Welcome to Space.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Frankie De Leonardis

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I wanted it to be a vehicle for getting noticed in the industry.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

You should watch Flotando because you'll realize things are not always what you expect. And you'll have a quick fun time.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Without spoiling too much, Flotando is like your life. You create your convictions and judgement, your expectations and likes based on limited information. All that can change in a second, life is "genre-fluid". Sometimes you're scared because things look scary, but it doesn't mean they are. Sometimes you don't laugh at something funny because you were not expecting it. Sometimes the answer is being shouted at you but you just won't listen.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

I am really productive and the script is extremely simple, It went forward very fast. I did tweak it a bit after rehearsing with the cast, but the challenge came while shooting. We only had two days and while filming with wires and cranes we realized some shots had to die. So we did a quick re-route for fitting all our story inside such a technically complex schedule. In the editing room and post-production, we also cut some bits that were slowing down the ride.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's been crazy. We never thought people would enjoy it so much. I'm normally the guy laughing at his own jokes but no-one else is, so kind of expected the film to be a bit like that. People did pay attention to every detail and that is amazing. Also, we had people comparing our endeavour with Gravity, that was unexpected, we had no way near the resources, time or money to make as good as them. It seems the floating bit surprised people, some even though we filmed on a 0 G airplane.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I listen to what people say a lot. I want bad reviews or critics to learn, that's how my head works. But we had so little bad feedback. The only review that really touched a spot was one that said the ending didn't come as a surprise. It made me consider that maybe sometimes as a writer we think too much if people will understand complex situations and make it a bit more obvious. Perhaps we should be just telling the story the way we think it should and not worry so much about what will the audience perceive. People are smart.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I am a content machine, have so many stories to tell. I'd love to get in touch with producers and develop them into reality.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Producers, film festival directors, journalists.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I'd love that the industry would get in touch and talk about what comes next.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Have all stories already been told? Can audiences still be surprised?

Would you like to add anything else?

I'd like to add a special remark to the set design crew. You should check our webpage to see how amazing their work is.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

1. A dark/comedy feature called The Limit about a small defenceless village in Argentina (1978) going crazy when they get the news they are at war with Chile.

2. A comedy short about a supermarket employee living such a routinary life that she believes to be trapped in time.

3. A dark/drama/comedy feature called Ash about the decision to cremate their father's remains against a very intense and religious grandmother.

4. A fantasy short film about a pizza delivery guy delivering a pizza to God.

Interview: September 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

Flotando (Floating)

Welcome to Space.

Length: 8:12

Director: Frankie De Leonardis

Producer: Frankie De Leonardis

Writer: Frankie De Leonardis

About the writer, director and producer:

FRANKIE DE LEONARDIS is an award-winning audiovisual artist. He's been working for over twenty years in the Broadcast and advertising industry, directing, animating and creating. Flotando is his first cinematic fiction work both as a writer and a director.

Key cast: Daniel Horvath (Astronaut), Secun de la Rosa (Elio)

Looking for: journalists, film festival directors, producers

Facebook: Flotando

Twitter: @FlotandoShortf1

Instagram: @flotandoshort

Hashtags used: #Flotando #Flotando_Short

Website: www.flotando.tv

Other: IMDb

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? BELIFF FILM FESTIVAL /GENESIS CINEMA LONDON - September 14 2019 - 20:30; CORTOESPAÑA / CASTELLÓN, SPAIN - September 22 2019; NEW VISION IFF / AMSTERDAM - NETHERLANDS - September 25 2019; INDIANAPOLIS LGBT FILM FESTIVAL / NEWFIELDS - INDIANAPOLIS - November 8 2019.