An Industry Case Study
Narrative | Dramatic Features
Film Name: Conjugal Visit
Genre: Dark Comedy
Date: 2019
Director: Daniel Rubiano
Producer: Risa Bramon Garcia & Steve Braun
Writer: Daniel Rubiano
Cinematographer: Christopher Sheffield
Production Company: BGB Studios | Little Fat Cow Productions
Budget: $1,000
Financing: NA
Shooting Format: Digital
Screening Format: Digital
World Premiere: Soho House West Hollywood September 2019
Awards: NA
Website: NA
The Official Trailer for Conjugal Visit
Watch The Trailer for Conjugal Visit directed by Daniel Rubiano
A Short Biography of Daniel Rubiano
Daniel doesn’t really like writing in the third person, so, he’s going to switch to the first person now. I know, that’s confusing. I apologize. But, I’m a director, so I can do that. I’m a native Californian, Latino but also Irish – and I love storytelling. I come from an absurdist point of view but ground everything in reality, heart, and yearning for connection.
The Daniel Rubiano Interview
indieactivity: What is your film about?
Daniel Rubiano (DR): Conjugal Visit is about a lonely guy named Jim who has a deadly fascination with serial killer Victoria. He’s been trying to court her for quite a while now and he’s finally meeting her – she just wants one thing though… to get after it, no talking, no compliments she just wants to fuck. I wanted to play with gender norms, power dynamics and shifts, and bring a love story to a stark environment and two characters you probably wouldn’t normally care about. Finding humour in the crass and absurd but also finding real heart in the unexpected.
Tell us about the festival run, marketing and sales?
Daniel Rubiano (DR): Hollyshorts is the first acceptance and we’re still submitting to other festivals.
Give the full Official Synopsis for your film?
Daniel Rubiano (DR): A boy met a girl. She was in prison. She just wanted to bang, but he wanted the real thing. Can Jim successfully woo the serial killer or will she take all that’s precious to him?
Development & Financing?
Daniel Rubiano (DR): I wrote the screenplay in about 30 minutes. I had been playing around with the idea of creating a love story in the realm of a conjugal visit and turning gender norms around. I financed the film myself and circled myself with like minded creators and given the expedited production process keep the budget incredibly low.
Production?
Daniel Rubiano (DR): After the script was complete it was all about getting the right production team in place. I was doing this all while being a new father to a 3-month-old son and a wife recouping from a caesarean. So, it was a lot of late nights on little sleep creating production teams, shot lists, costuming, lighting decisions, set decorating, location scouting, and rehearsals.
I ended up rewriting so that we could shoot in one location and cut my shot list down to ensure we could complete the entire shoot in one day and in four hours. The day of filming was quick and dirty. We were able to get all of the shots that we needed including pick-ups and room tone (which was incredibly necessary as we had a tin roof and random rain and airplanes.)
I edited the whole project in about a week and utilized another editor to do color correction so we could have more stark coloring in the opening and as the tone changed change the coloring to more vibrant Amélie-esque coloring. We also had a line in there regarding a Justin Timberlake song, to get around it and keep it as parody,
I had the lead actor record himself singing it and we added in an ADR line that ended up making the moment that much more endearing and funnier. After a few revisions I was able to come with a finished product that I was very happy with.
The Release?
DR: We did a screening at the SoHo house in West Hollywood.
Advice from the Filmmaker?
DR: Don’t get in your own way. Don’t let your own insecurities halt you from creating. Your voice is important because it is unique, so shout as loud as you fucking can with what it is you have to say. Find your tribe, create and collaborate with them because their voices are also unique and useful – let them help you evolve.
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