After almost 6 months of waiting finally getting editing done on Linda Vida. I have been waiting for my footage for over three months from an editor and now I am ready to make Linda Vida a reality! -Director/Editor, Rebekah A. Frimpong
When writing the script for "Linda Vida", I wanted to take a different approach to shaping the characters and the overall look of the film. I decided to sketch a picture of how the film will look with brief scene descriptions. Her is what I have sketched so far:
Scenes Scene1: Dear MamaSo, in this first scene we see Gabi after she has been in New York now for six months and it seems like nothing is happening for her yet. She remembers when her mother told her that New York was a wasteland of dreams and the broken hearted. In this scene Gabi is sitting on her balcony writing a letter to her mother, she can hear all the sounds of the city and sees a bird flying by. This scene Gabi will read the letter in Spanish to her mom; this will be done with voice over. Here Gabi is reflecting on her life thus far. Scene 2: The Subway is InspirationFrom Bedstuy Brooklyn Gabi travels into the city almost everyday, on the subway car Gabi watches a woman putting make up on her face. As Gabi watches the woman she notices the make-up the woman is putting on does not seem to help the woman’s appearance change. The woman seems to be painted almost like a picture. Gabi thinks to herself; why do some people feel the need to have on all that makeup and they know that they cannot hide their sadness or real emotions with lipstick and foundation. Gabi realizes at this moment on the train, that she needs to make a real in change in her approach to making her film. She wants to start exploring how people mask their real emotions and what body language can tell you about someone. Scene 3: I met him at an ArtGalleryAt a small private owned gallery in Midtown, Gabi visits an exhibit of a fellow filmmaker, and here in the art gallery is where she first meets him. In this scene Gabi is standing next to a guy who will soon become the love of her life while looking at art from Chinese contemporary artist. Gabi starts a conversation with the guy and asks her best friend get more wine and cheese so she can approach him and get to know him better. Scene 4: Viva Puerto Rico is Inspiration Gabi goes to interview a well known Latina poet, Mia Roman about the struggle as a young Latino artist in attempt to make her own work cohesive. Mia is the first person Gabi interviews for her short film "Rivera y Frida". Scene 5: Lower East Side (LES) Gabi goes to see her boyfriend’s band perform at a music venue in lower east side Manhattan. Gabi is in awe of the eclectic music scene her and finds comfort in watching her boyfriend on stage; she realizes she is in love. This scene will be shot at a lounge providing nice ambiance along with some great city shots. Scene 6: On the WaterThis is shot near the Hudson and Gabi is wondering about 911 tragedy and life; Gabi misses her mom and reflects on how she can make her imprint as an artist, Gabi starts to realize what she must do. Scene 7: Shooting the FilmThis scene is on location at a specialty store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that sells Frida inspired art and trinkets. This scene is all about Gabi "the filmmaker". Scene 8: BrooklynBridgeGabi is riding her bike out to the end of the BrooklynBridge, ready to take on the world and to make films that are reflective of her perspective. She reflects on her new love, friends, and new outlook on life. Scene 9: Brooklyn Boutique of ColorGabi's first on scene encounter with the character Rio and she discover a new look for herself with Rio’s help. Scene 10: ReminisceGabi has a phone conversation (in Spanish) with her mother and remembers the times when she was a kid. This is a flashback sequence scene. End Scene (Scene 11) Shot with Gabi looking through camera viewer and thinking: "it’s me and me alone who controls my destiny, I am ready". Gabriella "Gabi", was born in Belize to Stan and Marisola Dolara. Gabi grew up in a household filled with colorful pictures and lively Latin and African music. Her mother was a dancer but made her money cleaning the homes of rich Americans and Europeans that spent summers and vacations in Belize's tourist district. Gabi's mother would always encourage Gabi to use her imagination. Gabi's mother would buy paint and let Gabi paint for hours while she would dance with her husband in their kitchen. Gabi's mother was in love with life and family and only had one child with Gabi's father Stan. Stan was focused as a father, and would read Gabi stories about the heroes of Central and South America. Gabi's father Stan had a mixture of African, Taino, and Spanish ancestory and loved to share with his daughter all the knowledge from her mixed lineage. When Gabi was 15 her father Stan was killed in a bus accident. This event left Gabi's mother Marisola depressed for years until Gabi went off to college. Gabi was able to go to GalenUniversity to study Anthropology with money that was given to her from her father's death. Gabi also recieved money from a rich European family her mother used to work for. When Gabi went off to college her mother realized she had been depressed for years in mourning her husband's death. Gabi's mother started to write short stories and poems to deal with her pain and started teaching dance classes as well to ease her mind. Gabi became close to her mother in these years again. They both seemed to be at the same place spiritually and became best of friends. Gabi graduated from GalenUniversity with honors and a degree in Anthropology. Gabi revealed to her mother that she wanted to go to New York to study film and become a filmmaker. Even though she knew this meant her baby and best friend would be leaving, Gabi's mother gives her wishes for her daughter to go to New York. Gabi spends one whole year in Belize before making her big move to New York planning and applying to film schools. Gabi got accepted into New YorkFilmAcademy for the MFA in Film program.
So, the first character we get introduced to is Rio the eccentric fashion designer that saw a something in Gabi when she walked through his boutique. Rio came to the New York from Germany as a young man hoping to make it big as a fashion designer but quickly got caught up in the fast life of New York's elite scene. Rio is a young Nigerian fashion designer who grew up in Europe most his life. Rio uses his knowledge of African textiles to create new design concepts. When Rio first came to New York he got a corporate job working to save money to start his fashion label and quickly got addicted to a lavish lifestyle in Manhattan that included women, fast cars, and parties. When Rio had saved a half million dollars he risked it all and quit his corporate job to open his fashion house and business. In the process of this all his family thought he was crazy and his long time girlfriend left him.
Rio's life is like something out of a novel but when he saw Gabi come through his boutique one day he could feel her energy and was attracted to her instantly. Rio's feelings towards Gabi are not really ever understood. It is hard to tell whether or not Rio envies Gabi's youth and passion or is secretly in love with her. Rio's feelings become more evident as Gabi prepares to screen her first film. For developing the characters in "Linda Vida", I wanted to explore how Gabi's world would be set-up. For the main character (Gabi) of "Linda Vida", making films are her emotional outlet and she tries to create film work that reflects her personality but also brings vibrant artistry to unique stories. So, in developing the characters that would be apart of "Linda Vida" I want to think about her life like a play featuring different players that come into the picture as pivitol points in her life.
There is the unlikely mentor; and eccentric fashion designer caught between corporate entanglement and the free spirited art world of New York's underground art scene. This character provides a moral base for Gabi's growth and helps her define what her art means to her. Gabi also learns a lesson from this mentor on the dangers of sacrificing your art too much for the sake of acceptance and quick money. The next character I want to develop is Gabi's supportive mother, who you never see but get to know through Gabi's letters to her mother and their phone conversations. Gabi's mother's spirit guides her in through the experience she has making her first film "Rivera and Frida". The other characters in "Linda Vida" will be Gabi's roommate, fellow filmmaker friend, her boyfriend, and the many characters she mets through her journey. In the next blog; I will introduce you to the first character in Gabi's story... Linda Vida is loosely autobiographical; the story will tell that of young Gabriella or "Gabi" as her friends call her, struggling to make it as a Latina filmmaker. The story is set in NYC where Gabriella just moved to from her home country of Belize. Living in BrooklynNY, Gabi gets caught up in the New York film culture, finds new love, and discovers that art sometimes mimics life. Gabi works to complete her first experimental short film called "Rivera and Frida".
|
Linda VidaStory about a young Latina filmmaker looking to find her voice in her art. ArchivesCategories |