Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2019 – Fathom
Haunted by the death of his daughter, a fisherman descends into madness while unearthing an environmental scandal.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Alessio Morello
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The inspiration for Fathom came from a series of news stories that prompted my interest in environmental catastrophes. In 2010, a burst oil pipeline in Michigan sent over one million gallons of toxic tar sand spewing into the Kalamazoo River. The multi-billion dollar company responsible for the spill claimed it had followed clean up procedures set forth by the EPA, but locals posted disturbing videos online exposing the massive amounts of oil that still lurked beneath their creeks. Residents were so overwhelmed by the fumes they had to leave their homes, and several years after being exposed to these hydrocarbons, they were suffering from cancer, tumors, seizures, and rashes. I was inspired by the real-life vigilantes and whistleblowers, and from there I developed a fictional story.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
There are some excellent documentaries and biopics out there covering environmental scandals, but they tend to be dramas that focus on the lawsuits and legal jargon. I wanted to see the story told from a more blue-collar perspective, so we could get out of the typical courtroom setting. This film was made to appeal to those who appreciate the mystery/thriller genre, and hopefully by integrating these genre elements into the film, audiences will be entertained while also being exposed to an important perspective.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The protagonist of this film grapples with loss, institutionalism, and disillusionment. Losing a family member is a universal fear that everyone faces, but this is not just a story about grief. This is a story about a regular guy who is up against faceless entities that are ultimately too powerful to face any legitimate form of justice. To me, that's what makes this a tragically American story. In 2008 we learned that our institutions are supposedly "too big to fail," and we saw how the burden was shifted onto the shoulders of the American people. The fossil fuel industry plays by the same rules, privatizing the profits and socializing the losses.
To some, this film may come across as excessively cynical or nihilistic. I think that as time goes on, the cynics will become more recognized as the realists. If the audience finds the film absurd, disturbing, or uncomfortable, that means I did something right.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
When the script was first being written, the idea began as an investigative neo-noir. Over time, a few friends gave suggestions that pushed the narrative towards a more ambiguous psychological space. The antagonist was made less tangible, and became more of a symbol than a literal enemy. With further rewrites, I was able to embrace the nightmarish quality of the protagonist's subjective experience, and let go of the conventional detective story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I think the film forces you to pay attention, and some audiences will embrace that more than others. Many viewers seem to appreciate the ambiguity of the story, and they enjoy piecing everything together. This film isn't necessarily a crowd-pleaser, and it's not meant to be for everyone. I'm proud of the awards we’ve received so far, and I think the film is appreciated by an audience that wants to be challenged.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I sometimes hear feedback about the vast amount of content squeezed into a short runtime. It's a short film, but it's striving to be much more. With my future projects, I plan to slow down a bit and focus on letting the story breath and unfold naturally. I was very eager to get out and tell a big story, but big stories don't typically happen in eleven minutes.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I really appreciate what We Are Moving Stories is doing to support emerging filmmakers that haven't yet broken into the mainstream market. Short films are especially difficult to get in front of a large audience, so this kind of platform is helpful for new filmmakers to get their work out there.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are excited by the prospect of finding a distribution plan for this film. Shorts are usually not a profitable endeavor, but it’s still a goal of ours to have the film seen by a larger audience through a streaming service.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My hope is that after watching this film, viewers will be more aware of the ways in which ordinary people suffer due to our current economic priorities. While the events in this film are fictional, our reality is more disturbing than we might fully realize. It’s important that we be skeptical and vigilant, despite the countless distractions we are exposed to on a daily basis.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do the benefits of a fossil fuel economy outweigh the social costs?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently developing a feature-length documentary that tells the story of an inspiring individual who suffers from a rare illness. In addition to this project, I'm writing two feature-length screenplays for low-budget films in the thriller and crime genres. My co-producer, Katie Anne Moy, and assistant director, Tancredi Di Paola, are hard at work running their new production company, Sailing Pig.
Interview: February 2019
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
Fathom
Haunted by the death of his daughter, a fisherman descends into madness while unearthing an environmental scandal.
Length: 10:49
Director: Alessio Morello
Producer: Alessio Morello
Writer: Alessio Morello
About the writer, director and producer:
ALESSIO MORELLO is a director and producer based in Los Angeles. As a high-school student, his post-apocalyptic short film "Out Here" (2014) was featured at the IFS Festival in Beverly Hills, and accumulated over one hundred thousand views online. His recent eco-thriller, "Fathom" (2018), was awarded "Best Short Film" at the LA Crime and Horror Film Festival. It was named "Best Student Film" in the LA Shorts Awards. "Fathom" has screened in a handful of festivals across the country, from Boston to San Diego. Alessio is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, and is now developing feature-length documentary and narrative projects.
Key cast: Cesar DeFuentes (Elias), James Michael McHale (Mr. Shelby)
Looking for: distributors, buyers, sales agents
Facebook: Fathom the film
Website: https://alessiomorello.com/
Other: IMDB
Funders: Kickstarter
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Santa Barbara International Film Festival - Monday, February 04, 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Arlington Theatre