Wilted
A woman faces the maternal struggles of expectations and reality, revealing her deepest emotions and pains.
Interview with Writer/Director Chadd Alciati and Producer Ethan Paisley
Watch Wilted here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
CHADD: Thank you very much! I decided to make this film because I wanted to offer a fresh perspective on a very taboo subject in the modern lives of many women and families. To really convey the emotions that I wanted to show, relying solely on our female character to drive the story would be both original and helpful to reaching the main goal.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
CHADD: I think that you should watch this film because it is a unique spin on a common occurrence in the maternal lives of most women, and blends artistic style with an amazing performance by our lead, Molly Ratermann. It is a very engaging piece that utilizes our soundtrack and cinematography to complement the mood established by our story.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
CHADD: Overcoming loss is something that has definitely been present in my life, but also is something that everybody has or will experience throughout the course of their own. I believe that Wilted demonstrates the struggles of this theme and the toll that it takes on one's mental and physical state. As the audience, we get the chance to feel the exact feelings that Sarah is going through as she loses her unborn child, reflecting the heartbreak of the death of a loved one that we all can connect with. By the end of the film, Sarah has indeed overcame this barrier in her life, but is still haunted by its memory.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
CHADD: The script has evolved in order to create more layers to the characters of Matt and Sarah. We decided that it was necessary to develop the bond that the two had, and to really hone in on the relationship of a married couple that is struggling to stay afloat during the pregnancy and after the miscarriage. Through each draft, we had to focus on the pacing of the film, as we did not want the story to drag on with the addition of new scenes and new dialogue. During post-production, this remained a goal for our team, as we cut multiple clips that were originally apart of the edit.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
CHADD: We have received a lot of positive feedback at some of the festivals that Wilted was screened at, with people extremely grateful for our team creating a film that was relatable and thought-provoking. At one of the festivals, we even had a woman come up to us in tears, because she was so touched by how accurate the film portrayed her personal story.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
CHADD: I was very surprised, as I didn't expect such a positive and emotional response. It definitely was reassuring to know that all the effort that our team put into the production of this project paid off and could help viewers who were looking for ways to express their sorrow of their own miscarriage.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
ETHAN: I am hoping to spread the word about Wilted and recognize the amazing cast and crew that we had work on this film, as our voices are quite new to the industry, but are definitely something to be heard.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
ETHAN: Before selling a film, it's critical to build an unforgettable brand that traffics sales. We hope to collaborate with several female driven film festivals, nonprofits, and national events to publicize and market our film. Once we can prove we have people interested, we can successfully distribute our film. I hope to have it available on Amazon, iTunes and Hulu in the coming year.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
CHADD: The impact that we would like this film to have is to spread awareness about miscarriages in order to eventually eliminate the taboo surrounding the topic. We want this film to start conversations and to make people feel comfortable enough to speak up about their pain.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
CHADD: The question about this film that I believe would spark a conversation is: "Does the pain of loss ever really fade away?"
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
CHADD: I am currently working on redrafting a feature screenplay for the Eating Disorder Resource Center to highlight the life of an Asian-American girl with an eating disorder. I have also been helping Ethan with working on his script for a feature-length film of his that focuses on the global issue of human trafficking. He is currently in the process of fundraising for its production.
Interview: June 2018
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Wilted
A woman faces the maternal struggles of expectations and reality, revealing her deepest emotions and pains.
Length: 10 minutes
Director: Chadd Alciati
Producer: Ethan Paisley
Writer: Chadd Alciati
About the writer/director, producer:
CHADD ALCIATI is a current student at the Marin School of the Arts and will be attending the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in the fall. He has made quarterfinalists for the BlueCat Screenplay Competition for his short script A Eulogy. Today, he is working on a feature-length screenplay with another talented writer for the Eating Disorder Resource Center to hopefully create a script for prospective producers.
ETHAN PAISLEY is a globally renowned 16-year-old film producer who heads a production company, Take18 Entertainment, which is responsible for the creation of over 20 award-winning films. Ethan’s two features have received global distribution and screened at some of the most prestigious film festivals worldwide, such as the Cannes and Marbella International Film Festivals. He has been featured in TedXSonoma, the Variety Digital Hollywood Conference, and was named a featured artist by Elysium Bandini in 2016.