Dances With Films 2018 - Lost in Aroncore
As her older sister struggles with depression, 9-year-old Lucy dreams of a fantastical world called Aroncore where Princess Lucy must rescue her sister from the Baron of Darkness. Half family drama and half fantasy, Lost in Aroncore is about loving someone with depression, and trying to fight it beside them.
Interview with Writer Dezi Gallegos
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! We made Lost in Aroncore because we wanted to find a cinematic, fantastical way to talk about loving someone with depression. We wanted to make a movie that conveys the simple but important idea: Depression isn’t something you save someone from—it’s something you’re with them through. By telling the story of Lucy, a young girl who loves her older sister and doesn’t know how to help her, we hope to tap into something universal, and tell a story we haven’t seen before.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you love fantasy, you’ll be transported by Lost in Aroncore. We’ll take you on a journey from magical forests to the cobwebbed lair of the Baron of Darkness. If you love character-driven dramas, this film is for you as well. We take our time in the scenes between Lucy and Audrey; and they’re funny and porignant. Most of all, you should watch Lost in Aroncore because, at the end of the day, it’s a simple story about love and family explored in an innovative way.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Lucy’s goal in Aroncore is the same as her goal in reality: to save her sister from depression. The lesson she has to learn is that she can’t save Audrey; she just has to be with her. I think that’s a theme that’s important for everyone who has a loved one who’s struggling with depression. You can’t just snap your fingers and save someone from an illness, but you can support them through it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The project was a senior thesis film at USC. It went through a pitching process, and then a development process. The story used to be broader and more unstructured. We did a lot of work honing the narrative, and making sure every moment was on message and on theme.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We were at the 25 Under 25 Film Festival in San Luis Obispo, and received 2nd place in the festival. We had a wonderful, warm response from Dances With Films. We are preparing to announce acceptances into two more festivals.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has inspired us, and left us feeling all the more excited to tell more stories like this.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want more people to see Lost in Aroncore, and to connect with others who want to create or consume moving, empathic stories.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’re still on the festival circuit, so we’d love as many festival programmers to see the film as possible. We’re also very interested in speaking with producers who’ve seen the short, because we believe this story isn’t done being told. We are currently in development for a feature version of the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We’re lucky because we’ve been having it: people have been seeing the film and responding to it not just as a work of entertainment, but as a story that feels familiar and touching.
As the short expands, we want to contribute to a larger cultural conversation around depression. Lost in Aroncore is a story told purposefully not from the perspective of someone who is depressed, but rather by the person who loves them and doesn’t know how to help them. That’s an experience so many of us have, but is talked about less.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How can you best support a loved one who is struggling with depression?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for being a site that supports impactful storytelling!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Most recently writer Dezi Gallegos wrote and directed the short My Ex-Girlfriend is a Shovel, which screened in the CAA Moebius Screening Series for emerging filmmakers. It premiered at the Palm Springs International Shortfest on June 21st.
Interview: July 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
Lost in Aroncore
As her older sister struggles with depression, 9-year-old Lucy dreams of a fantastical world called Aroncore where Princess Lucy must rescue her sister from the Baron of Darkness. Half family drama and half fantasy, Lost in Aroncore is about loving someone with depression, and trying to fight it beside them.
Length: 13:42
Director: Ryan Wagner
Producer: Kelly Logan and Sarah Jones
Writer: Dezi Gallegos
About the writer, director and producer:
Writer: Dezi Gallegos has been listed twice as one of 30 inspiring individuals under 30 in the Press Democrat. Dezi’s short My Ex-Girlfriend is a Shovel screened at CAA, and had its World Premiere at the Palm Springs International Shortfest.
Director: In May of 2017, Ryan Wagner graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with a major in Film/TV Production and a minor in Screenwriting. Originally from Chicago, Ryan moved to LA to pursue filmmaking. Now he works as a music video director, and a bad caterer.
Producer: Although born and raised in Minnesota, Sarah Jones has come to feel at home in the hustle and bustle that is the film industry in Los Angeles. She graduated with a degree in Film and Television Production from USC and she currently works as an assistant in the television department at Verve Talent and Literary Agency. She is passionate about working behind the scenes on high concept and genre content as well as supporting diverse voices.
Producer: Kelly Logan graduated from the USC’s Film & Television Production program in May 2017. Since then, she has been working at a talent agency as the assistant to a TV Literary Agent. When she’s not answering phone calls or emails, she dreams of producing female driven content, especially in the adventure genre.
Looking for: producers, film festival programmers, journalists
Facebook: Dezi Gallegos, Ryan Wagner, Sarah Jones, Kelly Logan
Instagram: @ryan_walner