Bela Wolf
I'm Bela Wolf, Producer of "Honeymoon USA" and I'm here to speak about the short musical doc/ film. The story behind the film is this:
My nephew Jonathan Schipper, living in France, a musician/songwriter, married a talented videographer/filmmaker, Tania Richet (also living outside of Paris). He has a fan base in France as he's had a band that played around Paris and Disneyland....Tania's father is Mayor of a beautiful city in France. She's been a student and fan of filmmaking most of her life.
They went to California this past summer after they married in France, and Tania started filming the experience. She sent us all her videos of California/Las Vegas, music included, and everyone was quite surprised at how entertaining her videos are. She incorporated her husband's music with other popular songs, and I decided to promote her talent. Tania is 28 yrs. old. I decided that I was going to produce her work and enter it in the Film Festival community.
For my background, I am usually the screenwriter. My first screenplay "She Was Left Alone" became the most awarded and recognized screenplay of 2013/14. International Screenwriters Assoc. gave me a page on their website as "Screenwriter of the Month".... I was nobody so that was very exciting and surprising. My next screenplay "Pill" also did very well and garnered many awards and recognitions as well.
What is the story behind your film?
The story behind our film is their honeymoon in California, Tania always wanted to see the West Coast of the USA.
What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
I enjoy and appreciate very much that during these difficult, sad and challenging times, Tania's simple musical doc makes everybody smile and then just laugh. We need more uplifting happy stories during these times and their film exudes pure happiness.
Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
Films are always capable of changing people for the better, just simply because films open up people's perspectives and bring new light and awareness to many issues, historical and future...
How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
The creation of this project for me was totally to combat and endure through the Covid crisis. You'll see Jonathan and Tania driving around and walking around places with no masks on. At their wedding in France, at her father's Mayor's building, they were restricted as to a small number of guests. Jonathan was going to play a few songs with his band (popular band, they've been on radio), but because of Covid his songs were played during the ceremony over a sound system instead. They left France for their honeymoon and seemed to break free in California, where Covid rules were relaxed. They look free and happy throughout, it's a total "freedom vibe". We love it! And then the music starts with her filming....it's great!
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
Tania's style is totally free-form and mostly done with her phone and cameras...
How did you select the actors for your project?
Well, it's a honeymoon doc, so there are only 2 actors....
Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
Tania's films appeal to distributors because she is great at presenting fun, happiness, joy.... I personally wanted to promote their combined talents to make fun and exciting travel videos. Obviously, they can take on any project that interests them, I just appreciate their travel-video style!
At which festival has your film been screened?
We have just been accepted into 3 film festivals for next year, so we haven't been screened yet. It's a 5-minute film. We have an award from a FilmFest in NYC next month and I was told it may be screened there, so probably first in NYC.
How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
My acquaintances , especially in the film festival community have all loved the new musical micro doc. I have usually been the Screenwriter, but I am really enjoying producing this happy feel-good micro short.
If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
I know eventually we are going to have to add only Jonathan's songs, mostly just to promote him and omit any copyright issues. He has a thousand songs so that will be my easiest job.
I love The Shawshank Redemption and all James Bond/Mission Impossible films....you brought up a good point here....I seem to enjoy movies that film in different locations (I used to travel a lot).
Which movies are your favorites and why?
I love The Shawshank Redemption and all James Bond/Mission Impossible films....you brought up a good point here....I seem to enjoy movies that film in different locations (I used to travel a lot).
What topics do you like to address in your stories?
My stories have all been memoirs and now I'm writing the bio of the daughter of an infamous President of Venezuela. Great bio, I am anxious to show that one too, to the literary world. I guess I am good at "real-life" issues. AND I like to laugh - a lot!
What is your motivation in making films?
I love the excitement of the film community. Being part of it, I was optioned for my first screenplay by a major film studio and that was exciting -just to be optioned was great!
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I am working on a Netflix series for my bio, doing screenwriting for that project - and I also would love to work with Jonathan and Tania on their next project, probably skiing somewhere in the Alps.
Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
I will always love Martin Scorses best! He also incorporates great music in his films, I love his musical style! yes, he's also a fab Director!!!
Tania Richet Schipper, Director
My nephew Jonathan Schipper, living in France, a musician/songwriter, married a talented videographer/filmmaker, Tania Richet (also living outside of Paris). He has a fan base in France as he's had a band that played around Paris and Disneyland....Tania's father is Mayor of a beautiful city in France. She's been a student and fan of filmmaking most of her life.
They went to California this past summer after they married in France, and Tania started filming the experience. She sent us all her videos of California/Las Vegas, music included, and everyone was quite surprised at how entertaining her videos are. She incorporated her husband's music with other popular songs, and I decided to promote her talent. Tania is 28 yrs. old. I decided that I was going to produce her work and enter it in the Film Festival community.
For my background, I am usually the screenwriter. My first screenplay "She Was Left Alone" became the most awarded and recognized screenplay of 2013/14. International Screenwriters Assoc. gave me a page on their website as "Screenwriter of the Month".... I was nobody so that was very exciting and surprising. My next screenplay "Pill" also did very well and garnered many awards and recognitions as well.
What is the story behind your film?
The story behind our film is their honeymoon in California, Tania always wanted to see the West Coast of the USA.
What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
I enjoy and appreciate very much that during these difficult, sad and challenging times, Tania's simple musical doc makes everybody smile and then just laugh. We need more uplifting happy stories during these times and their film exudes pure happiness.
Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
Films are always capable of changing people for the better, just simply because films open up people's perspectives and bring new light and awareness to many issues, historical and future...
How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
The creation of this project for me was totally to combat and endure through the Covid crisis. You'll see Jonathan and Tania driving around and walking around places with no masks on. At their wedding in France, at her father's Mayor's building, they were restricted as to a small number of guests. Jonathan was going to play a few songs with his band (popular band, they've been on radio), but because of Covid his songs were played during the ceremony over a sound system instead. They left France for their honeymoon and seemed to break free in California, where Covid rules were relaxed. They look free and happy throughout, it's a total "freedom vibe". We love it! And then the music starts with her filming....it's great!
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
Tania's style is totally free-form and mostly done with her phone and cameras...
How did you select the actors for your project?
Well, it's a honeymoon doc, so there are only 2 actors....
Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
Tania's films appeal to distributors because she is great at presenting fun, happiness, joy.... I personally wanted to promote their combined talents to make fun and exciting travel videos. Obviously, they can take on any project that interests them, I just appreciate their travel-video style!
At which festival has your film been screened?
We have just been accepted into 3 film festivals for next year, so we haven't been screened yet. It's a 5-minute film. We have an award from a FilmFest in NYC next month and I was told it may be screened there, so probably first in NYC.
How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
My acquaintances , especially in the film festival community have all loved the new musical micro doc. I have usually been the Screenwriter, but I am really enjoying producing this happy feel-good micro short.
If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
I know eventually we are going to have to add only Jonathan's songs, mostly just to promote him and omit any copyright issues. He has a thousand songs so that will be my easiest job.
I love The Shawshank Redemption and all James Bond/Mission Impossible films....you brought up a good point here....I seem to enjoy movies that film in different locations (I used to travel a lot).
Which movies are your favorites and why?
I love The Shawshank Redemption and all James Bond/Mission Impossible films....you brought up a good point here....I seem to enjoy movies that film in different locations (I used to travel a lot).
What topics do you like to address in your stories?
My stories have all been memoirs and now I'm writing the bio of the daughter of an infamous President of Venezuela. Great bio, I am anxious to show that one too, to the literary world. I guess I am good at "real-life" issues. AND I like to laugh - a lot!
What is your motivation in making films?
I love the excitement of the film community. Being part of it, I was optioned for my first screenplay by a major film studio and that was exciting -just to be optioned was great!
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I am working on a Netflix series for my bio, doing screenwriting for that project - and I also would love to work with Jonathan and Tania on their next project, probably skiing somewhere in the Alps.
Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
I will always love Martin Scorses best! He also incorporates great music in his films, I love his musical style! yes, he's also a fab Director!!!
Tania Richet Schipper, Director