Interview
Francesco Maffei
Director
Francesco Maffei
Director (Italy)
To take part in "Short Shot Fest".Vincenzo sent short horror film “The Rooftop" shot on...iPhone during COVID-2019 quarantine.
We asked Francesco to share his feelings about this unusual experience.

— Tell us a little about your experience? Was it only a film connected or you did/do something else?
— I made some short films and commercials and I am the director of a cinema school in Rome.
— What inspired you to make your short film? How did you come up with that idea?

— The idea of the film came to me during the lockdown. In those days on TV only were broadcasted tragic and distressing news. I often had nightmares and many were related to the fear of unknowingly infecting my loved ones because of virus.
So I decided to exorcise those fears by making a metaphorical horror thriller.
Spending time on quarantine at home doesn't mean you cant create and shoot a film!
—Tell us how it was to produce your film?

— I shot the film with an iPhone and a gimbal to help me with the movements of the camera. I only used natural lights and then I changed the color in post production.
For the first time I shot a film without a real crew and I personally dealt with all the technical and artistic aspects of the film almost like a painter painting a picture
— Do you have a dream?

— I don't have a dream in particular but many small dreams related to films that I would like to be able to do. One of these will finally come true soon. Next summer I will shot a feature film entitled: in search of "The Godfather" and is is the story of three cinema students who leave the U. S. and arrive in Sicily to shot a documentary on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the release of the film " The Godfather" and involuntarily attend a mafia oath. It is a strong- colored thriller that will be shot in the same places where the shooting of Coppola's masterpiece was made.
— What is your favorite film?

— Among the film that inspired me are all those made by the producer Val Lewton and in particular the three directed by Jacques Tourneur.
But having to make a name I would say "Once upon a time in America" of the great Sergio Leone.
— Give advice for those who want to make a film, but don't know from where to start?
— Thanks to the technology being able to make films has become very easy. I believe that if you really want to make a film you just have to do it. The important things is to have ideas and a minimum of knowledge of the cinematographic language that is obtained only by studying and watching many films.
Made on
Tilda