Filmmaking | Interviews

Interview with Filmmaker Rob Azevedo on ‘Candles in Paradise’

10 Sep , 2014  

Written by NewEnglandFilm.com | Posted by:

Filmmaker Rob Azevedo espouses a 'just do it' approach to filmmaking. In this interview with NewEnglandFilm.com, he discusses making and screening his latest award-winning film Candles in Paradise, available to watch online through October 15 as part of the 2014 Online New England Film Festival.

Filmmaker Rob Azevedo espouses a ‘just do it’ approach to filmmaking. In this interview with NewEnglandFilm.com, he discusses making and screening his latest award-winning film Candles in Paradise, available to watch online through October 15 as part of the 2014 Online New England Film Festival.

When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker? And how did you learn — did you just start doing it, did you go to film school?

I never went to film school, never took a class, never wrote a screenplay until, well, until I just did it. I have always, since I was a kid and saw the Outsiders, wanted to, not be a filmmaker, but just make ‘one’ film. So I wrote one and it was turned into a movie called Heavy Seven, which, I think, showed in the Online New England Film Festival a few years back. And yes, I did just start doing it. Found a great camera guy/editor to work with and some great actors and just went for it. Glad I did too.

What inspired you to make your film?
Candles in Paradise was based off a column I wrote for a local paper that deals with two guys I grew up with in Massachusetts who both were killed in separate terrorist attacks, one on 9/11 the other on Pan Am 103.

Where has the film been shown?

The film has been shown at the SNOB Film Festival, STIFF out of Seattle, the Shawn Ashea Film Festival in Somerville and the Stories by the River Film Festival in Quincy, as well, of course, as the annual Online New England Film Film Festival!

What is your experience in showing the film to an audience?

I have always liked talking about the film after a screening in front of an audience, discussing what it took to make the film.

Last year, after Candles in Paradise was screened at the 2014 SNOB Film Festival, a handful of filmmakers were upfront , talking about cost and funding, etc. Many of them were saying, ‘We spend $15,000 on our film,’ or ‘We spent $10,000 and raised it all via Kickstarter.’ When the question was posed to me, I said, truthfully, ‘I spent $800 of my own money to make this film. And I bought some pizzas for the crew.’

That year we took home the Best NH Film at the 2014 SNOB Film Festival.

What film(s) are you working on now?

I am working on music videos for a few bands in NH, which I love! It is quick, fun, and a great way to knock around some ideas you have in your head and work with some super talented people and make some connections, music wise, which every film needs.

I am also working on two scripts that I plan to shoot: Bingo and Got a Quarter?

Any advice on making films you want to share with our readers?

I still don’t know much about making films, outside of just doing it. Stop telling your Ma or your Dad or your best bud that you are making a film, writing a film, gonna make a film. Just write it, cast it, then shoot it! Enough talk. All filmmakers are dreamers, but the last kind of filmmaker you want to be is a dreamer that never makes a movie, just talks about it.

Candles in Paradise is available to watch online through October 15 as part of the 2014 Online New England Film Festival.


Candles in Paradise is available to watch online through October 15 as part of the 2014 Online New England Film Festival.

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