THE NEXT BELLS, 16min., USA
Directed by Joey LaFrance
In this musical, Lily is waiting for an important phone call and navigates life assuming the worst, leading her down a dance-filled, spiraling path of self-discovery.

https://www.instagram.com/the.next.bells_film/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I was motivated to make "The Next Bells" for a few reasons in particular. First, it is a story about appreciating what you have in situations where you might be worried about something that might happen. This theme called to me because in this day and age, especially amongst the young people of the world, many people are engulfed in what their future is going to look like, or are dwelling on the past too much. It can be difficult to break that spell of spiraling thinking, which is something all of us have encountered at some point. I made this film to serve as a reminder to those people to try to live in the moment and not worry about things that are out of their control. Secondly, musicals have always been ingrained in me since I was young. The idea for a musical was the perfect way to put my own personal flair on this film. I could tell a realistic story through an impossible lens. I could show Lily's deeper emotions in an authentic, expressive way that normally would be hidden. At the same time, I could pay homage to an under-appreciated genre of film that I love, creating an exciting project to summarize my film education thus far.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
About a year and a half. I started getting ideas in August 2022, and we finished the film in May 2024.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle we faced making this film was scheduling. Since this is a student film, we were not paying anyone on the crew to work on the film. It was just friends helping each other out rather than employees working. Without the liberty of paying people for their time, combined with everyone having their own busy school schedules and project timelines, finding the right time for everything to work out was incredibly challenging. We lost an actor last minute, had to change shooting days and locations, and had many late-night meetings trying to figure it all out. But major credit goes to the whole team for pushing through and making it happen despite all the obstacles.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was so rewarding for me to see that people were grasping the themes and feelings that I was aiming for with the film. You can never be totally sure that the audience will understand what you're going for, so it was exciting for me to hear people get it the way I intended them to. I was also surprised that everyone in the video seemed to really relate to the film. Since it's a musical, I figured that some people may just not be able to connect to it at all. However, I was pleased that the audience members were responding to it in a positive way and thought that the musical genre enhanced the storytelling.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I realized towards the end of high school that I wanted to make films. Initially, I thought I was going to be a VFX artist, but once I started applying to colleges and seeing what all the film schools offered, I knew I wanted to be a director instead. It was also around this time that I started expanding my taste in films, so combining these factors at the perfect time was essential for me to realize what my path was going to be.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
The film I've seen the most is probably Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I was the perfect age for the Star Wars prequel films growing up, so I would relentlessly rewatch Revenge of the Sith as a kid. I always liked how it was a film where the villains actually won in the end, which is something I had never seen in another film at that time. I have also rewatched a few times as an adult, so at this point there probably isn't another film I've seen more times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
In my opinion, one of the best aspects of film festivals is getting the opportunity to meet other filmmakers like you who have the same goals. I think festivals should always be creating more events, Q+A sessions, and networking opportunities to help filmmakers push their careers forward.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I have had a great experience with the FilmFreeway site. It is such an awesome resource to be able to learn about so many film festivals and find which ones would be right for your film. It has a simple user interface and is easy to operate without having ever used the site before. I also enjoy how the film submission profile offers so many possible details about your film that you are able to add, giving festivals a greater understanding of your film as a whole.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Pizza, hands down. I come from the Pizza Capital of the World, New Haven, CT, so it's an easy choice for me.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I'm currently working on a new short film with my friend and collaborator, Brenden Mascherino (DP of "The Next Bells"). It's called "So Long" and is about how an elderly couple operates in their day-to-day life, showing the intricacies of a relationship built over decades. Their experience mirrors the circle of life as they come to terms with the reality of having to move out of their longtime home. It will be a blend of narrative and documentary and, like "The Next Bells," will be shot on 16mm. Brenden and I are very excited to begin filming in late August 2024.