Author: matthewtoffolo

TIED played to rave reviews at the April 2021 THRILLER/SUSPENSE Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I started out as an Animator and had a history of animating and directing Idents and sketches for comedy shows as well as making animated films. However, as a screenwriter, I’ve always written all kinds… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Darren Doherty (TIED)

ANOMALY was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the April 2021 WILDsound Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I have been a film buff since I was a child (thanks dad and your awesome VHS collection), I love cinema and as far as I can remember I always wanted to be… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Michael Jeanpert (ANOMALY)

CAMILLA played to rave reviews at the April 2021 LGBTQ+ Film Festival. What motivated you to make this film? During the second year of my University in Milan we had to make different short movies for different classes. “Camilla” was my first movie as a director, writer and executive producer. We had carte blanche on… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Matilde Cellie (CAMILLA)

What motivated you to make this film? The film was actually motivated by the Year of Light (‘and Light-Based Technologies’ if I remember correctly). And what could be more about light than film noir? From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short? 6 weeks How… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Wesley Shrum (LIGHT YEARS)

THE GUARD STATION was the winner of BEST HORROR FILM at the April 2021 HORROR Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? I wrote a feature film screenplay originally that involved a security guard for a research and storage facility encountering a shape shifting creature that he had to contain over the… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Matt Zappala (THE GUARD STATION)

4X4 was the winner of BEST DIRECTION at the April 2021 FEMALE Film Festival. 1. What motivated you to make this film? After many years of working for clients, I was itching to make something more personal and to explore my voice as a director. The idea for ‘4×4’ is loosely inspired by my own… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Ayla Amano (4X4)

1. What is your screenplay about? The story revolves around Jackie Beeman, a young African American girl. She set her sights to go the distance as a professional boxer. Her pursuit is brought to a violent halt when Jackie finds herself sidelined by a concussion and temporarily unable to train. Further complicating matters, Jackie discovers… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter Pann MuruJaiyan (THE DISTANCE)

What is your screenplay about? How to Care for Crickets is, at it core, about forgiveness. Forgiveness of oneself, those who surround them, those they’ve wronged, and those you maybe don’t deserve it. It’s also about surviving the things life throws at you and the incredibly difficult task it can be to allow others to… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter Jessica Hilscher (HOW TO CARE FOR CRICKETS)

1. What is your screenplay about? The script tells the story of a family whose experience of being Jewish is radically different. The first passover is taking place in the Warsaw Ghetto and then about 30 years later, in the 1970’s. In the American family, they worry over silly, banal things, One of the characters… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter Karen Goldfarb (WHY IS TONIGHT)

1. What is your screenplay about? “They’re Watching Us” is about the voyeuristic experience of viewing films in the horror and exploitation genre, and the way the audience projects dark obsessions and desires onto movie stars. The plot follows Emma and Alexander, struggling actors in a rocky relationship, who pursue an opportunity to perform in… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter D.G. (THEY’RE WATCHING US)