WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA, 9min., Costa Rica
Directed by Maui Barzuna
Directed and choreographed by Costa Rican-based artist Maui Barzuna, the short dance film Woulda Coulda Shoulda explores the search for self-esteem by trying to live up to an idealized image of yourself to compensate feelings of insecurity, self-doubt & anxiety. This cycle often produce a sense of impending failure that inspires frenzied hard-work and short-lived gratification when failure is delayed. This experience is more specific than mere self-doubt and overthinking. It is the fear of being found out. Revealed for what I really was. The finale - “taking off the mask” involves owning all the various parts of yourself, accepting them instead of trying to get rid of them, and understanding their function in the larger self at the core of one’s being, a shell that must be concealed, but also an intrinsic understanding of the selves as many selves.

https://www.facebook.com/mauibarzuna
https://www.twitter.com/mauibarzuna
https://www.instagram.com/mauibarzuna

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I am not a filmmaker. I've never before made a film. This artform is not my regular medium. I'm a choreographer and I set pieces for the stage. Which means my final product is very ephemeral. I get to see it be performed on stage for a brief period of time and I cannot relive it. I can have a video of the performance but it's not the same thing.
"Woulda Coulda Shoulda" was originally choreographed for Open Doors Festival. A small intimate dance festival in the United States and the audience reaction to the piece was incredible. I did not expect how much the audience related and enjoyed the piece.
Also, I've worked with these 9 dancers since they were children. I am their dance teacher. Most of them were graduating this past year. So I wanted to make something that we could have forever. I wanted this specific piece and their dancing to be stuck in time forever.
I was also so curious in exploring this new artform and discovering how my art would look like thru the lens.
So definitely curiosity motivated me mixed in with a little of nostalgia.

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

The idea originated from an article I read written by Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes at the end of 2021. I met with my dancers in January and we started workshopping the piece in the studio. I finished choreographing the piece at the end of April. The piece like I said was created for a festival we were invited to perform in July. We got home after the festival and I immediately started looking for locations to set the piece. We had one rehearsal on location before filming started. The shoot lasted a weekend and by the end of September 2023 we had a film.

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

Heavy and Thought-provoking

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

I think scheduling was definitely the hardest thing. We had a cast of 9 and my dancers they all work in different areas. Frida is in Advertising, Miranda in Marketing, Karina is an interior designer, others currently in university. So finding a whole weekend when we could really play and explore with the movement and the location was definitely an obstacle.

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

It was incredible. First time I've had an audience who I don't know and I've never connected before in the past look at the film and have reactions to it. It was mind blowing that my film could reach people so far away from me. When I usually present art me and my dancers have to be there physically and so it was incredible to me that the piece was being "performed" and I wasn't there physically but still there in a way. It's been a whirlwind experience.

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

I've always loved films. And I love dance. And I find extremely interesting how the two art forms can come together. With the audience reception of my film it has definitely brought some new found confidence to myself. Maybe as well as a choreographer I am a filmmaker and I am extremely excited to keep discovering this new avenue.

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

The festival is amazing! I love the opportunities it provides us and I am looking forward to connecting with you all more.

I'd only love to see some more social media posts. I've been regularly checking the Instagram page and refreshing it. Looking for some post about my film and I haven't found any. Because I live so far away and can't actually attend most of the live events I'd love to see posts about my film and hopefully have more people interested in watching it and getting to know my work.

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

It's been great. I love the recommendations the site gives me about which festivals could be interested in my work. Also this is my first film and also my first time using film freeway and it makes it very easy for us to"newbies" to learn about the process of application and it's an amazing tool to help our film get out there in the world.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I love tacos and burritos.

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

I am currently setting a new piece on my company. We have some very exciting performances lined up this year. And yes I do have a piece I choreographed on this young dancer which I would love to turn into a short film.