REVERIE, 9min., USA, Dance
Directed by Brian Bowers
The past can be an unreliable narrator, and the future is simply a shifting reflection of where we are right now. Driven by choreographed movement, original music and sound, REVERIE is an experimental visual narrative that seeks to question and explore. An ensemble dance casts guides us through the delicately narrated introspective, inner dialogue that an emerging artist is having with time itself. Is it true, what they say, that life is but a dream?

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Without sounding too cliché, it was like a dream state. I didn't really set out on pursuing this as my first film project, so it was an accident. I was in the middle of developing a production kit for a film based on classical animation, and it became just a massive undertaking. I shelved the project. And by the end of that week, the idea came to me. What it started off as, and what it turned into, are very different.

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

Truthfully, from the ideation to the finished product (what we've submitted to festivals), it has taken several months, almost a year. The filming itself was done in a day, thanks to Valeria and Miguel, and the team we pulled together. But from inception to what we've put out there (including musical/dance rehearsals, recording sessions, post-productions), it was several months. I still find something new, even now, that I want to change.

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

Inner exploration

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

Coordination and management were the biggest obstacles. It was a fully self-funded project, and many elements of this project were remote. And I also have a pretty demanding corporate career. There was a lot to coordinate and manage during planning, but even once it was finished, I had to continue holding the reins during some very challenging times. I didn't want to let anyone down, so I shouldered a lot. I couldn't focus exclusively on the creative elements, such as being the director, writer, or composer, because then there were a host of other things that needed resolution. I would do it all over again, though, but it was like having 3 or 4 jobs at once.

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

I was overwhelmed and very emotional. Getting back to creating again has been a long road, since my last creative project nearly 7 years ago. I had to do a lot of deep healing. Some of that is reflected here.

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

I think I always wanted to write for the screen. When I was younger, maybe as early as 6 or 7, I would watch T.V., or a movie, and I would write what I thought was the next installment, or film. I'd have a little notebook of ideas and stories.

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

I'm not sure if I have a film I've watched repeatedly. But one of my favorite films is The Fall. I'm obsessed. I actually bought the DVD because I cherished it so much. It was a challenge to find it.

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

Feedback. Even if just a few sentences saying they watched the film. You never know with the film festivals who is really watching your work, because many get so many hundreds or thousands of films. Sometimes, it is nice to know they took the time to watch, even if you aren't selected. And also, networking and connecting with other creators, especially where there is mutual admiration and appreciation. Some opportunity for that, even virtually, is awesome.

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

The support team is very accommodating and responsive. Anything you have an issue with, they are willing to address. I hope it continues to grow, evolve, and scale.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza. Hands down. I have pizza every weekend, at this stage of my life. Though, I try to have the healthiest option possible.

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

I hope to start writing music again, and recording. REVERIE started off with a focus on movement and music, with the Vocalise for Soprano and Cello Trio being a centerpiece. The words, honestly, were mostly written after the filming was already done. It was patchwork. I have about 3 or 4 film ideas in mind right now, as well as another live production I've been pondering for the past few years.