City of Love
1 Driver. 148 Rides. 1 City. 1 Date. 2 Deaths. 1 Miracle.
Interview with Writer/Director Èric Boadella
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I always had in mind to make a movie about an "anti hero-type of character" becoming a rideshare driver, but the motivation didn't come until I teamed up with co-writer Sara Pattarini; she introduced me to actor Robert DeCesare and the three of us conceptualized the story together. We wanted to make a movie about a character that has been disconnected from society and decides to become a rideshare driver to reconnect with the city he once was part of. The redemption of the anti-hero.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you like suspense and peculiar anti-hero characters; City of Love is your film.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
City of Love has a strong message against the American healthcare business (it is not a system, it is a business). It is a theme that does not take part of the story at first but, as the character's struggle evolves, it becomes an essential plot element of the story.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
There was a religious element in the script since the beginning but it was actor Robert DeCesare, while creating Spencer, who made him like a Christ figure. And I liked the idea. We have a guy who spent 20 years locked up for a crime "he had to do '' when he was too young, and we wondered how he managed to move on? And then he is free but the world he knew, his family, his friends, and his city, are gone or totally different, except for one thing; religion.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have received very good reviews from the New Jersey press, where we had a preview screening for the local press during the New Jersey Film Festival. It has been described as a terrific neon-noir thriller.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We just had one private screening, so it is too soon for me to be surprised or challenged by the feedback. But I can assure you one thing, Spencer is not going to leave anyone indifferent.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Hopefully, we will reach out to indie film lovers that follow We Are Moving Stories.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film has distribution in place already, it will be released digitally in Spring 2023, and we'll need to reach out to journalists and film festival directors, who can help us amplify the film's message and visibility.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The impact that the film deserves. As filmmakers, we need to do a big final effort after the film is completed to make sure it finds its audience.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Would you commit crimes, or morally dubious actions, in order to achieve a noble end?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Teaming up again with Robert DeCesare, Sara Pattarini and also musician Giancarlo Floridia to develop a horror thriller set in the 80s heavy metal music scene.
Interview: February 2023
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
City of Love
1 Driver. 148 Rides. 1 City. 1 Date. 2 Deaths. 1 Miracle.
Length: 1:20:54
Director: Èric Boadella
Producer: Sara Pattarini, Byron Ashley and Èric Boadella
Writer: Sara Pattarini and Èric Boadella
About the writer, director and producer:
ERIC BOAEDLLA is an award-winning Spanish director with a rather unique background: Electronic Engineering and punk rock. His first feature film, Toastmaster (2014), won Best Director at the 17th Malaga Spanish Film Festival, where it was acquired by Canal+. Èric was one of the seven directors selected for the 2018-2019 FOX TV Directors Lab and he is already developing his third feature; a horror thriller set in the 80s music scene.
The film was produced by Rotten Apple Entertainment
Key cast: Robert DeCesare (Spencer), Kathryn Schott (Molly) and Tylor Nichols (Ted Larsson)
Looking for: film festival directors and journalists
Facebook: City of Love
Instagram: @cityoflovemovie
Hashtags used: #cityoflovethemovie
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
DCIFF / Washington DC - March 4th at 7pm.
FIRSTGLANCE / Los Angeles - March 15th
NFNLA / Los Angeles - April 22nd
The film is rep by Circus Road Films and it will be released digitally in Spring 2023.