An interview with the Director of The Double Room and Fragments of an echo, screening at the 2024 Mosaic World Film Festival.
The Double room- Honor, both an artist and dreamer, finds himself in a dystopian reality of the corporate world. Having to face himself, his choice remains in whether to give in for the sake of survival or exist independently from what our culture has conditioned us to accept.
Fragments of an echo- The film is largely made up of fragmented static shots evoking a sense of nostalgia and abandonment of a medical facility soon to be no more.
1. What drew you to create this film?
The Double Room: I wanted to explore the idea of a struggling artist living in his surreal reality needing a regular job in order to survive in this everyday world where power and money seem to be the driving force. In dealing with the politics of qualifying for a job along with technological advancements, I needed to approach the story from an outsider perspective recognizing the human sensibility being replaced by a more cold calculating analysis.
Fragments of an Echo: I felt the need to compile footage of a medical facility I worked for that will be permanently closing soon after many years of providing medical care for the community it belonged to. It was one of the best jobs I’ve had in my life and I wanted to have something special for me to remember it by.
2. What does filmmaking mean to you?
Filmmaking for me means the unique opportunity to explore ideas and bring them to life. It’s the chance to express buried desires that otherwise would be challenging to emote in our mainstream culture built upon rigid ideals.
3. What advice would you give students or beginners that want to make films?
Simply to be honest in whatever style they choose to make films. It’s so easy to get caught up with commercial success and simply wanting to be liked and applauded that we forget the essence of true artistry. Not everything we create from a pure place will be successful and appreciated. As artists, we need to be strong enough to be aware of that and not be afraid to grow.
4. What films do you watch again and again?
To name a few: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Double Indemnity, A Ghost Story, The Witch, Stranger by the Lake, Scarlet Diva, Salo, Rust and Bone, Altered States and Mysterious Skin.
Thank you Martin!
You can get tickets for the #2024mwff here: https://filmfreeway.com/MosaicWorldFilmFestival/tickets