TIDES, 8min,. USA
Directed by Andre Silva
Filmed at Masonboro Island, an undeveloped barrier island in southeastern North Carolina, “Tides” contemplates the liminal space between the modern technological world and that more ecological dimension we label as “nature” or “the environment.”

https://www.andresilvaspace.com/
https://www.instagram.com/andresilvaspace/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
One of my favorite places to be is one of the uninhabited barrier islands, including the neighboring salt marshes, of Southeast North Carolina early in the morning. When I'm in this environment, I feel like I'm in a liminal space outside of my normal day to day life. I had been waking up before dawn on a weekend day every few weeks to head out to the barrier islands over a 5 year period and noticing the changes in light from pre-dawn to an hour or so after sunrise as well the way different animal sounds populated the environment throughout the morning. I had never intended to create a film about these experiences, but eventually decided to create the film as more of a quick light study (which is the first part of the film). As I continued working on "Tides," over a 5 month period, I added in the reflective text components (part 2 and 3) resulting in a much more involved project than I had initially intended. Originally, I was just looking to create a 1-2 minute film to allow me to take a break from what would eventually be a 3-year time-intensive animation project titled "Revelation to the Disembodied," which also happens to be inspired by the coastal environment.

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

5 months - though as stated in the previous question - I had been doing a sort of pre-production through submersion/observation of the environment for 5 years.

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

liminal space

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

This was actually a pretty painless film to make. I've primarily worked solo on time-intensive animation projects and those can feel like a slow-motion slog. By comparison, the production on this project was quite short and I got to be in one of my favorite places. I did sink about 3 feet into very soft mud as I was about to set up my tripod at one point. I was alone, so I'm glad I didn't sink any further. That was perhaps the biggest obstacle. Other than that, as with any film starring the more-than-human world, a filmmaker has to be open to what arises in the environment rather than trying to direct.

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

I enjoy creating work that is part of a conversation. I think it's what reminds me that I'm part of the human ecology. I find satisfaction in making film for its own sake, but I think it would get a bit lonely if there was not someone else to receive the message. So - I really appreciated that others were inspired by the film and that each person seemed to take different things away from it.

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

Growing up, I enjoyed being in theater, playing music and making art. I thought filmmaking might be a way to combine all those things.

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

Ha! That's a good question. It's not a movie, but my wife and I have seen all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer probably about 5 or 6 times.

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

You all do a great job of providing different forms of feedback and interaction with the films. Generally speaking, it's hard for me to make a lot of film festivals unless they are close to home. I've always enjoyed it when there were online q&as with the audience for festivals that are further away. If you are looking for something to add, this is the only thing I can think of, but you all already do so much, I don't think it is necessary.

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

No probs

10. What is your favorite meal?

Just about any Indian Food dish. Also, I grew up in Austin Texas so breakfast tacos is another.

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

I'm working on a couple of projects. The longer term project is called Films for Trees. As the name implies, part of the process is to create a cinema for private audiences of trees (from different environments).