Interview: December 2018
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
Juliet
Juliet, an astrophysicist, struggles to acclimate back to society after the passing of her husband. The film follows her during a series of encounters on the one year anniversary of her husband's death.
Length: 90:00
Director: Bandar Albuliwi
Writer: Bandar Albuliwi
Key cast: BAFTA winner Ray Panthaki (Mohammed), still casting for Juliet.
Looking for: Seeking producers, sales agents, journalists to get the word out.
Facebook: Juliet movie
Twitter: @bandaralbuliwi
Instagram: @bandaralbuliwi
Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bandar/juliet-1
Funders: Bandar Albuliwi (main investor), Kickstarter fans
Made in association with: Made in NY
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Production will commence in February 2019. Watch for it at Sundance 2020.