2022 a pandemic is just loosening its grip and then another disease began , Russia under the looming presence of Putin , invaded Ukraine with brutal aggression a petulant psychopath wanting a reunited Soviet Union , well he can fuck off , I see on the news a beautiful people facing adversity with grace and fortitude and in my heart and prayers I think of them , and as I do I remembered there is a poem Love Ukraine by Volodymyr Sosyura that says so much and can fit for the here and now
Please offer aid to any organisation , the people of Ukraine need our love and support
Victoria Baltag is a filmmaker from Romania, who I met on LinkedIn and she has a very unique and powerful story to tell, that is very unsettling about Romania between 1949 and 1951 and the re education camps, she is now raising money for the postproduction with which I hope you will help her succeed .
“ The state entities in Romania refused to fund this project”.
Victoria Baltag, Master of Arts, University of Birmingham, PhD Film Studies, Queen University of Belfast and Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at UCL made a remarkable movie about one of the darkest pages from Romanian History. Pitesti Experiment. Generations of Romanians did not learn about this subject at schools, colleges, Universities. Censorship and hiding the dark moments from history left many Romanians clueless about the history of their country. Pitesti Experiment project needs support. Art in pandemic needs support. Our support. Media exposure, funds, event organization, all are ways to support. Every time this movie is promoted, every donation, every effort is a different manner to say“ I am sorry for how much you suffered”. This project is about the victims of Pitesti Experiment. Victims who for many are unknown, forgotten. Their story has to be told! Let’s help it!
Quarantine and Chill ,a powerful script written by Jane Dillon that has translated into a dramatic surge of a short film , shooting is complete Shaun Daly worked the camera with style despite lighting issues that we overcame , Jane is directing herself , Queen Banerbie plays her antagonist , as production assistant I became immersed this is the second time on set for me , the first was Matopulas as a first time actor working behind the scenes has enriched my knowledge especially towards screenwriting my awareness of pages becoming literal has altered some of my screenwriting perceptions, it was a great week made new friends Sian Woods who worked sound and camera and Amanda Borg the make up artist who is amazing . Once done through editing by Christopher Buckenham we will be revealing to the world and every festival we can but until then I will keep you posted
My wife Karen Lawrence , Spikey Mouse Photography did the behind the scenes stills for advertising and marketing etc, she is an amazing and talented person and should look at her work on:-
Issa Lopez delivers a film , now streaming on Shudder that will in parts crawl inside or just be absorbed , a young cast who are accomplished , honest and natural Estrella played by Paola Lara makes you feel each strand of loss and abandon , and El Shine she meets who is so succinctly played by Juan Ramon Lopez each and every cast member gives something , so much so that there time on film is not wasted.
When it comes to production I don’t think you could ask for more, Juan Jose Saravia handles the cinematography in a way that like in a documentary you live it fully, underpinned by Vince Popes score that steers , aligns but but never overwhelm.
This truly is 10/10 film and I look forward to what Issa does next
velvetmedia 