Director, Rome, Italy
Your film is entered in our LA Film & Documentary Award. What is your film about?
Thank you for selecting our movie. Echo is a fantasy-mystery-action pilot episode set across Rome, Miami, and St. Augustine. It's about a mysterious medallion that brings back an extinct native american indigenous population called Timucuans. The pilot episode begins in the 1550s, just before the Spanish invasion of St. Augustine. A Timucua shaman, foreseeing the destruction of his people, performs a powerful spell, encapsulating his powers within a medallion and scattering the spirits of his people into future generations. A young girl named Ela, present during the ritual, shares the shaman's tragic fate.Centuries later, in modern-day St. Augustine, a young man named Luis discovers the medallion buried in the sand. Seeking answers, he consults Esmeralda, a psychic who reactivates the medallion, setting off a chain of mysterious events. Simultaneously, in Rome, Deniz, a painter, begins experiencing vivid dreams connected to the medallion and a girl named Ela. Her life takes a mystical turn as she uncovers her ancestral connection to the Timucua spirits. Deniz is eventually drawn to Miami, where her path crosses with Luis at an art exhibition. As the medallion's powers awaken within her, she faces threats from treasure hunters and discovers the medallion's abilities, including bewitchment, omens, war magic, and love charms. Just as she begins to understand her destiny, Luis reveals his true intentions, setting the stage for a gripping battle over the medallion's immense power.
What are your ambitions with your project?
My ambitions with my project is to develop the tv series into 5-6 anthological episodes and find distributors which are interested to produce as a co-production with ARTTMODERNMIAMI PRODUCTION. Our ambition is to make a premiere in Rome in June and then distribute it on streaming platforms. You can follow our journey on https://www.instagram.com/echo_pilotepisode/.
How was the shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
It was a challenge for me, this was my biggest project after various short movies. We worked 2 weeks straight for the American part shooting and 3-4 days for the Rome shootings. It was a pleasant surprise to me to work after setting up the american shooting crew remotely, without knowing each other at the first time, working very well together. Everybody was collaborative and helpful.Additionally, Miami Dade's support before the shooting was very motivating.
For what target group is your film?
Our audience target is focused on teenagers, young adults and who are open to new cultures. Echo targets viewers who are drawn to immersive and multi-layered storytelling, particularly those who enjoy the intersection of history, fantasy, mystery, and action. The show appeals to an audience that appreciates Historical Fiction; The pilot's setting in the 1550s, with the Spanish invasion of St. Augustine, draws in viewers who appreciate historical dramas. The rich cultural history, including the portrayal of the Timucua shaman and the ancient rituals, provides a unique backdrop that differentiates Echo from typical fantasy series. Mystery and Thriller Fans; The show's premise, involving a centuries-old mystery connected to a powerful artifact, targets fans of mystery and thriller genres.
How would you specify your work? What characterizes your film?
I like to create unpredictable and emotional movies that have an impact on people and insinuate curiosity. I like mixing fantasy elements into the reality which I did in "Echo pilot episode". Echo is characterised by the narrative structure that is very dynamic and has a character driven plot, the central characters, Deniz and Luis, are deeply developed and face significant personal and external conflicts. Deniz, a painter experiencing mystical dreams, and Luis, a seeker of the medallion's secrets, are both driven by their connections to the past and their quest for self-discovery. I wanted to create a dynamic storytelling with different types of shots and with cross-cutting, jump-cut editing.
Why did you decide to become a filmmaker?
I decided to become a filmmaker because cinema is an art form that combines every aspect of life. Without even travelling you find yourself in every kind of scenario. There aren't strict rules to follow, you can create the rules on your own. I am motivated by solving difficult tasks using creativity and curiosity. Like Achille Castiglioni said "If you are not curious, forget it ". Learning new skills, discovering new places, writing screenplays, attending and analysing movie festivals has always had a positive impact on me.
Who is your greatest role model?
My greatest role model is Dr. Oya Bayri who saved my life when I was born. During my life I had various role models such as my grandmother Sevim Eti and Erol Eti. I learned from them never to give up and stand still in difficult situations.
Which movies are your favorites? Why?
More than my favorite movies, I have favorite directors such as Wes Anderson, which he is one of the most significant film authors of the last twenty years.
His movies are one of the reasons why I wanted to become a filmmaker. Another director of why I wanted to become a filmmaker is Peter Greenaway. I have admired his movies because all the scenes he creates are very pictorial, they resemble Flemish paintings. He has been an inspiration for me to realise my short movie named "And Again And Again And Again" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjUxwJpEZyk&t=2s). My favorite movies are also Piano Lesson (by Jane Champion), the use of music, photography and all the surreal and dramatic athmospehere she created is wonderful. Also Michel Gondry, Sean Baker, Xavier Dolan movies are exceptional.
Where do you look for inspiration for your films?
I look for inspirations from the directors that I admire, from the dreams that I write in my dream journal. From the art exhibitions, installations, paintings, books and from the circumstances in which we live in our century. One of the most important parts of where I look for inspirations are the different cultures and scientific explorations.
How would you rate current filmmaking?
The current filmmaking industry it's very varied but at the same time you find many flat movies without any emotions where the screenplays aren't developed well. It's not the medium you use to shoot a film or the amount of money you spend that matters, but the story and the emotions it makes you feel.
What are your next projects?
My next projects are to develop and search for productions for my new anthological tv series "Ephemeral" which was selected as a finalist in the third edition of Z-PITCH created in collaboration with the Rome Film Fest, Naba, Civica Scuola di Cinema Luchino Visconti and the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples (https://www.romacinemafest.it/it/z-pitch-contest-3ed-premiazione/?noamp=available ) and to the Social World Impact Film festival in Vico Equense to present it as a pitch (https://www.instagram.com/p/C6uCPsGN1qq/?img_index=1). After watching Inside Out, the animation movie that Pete Docter directed, inspired me to write an animation movie, which at the moment I'm working on.
