A COUPLE played to rave reviews at the August 2021 STUDENT Film Festival.
1. What motivated you to make this film?
This story didn’t come from an idea of mine. It was written for another director’s degree film (National Cinema School). This director was expelled from the school so they called a former student to take the project home… and they chose me! But, when I read the story for the first time I immediately connected to the main theme and the main feeling of the story and I thought: “This could be my story”. So it was pretty easy for me to work on this project as my project because I knew what and how I wanted to show. That’s the key: even if the plot is very specific, the story is the story of all of us. Because we all loved someone that way, we all know what a break up means. And that’s the reason why we tell stories: for reaching people’s hearts with real feelings.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?
When I started working on this project, the story was already written but it needed several changes. By the way, from my first day at work, it took three months more or less.
3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?
Intimate, delicate.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Time, no doubt. We had 3 weeks to edit the script, do castings, build scenery and so on… The production gave us 5 days of shooting so we couldn’t make mistakes. I did only one week of rehearsals but I was lucky enough to have two great actors and a wonderful crew.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was touching. I make movies to reach people and to communicate with ’em. So, It’s always great when I see that something I made reaches the audience and gives ’em some emotions. It’s something that makes me think “What you do has meaning”.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I was a teenager and I attended the Giffoni Film Festival’s jury. I watched great movies and, after the screenings, I met the directors. I was listening to them talking about their job and it was wonderful, so I thought “That’s what I want to do for a living”.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
It’s hard to say. I grew up with the Star Wars saga but there’s a movie I need to watch at least one time a year: Nuovo Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore.
8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?
It’s so important. Not everybody is so lucky to have a distributor for his/her film. A platform like FilmFreeway allows you to be the distributor of yourself in a very professional way. It’s great!
9. What is your favorite meal?
I’m Italian so I could talk about food for hours ahahah. Well, my answer is: spaghetti with clams (cooked by my dad).
10. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m workin’ on a documentary about a great Italian photojournalist. I hope I’ll be able to realize it soon. Meanwhile I’m writing my first feature film, the story about a musician and a mysterious sound. I’m looking for a producer. It’s hard but this is the life I chose and I would never come back.
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 