Discovering "Resonance"
A short film exploring limerence, attachments and identity
I've realized that I've been putting my dreams on hold. My life has diverged into two paths: spending endless days draining my creative energy in corporate advertising, or interpreting the deep emotions within me and translating them into film.
From a young age, I have processed my experiences through writing, which has helped me heal parts of myself. I began with playwriting and theatre, and later transitioned to film and content creation. However, since entering the advertising world and sidelining my creative writing, I've felt a slow buildup of unprocessed emotions, as I've neglected this vital aspect of myself. Now, living in a foreign land, I strive to balance deepening my creative work with maintaining material sustainability in advertising.
This journey led to the creation of my new short film project, Resonance. When I arrived in Italy, I felt truly alone, without friends, family, or a partner. This isolation prompted me to quickly form attachments with new people, seeking an emotional foundation. These attachments often evolved into limerence or anxious attachment, whether with romantic interests or friends.
Recognizing my attachment styles, I chose not to suppress these emotions but to write a film. Through this process, I've projected my dilemmas onto the film's characters. I found my voice in Viola, a writer struggling with anxious attachment to her avoidant partner, Carmelo. As the story unfolds, Carmelo grapples with his identity and bisexuality, forming a close relationship with a man named Valentino.
Carmelo & Viola, from the Resonance Storyboard.
Resonance aims to create a visually stunning and sonically rich experience that fosters an emotional connection between the viewer and the film. Inspired by the evocative art of Edward Hopper, the film explores quiet moments of introspection and isolation, particularly within complex relationships. Hopper's depiction of solitary figures and serene landscapes serves as a visual and thematic anchor, reflecting the emotional landscapes of our characters.
Trattoria Scene from the Resonance Storyboard.
Through Resonance, I explore my personal solitude in a beautiful yet isolating landscape, ultimately discovering that, in the end, you truly just have yourself. The film seeks to advance LGBTQ+ cinema by exploring the emotional dimensions of relationships beyond the gender binary.
In 2 weeks, we’ll begin our first shooting day of Resonance, we’ve teamed up with an Emmy award winning film production company, Eco Frames, based here in Florence. Owner, Andrea Poli will be our Director of Photography. I’ve worked closely with two script writers, Samantha Cartwright and Kiana Livingston. I’ll also be joined by 2 Assistant Directors Milo Bartolotta & Ali El-Zein. Mike Chesbro will be leading our Production Design, with Production Management by Giulia Toccafondi.
On location at Ostello Antico Spendale Bigallo in Bagno Ripoli.
This week we started up our production instagram account where we’ll be sharing behind the scene content, our locations, announcements on screenings, and some of the concepts behind the script.
If you’re interested in supporting "Resonance," please feel free to reply to this email, and we can discuss how we can collaborate on this journey.