A TACO, 2min., Mexico
Directed by Antonio Rotunno
A young man walks through the streets of the city when a beggar child asks him for help to eat, will he help him or pass him by?

https://www.instagram.com/antoniorotunnofilmmaker/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

We had plans for another short but it was delayed 2 times, first when one actress got sick and weeks later when the weather changed and it was rainy here, ruining the location. So while waiting to reschedule that, I felt the need to do something quick, and that's how "A Taco" was born: as some kind of really short idea that could be made in one night (the other short has remained in pause).

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It was really quick. I got the idea while walking my dog and watching a person asking for money near a school. The school gave me the idea of changing the beggar from a young adult to a child, bringing a certain innocence to the character. I think it took us only about a week from idea to shooting it, and then the cinematographer was so enthusiastic that he finished post-production by himself in just a couple days!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Bloody funny

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The day of shooting it started to rain really hard at the exact hour we met at the location (the big house on the side of the street where everything happens). 2 crew members didn't arrive because of this and we had to wait for an hour and a half until the rain stopped. In the end I think the rain benefited the look of the street. Another problem was that our sound recorder failed, so we had to connect a microphone directly to the camera. We were worried about having Julian Adolfo (the child), awake so late but fortunately her mom and brothers were also there watching everything and having fun.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Is something I really appreciate so much. I love to see what the audience has to say about our work, as they are the final destination of films. It was really cool to hear their comments, which I'm just sharing with the rest of the crew and actors. Thank you!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I have loved films since I was a child, as well as rock music. I started making music when I was a teenager and at the time thinking of making movies was seen as impossible because film is so expensive. Then I participated as an extra in an experimental movie shot on video (a medium length). And a year after I started working at the University Television Department (Carmen, the director of that movie was also the chief there). This was the nineties and after discovering some underground movies shot on video (mainly horror and some experimental shorts), I realized that maybe I could make movies that way. It took me more than a decade after that to make my first short in 2009 after I took different courses on filmmaking. At that moment technology also had advanced, so using digital has been a great option for low budget filmmaking.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I am not quite sure but maybe "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974), or "Mad Max 2"... (I usually don't re-watch movies now but I did it mainly when I was a teenager).

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think the feedback is a really great thing, and probably something that can always help is to connect with other filmmakers, professionals from the industry, etc. Anything that helps us to be noticed and somehow be known by possible investors, bigger production companies, etc., is good.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It has been a good experience while it has taken some time for me to learn which are the best options to submit according to what we have to offer.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Mexican and oriental.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I'm organizing and trying to finish financing for a horror feature film planned to be shot in February (my third feature).