Mistakes in the Making - Zair Montes - Funding Woes, Resilience and Navigating Contractual and Casting Pitfalls

Hello, Hello!

In this edition of Mistake in the Making, Zair Montes discusses the production challenges faced during the making of the film Rumba Love. Initially, the project was planned to be shot in New York and Havana, Cuba, with funding secured for the Cuban portion. However, difficulties arose in securing additional funds for New York, leading to a two-week production halt in Cuba. Actors' schedules changed, and funding issues persisted for over a year. A key actor refused to continue, necessitating script rewrites and reshoots. A last-minute venue cancellation in New York further delayed production, requiring rescheduling and additional funding. Despite these setbacks, the film was completed and released on Showtime in 2021. Montes emphasizes the importance of having full funding and signed contracts before starting a project and reflects on the resilience required to overcome such challenges.

Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts from this Mistake In the Making:

• Zair Montes reflects on the lessons learned from the production, emphasizing the importance of having full funding and signed contracts before starting.
• She advises against spreading production across multiple locations to avoid rescheduling complications.
• Despite the challenges, the film was a rewarding experience, both spiritually, financially, and professionally.
• Zair Montes promotes her company, Golden Ceiba Productions, and invites viewers to check out their projects on various platforms.

Products, software, websites, people or places mentioned:

Rumba Love (film)

New York Film Office

Cuba Film Office

Havana Film Production

Golden Ceiba Productions (Zair Montes' company)

Zair Montes (filmmaker, producer, actress)

Zair Montes - Instagram (@zairmontes, @goldenceibaproductions)

Rumba Love on Amazon

Rumba Love on Apple 

Check out our full conversation with Zair Here

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