Interview with Filmmaker Adriana Falcinelli (DYING FOR A LIVING)

DYING FOR A LIVING played to rave reviews at the March 2018 FEMALE Feedback Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Adriana Falcinelli: I decided to go back to University and do a film degree course as a mature student and one of the units was to produce a short documentary of 10 minutes or less. I managed to squeeze an extra 3 minutes into mine as my tutor thought it was good enough! We had to pitch 3 possible ideas to the class and the Shaun undertaker idea was the most popular.

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

About 10 weeks.

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

Thought-provoking, funny

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

Structuring a coherent story from all my footage, that is, condensing 8 hours down to 10-13 minutes and depicting Shaun as closely as possible and not wanting to let him down or be disappointed in the end result. I wanted to make something that he would be proud of as he had given himself freely to be in it so honestly, but you never really know and have to let people react in their own way.

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

I felt immensely pleased and proud that an audience in another country was watching my little film. I enjoyed the comments very much and thought they were fair and considered.

Both myself and Shaun were happy with the comments and took the feedback as positive.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

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

I had known Shaun as a friend for about 2 years beforehand and he always had interesting stories to tell about being an undertaker and embalmer. He is a good talker about many different topics and so when they asked us on our course to make a documentary, I knew he would be a good subject, all I had to do was ask and luckily he said yes to being followed around by me and my camera for a few hours every weekend!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Goodfellas. Though more recently I’ve been watching several documentaries non-stop on loop.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

It’s good for me because it’s easy. I can upload stills, prizes, official selections, write my bio on the film page and it’s all there in one place. Entering festivals is straight forward and you can keep track of all your submissions.

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

That’s impossible to answer, I can like one song and play it on loop 10 times in a row depending on my mood and what I’ve bought recently.

10. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes I’m working on an exciting new project, a feature length documentary – it’s an engaging portrait of how a charismatic 26 year old Czech-based porn actress is inspiring different women across the world to discover and embrace their sexual identities in a new and meaningful way. It’s a story about the female fans of Tracy and how they have overcome personal struggles in their lives such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem by connecting with Tracy as a person, her work and each other online via the fanbase. Two fans have even met in real life and are getting married this year in Quebec. I want to make something showing the positive aspects of porn rather than the negative we’re so used to seeing in documentaries and reported about.

Or you can use the official 500 word version which sounds more ‘official’:

“Adult entertainer Tracy Lindsay challenges the stereotype of the ‘damaged’ porn actress with her humour, intelligence and optimism. Tracy’s professional commitment to exclusive girl/girl scenes has created a devoted fan base, making important emotional connections with fans via her work and social media interactions.”

Through fan stories we understand Tracy is a kind of therapy, how she helps them overcome personal challenges such as depression, low self-esteem and to accept their sexuality.

An uplifting and engaging story exploring women’s sexuality, their relationship with pornography and how they over-turn conventional wisdom that pornography is solitary and shameful in the internet age.

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.