'America' director Aly Muritiba and star and producer Luca Castellani join THR contributing editor Stacey Wilson Hunt for a THR Frontrunners conversation about their short film.
00:00I started modeling and then I've been saving my whole life to become an actor
00:04and that's the money I used to finance this film. Finally, you know, I think I
00:09got a seer at the table and I decided to be a producer, create the opportunity for
00:15myself. I know I can create opportunities that wasn't given to me when all I
00:21mean that there was one. This film is very painful in a lot of ways, very timely. A
00:32lot of the images are things we're used to seeing on a daily basis, maybe hourly
00:36basis now in America. So Ali, I'm going to start with you. I guess I was very
00:41struck by the timeliness of the film in the sense that when did you write this
00:45and how quickly were you able to shoot it in order for us to see it now because
00:50this crisis really seems to have become so exaggerated really in the last four
00:53to five months. But tell me about your timeline. Well, when I met Lucas some time
00:59ago, we started to talk about a possibility to make a move together and Luca
01:06started to tell me his story as an immigrant here in USA trying to live his
01:15life, trying to live this American dream. And in that time, we decided that we
01:23maybe can write some story about it.
01:26And you're both from Brazil?
01:27Yeah.
01:28Just making sure everyone knows. Okay.
01:30Yeah, yeah. And then when the government here changed and the immigrant policy changed
01:37as well, we figured out that this should be our subject to talk about immigration here, but
01:49not just about the life of a Brazilian guy here, but a Brazilian guy who is trying to live
01:58his life. And the only possibility to do it is through love, maybe find a partner who can help him to survive in this situation.
02:13And so around in March, I start to write this script. And in April, we decided to shoot. And we should
02:26during four days. And one week after this, we had this no king protest here.
02:37A bunch are happening tomorrow, so this is good timing.
02:39Yeah, yeah. And we bring Luca to, Luca, he's going there and we decided to film it, to put on the short film.
02:54And where did you physically film? Where did this take place?
02:58We shot the film here in LA, but the scene of the beginning of the movie was in San Francisco. Yes?
03:07No, we actually shot in Chicago.
03:09Chicago, in Chicago, sorry.
03:11Due to, at the time, you know, the story came very genuinely because when me and Ali were talking
03:17about what story we want to tell the world, I was going through the process of acquiring my American
03:22citizenship, which I just acquired in last June. And thank you for sticking with us. We need you.
03:29Thank you. Hopefully safe now. But then when Ali had the idea and he said, you know, we finished shooting
03:39after that in May, things got really wild against immigrants. And Ali wanted me to go to a protest
03:48and film and action, a couple of action scenes. And the protests in LA were unfortunately a little
03:54violent. So I told Ali, I just don't feel safe. And I had to go to Chicago. Yeah.
04:02So I got a little emotional talking about it.
04:04Oh, that's okay. It's a very emotional subject. So thank you for sharing that. And I would say one
04:10of the many obstacles facing filmmakers now is financing. It's sort of impossible, no matter
04:16who you are. So I want to know, Luka, how did you finance this movie? What sort of tactics did you
04:21use? Did you ask friends? Did you get financiers? Tell me what kind of support you had to make the film.
04:27Well, you know, we filmed this film, I think, in four or five days. I can't recall, but this film
04:33has been the make for the past 10. I had my modeling career at the beginning. So I'm so sorry, guys.
04:40It's okay. Honestly, this is a safe room. We all want to cry all day long right now. So it's fine.
04:45Truly, this feels like going back to create this character brought me back to the beginning of my
04:52career when I left Brazil at 17. And I had to look back and feel what I felt when I was 17 moving
05:00here to bring time to life. How did that feel? What did it feel like to be 17 in a strange country
05:08where you didn't speak the language? It feels scary. You know, you have no power. You don't belong.
05:14And it's a really, really long journey. But I started modeling and then I've been saving my whole life
05:22to become an actor. And that's the money I used to finance this film. Finally, you know, I think I got
05:29a seat at the table and I decided to be a producer, create the opportunity for myself. And I really want
05:37to stick to being a producer on the foreseeable future because now I know I can create opportunities
05:45that wasn't given to me when all I needed was one.
05:49Thank you. Let's give him some love.
05:54And by the way, it doesn't matter who you are in Hollywood. Every successful person has to make
05:59their own work now. It doesn't matter who you are. So you're in great company. And I'm so glad you took
06:04the risk, really. Absolutely. I'm sorry I'm a little nervous and I'm very emotional because really
06:10bringing Tom to life was so challenging. I don't think in my journey I ever looked back to give
06:16myself credit for how far I've come and, you know, for accomplishing my American citizenship and
06:23everything else I did. So bringing Tom to life allowed me to do that. And it was the biggest gift.
06:28It's the biggest gift that this character gave me. Thank you so much.
06:34It's why we're here. And I'm glad you feel safe to share your emotions. I really appreciate it.
06:41Thank you. Thank you. And I want to talk about casting. I love Cheyenne Jackson. I'm a huge fan
06:45of his. He's from, I'm from the Northwest. He's from the Northwest part of the United States.
06:49And I really love the chemistry that you have with him on screen. It's palpable. I truly believe
06:55these two people love each other. So Ali, tell me about your approach to casting. How did you attach
06:59Cheyenne? Did you know him previously? Did you audition him? What was that process?
07:03Well, this, this was the first experience with Lucas as an actor. So we talk about how important
07:15was to us to work with experienced actor to support me and to support him because it was my first time.
07:26Well, I had a lot of feature film in my country and I'm making some important TV shows there. But
07:3310 years after I, I, I became to do a short film in a different country, in a different language. So we decided
07:45that it was important to us invite a experienced actor to support us, to make this movie. And Cheyenne is a
07:54great actor. But at the same time, she, he, he have a strong work with the LGBT key, a plus
08:04subject. So we invite him. And when we, when he wrote the, uh, when he read the script,
08:15he jumped into. That's great. He he's a real pro. He's re he's really great. And tell me what was the
08:22most difficult day you had shooting and you know, everything can go wrong. And it usually does when
08:27you're making a movie, you lose a location or the weather isn't cooperating. What was a day that you
08:32had a challenge and you had to cleverly solve that challenge? Maybe look, you can, this is good
08:37because Lucas, Lucas can, can, can tell a beautiful story because the last thing in this movie is a
08:45strong scene is too difficult to, uh, an actor to find this strong emotion to, to sell us the, the, the,
08:54the feeling that we need to, to feel. And when I, when I wrote the, this scene and I shared the scene to
09:04Lucas, Lucas, Lucas told me, wow, this is tough. I don't know if I can do it. And I, I pushed Luca
09:13and in this day, the thing, the thing, the thing was really, really hard and difficult, but
09:21Luca fight a lot to, to, to, to, to sell us this emotion. So, Luca, you can tell us your
09:29experience with this scene because it was beautiful. In that day I thought was the second day and I
09:35thought, Lucas, welcome. You are a great actor. Thank you. Yeah, I think, um, as far as production,
09:47it's, it's so hard to make an independent film and a short with very limited budgets and resources.
09:52And, um, on my end, on my show that there was that way to answers and Ali's expectations,
09:59one of the greatest directors of Brazil, who is doing incredible shows, HBO series, uh, the, the
10:05city of gods and incredible budgets. So it felt a little, you know, hard to like that responsibility.
10:11Ali accepted to do something with me in the beginning of my journey, but as far as production,
10:17our team was so talented and competent. Like if they really made things happen, our line producer,
10:24sounds, costume design, makeup, everybody was so on multitasking, making everything,
10:29happening happen. But, um, the biggest challenge I think was emotionally. There was a character,
10:34Ali, his sensitivity in writing wrote something so deep, a character with such an emotional depth.
10:43And there was a scene that was so technical. It's the ending scene where the person I love
10:49is dying in my arms. I'm driving and, you know, holding his wound so he stops bleeding and, and then he had,
10:58you know, he has to sing in a way to try to create that last moment of connection before he dies.
11:05And that was a lot. And unfortunately due to budget, we delayed filming that day and we had to wrap.
11:13The sound studio was about to close and we only had one shot and they told me we needed to film
11:20that in one shot. And that was, you know, this is my first film.
11:22That's a big motivator for you in that moment. Yes.
11:27And then we filmed that scene and then, um, it didn't go well. It didn't look great. I, you know,
11:33there was lights on me. I couldn't, I couldn't feel it. And then they thought they need, they had what
11:40they needed, but you know, when you just know you can do better and that I couldn't accept it.
11:46And they were closing. So I went to Ali and I said, Ali, I respect your work. And I know you're telling
11:51me you got what you needed, but I don't think we did. And I really want to try again. I just need
11:57one more shot. Give me 10 minutes. And so they were like hesitant and they still wanted to close,
12:03but the guys really decided to do it. I went back, I went, I went backstage and I was like really
12:09concentrating. They were cleaning Cheyenne's blood. And then I came back and it just, I don't know,
12:17that, that scene, it was so beautiful. It was one of the most powerful things I've ever done in my
12:21life. And, um, I mean, it taught me a lesson to really ask for what you need, you know, speak up.
12:30And I don't think if I were working, if I was working with another director that I didn't create that
12:35bonds I did with Ali and we didn't spend that time creating that story together, I don't think
12:40I'll be able to say, Hey, I need, I need to try again. Um, and Ali understood. And we were able
12:46to deliver this, this really beautiful film and tell that incredible story about immigrants that
12:52need, needs to be said and told right now over and over. So people remember who we are and where
13:00we all came from, it's not from here. Yes, agree. And Ali, what do you hope people feel when they
13:07watch this film? What is an emotion that you hope you're invoking in the audience? Well, um, I wrote
13:16this story to try to find a way to tell the people that we are all immigrants in the world. At least if you,
13:26we are not a native American here in this country, we are all immigrants or son of immigrants or
13:33grandson of immigrants. So I've, I've, I've, I was trying to create a story about tolerance, about love and
13:44about how important it is to us to look at each other. When I decided to make a scene where we are with a young
13:56immigrant, eating some, I don't know, some food in his room, watching TV, I was, I was trying to put the
14:10audience in, in his shoes to try to, to sell the audience the feeling that, look, this is a, this is a, this is a, a human, this is a guy as you, that have feeling that have
14:24feeling that have blood, that have, uh, fears and dreams. So I, I have the expectation that this small
14:34movie can share a kind of piece of tolerance of for the audience and relatable. We feel like we know the
14:43person. Yeah. I think you did that. Yeah. Yes. Let's, let's applaud that as well. And Luca, final question for you.
14:52What feedback about the film has meant the most to you when you have shared this with people, whether
14:57it's, you've sent it to friends, family, audiences like this, what has someone said to you that you feel,
15:03oh, this was all worth it. All the, the tears and the hard work and all the saving that you did
15:08all those years to make it, what has felt worth it to you? Uh, the tears keeps on coming as you know,
15:14it, it, it, it once sees, but, um, I think while you're doing screenings, um, in the theatrical release,
15:23the short theatrical release we had, it was just incredible to see, um, how many other Latino,
15:32how many immigrants were texting me and saying, Hey, you know, thank you for, for telling our story.
15:38Thank you for reminding us where we come from. There was, there was a guy from San Francisco who
15:44wrote me on Instagram and he said, I went to see your film and you know, I'm from Ireland. My great,
15:50great grandfathers came from there and I kind of forgot was I come from somewhere, you know,
15:55I have roots somewhere else. And even myself, you know, it's been 10 years since I left Brazil
16:01and I kind of forgot that, you know, I, I got so immersed in this culture here in this language in,
16:08you know, I think in English nowadays and, and then I kind of forgot like where I come from. And that's
16:13what I say was the biggest gift from, from playing Tom was that I got a chance to look back
16:19and, and remind myself, Hey, you're an immigrant. You gotta, you gotta do something. You gotta say
16:24something. You gotta be proud of it. So, um, I think that was the biggest gift from people writing
16:31me and saying, you know, really recognizing and really noticing that they are also immigrants.
16:36This country is built by immigrants. The fresh food we have our table is coming from the hard work
16:43of immigrants. The flowers we get on, on the, the, um, street market, sorry, um, comes from the hard work
16:52of immigrants, you know? And, um, that's what meant the most to me in telling that story. And I didn't
16:58even knew it by the time we started shooting, shooting this film, because at the time we're filming,
17:04there was a little bit of controversy around, around immigration. At the time it was mostly talking
17:09about tariffs. But then a week later after we finished, it was just 60,000 people were arrested.
17:18Um, and that was, that was very hard. And it continues to be very, very difficult for people.
17:23But it, I think again, the reminder of we all come from somewhere and I think we all forget that.
17:28Yeah. So it's a very good reminder. And before we wrap, I just want to let everyone know that the
17:32film is now available on the platform. So please tell your friends to watch it again, of course,
17:37tell your friends to watch it and make sure everyone in your peer group sees these films.
17:41It's really, you know, it's very imperative that people actually take the time to watch this.
17:45But thank you so much for your time. Congratulations. And we're so glad to have you
17:48as an American friend. So thank you for sticking with us. Thank you for welcome.
17:53Thank you for all your hard work. We really appreciate it. And thank you, Ali, as well.
Be the first to comment