Category: filmmaking notes

Interview with Writer/Actor/Producer Judith Eisenberg (THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS)

THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS played to rave reviews at the February 2019 ROMANCE Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Steve Anderson: I was a high school history teacher and I wanted to make a short film about my years of teaching. I was lucky enough to retire early… Continue reading Interview with Writer/Actor/Producer Judith Eisenberg (THE SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS)

Interview with Filmmaker Cameron Kostopoulos (PERSON(A))

PERSON(A) was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the February 2019 Experimental FEEDBACK Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Cameron Kostopoulos: I was fascinated by the idea of the persona, and the separation of the persona from the body. I wanted to portray the human identity as… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Cameron Kostopoulos (PERSON(A))

Interview with Producer Lester Greene (I GOT A CALLBACK)

I GOT A CALLBACK played to rave reviews at the December 2018 COMEDY Feedback Film Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Lester Greene: The whole Me Too movement sparked this film, especially the Terry Crews story of him being sexually assaulted by that high powered agent. 2. From… Continue reading Interview with Producer Lester Greene (I GOT A CALLBACK)

Interview with Filmmaker George A. Velez (MR. E, P I)

MR. E, P I played to rave reviews at the December 2018 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? George A. Velez: I wanted to make a film in a very fun genre that everyone is 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker George A. Velez (MR. E, P I)

Interview with Producer David E. M. Maire (THE HOBBYIST)

THE HOBBYIST was the winner of BEST PERFORMANCES at the November 2018 Thriller/Suspense Festival in Toronto. What motivated you to make this film? This film was a requisite graduate thesis project for George Vatistas at the School of Visual Arts, which is quite a motivation in and of itself. This story was chosen because George’s… Continue reading Interview with Producer David E. M. Maire (THE HOBBYIST)

Interview with Filmmaker Liz Lachman (PIN-UP)

PIN-UP played at the October 2018 Los Angeles FEEDBACK Film Festival to rave reviews. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Liz Lachman: This film was motivated by my own experiences and artist friends experiences of feeling never good enough and emotionally “empty,” always searching for perfection in our work, ourselves, everything outside… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Liz Lachman (PIN-UP)

Interview with Filmmaker Jessica Chung (SUSHI MAN)

SUSHI MAN played to rave reviews at the September 2018 Under 5 Minute Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Jessica Chung: This was my thesis to get my animation bachelors diploma. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Jessica Chung (SUSHI MAN)

Interview with the Filmmaking Team of the Award Winning Short Film “HOTTER WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN”

Director Julie Haberstick. Writer John Houston. Winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the August 2018 Romance Festival in Los Angeles. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? John: I wanted to tell a story that wasn’t the usual romantic story but would somehow bind these two people together no matter how badly they needed… Continue reading Interview with the Filmmaking Team of the Award Winning Short Film “HOTTER WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN”