Modern Animals
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Date: May 2019
Director: Filippo Savoia
Producer: Miranda Guzman
Writer: Filippo Savoia
Cinematographer: Dan Watt
Editor: Samuel Jay Richardson
Case Study: The Making of Modern Animals
indieactivity : What is your film about?
Fillipo Sovoia (FS): Modern Animals is a Thriller/Drama short film. It is inspired by the Thriller/Western Masterpiece No Country for Old Men (2007) from Ethan and Joel Coen. Modern Animals is based upon the aftermath of every man’s choice.
Logline: In the aftermath of a curious murder at a motel, an unusual client of the gas station nearby, reflects upon the nature of a man’s choices.
Tell us about the festival run, marketing and sales?
FS: Modern Animals had premiered at Catalina Film Festival back in 2019. It’s been an amazing experience among filmmakers and film lovers alike. We also got officially selected at Paris Arts and Movie Awards 2020. It’s also been selected as Semi-finalist at FirstGlance Film Festival in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Cinefest and Rhode Island International Film Festival. The film festival circuit is almost over, but not yet.
The official trailer for Modern Animals by Filippo Savoia
Narrative/Dramatic Features
Budget: $16.000
Shooting Format: 2:35. 1
Screening Format: DCP
World Premiere: Catalina Film Festival 2019
Give the full Official Synopsis for your film?
FS: Modern Animals is primarily a debate about the nature of being human. In fact, the major conflict is between two very distinct (and contrasting) characters.
Our main character, Hudson Green, who’s intentionally the only character credited with a name, believes that Death is a natural part of our life and that killing is just an innate means of survival. Can be seen as a sort of identification with animal kingdom- He shows up at a gas station store and debates whether choosing a can of grape soda is a good choice, or will lead you to death with diabetes.
Whereas, the cashier of the gas station, on the other hand, believes that there’s a difference between humans and animals and that we don’t have to succumb to our animal instinct but rather be rational. This speaks for common sense and embraces somehow the average society’s mentality.
The young men and the cashier discuss about the article on a newspaper about the murder of a french tourist at the motel who decided to take care of an important briefcase given by her lover. She is being submissive to love and has no capacity of choice- by doing that, she will be killed.
The character of Hudson Green was planned to rather be the Antagonist since he doesn’t have a proper arc and finally doesn’t change. It’s more of a dark battle with his impulse control. The Cashier plays the role of the Protagonist since she’s being placed in front of a conflict and eventually makes a decision. His accomplice, who strictly follows Hudson Green’s decision, has no power in the game. His fate will be similar to whoever has no strength of decision making.
Also, there ain’t that much dialog because I would rather show who these characters are through their dialog and mindsets.
Development & Financing?
FS: The short film was self financed.
Advice from the Filmmaker?
FS: During pre-production I was not fully trusted by my mentors and people involved in the project. I suggest finding your vision, but overall the strength to believe in your project and do what you feel like it’s best doing. The whole project evolves in your head and you need to trust the process.
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