Cannes Short Film Corner 2018 - Mi Madre, My Father
Facing neglect and abuse at home, six year old Valentina relies on her street smarts and a compassionate neighbour to survive.
Interview with Writer/Director Michelle Morgan
Watch Mi Madre, My Father here:
Main image: Lina Renna at her window in the opening sequence of the film.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I have been working on sets and acting for almost 20 years. It was time to dive in and finally direct something. I am excited at the opportunities this opens for me, and the ability to bring my own vision to life.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film because it is about what happens behind closed doors. We learn from a young age to put on a public face and to hide dirty secrets at home - and I think the audience will respond to Valentina's effort to do just that.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Is there a difference? This film is intensely personal because it is based in the true life childhood of a dear friend of mine. But I connected with it as a filmmaker because there are universal truths at play. I was interested in themes such as - the moment a child loses their innocence, the importance of community in protecting vulnerable children, and that innate desire to put on a brave face in public even when things are falling apart at home.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
This project was born one night over drinks in Los Angeles - my friend Mel told me about her childhood in Australia. She had been completely neglected and abused by her parents and essentially raised by a gay couple across the hall. After getting her consent to turn her story into a film, I interviewed her in detail and asked her for photos. I wrote a short story which my co-writer Dan turned into a screenplay. His first draft was WAY off from where I wanted the script to be. He made the protagonist the adult male, Robert. I asked him to go back to the drawing board and I became much more active in the writing process. I ended up writing most of the dialogue and we worked very well sending the script back and forth over email.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The best feedback I have received is that the film was selected by Telefilm Canada to be brought to the Cannes Short Film Corner for the "Not Short on Talent as Cannes" edition. I have yet to publicly screen the film - but I am so excited to find a nice festival premiere to do just that!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would love the attention of a film festival and we are looking for our world premiere.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I feel like we need a nice festival premiere - and I would consider working with a distributor, this is all quite new to me. I am also looking for producers to help me make my first feature.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Well of course I would like this film to have a nice film festival life, and to win awards and recognition from my peers. I would like to see the performances of my fellow actors Lina Renna. Robert Moloney and Stephen Amell be honoured. If this film connects me with producers or production companies who can help me make my first feature I will be very pleased.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Whose responsibility is it to protect children? Is it better to mind our own business, or should we be looking out for the children in our communities?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We are currently in early prep to film my next short film "Save Yourself" with Fiona Vroom who also produced on Mi Madre, My Father. Save Yourself is a short romantic comedy set on the beaches of Tofino British Colombia. We have recently received a grant from Telus Storyhive.
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, 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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Mi Madre, My Father
Facing neglect and abuse at home, six year old Valentina relies on her street smarts and a compassionate neighbour to survive.
Length: 16:25
Director: Michelle Morgan
Producer: Madeleine Davis
Writer: Michelle Morgan & Dan Patinkin
About the writer, director and producer:
Director- Michelle Morgan has grown up on film sets. As a teenager she worked with her older sister, television and commercial director Wendy Morgan, as an assistant, wardrobe stylist and performer. Over the 11 seasons she has starred on Heartland (CBC), Michelle has shadowed numerous directors such as Bruce McDondald, Dean Bennet and Rachel Leiterman. In 2009 Michelle wrote and produced a pilot, The Goods. Mi Madre, My Father is Michelle’s directorial debut.
Producer- Madeleine Davis is a producer and writer based out of Vancouver, BC. Active in both factual and fictional storytelling, she pursues work that pushes boundaries of form and expands the scope of traditional filmmaking while staying true to the timelessness of narrative. She and Michelle hope to develop a series that explores Michelle's Chilean-Canadian perspective.
Co-Writer- Daniel J. Patinkin has authored two nonfiction books: The Crippler published in 2016, and The Trigger, scheduled for release in 2018. He has also written, directed, and produced three short-films, a major-label CD release, three feature film scripts, and a music documentary. After the success of co-writing Mi Madre, My Father- Michelle and Dan are continuing their work together by currently developing two feature films and television series.
Key cast: Michelle Morgan, Stephen Amell, Lina Renna, Robert Moloney
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, Film Festivals, Producers
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiMadreMyFatherMovie/
Twitter: @michellemorgan_
Instagram: @michellemorgan_
Funders:IndoeGoGo
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? The Cannes Short Film Corner