The Santa Fe Film Festival - Cerrillos Road
As they try to solve the mystery of Sarah’s disappearance, her best friend Lori and her fiancée Phil discover their feelings for each other.
Interview with Writer/Director Giulio Poidomani
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made “Cerrillos Road” as a proof of concept for my feature film “Longing”. This is a crazy story. I was on a road trip from New York to Los Angeles with my partner in life and producer Isabella Roberto. We planned to stay a little longer in New Mexico because we’ve been there before and we love it. New Mexico is also the place where my film is set. So we’re hanging in Santa Fe with a few friends and somebody suggested to shoot a small proof of concept for the feature film, since I was looking for partners and funders. That same day we started organizing the shooting. At night I worked on the script, since I had to choose significant scenes from the script and shrink it into a short. I mixed a scene from the beginning of the story with a scene from the end. It gives a sense of what the story is about and an idea of the general atmosphere.
While Isabella and my other producer Veronica Radaelli were putting together a small crew, I was talking to the cinematographer Danny Belinkie on the phone. He sent me out in the desert to check a few locations. So in the morning I decided where to shoot, in the afternoon I did rehearsal with the actors Eric Gorlow and Cristina Rambaldi, and the next day we were shooting. It was an amazing day. Of course I was the only one with a hat, putting sunscreen all over me all day. At the end of the day I was the only one sunburned, of course.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Simple. Because it is about love and all those rushing feelings you experience when you realize you love someone. “Cerrillos Road” starts when Sarah disappears. Her fianceè Phil and her best friend Lori go on a road trip following her tracks. During the journey they discover their feelings for each other.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Well, I believe everybody has been in love. And I’m pretty sure almost everybody has had its feelings crushed at least once. It’s all very deep. I believe everybody can empathize with it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As I mentioned, the first step for me was to adapt the script for the film into a short version of it. The second step for me is always with the actors. I want them to speak their own language, to turn the script into their own words, so that when we go and shoot they don’t just say the words, but they live the words. So there was definitely some change in the script.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Definitely people want to know more about the story and the two characters, where they come from and where they are going. Which is obviously an accomplishment because the all point of the film is to intrigue investors so they would finance the actual film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I think I was surprised by the response. I’ve been told that the movie is beautifully shot. We actually won an award for the Cinematography by the amazing Danny Belinkie. What struck me the most is that for me the film does not have only two characters, but three. The third one is the New Mexican landscape. The characters (and the camera) interact with the landscape so much that you can feel the presence of it, sometimes as if it is almost pressuring the characters; sometimes it is a form of relief. And I love that. Especially when I’m thinking of New Mexico. You can feel there’s some kind of energy in that land I have never felt before in my life.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope people read about the film and get interested in it and maybe want to watch it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We definitely need a producer that can bring investors and distributors. And I hope this interview arrives somehow to Ryan Reynolds and Olga Kurylenko because they will be perfect to play the main roles.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Huge. I wish everyone could watch it. Especially if you love films that are set in some kind of suspended atmosphere. I was inspired by Antonioni for this script, especially by “L’avventura”, “Zabriskie Point”, and “L’eclisse”. So I see this film as a modern take on those marvelous masterpieces.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What Lori achieves at the end of the story? Lori here is the main characters, she is the one on an emotional rollercoaster.
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes! The short film will screen at The Santa Fe Film Festival on February 8th at 7:30PM. This is our 5th festival and we already have another four coming up.
http://santafefilmfestival.com/index/film/off-the-menu/
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Veronica Radaelli was at Sundance with a short film she produced; Isabella and Cristina worked together on a feature film in Italy. But our main focus right now is to put things together to produce my first feature film. I’m also writing a lot, working on other screenplays.
Interview: February 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, 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
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Cerrillos Road
As they try to solve the mystery of Sarah’s disappearance, her best friend Lori and her fiancée Phil discover their feelings for each other.
Length: 8'25"
Director: Giulio Poidomani
Producer: Isabella Roberto, Veronica Radaelli
Writer: Giulio Poidomani
About the writer, director and producer:
Isabella Roberto originally from Italy, is an award winning producer. After a busy career in Rome she co-founded Purple Road Pictures and moved to the U.S. where she has worked with the likes of Susan Ferris (founder of Bohemia Group Entertainment) and produced several award winning short films. Most recently Isabella has line produced the feature film "Fourever" starring Bryan Greenberg and Emmy Award Winner Tammy Blanchard. Her passion lies in creating stories that uncover the heart of the underdog.
Giulio Poidomani of Modica, Italy is an award winning director and screenwriter whose accolades include the italian Matador Award for the feature screenplay "Crisci Ranni" and "Best Short Film" at the AFME for "Never" which has also been officially selected in over 20 film festivals including the FLICKERS Rhode Island Film Festival. After a great career making films in Italy with the likes of italian director Roberto Faenza and Oscar winning producer Elda Ferri, Giulio co-founded Purple Road Pictures and took his passion to the U.S. where he has worked on many films. Poidomani's keen eye for details is always searching to tell a story in the most unique way possible.
Key cast: Eric Gorlow, Cristina Rambaldi
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Distributors and Film Festival
Facebook: Purple Road Pictures
Instagram: @purpleroadpictures
Other: purpleroadpictures.com
Where will the film screen in the next month? The Santa Fe Film Festival