Two cousins have to gamble their way through a softball game to raise funds desperately needed to pay off a long-overdue debt to the local mafia.

Interview with Director Joseph Edmund Aliberti

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We made Softball because we loved the story. For me personally, it was an exploration of the people I grew up around and the type of environment I grew up in. It's the first narrative short I directed here in LA, so I wanted to tell a story that was close to me and involving people and places I knew.

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

You should watch this film because you won't see anything like it elsewhere. The characters are an amalgam of real people who are part of a lineage becoming more and scanter. The performances are both funny and moving and lend a level of reality to the setting that isn't seen so often.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The overall theme, I think, is family and the ties that bind you to where you're from. How far will you go to help family and when is there a line drawn in the sand? Can you let your family face their fate without trying to intervene or protect them? That's a scary thought for anyone.

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

The biggest element of the script that changed over time was the photograph of Nick's and Bobby's grandfather. It introduced a sort of "magic" that I think many great short films have.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's been mixed, honestly. Some people love it and some don't. Which is great, because it means that it's affecting people. There have been people who have walked up to me at festivals and said: "I totally get why Bobby does that at the end." And there have been others who have been totally confounded by the ending.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Somewhat. It's always jarring to hear when someone doesn't understand something. You start to think about what you left out or what you could have done better storytelling wise to really drive the point home. But that's the beauty of shorts - they're like practice for the real thing. You have to tell a cohesive story in 10-15 minutes, and from a visual standpoint, you've got to be economical and super informative at the same time.

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

I just want more to people to see it and more people to talk about it. It's really hard to have a short film break out. So I'd love more producers and agents/managers to see it so we can all try to get another one in the works!

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

You need everyone to come on board. The more people backing the film and hustling to get it seen, the better.

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

I'd like people to walk away and keep thinking about it. There are "sidewalk" movies, where the ending isn't when the credits roll, but out on the sidewalk where people are continuing the discussion. That's what I want for Softball.

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

A key question to spark debate is this: if you had a cousin (or sibling, or a friend even) who was in trouble beyond repair, would you still go above and beyond to help them?

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

We're all working on several different projects. I have a feature that this short is based on that I'm polishing and trying to finish this fall, along with several shorts that we are getting ready to ramp up this fall as well. It's been busy but super exciting.

Interview: August 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

Softball

Two cousins have to gamble their way through a softball game to raise funds desperately needed to pay off a long-overdue debt to the local mafia.

Length: 16:55

Director: Joseph Aliberti

Producer: Kenner Bolt

Writer: Joseph Aliberti

About the writer, director and producer:

JOSEPH ALIBERTI lives and works in LA as a director and producer. Softball is the first narrative short he has made, and he's currently prepping several shorts and working on a feature with the same characters and themes.

KENNER BOLT is a Los Angeles based producer. Kenner worked closely on Softball from the script phase through post-production.

Key cast: Nick Teti (Bobby "Dimes"), Reiley McClendon (Nick)

Looking for: film festival directors, journalists, buyers, producers

Instagram: @joeal1

Hashtags used: #shortfilm #director #actor #LAshorts #sysff

Made in association with: Bucci

Funders: Self-funded