A Film Festival Case Study
Narrative | Dramatic Features
Film Name: Untitled Trip
Genre: Drama/Poetic Cinema
Date: March 2023
Director: Matthew Chappelle
Producer: Matthew Chappelle & Julia Wosiak
Writer: Poems by Rainier Maria Rilke & Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński
Cinematographer: Matthew Chappelle
Production Company: Adventure Team
The Official Trailer for Film
Watch The Trailer for Untitled Trip directed by Julia Wosiak
A Short Biography of Filmmaker
Julia Wosiak is an actress, voice-over artist, and producer with a passion for working in both theater and film. Her work are internationally recognized. They include roles in a number of award-winning projects, one of which is Two Faces Have I. Throughout Julia’s career, she has been fortunate to contribute to many types of productions. These productions have been showcased at prestigious international festivals. Julia says, “My journey is driven by a desire to tell meaningful stories that reflect human experiences across different cultures.“
The Julia Wosiak Interview
indieactivity: Tell us about who you are?
Julia Wosiak (JW): I’m Julia Wosiak, an actress, producer, and writer born in Poland, currently based in New York City. I began my journey in the arts when I was 7, and throughout the years, my work has focused on bringing cultural and emotional stories to life on stage and screen. I’ve had the opportunity to merge my Polish heritage with global themes, which I explore deeply in the projects I produce and act in. Most recently, I’ve been exploring the intersection of personal storytelling with broader, universal experiences.
Introduce your film?
Julia Wosiak (JW): Untitled Trip is a film about connection and fate. It’s a poetic narrative that weaves together stories set across Europe. We filmed in Cracow, Paris, Venice, and Rome, and I had the honor of selecting some of the featured poems, including a Polish poem about love during wartime. This Polish influence is something deeply personal to me, as I aim to highlight not only universal love stories but also bring in unique cultural accents.
Untitled Trip has been described as similar in tone to the works of Terrence Malick, but it was developed with its own unique perspective, capturing the intimate and poetic connection between the cities and the characters. The film was officially selected for the Lee Strasberg Film Festival, out of hundreds of applicants, which was a huge recognition of its artistic merit.
Why did you choose to produce and act in this film?
Julia Wosiak (JW): As both the producer and the lead actress, I wanted to shape this film with stories that speak to my own experiences and cultural background. The opportunity to produce gave me the chance to make sure the Polish cultural elements, such as the poem I selected about love during wartime, were integrated into the film. My goal is to bridge the gap between my Polish roots and the global stories we tell in cinema. By taking on the role of producer, I had creative control over how these elements were woven into the story, making it a deeply personal project..
Introduce your crew?
Julia Wosiak (JW): Working with Matthew Chappelle as director was incredible. He is known for his work on Chicago Justice, the Emmy nominated TV series “Electric Dreams” and “Golden Slumber” and his unique style and talent really elevated the project. His cinematography brought a breathtaking, almost poetic quality to the scenes, especially in locations like Venice and Cracow. As a producer, it was important for me to ensure we had a team that could bring these distinct European cities to life on screen. It was a collaborative process where every member of the crew contributed to the film’s aesthetic and emotional depth.
What are your personal experiences putting on all these hats?
Julia Wosiak (JW): Wearing multiple hats was challenging but also empowering. As a producer, I had to focus on the logistics and make sure everything was running smoothly, from the film’s artistic vision to ensuring our locations reflected the story’s emotional tone. Acting while producing was an interesting experience because I had to switch between the creative headspace of being an actress to managing the day-to-day production needs. But it allowed me to create something deeply personal, particularly with the Polish poem we included. It brought a different layer to the story that I wouldn’t have been able to explore as just an actress.
What is the source of the idea?
Julia Wosiak (JW): The film draws inspiration from classic love stories, the journey of falling in love with other people but also life. I really wanted to inject some Polish cultural history into the narrative. One of the central poems, written during wartime, reflects on love in the face of hardship, a theme that resonates with me deeply. This connection to my Polish roots, along with the universal themes of love and destiny, made this a project I was passionate about from the start. I wanted to show how love can endure, even in the most difficult of circumstances, how it grows and matures with the hardships.
Let’s talk pre-production: How did you handle it as a producer?
Julia Wosiak (JW): Pre-production was a delicate balance of planning and creativity. We filmed in some of Europe’s most iconic cities, so securing the right locations in places like Cracow, Venice, and Rome was key. As a producer, I worked closely with the director to make sure that every location captured the romantic, poetic tone we were aiming for. The Polish influence was especially important in Cracow, as we wanted to connect the narrative to Poland’s rich history and culture. It was a challenging but rewarding experience to pull all the elements together.
What was the hardest scene to shoot?
Julia Wosiak (JW): One of the most challenging scenes to shoot was in Cracow. The emotional weight of the poem combined with the historical significance of the city made this a particularly poignant moment in the film. As both the producer and an actor in that scene, I felt a great responsibility to do justice to the poem’s themes. Capturing the right tone was difficult, but ultimately, it’s one of my favorite parts of the film.
What were the advantages and disadvantages of your approach?
Julia Wosiak (JW): One advantage of being a producer is having creative control. And that’s creative control over the inclusion of cultural elements, like the Polish poem. It gave me the ability to ensure that these details weren’t overlooked. However, juggling the roles of producer and actor came with challenges. It is switching between managing the production and getting into character. For me on this project, that was a little tough. But, I think it allowed me to create something deeply personal and unique.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this film?
Julia Wosiak (JW): I hope audiences will see the universality of love, regardless of culture or background. By weaving in Polish poetry and history, I wanted to show a fundamental quality. Love. I wanted to show that love stories aren’t limited to one place or time. The film highlights how our experiences are shared across borders, especially in difficult times. I hope by connecting these different cities and cultures, I can highlight these experiences.
Can you tell us more about your previous work?
Julia Wosiak (JW): Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a variety of projects. These have gained recognition both in the U.S. and internationally. My original play, Our House, draws inspiration from Polish history. The play was selected for the New York Theater Festival, a prestigious event known for showcasing emerging and accomplished playwrights. I also associate-directed Scissors, which won the StrasbergWorks competition and was performed Off-Off Broadway.
In film, I’ve been part of several award-winning projects. My films GROM and Fortune of Chance have both received accolades at internationally recognized festivals. GROM won awards at the Philadelphia International Filmmaker Awards. It won at Lily Indie Film Fest, and Deluxe Film Festival. While Fortune of Chance was selected for the New York Shorts International Film Festival. Which is an Canadian Screen Awards qualifying event. As well as NewFilmmakers NY, another prominent platform for independent filmmakers. These experiences have been incredibly rewarding, and they’ve reinforced my passion for telling stories. That resonate across cultural and national boundaries.
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