BOY MEETS GIRL, 21min., USA
Directed by Ricardo Franco
Boy Meets Girl is a four song comedy musical about a boy and a girl who meet each other at just the right time.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The writer, Dylan Visvikis is a childhood friend. We went to 5th grade together and would put on plays together. We reconnected in college and wanted to work together. He had a great script with great music, and I was lucky enough to make it.

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

This is a bit emberassing. We shot January 2019, and post production wrapped Spring of 2023. We had some major issues with the production sound, so there was a lot of post work to get it up to par. We also recorded the music after filming, and that took a bit of time as well. In our defense, we did have to put everything on pause for about 16 months during Covid, and then I had a good problem, which was that the cast was very busy working on other projects (Panic on Amazon, The Purge series, McDonalds ads, Lifetime movies, Searching for Alaska on Hulu). Turns out I wasn't the only one that thought the world of this cast. So getting everyone back in a sound booth over the years was a challenge. I joke that this became the Boyhood of shorts.

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

Rather fun.

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

Like I mentioned earlier, the post process.

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

It's the first time I've seen anyone not involved in the making discuss the film, and it was nice to see that some of the things we were going for hit the mark.

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

My 7th birthday was the first time I ever made a "movie". I had friends spend the night and we shot some silly thing on our camcorder. After that I started making movies with the same group of friends, and it became clear to me that's what I wanted to do.

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

Nothing that I can think of. So far it's been great.

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

Overall it's been pretty great. I was able to submit to the festivals I wanted with ease, and the UI as well as the notification system has been very easy to work with.

10. What is your favorite meal?

My initial reaction is to say a good sushi dinner, or a good bolognese, but is it awful if I go with a plain McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder with cheese and a small fry?

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

I'm currently writing a couple of projects that I hope to direct. But since Spring I have largely been occupied as Creative Director for Shaq's Fantasy Lab. An immersive experience on the Las Vegas strip. It's not quite filmmaking, but it's still visual storytelling, the medium is just a bit less defined.