I have had a love for cinema since my childhood. My father transmitted his passion for music and movies to me very early on, though it took me a long time to take on the filmmaking path. I remember writing my first script when I was only thirteen and not even realizing it was a script until I was much older!
I’ve always had a very visual mind and vivid imagination, starting with photography as a teenager. Over the years, my ideas kept getting bigger and developing. People often described my work as feeling like a frame from a film, part of a story, and I often worked with actors as a photographer.
It was a series of small things over time until when I was around 20, I had what you’d call an epiphany; one day, it all hit me: “that’s what I should be doing.” I almost felt silly for not understanding earlier that I was indeed a storyteller and that what I wanted was to make films all along.
Watch the official trailer for Borrowed TIme directed by Ginevra Gentili
indieactivity: Let’s talk about the latest project you did; how did you prepare: the cast, the physicality, the terrain, the climate, weather, and the demands of the project?
Ginevra Gentili (GG): My latest project is a short film I wrote, directed, and co-produced, “Borrowed Time.” The production is by a majority female team which was important to me.
It’s a film I’ve wanted to make for a long time and one that’s both personal and based on a true story, so the script was a new exciting challenge to write. Production took place during the pandemic, and I wanted to allow as much prep as possible, considering the movie involves a car stunt too.
When filming in the UK, the weather is always a huge factor; filming in summer can usually reduce the chances of being poured on, so that’s what we did! I also found the locations very early on – we filmed at Millbrook Proving Ground, where many big productions shoot their car scenes, then at Hertford East station and a lovely country home in Buckinghamshire.
I had concrete ideas about color in the film and worked closely with the DoP and Production Designer from the very beginning. We aimed to find locations that would already offer us the right palette. With cast, I try to cast actors as early on as possible. As much as I develop a script, I enjoy tailoring the characters to the actors and collaborating on dialogue, improvising during rehearsals, and other times when filming.
Explain a creative choice you took on the set of your recent production?
Ginevra Gentili (GG): Many creative choices were taken on set and on the spot; some were the right ones, others not necessarily so. The first example that comes to mind is the last set-up and shot we filmed; this is a shot that the Director of Photography, Jackie Teboul, suggested during our location scouting. We had to cut many shots throughout filming, and when it came to the final scene on the last day, we had only two set-ups.
I was eager to get the third one before calling it a wrap. It felt like we didn’t quite have the scene. I remember telling Jackie, “we have to get that shot! The one you thought of.” It was the only one I could imagine working at that moment, and she was right about it; it turned out to be the main shot we chose in the cutting room for that scene.
How do you prefer to collaborate with the cast from scene to scene?
Ginevra Gentili (GG): If I have the chance to work with an actor from pre-production, I like to rehearse and develop the characters with them as early as possible, especially for critical scenes. On set, I want to give them their space too. “Borrowed Time” has a fair few emotionally complex scenes; it can be quite draining to achieve that level of performance.
Sometimes an actor will need to tap into difficult emotions; a director should allow them the space to do so, in my opinion. I had to ask quite a lot of my cast in this film, more than I’ve ever had to, especially from the two leads, Olivia Donati Clarke and Heléna Antonio. I feel very privileged to have worked with them on this story, and of the level of trust they put in me.
As the creator of the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Were you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
Ginevra Gentili (GG): I was terrified! It’s always a huge responsibility to direct a film and produce alongside that. For a short film, this was on the scale of a feature production and the biggest one I’ve ever made.
At the same time, I was so excited to see this story come to life. In terms of scenes that were difficult to shoot, it was my first time working on a car accident scene. Almost the entire first half of the story takes place in a moving car, and I wanted to visually approach all the car scenes from an inside POV until the characters are no longer in the vehicle. To maintain that feeling of being there with them, following them.
Technically, the car scenes were a primary challenge and a significant learning experience. Emotionally, I am not sure if I should say because the most difficult scenes happen at the big reveal in the story! Though it wasn’t easy to try and detach myself from the personal and emotional aspects – while making this film, I was reliving one of the most difficult days I had to experience as a teenager.
What did you take away from that film production?
Ginevra Gentili (GG): Honestly, I’ve learned so much from making “Borrowed Time.” This last answer would turn into an essay! With every production, especially independent ones, there will be challenges and plans that will need to be scrapped at the last minute. We had more surprises than we could have ever imagined with this film!
The biggest was when I got a call from the lead actor a day before filming. She had tested positive for COVID. You can imagine the shock! We had to push the whole thing back two weeks and lost many team members. A big takeaway is to prepare as much as possible. You must know what you want out of your movie. But learning plans will change, so stay flexible and be contingent.
Surround yourself with people who are right for telling that story. At the same time, genuinely passionate about the story itself. I think that’s a key ingredient. Making a film is a team effort all the way.
What is next for you?
GG: I have a few projects in the pipeline. As director and producer, the next thing for me is my debut feature, Souls Divided that’s currently in development. I want to focus on dramas, especially films based on true stories. Souls Divided is such a story, it is inspired by a true love story.
Even if the story is English, I would love to film this between Italy and the UK; I’ve never filmed in Italy so it would be a new experience. I feel very ready to make a feature. I know it will be yet another exciting challenge that will only help me grow as a filmmaker.
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