Emmanuel Itier

With: director Mustafa Ozgun, producer/writer/actress Laura Weissbecker, actor Brandon Sutton (“Jimmy”), composers Marco Velerio Antonini and Elena Maro

The covid pandemic has been the center subject and concern of so many movies that one could wonder why we would need one more exploration of this nightmare we are still part of. Well, this is assuming you have not seen, just yet, the romantic and eye tearing picture from Mustafa Ozgun and also produced by the brilliant Laura Weissbecker and the legendary Donald Kushner. “Covid 19: Ground Zero” premiered at the Dances with films (https://danceswithfilms.com ) and it will move you beyond the tragic journey depicted. The love story will uplift your soul beyond the fate we, human beings, face at times, with courage, determination and a blind faith. And faith, from the Latin “fidere” which means: “to trust” is truly at the heart of this captivating tale of survival at all costs. In Love we trust should be the mental tattoo that will impress the waves of the eternal sunshine of our beings. And so the pandemic is fading, having taken so many loved ones, but, we, the rocking survivors are rebuilding a future brighter than ever where we hope mistakes won’t be made again for a peaceful and sustainable existence.

Q: Tell us about the inspiration of doing this film and at this time in our “covid history”?

Mustafa: Since the beginning of the pandemic, I felt compelled to do a film about this tragedy. I didn’t want to make it, way after the pandemic, but now, while we are still part of it. We took some risks because we film it entirely during the pandemic and at its peak. It was a complex logistic and a challenge to put together the right crew and the right actors. But the passion of Laura and mine, combined, made it happen.

Laura: I knew Mustafa from a previous movie we worked on together, “Le voleur rose: Pink thief” which was a Chinese-French co-production. So, he sent me a treatment of a few pages as he wanted me for the role of “Jessie”. This was a very personal story for me, and I wanted to do this film for all the medical care workers who were affected and are still affected by this pandemic. I wasn’t sure what to do, but when I found this film, I knew this was the right thing to do. And since it was so personal, I asked Mustafa to co-write the script as well. It was very cathartic to do this movie for me.  

Brandon: I had a different perspective as I was brought on board after the bulk of the movie was shot in Paris. As a Los Angeles based actor, I shot my part there. I got a call from a mutual friend of Laura and I.  I knew it was about covid but also about “Black lives matter” with the perspective of my character who follows that movement. I had never shot a movie that was about something occurring at the same time in my life, so I was eager to be part of this film. “Jimmy” is in the streets and documenting the “Black live matters” occurrences in the same streets as, I, Brandon, was the night prior to the shooting. So, this was quite surrealistic. It was such a unique opportunity.

Q: Tell me about the main challenge you face being part of this film?

Elena: For us it was a new time and a new workflow to be part of this film. It was all about collaborating through zoom and this was not so simple, especially during that time when we were all apart from each other. We were in three different states to record the song and the score.  I’m usually used to seat in a room full of people brainstorming, getting vibes, and hanging out. So, this was a different process. I hope the main song is a testament to the positivity and the love that people had, getting together and fight this pandemic.

Marco: Indeed, this was not an easy process as, usually, you seat in a room and do a recording session all together. Even so Mustafa was in France and therefore it would have been a different experience, anyway. Laura and I were just a few miles away, but we did everything via “zoom” conferences. The challenge was when we recorded the orchestra, which was done also apart from them. This probably was very challenging for them, especially because they had to play with a distance between each other which can create some weirdness with the acoustic. Also, they were wearing masks which can obviously be a problem. But this was a very inspiring experience for everyone due to the very special nature and message of this movie.

Laura: For sure, filming during the pandemic was a huge challenge. Even simple things like finding the proper mask for the Chinese neighbors at the beginning of the movie. At the beginning of the pandemic, you couldn’t find any mask! I found them through my sister who works for Cirque du soleil. Even the spray to disinfect things were hard to find at first. Because we filmed it at the very beginning of the pandemic, the situation was evolving every day and we had to adapt ourselves to the urgency of the moment. This was quite scary and concerning for everyone. I was personally quite scared of covid. We never had enough time or financing to make it. It was very stressful but I’m so happy we were able to complete it.

Mustafa: As Laura just mentioned it, it was a big challenge because we were lacking many “accessories” and we faced an ever-evolving dangerous situation. It also was quite difficult to assemble our crew to shoot this film.

Q: What is this film truly about for you all?

Brandon: The film serves as a sobering reminder of what was happening in 2020, especially as the world is opening more now. It’s a reminder of how much fear and confusion we were all experiencing.

Marco: I feel this film is uplifting and it’s not a burden to watch. It has a sense of hope in spite of the tragic events that are told. Everyday life is a the driver of optimism among the challenges of life.

Elena: It’s important for me to remember that we are all the same when we face a virus, when we face death. What can make a difference is to stick together and fight as one. Love can make a difference. I hope people get this message.

Laura: I dedicate this film to all the medical workers who put their lives on the line. I remember how much trouble I had to be able to sleep at the beginning of this pandemic. This was my mission to be the voice of all these people who went through there horrific times. It’s also a love story and this is so important for me. The reality of this couple and of what they go through is also crucial for me and very touching.

Mustafa: I hope this film is an historical testimony of what happened during this crisis and help people better understand what happened and remember the various challenges and tragic moments we faced. I wanted to be honest with the depiction of these true events.