5Q's w/Merlin Camozzi "Coeur d'Arlene" Director

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 140 characters?

It's about a bad-ass 12 year old girl living in the middle of nowhere, who has to grow up very quickly. 

#2: What do you want the Borrego FilmFestival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?

Not sure how to answer this one... 

#3: What is your movie making background?  Tell us about yourself.

I’m getting an MFA at UCLA now. Prior to this, I was an entertainment lawyer and adjunct law professor. I still practice law, but filmmaking is my passion. Coeur D’Alene was my first film in the grad program at UCLA.

 
#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?

It's all about having enough rehearsal with the actors and enough prep time with the crew. If you have that, you can accomplish anything. 
 

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?

I’m getting close to finishing my second UCLA film, which is about two sisters trying to get across the mountains with their father in winter. We don’t realize it at first, but the father is infected with a slowly maturing zombie virus.

It’s a character-driven take on that genre.

I’m going to launch a Kickstarter for that pretty soon to try and round up finishing and festival funds.

Also, I just shot my UCLA thesis, which is set on a farm in rural MA, and is about a couple confronting the rifts in their relationship while the world sort of collapses around them, due to an alien invasion. That’s also supposed to be a short, but our first cut is 45 minutes! Part of me just wants to go back and shoot the other half of the feature.