indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Dani Feixas (DF): I started making short films with my friends acting in them when I was very young, just for laughs. I want to thank them for their patience. I also spent a few years working on the daily behind-the-scenes videos for the International Sitges Film Festival, which had a big impact on me. Besides having breakfast next to Quentin Tarantino or Guillermo del Toro, I learned a lot from the directors who presented their films.
I don’t know if I have a defined style. In recent years, I’ve filmed documentaries, TV commercials, and music videos. I especially love stories that move people. I really enjoy genre films, but “Paris 70” is a character-driven drama, and I feel comfortable with that too.
Do you hire a casting director, or do you cast by yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?
Dani Feixas (DF): I’ve hired casting directors many times for music videos and commercials, but it wasn’t necessary for my latest short film, ‘Paris 70’. We only have three actors, so it wasn’t needed. I wouldn’t have a problem hiring a casting director for a feature film if I needed more actors and extras. In any case, I always make the final casting decisions.
The Official Trailer for PARIS 70 Directed by Dani Feixas
What went into the casting process for “PARIS 70”?
Dani Feixas (DF): For the casting of ‘Paris 70’, I knew exactly who I wanted from the start. I reached out to the agents of Luisa Gavasa, Alain Hernandez, and Neus Asensi. I sent them the script and a treatment with my ideas and direction plans. They all liked the project and jumped on board quickly. The challenge was finding the budget to shoot the short film, and I appreciate the patience of the actors and the entire team while we waited.
Without giving anything away, tell us about the story? How is Alzheimer’s connected to your personal experience?
Dani Feixas (DF): Without giving any spoilers, I can tell you it’s an inspiring and optimistic story about the love we have for our grandparents. It’s a family love story between a son (Jan) who takes care of his mother (Angela) who has Alzheimer’s. An inexperienced caregiver, Jan has to learn to overcome challenges to make his mother happy. He uses his mother’s family memories to lift her spirits and help her live better.
In many ways, it’s based on my personal experience. My mother took care of my grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s, for several years at home. Unfortunately, this is a disease that affects many families, which is why the short film has won so many awards and selections at festivals around the world. I’ve included real elements I observed daily with the disease, but the short film’s story has a magical touch that’s entirely fictional.
Who is “PARIS 70” for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Dani Feixas (DF): I couldn’t tell you. When I directed ‘Paris 70’, I didn’t think it would become a short film that honors all the caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients in Spain. My intention was to create a beautiful family story without aiming for such recognition. But when you release a film, the audience tells you who it’s for.Now, after a year of screenings, I can say that it’s a short film that has been loved by people of all ages and from many countries. It’s been shown in Japan, Argentina, the United States, Panama, South Africa, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Poland, Spain, and more.
It has been nominated for the 2024 Goya Awards and has won 148 awards from various juries, including young juries. But the most important thing for me is that in Spain, it has been shown in over 80 Alzheimer’s family associations, hospitals, and medical conferences. The feedback from these associations has been wonderful. I couldn’t be happier about this. I would love to get an Oscar nomination to thank everyone for their support
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Dani Feixas (DF): Paris 70′ is a very indie short film; we shot it in just three days. I didn’t have the budget for more shooting days. So I planned all the scenes to finish on time. I also edited ‘Paris 70’, and it wasn’t an easy task. I had to rewrite the script during editing. This is to make the best film possible with the footage we had. I want to mention and thank the entire technical and creative team because without them, we wouldn’t have achieved such a great result in such a short time.
How long was the post-production process?
Dani Feixas (DF): Post-production took about three months. As I mentioned, I edited the film in DaVinci Resolve, and then Deluxe Spain handled the color grading (Enric Sebastià) and sound mixing (Yasmina Praderas). At the same time, Cora Delgado edited the sound, and Laura Cruells, along with Alfred Tapscott, created the original soundtrack. The entire post-production team are great film professionals, and you can see this when you watch ‘Paris 70’ in a theater. I’m very happy when a festival screens my film ‘Paris 70’ in DCP format with 5.1 sound.
The film had a lot of talent behind the scenes, why is diversity important in front and behind the camera?
Dani Feixas (DF): I’ve already mentioned how important the technical and creative team is to me in a film. ‘Paris 70’ wouldn’t be what it is without them. For me, filmmaking is a team effort that combines different talents moving in the right direction to make the best film possible. This isn’t easy, but sometimes it works out. For example, the cinematographer Biel Capellas and his team lit the entire short film using only natural light. When I see the result, I’m amazed. I wanted a raw and realistic light with backlighting and low-light interior moments. Biel used mirrors to bounce sunlight into the house windows for 90% of the film, and the effect is wonderful. A result like this can only be achieved through teamwork.
What are your goals with “PARIS 70”?
Dani Feixas (DF): aris 70′ refers to the typical labels our parents used to put in family travel albums, with the name of the country and the year of the trip. In our short film, the title has a direct connection to the mother’s mood. ‘Paris 70’ is the trigger that starts the magical journey. To find out more, I recommend watching the short film.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Dani Feixas (DF): I’ve written the script for my first feature film and I’m developing it with one of the best production companies in Spain, Morena Films. It’s inspired by the short film ‘Paris 70’, and I’m really excited about the story because it’s wonderful and emotional. I can’t wait to start filming.
What would you recommend to a new director? Any courses, workshops, books for reading?
Dani Feixas (DF): There are many interesting courses and books you can read, but I don’t think they’re the solution. For me, the most important thing is to start making your own short films. Keep filming and editing everything: music videos, documentaries, etc. And above all, don’t be afraid of making mistakes because each shoot will be better than the last.
Who is your favorite director? Why?
Dani Feixas (DF): Oh, I have more than 100 favorite directors. Every time I watch a good movie, I become a fan of a new director. To avoid mentioning the usual names, I’ll say I like Cord Jefferson, the director of ‘American Fiction’. Even though he has a lot of experience, this is his first feature film as a director, and I find it very inspiring that someone can make ‘American Fiction’ as their debut because it’s amazing. I’m fascinated by how he managed to weave multiple narrative layers without losing the film’s freshness. I can’t wait to see his next movie.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Dani Feixas. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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