00:23making films like this is not easy you know and understanding how you've built your production
00:28company you know it's about making decided choices and knowing when to take action could you talk
00:35about approaching that in this way for this film but also your company as a producer absolutely
00:43as a first-time producer I was drowned to this story because I wanted to create something bold
00:49but yet intimate that's my journey into producing and so April X for me felt
00:57underneath the sci-fi elements it felt a deeply human story about connection
01:04the sci-fi it's near future so those elements felt high concept but relatable so I knew I could create
01:12this at an indie scale you emptied our accounts I got to I want my money back I'll get you
01:24the rest
01:25I may know someone just give me a couple of hours
01:34my sister's missing
01:37could you talk about using obviously Bucharest you know Rome and Romania because it's such a
01:43beautiful city and it's not optimized sometimes as much as it could be and it seems like it's very
01:49much you know you can see that there's places in Bucharest I have not seen I've been there
01:53numerous times can you talk about that and how important environment and shooting practically
01:58on the ground is right the director was looking for a Romanian producer we met in LA I was actually
02:06on board for a different project which is my second film the right kind of wrong and I when I
02:12heard
02:12filming Bucharest I said of course it's my country I would love to go back and and and work with
02:18people
02:18that I grew up and I admire so and I read a script and I I fell in love with
02:24April X and he was already in Romania
02:28scouting before we met we he came to LA we took a meeting and it was beautiful it was gorgeous
02:36because he brought
02:38elements and corners of Bucharest that I haven't seen on camera before I was not familiar and there were a
02:46lot of films that been
02:46shot in in Romania but not from these angles and these corners so for me felt really special it was
02:52challenging because the weather it was really cold but we I've learned how to pivot quickly and save the
03:00schedule and keep everybody focus
03:14want to tell me why my car just got declined
03:21go on
03:24I had to pay everything back
03:27you emptied our accounts
03:32I had to
03:35how much is everything
03:38I swear I'll fix it
03:42what do you mean fix it
03:45this isn't over
03:48I need more
03:49now can you talk about the inherent challenges
03:51in making this picture but also you know obviously bringing it through fruition
03:56obviously with Connor now on his rivalry that really helps
03:59Lily I just talked to her she's fantastic she's moving moving up
04:03can you talk about timing and also finding the right avenues you know going to can't film market which
04:10I go to every year you know the important things that you have to know as an indie producer now
04:14coming up and going out
04:17So we started filming in 2023 and we hired a casting director in Los Angeles
04:26and there were a lot of great options but Connor's audition and Lily also they had the presence
04:33not only that they were great for the part and talented but they had something magical
04:37so when we came to set we were me and the director were like I hope we're right about this
04:44because they haven't rehearsed they've never met before and we're taking a risk on something that we believe we saw
04:51on camera on an audition and we were right
04:52so we were very happy it was great experience
04:56and as challenges for me as a producer raising the money for an indie film with no incentives
05:05because back then in Romania the incentives were not activated
05:09first time director, first time producer, no name attached
05:14so all this was absolutely very challenging for me
05:17and here we are we submitted to film festivals
05:22we started with Rhode Island
05:24that's how we got in touch with sale agents
05:27distribution came on board right away
05:29we took a lot of meetings
05:30and this happened while we were still in post
05:33so we're very blessed with that
05:44He tried to run
05:46Come on guys
05:48Come on I've got more money on me
05:50It's not enough
05:51I'm doing everything I can
05:53I'll do anything
05:54How was your little trip to the bacon factory
05:57I didn't tell them anything
05:58my sister's missing
05:59you gotta believe me client
06:00sir listen
06:01no please
06:02wait wait wait
06:03wait stop
06:04So the festival circuit is an important part you think of
06:07Absolutely
06:08Okay
06:08Absolutely
06:09and I'm learning so much about the festival journey
06:13because I didn't know where our value is
06:17even though I believed in the film
06:19and I feel like it's a strong film
06:20I started with online small festivals
06:24I didn't know where to submit
06:25and I'm learning now about each festival
06:29wants their own territory exclusivity
06:31and it's important
06:34and it's interesting because
06:36you get to see how the audience reacts to the film
06:40and that's so rewarding
06:42and also the festivals is connected to the media
06:47to sale agents
06:48and it's an incredible, incredible
06:50free marketing and approach
06:52for sale agents and distribution
06:53and I'm very happy that distribution is open
06:56to the indie world
06:57buyers are looking to more indie films
07:00and that motivates me to keep on
07:02finding new talent
07:04discovering new first-time directors
07:06and that's what I want to keep doing
07:08Wait!
07:09Wait!
07:10Please stop!
07:12Do you think they can protect you, boy?
07:14I just want my sister back!
07:16Please don't do this!
07:18I swear!
07:19I'll pay you back, okay?
07:21What the hell is he talking about?
07:22His twin sister
07:25Please just let her go!
07:27She has nothing to do with this
07:28I don't have your sister
07:34I did want to mention
07:35because you're on screen as well
07:38you know, as Rose
07:39and I, you know
07:40and she's a very singular character
07:42but, you know
07:43I thought that was great
07:44that you got to be on set
07:45and be in front of the camera
07:46for a thing
07:47Is there
07:47was
07:48is that an interesting perspective
07:50you know
07:51coming on there
07:51and doing something like that?
07:53You know
07:53because not all producers can do it
07:54obviously you can
07:55but
07:56because does that offer you
07:57another perspective?
07:58So I started
08:00in the film industry
08:02as an actor
08:02I started with modeling
08:03and then with actor
08:04and I enjoy both
08:05producing and acting
08:07producing
08:08I was reading a lot of scripts
08:10during COVID
08:11and then I decided to open
08:12my own production company
08:13because I
08:14I read scripts
08:16and I think about characters
08:17actors
08:18and I also have like
08:19a business mind
08:20Rose was fun
08:21was really fun
08:22for us
08:23I got to have
08:25the creative freedom
08:26to play with her
08:28as an artist
08:28a wardrobe
08:31a background
08:32made
08:32everything colorful
08:34we had so much fun
08:35and also for me
08:36was exciting
08:37to work with
08:39the actors
08:40from Romania
08:41those are celebrities
08:42are people that I admire
08:43and I grew up
08:43watching them
08:45so
08:45for me
08:46was such a beautiful moment
08:47and I had a great time
08:49I'm gonna kill you
08:51sweet and simple
08:53I like it
