Interview with director Pauline Mabille (RIGHT HERE OF OVER THERE)

The French film “RIGHT HERE OF OVER THERE” was awarded BEST FILM at the April 2017 FEMALE FEEDBACK Film Festival. It was an honor chatting with the extremely talented director Pauline Mabille.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Pauline Mabille: Since I was a little girl I wanted to be an actress but I was too shy and unconfident about myself. So I was wondering what are my passions?: Cinema, writing and photography. So I decided to make movies.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

It took me a year to make this movie because it was my first one and I didn’t go to film school (too expensive in France), so I’m totally self-educated. I used to watch a lot of behind the scenes videos to learn and I read a lot of cinema masterclasses on the internet.

When I started to write this story, in the beginning it was only a 3 minutes movie.

I found a free job as assistant director on a short film. I got my confidence and decided it was my time. I found a crew who trusted me, the shooting took 6 days and after 3 months of post-production…it was completed.

How would you describe your short film in two words!?

In two words : Incredible Challenge

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle was the logistics, because I did all the preparation on my own and im not a logical person.

I decided to shoot in the South of France with people from Paris.

At the beginning no one was avalaible at the same time but I really wanted all my actors and crew and no one else. It was a big puzzle to make the planning!

What were your initial reactions when watching the Toronto audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

How to describe it? It was so intense.

At first” “Seriously they are talking about my movie? In Toronto?!!! So crazy”

This movie did a lot of festivals and won 25 awards, but never I could see people watching it and talking about it. It was unbelievable, thanks to you.

So I’ve cried tears of joy !! And I feel so grateful to the audience.

Making this movie is still a dream for me that I did it.

And my big dream is to work overseas and it’s very difficult if we have no connection and if you are not famous. When I saw my movie being talked about overseas….I’ve touched people and that is my ultimate goal.

Thanks to you. You make me feel that I havé to go further and never give up.

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO:

How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

This is a story about family. So I wanted to write a story about forgiveness in family.

I liked the idea of a triangle relationship where every one lived this accident in different way.

What film have you seen the most in your life?

The Shawshank Rédemption.

What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

So Many !

I love Mumford and Sons, especially “I gave you all”. But I love them all.

But when I wrote Right Here or Over There I used to listen on repeat “The Light” from the band HollySiz ( Vincent Cassel´s sister) :

But she didn’t agree that I could use her song in my movie.

What is next for you? A new film?

I’m writing a second one about life and times.

And I’m thinking about writing “Right Here or Over There” into a feature.