January 1, 2025 • 28 mins
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Fiona McQuinn's journey is anything but conventional, and her story is a testament to the power of embracing new opportunities. Fiona's path to the world of film is a unique one. Even as an introvert, she found herself drawn to dancing, acting, and directing after a transformative experience on the series Underground. In this episode, Fiona shares the valuable lessons she learned about storytelling and the importance of mastering diverse skills in the film industry.
Sponsored by Jana McCaffery Attorney at Law. Have you been injured? New Orleans based actor, Jana McCaffery, has been practicing law in Louisiana since 1999 focusing on personal injury since 2008. She takes helping others very seriously and, if you are a fellow member of the Louisiana film industry and have been injured, she is happy to offer you a free consultation and a reduced fee to handle your case from start to finish. She can be reached at Support the show
Follow us on IG @nolafilmscene, @kodaksbykojack, and @tjsebastianofficial. Check out our 48 Hour Film Project short film Waiting for Gateaux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5pFvn4cd1U . & check out our website: nolafilmscene.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I am Fiona McQuinn.
I am a writer, actress anddirector and I am over the moon
to be joining you guys here onNOLA Film Scene.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Three, two, one.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year Yay, yay, Yay.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Fiona, it's so good to have you.
This has been a long timecoming.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
This is our second time meeting.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We met at the Actor Summit.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
It feels like more it feels like more because you
know, I think we see so muchdigitally, virtually of each
other.
Yeah, what you're saying isBrian posted another picture,
brian posted another pictureJust a few, but that's good
Somebody's got to because youknow, the rest of us are like
forgetting.
We walk out and we're like, ohno.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I couldn't go to a premiere and it was in Houston,
indigo the last days and I justcouldn't make the trip and
nobody really took selfies.
I and I just couldn't make thetrip and nobody really took
selfies.
I'm like have I taught younothing?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
That will be your legacy, if nothing else which
I'm sure there's plenty more butthat will be like your
paramount legacy Picture Plato.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We joked about that on set this past weekend.
I was saying I always forget.
I always forget to take selfies.
And that's Brian's firstquestion Do you take any
pictures?
I forget, and then I pull itout and maybe get one or two in,
and by then it's a little toolate.
I just never have it on my mindto do it.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, well, you're in the moment and you know, you
think you'd learn, because inRegis there's so many moments I
wish I was like oh're aninspiration, oh thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
We need on-camera photographers so we can just do
our thing.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Very true, very true.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
How did you get into this industry?
What was the catalyst that gotyou started down this trajectory
?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Yeah there's.
I think, like anything I do, itwas like a long, circuitous
route.
There's nothing that I do everseems to like be straightforward
.
No-transcript, it was just forreally for fun.
(02:30):
You know, I wasn't reallythinking of it as a career or
anything like that.
It was just something a groupof friends did and we had a lot
of fun and we learned a lot.
So it was not like my firstexposure that I did some music,
I appeared in some music videosand some things like that and
then kind of went my way to domy own thing.
And you know, I had a career infinance for a while and
somewhere along that way Ibecame a professional ballroom
(02:53):
dancer.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh, wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, and so I'm sure you guys know Shane LeCope.
He was actually my partner.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, no-transcript some opportunities on the series
(03:28):
Underground and had theopportunity to actually help
choreograph and help coach themain actors as well as to appear
in it.
And I just realized that Ialways had a love of
storytelling.
I've always written I mean, aslong as I could hold a pencil
I've written.
So I've always had thisaffinity for storytelling and I
saw this possibility, thisamazing possibility to bring
(03:50):
these worlds together and I washooked.
So I was like, okay, if I'mgoing to do this, then I better
start learning this craft andreally understanding what it
takes If I want to do this withsome real skill and be able to
effectively tell stories,whether it's through the medium
of an actress or, you know, beable to write for film.
And then now has brought me toa place of directing.
(04:11):
I just studied a lot, studiedwith the people here, everybody
from Jim Gleason to James Dumontand went through an NYU program
for filmmaking, just consumingeverything that I can.
And then here I am.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Sweet Directing, you say need any actors?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, that's oh, you know, it's starting as well.
I mean, I guess originalstarting as a writer, but not
necessarily with the intentionof writing for film and then
coming to acting, and acting wasjust something that I hadn't
really considered, because I'msuch an introvert.
I'm a natural introvert.
If you told me 30 years ago,you look way down the road of
your life, you're going to be infront of a camera, I would have
thought absolutely no way,there's no way.
(04:56):
I mean, I've done some modeling, but it's completely,
completely a thing.
It's such a vulnerability.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I can tell you're so shy right now.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, you know, I've had a lot of time.
I've had a lot of time to getused to it.
I did a lot of public speakingin my early 20s and I think that
(05:27):
helped break that shell, helpedme break through that shell.
I think the process actually of, like, I think, dancing
especially, you know, inballroom dance, I mean all dance
you know performance, dance,performance you are telling a
story, you know you areconveying an emotion, and I
think that was something elsethat really helped me start to
break out of that shell.
I would never have dreamed, butI absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Dancing's a big vulnerability for me.
It's something I've never beenconfident or comfortable doing,
especially in public, but Ithink it's important.
It's important in this industry.
Since I've gotten into acting,I'm trying to peel back all
those layers I'm not a strongintrovert, but maybe a little
(05:55):
bit and trying to getcomfortable on camera to do
anything that needs to be done,especially an audition for
commercials.
It's a completely different feelthan movies, television,
anything else.
And there's been things thathave come up where you have to
dance, even one where you haveto sing, and that was even worse
(06:17):
.
I think that's my two biggestweakest areas.
I've taken some singing, butI've never taken really any
dance lessons, and I don't know,I don't have natural rhythm.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Well, you know, we can solve that problem, tj, we
can work that out.
I definitely can solve thatproblem for you.
Yeah, no, it is.
Dancing is all of those thingsare because you are putting this
very vulnerable side ofyourself out there on view for
the world.
And is you know, I think thereare a few things, more than our
(06:52):
physicality or our voice or ouremotions, that make us more
vulnerable.
Beautiful about film is that weare seeing that vulnerability
of other human beings anddrawing that relationship to
ourselves.
We're seeing those littlepieces, those little images of
(07:13):
ourselves and those actors ordancers, and I think it's just,
it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
TJ and I were thrilled this year to be a part
of the Abita SpringsInternational Film Festival 7
and 7 film competition.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That was a blast.
It was.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Oh, and you guys did a great job.
A great job yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And of course, the 7 and 7 is just a piece of our
bigger festival.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Tell us more.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So coming up the weekend of January 10th.
So January 10th, 11th and 12th,tell us more.
Hall, we have some amazingfilms that are going to be
screened.
We are still actually in theprocess of making our final
selections, so that will be atthe next five days.
We'll actually have ournotification of who our
selections are, and we also havesome great panels this year.
(08:16):
One of the highlights for lastyear was our Actors Panel, which
was fantastic, and we haveanother great one planned this
year with that.
Billy Slaughter is going to bejoining us, james Dumont and
Mahoney, and we also have afilmmaker panel, which has got
some incredible guests.
It is something that everybodyneeds to get their tickets and
come out and join us.
We're growing quickly.
(08:37):
So, even though we're only inour second year, we are already
an IMDb qualifying festival,which is something that usually
takes five years, but we'realready there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, that's incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, so we've got some great support.
Quixote Studios is ourexecutive sponsor for this year,
among others, and they've givenus wonderful support.
It's going to be a reallyexciting festival.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
That's exciting.
I've studied with all three ofthose people, all three of those
panelists that you mentionedBilly, james and Anne, all three
.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, and probably some more, but we'll wait till
they're confirmed to you know torelease that, but it is going
to be really good.
And every year we are doing adifferent theme.
Last year of our initial yearwas the magic of movies, and so
we had some wonderful films andwe had Michael Darden who
actually opened with a wholemagic show for us, which was so
(09:26):
much fun.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, and this year our theme is actually going to
be Indigenous voices, and so weare focusing.
We have some wonderfulfilmmakers Maya Hernandez-Fitch,
who's going to be joining usand we'll be screening her
documentary film but we'refocusing on films that highlight
that are either by Indigenousfilmmakers or that highlight
stories from Indigenousfilmmakers.
(09:48):
And really, because we havesuch, and especially here in
Louisiana, we've got thisculturally rich heritage and
environment here and we reallywanted to take the opportunity
to highlight that, not just fromLouisiana, but really we are an
international film festival, sowe really wanted to take the
opportunity to show that fromall over the world and those
(10:08):
unique perspectives, so we'repretty excited about that.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Sweet.
How did you come to be involvedwith this festival?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I have had the opportunity in the past.
I've done some projects withSherrod and Philippe, who is
always looking to bring teamstogether to accomplish something
.
He's really, really good atthat.
I got a phone call from him oneday saying hey, I really want
to have been thinking about thisand would like to put a team
together to talk about thepossibility of starting a film
festival.
(10:37):
And one of the other people thathe had in that group was Yvette
Randolph, and she lives inAbita Springs.
She's an integral part of thattown.
She had been having a verysimilar idea about wanting to
host a film festival in AbitaSprings and I'm like just on the
other side of the city line forAbita Springs.
And then Bob Krieger was one ofthe other board members.
We were all there and it justseemed to all fall into place
(11:00):
that we had all been thinkingthe same thing about having this
film festival on the NorthShore and Abia Springs because
it's so centered around artists,and it seemed like absolutely
the perfect place and everything, just you know, fell together
from there and so we wereprimarily the founding board for
that and we had just a greatfirst year the films that we got
(11:23):
you know internationally andfor our first year, were just
incredible.
We were blown away and knewthat we had made a good decision
and really wanted to keep thatup.
Anything that we can do to tocontinue to fuel the Louisiana
film industry.
Yeah, because I think it's justand really to put a spotlight on
it, not just regionally ornationally, but internationally,
(11:45):
and everything that we can doto highlight the ability that we
have here but also just theimportance that film plays for
so many people in Louisiana.
It is incredible how impactfulfilm is for so many people on
their livelihood, on theirartistry, and so that's
something we really wanted Ourspecial award that goes to our
(12:09):
chosen film, our select film,for to honor a filmmaker who
really embodies that idea of theartistry, the dedication to
that craft, in a really specialway.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
So yeah, nice, I'm trying to formulate the question
that's kind of in my head.
Let me see if I can pull it up.
So you've gone from dancing toacting, producing, directing,
festival making, coordinatingyes, acting producing, directing
, festival making, coordinatingand everything that.
When I listen to people, evenmusicians, do, it's all
storytelling.
Yes, absolutely so what wouldyou tell someone who hasn't
(12:51):
gotten into the business, has astory but does not know or isn't
confident enough?
To share that story witheveryone.
How would you inspire them?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, I think that it is such an incredibly important
.
That's one of the reasons thatI love and I'm so passionate
about being a filmmaker.
Maya Angelou has this greatquote that I just became aware
of not too long ago.
I should have known it before,but if I get it slightly wrong,
I'm sorry, but the gist isthere's no greater agony than
(13:20):
bearing an untold story withinyou.
And thought about that and Iwas like, because we do, we all
have these stories to tell andthe sharing of those stories is
incredibly important.
Because this is going to be along answer, I'm sorry, I'm
getting, but I'm getting there.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
No, that's what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
We're here to listen to your long stories.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Yeah, we're here to celebrate your story.
I mean, that's what we lovehearing people's journeys.
The longer the story, it's allgood.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And that's really it.
I think that for me, you know,when you think about art, right,
whether it's visual art,whether it's music, like you
said, it's all storytelling, butthere is no medium more
powerful than film because, itis everything together, this
sensory experience that we haveas human beings.
(14:13):
Film captivates and engages, allof it Simultaneously.
There is no more powerful way,I think, to move someone, to
inspire someone, to evokeempathy, which is something
that's really important to meand for people who have these
stories.
It's so important for them tobe heard, because how many
(14:35):
people have stories that are nottold and will never have the
opportunity to tell their storyfor one reason or another?
And so the ones that do havethat inclination, that little
inkling of an idea of wow, I'dreally like to.
I don't know, but I don't knowif my story is worth being heard
.
It absolutely is, and somebodyout there will relate to it.
(14:56):
Somebody out there will benefitfrom a heartfelt story that is
a piece of yourself.
I think it's incrediblyimportant for people to have
that confidence, because there'svalue in everyone's story, and
there are enough people there,especially and this is another
reason why I think it's soimportant to fuel the film
industry here we have such aunique film community here, and
(15:19):
I would argue that we areuniquely positioned to tell
stories that don't get told veryoften, and so I think that if
people are willing to bravereaching out and telling their
story and, you know, trying toconnect with filmmakers or
trying to connect with peoplewho are in a position to help
(15:39):
them bring that story out intothe world.
They absolutely should do it,because there is value in it,
there's a place in the world,there's a need for it.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Damn right.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, that was really well put.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Thank you.
I just know personally.
I mean think about a film thathas changed your perspective or
that has changed your life orthat inspired you to you know
whether it inspired you to be anactor or a storyteller or just
inspired you to change yourperspective on something.
I think that film is such anincredibly important and
(16:10):
powerful medium.
You know, when you read about,you know some incredibly
important people in the worldtook the path that they did.
They were inspired to take thatworld-changing path because of
something they saw in a movie,something they saw in a film, in
a documentary, and seeing thatwas the catalyst for them to
make a decisive change or takethis incredibly bold action in
(16:34):
their life that would go on tochange other people's lives for
the better.
I think it's pretty incredibleand I want to share that more
and more with people.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Wait what.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Look how many astronauts Star Trek has
inspired.
Oh yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Yeah, oh yeah.
I mean think about how manychildren and this isn't because
I'm also an educator, I'm also ateacher and you ask kids taught
all ages, all the way up toadults what do you want to be
when you grow up?
Well, they don't all have theopportunity to go, and you know,
and visit the NASA facility orto go and visit the White House
to see what would it be like todo this.
(17:10):
So I think that those movies,those films, they give that
inspiration, they give thispicture of possibility to kids
and I think that's alsosomething that's really cool.
I think every great, I justthink that's also something
that's really cool, I thinkevery great, I just think that
so many wonderful things, somany wonderful ideas are
(17:30):
inspired by if you just ask thequestion.
I wonder I wonder, and I thinkthat it's an important question,
not just for children to ask,but for children of all ages and
adults.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, children of all ages.
Yeah, I get it.
Yes, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Man, man, child over there.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Damn right.
Well, like I never thought Icould ever be in the acting
business because I could neverget to Hollywood, not that.
I ever tried and I fan ofcomedy, like we've talked, you
know HBO standup specials andall that.
Love my fantasy movies.
Love movies, love stories, love, love, love, love.
And then all of a sudden, kevinSmith comes to town and asks
his fans to be in the background.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
It's like okay, right , and the bug bit me.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Yeah, then I want to take lessons, I want to speak
and I've done student films, anyfilm, short films.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Now I want some SAG yeah Next step.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Sorry I'm putting that out in the world and I same
for me.
I started background and Ididn't think it was possible.
I didn't think there wasanything that I had to offer.
I didn't think there wasanything special about me to be
able to be someone doingspeaking lines.
And he told me all right, hereare the steps, here's what you
(18:44):
need to do.
You need to take some actingclasses, get some professional
headshots, start doing somestudent films and just get out
there and start acting.
And he regularly says always beacting, find a way.
And had it not been for that oneconversation, I might not have
ever taken the leap to get intoit and start doing it.
(19:05):
I'm really glad I did.
I just absolutely love it.
I've got a passion for it andfestivals and things like this
where we get together and putthese films together.
It's inspiring the nextgeneration of filmmakers.
There's a film that I was apart of that's releasing next
week by some young collegestudents that make film in their
(19:26):
off time during the summer'soff time breaks.
They're the next generation offilmmakers.
And it's about putting thosestories out there.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Well, that's you know .
One of the things that I've hadthe opportunity and been
fortunate enough to have theopportunity to do is to teach
filmmaking and acting to kidsand to help them produce films.
So I had to kind of put it tothe side this past year just
because there was so muchhappening with the film festival
and other things.
But I had a group of kidscalled Wolfpack Films and they
(19:56):
were such an incredibly specialgroup of kids and to watch their
growth over years, from justlearning to be in front of a
camera to then taking hold ofideas and figuring out what
stories they wanted to tell andrealizing that they had a voice,
and to see them embrace thismedium and use it to tell these
(20:19):
stories and to demonstrate in anextremely, extremely vulnerable
way these emotions and theseexperiences that they were
having, and especially at theseages like nine to 14, nine to 15
, there's so much going on and Iwas stunned at the things that
they wanted, the stories theywanted to tell, the things that
(20:40):
they wanted to talk about.
They wanted to talk aboutrejection, they wanted to talk
about grief, they wanted to talkabout pressure and distress of
life and being alienated andthese very heavy topics and I
was sure you guys want to do itand they did it, and they did it
beautifully and there'ssomething so powerful about a
(21:03):
child who has realized thispower in telling their story and
their voice.
And then you know, not justwriting it, but they acted it.
So a short film that I did,earth Beneath Me, which is kind
of now just getting out into theworld.
You see this glimpse of whatthey did and it's so incredibly
moving and emotional.
The tears that are in this filmare real.
(21:24):
It is because they wrote thisfrom the heart.
It's just incredibly powerful.
Yes, the next generation offilmmakers.
It's so important to have thatexample and to have those
avenues out there because, yeah,it's wonderful for them.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
And inspiring for the rest of us, because some of the
things they think of some ofthe ideas, you know, they're so
pure.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
It's such a cool thing to watch.
It really is.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Do you do that through the school system or is
it like an after school program?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
It is not through school system, it's a group,
because it did come in part fromstudents that I taught in one
school or another.
But I started actuallyoriginally through a private
school where I was teaching, butthen when I left the kids still
wanted to do it and then theirfriend in the community wanted
to.
It was kind of a unique setupbecause we weren't just doing
acting and it wasn't just afilmmaker's program.
I sort of brought everythingtogether, so some of them would
(22:19):
be writers and some of themwould be the director and some
of them would be behind thecamera and they would switch
roles.
You know, they wanted to learnit all.
I didn't really advertise.
I kept it very selectivebecause I wanted the ones that
were truly dedicated and reallyreally passionate and it was
incredible what they were ableto accomplish and the growth
that they demonstrated.
(22:40):
I miss it.
I'm going to have to get.
I'm going to have to get backto that.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah, that's cool If only we had more hours in the
day.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
That's, that's exactly that is, yeah, sort of
story, story of my life, becauseI there's so much that I am
passionate about and I wantedand I want to do, but it's, you
know, it is, yeah, I guess,something of a juggling act, and
I have two of my own.
I've got 15 year old twins whoare also actors and they are
also filmmakers, and my 15 yearold son has probably more and
(23:11):
daughter of them probably havemore crew film crew hours than a
lot of adults I know at thispoint.
But they, you know, they loveit, they love to learn every
aspect of it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
That's awesome.
They'll be well-rounded by thetime they reach adulthood.
They'll be well-rounded by thetime they reach adulthood.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Oh, absolutely, I don't know if they're going to
continue to pursue that as acareer.
I think one or the other ofthem very well may, but they've
gotten so much out of you know.
I know there's some people thatare like hesitant about having
their kids in the film industry,and I think if you do it right,
and especially with the filmcommunity that we have here, it
provides some opportunities forwonderful experiences for them,
(23:48):
and they've only benefited fromit.
It has broadened their horizonsin a way that could never have
been done otherwise, and for thebetter.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, my 14-year-old daughter is an introvert but she
acts.
She's doing the Nutcrackerright now and she's done a lot
of different stage plays,musicals, musical theater and I
brought her along when we didthe seven and seven and she huh.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Oh yeah, it's that too that I was thinking, the 48,
but you did both.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Yeah, she well, for the 48, she was only able to be
there for just a few hours, butfor the seven and seven she
stayed with us the whole timeand PA'd and started learning
about grip and she's quiet anddoesn't ask a lot of questions
and doesn't speak up a lot, butshe was soaking it all in and
she had a great time being onset.
They treated her just like anyother crew member and I think
(24:37):
that was really important forher to learn the behind the
scenes stuff.
And I think it's important foractors too, to understand how
all the different aspects of itwork to bring that story to
light.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
With everything that's involved sound, lighting,
set, decoration, everything.
And, you know, in keeping withwhat you said, trying to get her
involved early on when she'sable, wants to come back and
work on another film project.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah, yeah, no, I think it's a wonderful
opportunity for them and theyget to learn so much about you
know different, different, youknow different kinds of people,
different personalities, andboth of mine had the chance to
PA on well, a number ofdifferent things, but most
recently on a film I did withGhostwrite Media and Matthew
Judd that we went to LA FilmPrize and so they got to be a
part of that and see that withsome incredible actors.
(25:29):
My son has worked extensivelywith Hick Jeremy and they're
like their buddies, you know.
So it's been.
Yeah, they've had some reallyphenomenal experiences.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Yeah, I know, carlos.
Carlos is a good guy.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Carlos is great.
Yeah, yeah, and congratulationson his engagement to Janet.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Congratulations, congratulations, that poor girl.
No, I'm just kidding, that's mystandard joke.
You know, this is my betterhalf.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Run.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You know, it's what they all said to Cherie when she
married me.
No, I'm just kidding, that wasonly my mother-in-law, but
that's a whole other story.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
That could be a whole episode by itself.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Ooh need a couch for that one and a therapist.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
But back to the film festival, I really would
encourage people to come out andsee these films because we've
got some, you know.
Being that we are aninternational film festival, we
have films that you're probablynot going to encounter anywhere
else.
Some of the ones that we hadlast year told some really
powerful stories.
Just to see inside, take aglimpse inside, not only those
(26:37):
cultures, but also learning alittle bit about the experiences
of filmmakers in othercountries.
In other countries, some ofwhich it's very easy to make a
film, and other places where itis very difficult to make a film
and share it with the world, tosee those stories and to see
just the beauty in theirartistry and the power of their
(26:58):
stories, coupled with theknowledge of what they had to go
through just to get those filmsmade and out into the world,
was very inspiring.
As a filmmaker, we take forgranted, honestly, how
relatively easy it is for us.
You know we have these resourcesand these opportunities
available to us, but it's notthat easy for everybody.
(27:19):
That's one of the specialthings about our festival.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
How many films total will be included in the watch
list?
Speaker 1 (27:25):
We're not sure yet Got about 48, I think right now
that we need to go through tomake our final determination of
what's going to be selected andscreened.
We'll know in the next week.
Everybody can check out ourFacebook page or our website and
we'll have a good idea by then.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Do you know how many, from how many different
countries people areparticipating?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Let me see.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I mean I'm sure it changes from year to year.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, it does, and I'm trying to think I might be
able to give a better numberfrom last year.
We had at least a half a dozendifferent countries.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Probably more, and I would say that we probably have
comparable this year.
So from all over, I mean allover the place.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Every continent almost.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
So what's the website where they can buy the tickets?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
If they go to abitafilmfestorg, they can find
all the information there, aswell as our Facebook page.
We have a lot of regularlyupdated information there as
well.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Fiona, thanks so much for joining us.
You have an incredible story.
You have a lot of differenthats that you wear.
All of them seem to be centeredon telling stories, and that's
very fascinating to me.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Thank you so much for having me Really enjoyed the
conversation and seeing you both.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Good seeing you and I can't wait till you start
selling the storytelling hats.
Yes,
Hi, I am Fiona McQuinn.
I am a writer, actress anddirector and I am over the moon
to be joining you guys here onNOLA Film Scene.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Three, two, one.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year Yay, yay, Yay.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Fiona, it's so good to have you.
This has been a long timecoming.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
This is our second time meeting.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We met at the Actor Summit.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
It feels like more it feels like more because you
know, I think we see so muchdigitally, virtually of each
other.
Yeah, what you're saying isBrian posted another picture,
brian posted another pictureJust a few, but that's good
Somebody's got to because youknow, the rest of us are like
forgetting.
We walk out and we're like, ohno.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I couldn't go to a premiere and it was in Houston,
indigo the last days and I justcouldn't make the trip and
nobody really took selfies.
I and I just couldn't make thetrip and nobody really took
selfies.
I'm like have I taught younothing?
Speaker 1 (01:07):
That will be your legacy, if nothing else which
I'm sure there's plenty more butthat will be like your
paramount legacy Picture Plato.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
We joked about that on set this past weekend.
I was saying I always forget.
I always forget to take selfies.
And that's Brian's firstquestion Do you take any
pictures?
I forget, and then I pull itout and maybe get one or two in,
and by then it's a little toolate.
I just never have it on my mindto do it.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, well, you're in the moment and you know, you
think you'd learn, because inRegis there's so many moments I
wish I was like oh're aninspiration, oh thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
We need on-camera photographers so we can just do
our thing.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Very true, very true.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
How did you get into this industry?
What was the catalyst that gotyou started down this trajectory
?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Yeah there's.
I think, like anything I do, itwas like a long, circuitous
route.
There's nothing that I do everseems to like be straightforward
.
No-transcript, it was just forreally for fun.
(02:30):
You know, I wasn't reallythinking of it as a career or
anything like that.
It was just something a groupof friends did and we had a lot
of fun and we learned a lot.
So it was not like my firstexposure that I did some music,
I appeared in some music videosand some things like that and
then kind of went my way to domy own thing.
And you know, I had a career infinance for a while and
somewhere along that way Ibecame a professional ballroom
(02:53):
dancer.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh, wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, and so I'm sure you guys know Shane LeCope.
He was actually my partner.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, no-transcript some opportunities on the series
(03:28):
Underground and had theopportunity to actually help
choreograph and help coach themain actors as well as to appear
in it.
And I just realized that Ialways had a love of
storytelling.
I've always written I mean, aslong as I could hold a pencil
I've written.
So I've always had thisaffinity for storytelling and I
saw this possibility, thisamazing possibility to bring
(03:50):
these worlds together and I washooked.
So I was like, okay, if I'mgoing to do this, then I better
start learning this craft andreally understanding what it
takes If I want to do this withsome real skill and be able to
effectively tell stories,whether it's through the medium
of an actress or, you know, beable to write for film.
And then now has brought me toa place of directing.
(04:11):
I just studied a lot, studiedwith the people here, everybody
from Jim Gleason to James Dumontand went through an NYU program
for filmmaking, just consumingeverything that I can.
And then here I am.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Sweet Directing, you say need any actors?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, that's oh, you know, it's starting as well.
I mean, I guess originalstarting as a writer, but not
necessarily with the intentionof writing for film and then
coming to acting, and acting wasjust something that I hadn't
really considered, because I'msuch an introvert.
I'm a natural introvert.
If you told me 30 years ago,you look way down the road of
your life, you're going to be infront of a camera, I would have
thought absolutely no way,there's no way.
(04:56):
I mean, I've done some modeling, but it's completely,
completely a thing.
It's such a vulnerability.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I can tell you're so shy right now.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, you know, I've had a lot of time.
I've had a lot of time to getused to it.
I did a lot of public speakingin my early 20s and I think that
(05:27):
helped break that shell, helpedme break through that shell.
I think the process actually of, like, I think, dancing
especially, you know, inballroom dance, I mean all dance
you know performance, dance,performance you are telling a
story, you know you areconveying an emotion, and I
think that was something elsethat really helped me start to
break out of that shell.
I would never have dreamed, butI absolutely love it.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Dancing's a big vulnerability for me.
It's something I've never beenconfident or comfortable doing,
especially in public, but Ithink it's important.
It's important in this industry.
Since I've gotten into acting,I'm trying to peel back all
those layers I'm not a strongintrovert, but maybe a little
(05:55):
bit and trying to getcomfortable on camera to do
anything that needs to be done,especially an audition for
commercials.
It's a completely different feelthan movies, television,
anything else.
And there's been things thathave come up where you have to
dance, even one where you haveto sing, and that was even worse
(06:17):
.
I think that's my two biggestweakest areas.
I've taken some singing, butI've never taken really any
dance lessons, and I don't know,I don't have natural rhythm.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Well, you know, we can solve that problem, tj, we
can work that out.
I definitely can solve thatproblem for you.
Yeah, no, it is.
Dancing is all of those thingsare because you are putting this
very vulnerable side ofyourself out there on view for
the world.
And is you know, I think thereare a few things, more than our
(06:52):
physicality or our voice or ouremotions, that make us more
vulnerable.
Beautiful about film is that weare seeing that vulnerability
of other human beings anddrawing that relationship to
ourselves.
We're seeing those littlepieces, those little images of
(07:13):
ourselves and those actors ordancers, and I think it's just,
it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
TJ and I were thrilled this year to be a part
of the Abita SpringsInternational Film Festival 7
and 7 film competition.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That was a blast.
It was.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Oh, and you guys did a great job.
A great job yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And of course, the 7 and 7 is just a piece of our
bigger festival.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Tell us more.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So coming up the weekend of January 10th.
So January 10th, 11th and 12th,tell us more.
Hall, we have some amazingfilms that are going to be
screened.
We are still actually in theprocess of making our final
selections, so that will be atthe next five days.
We'll actually have ournotification of who our
selections are, and we also havesome great panels this year.
(08:16):
One of the highlights for lastyear was our Actors Panel, which
was fantastic, and we haveanother great one planned this
year with that.
Billy Slaughter is going to bejoining us, james Dumont and
Mahoney, and we also have afilmmaker panel, which has got
some incredible guests.
It is something that everybodyneeds to get their tickets and
come out and join us.
We're growing quickly.
(08:37):
So, even though we're only inour second year, we are already
an IMDb qualifying festival,which is something that usually
takes five years, but we'realready there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, that's incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, so we've got some great support.
Quixote Studios is ourexecutive sponsor for this year,
among others, and they've givenus wonderful support.
It's going to be a reallyexciting festival.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
That's exciting.
I've studied with all three ofthose people, all three of those
panelists that you mentionedBilly, james and Anne, all three
.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, and probably some more, but we'll wait till
they're confirmed to you know torelease that, but it is going
to be really good.
And every year we are doing adifferent theme.
Last year of our initial yearwas the magic of movies, and so
we had some wonderful films andwe had Michael Darden who
actually opened with a wholemagic show for us, which was so
(09:26):
much fun.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, and this year our theme is actually going to
be Indigenous voices, and so weare focusing.
We have some wonderfulfilmmakers Maya Hernandez-Fitch,
who's going to be joining usand we'll be screening her
documentary film but we'refocusing on films that highlight
that are either by Indigenousfilmmakers or that highlight
stories from Indigenousfilmmakers.
(09:48):
And really, because we havesuch, and especially here in
Louisiana, we've got thisculturally rich heritage and
environment here and we reallywanted to take the opportunity
to highlight that, not just fromLouisiana, but really we are an
international film festival, sowe really wanted to take the
opportunity to show that fromall over the world and those
(10:08):
unique perspectives, so we'repretty excited about that.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Sweet.
How did you come to be involvedwith this festival?
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I have had the opportunity in the past.
I've done some projects withSherrod and Philippe, who is
always looking to bring teamstogether to accomplish something
.
He's really, really good atthat.
I got a phone call from him oneday saying hey, I really want
to have been thinking about thisand would like to put a team
together to talk about thepossibility of starting a film
festival.
(10:37):
And one of the other people thathe had in that group was Yvette
Randolph, and she lives inAbita Springs.
She's an integral part of thattown.
She had been having a verysimilar idea about wanting to
host a film festival in AbitaSprings and I'm like just on the
other side of the city line forAbita Springs.
And then Bob Krieger was one ofthe other board members.
We were all there and it justseemed to all fall into place
(11:00):
that we had all been thinkingthe same thing about having this
film festival on the NorthShore and Abia Springs because
it's so centered around artists,and it seemed like absolutely
the perfect place and everything, just you know, fell together
from there and so we wereprimarily the founding board for
that and we had just a greatfirst year the films that we got
(11:23):
you know internationally andfor our first year, were just
incredible.
We were blown away and knewthat we had made a good decision
and really wanted to keep thatup.
Anything that we can do to tocontinue to fuel the Louisiana
film industry.
Yeah, because I think it's justand really to put a spotlight on
it, not just regionally ornationally, but internationally,
(11:45):
and everything that we can doto highlight the ability that we
have here but also just theimportance that film plays for
so many people in Louisiana.
It is incredible how impactfulfilm is for so many people on
their livelihood, on theirartistry, and so that's
something we really wanted Ourspecial award that goes to our
(12:09):
chosen film, our select film,for to honor a filmmaker who
really embodies that idea of theartistry, the dedication to
that craft, in a really specialway.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
So yeah, nice, I'm trying to formulate the question
that's kind of in my head.
Let me see if I can pull it up.
So you've gone from dancing toacting, producing, directing,
festival making, coordinatingyes, acting producing, directing
, festival making, coordinatingand everything that.
When I listen to people, evenmusicians, do, it's all
storytelling.
Yes, absolutely so what wouldyou tell someone who hasn't
(12:51):
gotten into the business, has astory but does not know or isn't
confident enough?
To share that story witheveryone.
How would you inspire them?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, I think that it is such an incredibly important
.
That's one of the reasons thatI love and I'm so passionate
about being a filmmaker.
Maya Angelou has this greatquote that I just became aware
of not too long ago.
I should have known it before,but if I get it slightly wrong,
I'm sorry, but the gist isthere's no greater agony than
(13:20):
bearing an untold story withinyou.
And thought about that and Iwas like, because we do, we all
have these stories to tell andthe sharing of those stories is
incredibly important.
Because this is going to be along answer, I'm sorry, I'm
getting, but I'm getting there.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
No, that's what we're here for.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
We're here to listen to your long stories.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Yeah, we're here to celebrate your story.
I mean, that's what we lovehearing people's journeys.
The longer the story, it's allgood.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And that's really it.
I think that for me, you know,when you think about art, right,
whether it's visual art,whether it's music, like you
said, it's all storytelling, butthere is no medium more
powerful than film because, itis everything together, this
sensory experience that we haveas human beings.
(14:13):
Film captivates and engages, allof it Simultaneously.
There is no more powerful way,I think, to move someone, to
inspire someone, to evokeempathy, which is something
that's really important to meand for people who have these
stories.
It's so important for them tobe heard, because how many
(14:35):
people have stories that are nottold and will never have the
opportunity to tell their storyfor one reason or another?
And so the ones that do havethat inclination, that little
inkling of an idea of wow, I'dreally like to.
I don't know, but I don't knowif my story is worth being heard
.
It absolutely is, and somebodyout there will relate to it.
(14:56):
Somebody out there will benefitfrom a heartfelt story that is
a piece of yourself.
I think it's incrediblyimportant for people to have
that confidence, because there'svalue in everyone's story, and
there are enough people there,especially and this is another
reason why I think it's soimportant to fuel the film
industry here we have such aunique film community here, and
(15:19):
I would argue that we areuniquely positioned to tell
stories that don't get told veryoften, and so I think that if
people are willing to bravereaching out and telling their
story and, you know, trying toconnect with filmmakers or
trying to connect with peoplewho are in a position to help
(15:39):
them bring that story out intothe world.
They absolutely should do it,because there is value in it,
there's a place in the world,there's a need for it.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Damn right.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, that was really well put.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Thank you.
I just know personally.
I mean think about a film thathas changed your perspective or
that has changed your life orthat inspired you to you know
whether it inspired you to be anactor or a storyteller or just
inspired you to change yourperspective on something.
I think that film is such anincredibly important and
(16:10):
powerful medium.
You know, when you read about,you know some incredibly
important people in the worldtook the path that they did.
They were inspired to take thatworld-changing path because of
something they saw in a movie,something they saw in a film, in
a documentary, and seeing thatwas the catalyst for them to
make a decisive change or takethis incredibly bold action in
(16:34):
their life that would go on tochange other people's lives for
the better.
I think it's pretty incredibleand I want to share that more
and more with people.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Wait what.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Look how many astronauts Star Trek has
inspired.
Oh yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Yeah, oh yeah.
I mean think about how manychildren and this isn't because
I'm also an educator, I'm also ateacher and you ask kids taught
all ages, all the way up toadults what do you want to be
when you grow up?
Well, they don't all have theopportunity to go, and you know,
and visit the NASA facility orto go and visit the White House
to see what would it be like todo this.
(17:10):
So I think that those movies,those films, they give that
inspiration, they give thispicture of possibility to kids
and I think that's alsosomething that's really cool.
I think every great, I justthink that's also something
that's really cool, I thinkevery great, I just think that
so many wonderful things, somany wonderful ideas are
(17:30):
inspired by if you just ask thequestion.
I wonder I wonder, and I thinkthat it's an important question,
not just for children to ask,but for children of all ages and
adults.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, children of all ages.
Yeah, I get it.
Yes, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Man, man, child over there.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Damn right.
Well, like I never thought Icould ever be in the acting
business because I could neverget to Hollywood, not that.
I ever tried and I fan ofcomedy, like we've talked, you
know HBO standup specials andall that.
Love my fantasy movies.
Love movies, love stories, love, love, love, love.
And then all of a sudden, kevinSmith comes to town and asks
his fans to be in the background.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
It's like okay, right , and the bug bit me.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Yeah, then I want to take lessons, I want to speak
and I've done student films, anyfilm, short films.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Now I want some SAG yeah Next step.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Sorry I'm putting that out in the world and I same
for me.
I started background and Ididn't think it was possible.
I didn't think there wasanything that I had to offer.
I didn't think there wasanything special about me to be
able to be someone doingspeaking lines.
And he told me all right, hereare the steps, here's what you
(18:44):
need to do.
You need to take some actingclasses, get some professional
headshots, start doing somestudent films and just get out
there and start acting.
And he regularly says always beacting, find a way.
And had it not been for that oneconversation, I might not have
ever taken the leap to get intoit and start doing it.
(19:05):
I'm really glad I did.
I just absolutely love it.
I've got a passion for it andfestivals and things like this
where we get together and putthese films together.
It's inspiring the nextgeneration of filmmakers.
There's a film that I was apart of that's releasing next
week by some young collegestudents that make film in their
(19:26):
off time during the summer'soff time breaks.
They're the next generation offilmmakers.
And it's about putting thosestories out there.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Well, that's you know .
One of the things that I've hadthe opportunity and been
fortunate enough to have theopportunity to do is to teach
filmmaking and acting to kidsand to help them produce films.
So I had to kind of put it tothe side this past year just
because there was so muchhappening with the film festival
and other things.
But I had a group of kidscalled Wolfpack Films and they
(19:56):
were such an incredibly specialgroup of kids and to watch their
growth over years, from justlearning to be in front of a
camera to then taking hold ofideas and figuring out what
stories they wanted to tell andrealizing that they had a voice,
and to see them embrace thismedium and use it to tell these
(20:19):
stories and to demonstrate in anextremely, extremely vulnerable
way these emotions and theseexperiences that they were
having, and especially at theseages like nine to 14, nine to 15
, there's so much going on and Iwas stunned at the things that
they wanted, the stories theywanted to tell, the things that
(20:40):
they wanted to talk about.
They wanted to talk aboutrejection, they wanted to talk
about grief, they wanted to talkabout pressure and distress of
life and being alienated andthese very heavy topics and I
was sure you guys want to do itand they did it, and they did it
beautifully and there'ssomething so powerful about a
(21:03):
child who has realized thispower in telling their story and
their voice.
And then you know, not justwriting it, but they acted it.
So a short film that I did,earth Beneath Me, which is kind
of now just getting out into theworld.
You see this glimpse of whatthey did and it's so incredibly
moving and emotional.
The tears that are in this filmare real.
(21:24):
It is because they wrote thisfrom the heart.
It's just incredibly powerful.
Yes, the next generation offilmmakers.
It's so important to have thatexample and to have those
avenues out there because, yeah,it's wonderful for them.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
And inspiring for the rest of us, because some of the
things they think of some ofthe ideas, you know, they're so
pure.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
It's such a cool thing to watch.
It really is.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Do you do that through the school system or is
it like an after school program?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
It is not through school system, it's a group,
because it did come in part fromstudents that I taught in one
school or another.
But I started actuallyoriginally through a private
school where I was teaching, butthen when I left the kids still
wanted to do it and then theirfriend in the community wanted
to.
It was kind of a unique setupbecause we weren't just doing
acting and it wasn't just afilmmaker's program.
I sort of brought everythingtogether, so some of them would
(22:19):
be writers and some of themwould be the director and some
of them would be behind thecamera and they would switch
roles.
You know, they wanted to learnit all.
I didn't really advertise.
I kept it very selectivebecause I wanted the ones that
were truly dedicated and reallyreally passionate and it was
incredible what they were ableto accomplish and the growth
that they demonstrated.
(22:40):
I miss it.
I'm going to have to get.
I'm going to have to get backto that.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Yeah, that's cool If only we had more hours in the
day.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
That's, that's exactly that is, yeah, sort of
story, story of my life, becauseI there's so much that I am
passionate about and I wantedand I want to do, but it's, you
know, it is, yeah, I guess,something of a juggling act, and
I have two of my own.
I've got 15 year old twins whoare also actors and they are
also filmmakers, and my 15 yearold son has probably more and
(23:11):
daughter of them probably havemore crew film crew hours than a
lot of adults I know at thispoint.
But they, you know, they loveit, they love to learn every
aspect of it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
That's awesome.
They'll be well-rounded by thetime they reach adulthood.
They'll be well-rounded by thetime they reach adulthood.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Oh, absolutely, I don't know if they're going to
continue to pursue that as acareer.
I think one or the other ofthem very well may, but they've
gotten so much out of you know.
I know there's some people thatare like hesitant about having
their kids in the film industry,and I think if you do it right,
and especially with the filmcommunity that we have here, it
provides some opportunities forwonderful experiences for them,
(23:48):
and they've only benefited fromit.
It has broadened their horizonsin a way that could never have
been done otherwise, and for thebetter.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah, my 14-year-old daughter is an introvert but she
acts.
She's doing the Nutcrackerright now and she's done a lot
of different stage plays,musicals, musical theater and I
brought her along when we didthe seven and seven and she huh.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Oh yeah, it's that too that I was thinking, the 48,
but you did both.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Yeah, she well, for the 48, she was only able to be
there for just a few hours, butfor the seven and seven she
stayed with us the whole timeand PA'd and started learning
about grip and she's quiet anddoesn't ask a lot of questions
and doesn't speak up a lot, butshe was soaking it all in and
she had a great time being onset.
They treated her just like anyother crew member and I think
(24:37):
that was really important forher to learn the behind the
scenes stuff.
And I think it's important foractors too, to understand how
all the different aspects of itwork to bring that story to
light.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
With everything that's involved sound, lighting,
set, decoration, everything.
And, you know, in keeping withwhat you said, trying to get her
involved early on when she'sable, wants to come back and
work on another film project.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah, yeah, no, I think it's a wonderful
opportunity for them and theyget to learn so much about you
know different, different, youknow different kinds of people,
different personalities, andboth of mine had the chance to
PA on well, a number ofdifferent things, but most
recently on a film I did withGhostwrite Media and Matthew
Judd that we went to LA FilmPrize and so they got to be a
part of that and see that withsome incredible actors.
(25:29):
My son has worked extensivelywith Hick Jeremy and they're
like their buddies, you know.
So it's been.
Yeah, they've had some reallyphenomenal experiences.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Yeah, I know, carlos.
Carlos is a good guy.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Carlos is great.
Yeah, yeah, and congratulationson his engagement to Janet.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Congratulations, congratulations, that poor girl.
No, I'm just kidding, that's mystandard joke.
You know, this is my betterhalf.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Run.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You know, it's what they all said to Cherie when she
married me.
No, I'm just kidding, that wasonly my mother-in-law, but
that's a whole other story.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
That could be a whole episode by itself.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Ooh need a couch for that one and a therapist.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
But back to the film festival, I really would
encourage people to come out andsee these films because we've
got some, you know.
Being that we are aninternational film festival, we
have films that you're probablynot going to encounter anywhere
else.
Some of the ones that we hadlast year told some really
powerful stories.
Just to see inside, take aglimpse inside, not only those
(26:37):
cultures, but also learning alittle bit about the experiences
of filmmakers in othercountries.
In other countries, some ofwhich it's very easy to make a
film, and other places where itis very difficult to make a film
and share it with the world, tosee those stories and to see
just the beauty in theirartistry and the power of their
(26:58):
stories, coupled with theknowledge of what they had to go
through just to get those filmsmade and out into the world,
was very inspiring.
As a filmmaker, we take forgranted, honestly, how
relatively easy it is for us.
You know we have these resourcesand these opportunities
available to us, but it's notthat easy for everybody.
(27:19):
That's one of the specialthings about our festival.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
How many films total will be included in the watch
list?
Speaker 1 (27:25):
We're not sure yet Got about 48, I think right now
that we need to go through tomake our final determination of
what's going to be selected andscreened.
We'll know in the next week.
Everybody can check out ourFacebook page or our website and
we'll have a good idea by then.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Do you know how many, from how many different
countries people areparticipating?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Let me see.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I mean I'm sure it changes from year to year.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, it does, and I'm trying to think I might be
able to give a better numberfrom last year.
We had at least a half a dozendifferent countries.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Probably more, and I would say that we probably have
comparable this year.
So from all over, I mean allover the place.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Every continent almost.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
So what's the website where they can buy the tickets?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
If they go to abitafilmfestorg, they can find
all the information there, aswell as our Facebook page.
We have a lot of regularlyupdated information there as
well.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Fiona, thanks so much for joining us.
You have an incredible story.
You have a lot of differenthats that you wear.
All of them seem to be centeredon telling stories, and that's
very fascinating to me.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Thank you so much for having me Really enjoyed the
conversation and seeing you both.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Good seeing you and I can't wait till you start
selling the storytelling hats.
Yes,
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