Noche de Amor (Night of Love), 18min., USA
Directed by Sean-Paul Cardamone
A young woman experience’s love, betrayal and metamorphosis traveling through the ever changing rapids of east Los Angeles.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Star crossed love and hubris.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

2 years give or take 15 or so years depending on what you consider the inception of the idea.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Sorry it is three words:
Never give up.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Lack of experience:
Before making Noche, I was the owner and executive chef of “The Walrus and the Hedgehog Catering” for 9 years and had been cooking professionally for 11 years. Before that I was a math and science teacher for primary and middle school.

The first time I ever picked up a camera was the week after my soon to be wife told me she wanted to make this film when my Canon M50 arrived in the mail. My DP later informed me that I needed to upgrade to a Blackmagic pocket cinema camera 6k to match his footage when he was not available to shoot.
We recorded the soundtrack in a rehearsal space with my laptop and two 1970’s AKG microphones loaned to me from my brother who later overdubbed the vocals at his studio.
We are still trying to get the soundtrack mastered for vinyl and find a label to release it.

Self-doubt

Juggling my other career. (I finally called it quits in the catering industry after 11 years)

Being told what we were doing couldn’t, or shouldn’t be done, or wasn’t valid in the film space because it had no dialogue.
Learning to edit/color grade for the first time ever.

We shot the film during the Covid lockdown.

Directing my wife during what was supposed to be our honeymoon.

Learning everything I could about cameras, exposure, lenses, lighting, film theory, gimbal operation… filmmaking.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Wow, and maybe holding back a few tears.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When Catalina told me she wanted to make a film and I wanted with all my heart to see her succeed.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Evil Dead 2
Noche de Amor is a close second.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Some form of fundraising forum?

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Love it!

10. What is your favorite meal?

My mother’s shepherd’s pie

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Catalina and I were married after a 20-year courtship.
Together we are producing a burlesque tribute to John Waters premiering at El CID on June 1st entitled “Cecil B. Divine” about a “family friendly” “drag free” Burlesque show hosted by LA’s own Miss Marquez, that is hijacked by characters from John Waters films intent on punishing bad family friendly theater. It all culminates in a hysterical orgy of fun.
Since the production of Noche De Amor, my brother, Joseph Cardamone, and I have formed the production company American Primitive Ltd. and have since produced over 30 short form films and music videos. Some of the clients/talent we have worked with are:

Mark Lanegan: (who’s final album was a collaboration with my brother entitled “Dark Mark Vs Skeleton Joe”) For whom we shot four videos in Ireland months before his death.

Prayers: “Black Dove” Music Video

Blag Dahlia, front man for the iconic punk band the Dwarves: “Lolita Goodbye” “Summer Rain” and “Your Girlfriend” featuring Nick Oliveri
Spirit in the Room: companion film to their album “Flamingo”

Queen Kwong: “Sad Man” featuring Johnny Knoxville, “I know who you are”
“On the Run” “Stanley”

Speedbuggy USA: “How Soon is Now” cover, “Let it Roll”

Cathy Cooper: “Bulls”

Joe Cardamone: “Wailing Wall” “Bing Crosby” “#BL3$$3d” “Quarentina” short film series and companion to the album of the same name.

There are plenty more. Most of our work is available for viewing at Americanprimitive.org/films

We are currently in development on a feature length psychological horror/thriller set in the visual art scene of Los Angeles called “TWO OV US” about a couple who experience the sweetness of new love only to end up fighting to keep the demons of mental illness and toxic dependency from seeping through the cracks.
The film is:
1/3 Annie Hall
1/3 Rosemary’s baby
1/3 The Exorcist