Patricia Velasquez (The Mummy franchise, Arrested Development, The L Word) stars in the feature LIZ IN SEPTEMBER (2015), an adaptation of the play 'Last Summer at Bluefish Cove', about a terminally ill womanizing lesbian celebrating her last birthday on a Caribbean beach. Liz has cancer and seeks to live her last days to the fullest with her friends and new love interest. The Spanish-language romance-drama is entirely shot on the stunning beaches of Venezuela tackling such topical human issues as homosexuality, cancer and euthanasia. An actress, Latino activist, international supermodel and author having published her 2015 memoir 'Straight Talk', Patricia plays 'Liz' with riveting and bare integrity.
Directed by Fina Torres (Woman On Top, Cannes winner Oriana), the film stars newcomer Eloísa Maturén (upcoming star of a major TV series in Venezuela produced by Venevision) opposite Patricia Velasquez and Mimi Lazo.
The film screened at the 5th annual Aruba International Film Festival and will be sold to international markets at the 2015 AFM by sales agent CMG in Loews Suite 624.
In a recent interview with director Fina Torres, here is what she had to say:
Can you tell us what it was like to adapt the play into your film?
FINA: I was living in LA in 2003 when we planned, with Judy Miller, the producer who had the rights of the play, to make the film in the US. We were going to do it as a period movie, the 80s, and close to the play, but it was not easy in that moment to complete the financing. Lesbian films were not as popular as they can be now, so we had to let it go. But the opportunity came back in 2011. I was working with Patricia Velasquez in another project when she invited me to Ivana Chubbuck’s Masters Class. Patricia was working on a scene from Last Summer at Bluefish Cove. It was like a sign. A light went on in my head: I had already the financing to make a movie in Venezuela, so why couldn't we make it in Spanish and shoot there? I asked Judy if she would be interested to make the film this way, as a Venezuelan movie. Not only she said yes, she co-produced it with me. That’s how this story began.
You used incentives for filming in Venezuela?
FINA: Yes, there is a State institution in Venezuela CNAC that finances Independent movies. This institution has produced I would say like 90% of Venezuelan films since it begun in the 80s . Before 2005 the production was irregular in the number of films per year, but that year a fantastic cinema law was voted in congress where taxes applied to all media business were directed to this institution to finance film production. It was amazing to see how regular and good Venezuelan filmmaking became. We have films awarded in very important festivals and events in the past four years.
How was it to work with Patricia in this role? Was it difficult for her?
FINA: Patricia is very committed to her work, and with an amazing energy. And as I said before, she was at the start of the project. She was very inspiring for the film and very pro-active and helpful. I used parts of her biography to enrich Liz character. As you know, she came out in a book called 'Straight Talk' almost at the same time the movie opened. We had planned to open them together but the book took longer and we couldn’t wait. So, no, it was not difficult for her at all. At the contrary.
Were there any challenges while making the film?
FINA: Many. It was a bumpy process. I can recall one of the most difficult one: We chose to start the shooting in March because it's the dry season in Venezuela, but there was a weather phenomenon, el Niño or la Niña, or someone of that family, and we had so much rain! We were shooting on small islands but living inland, so everyday we had to take boats to take us to the locations. 45 minutes to go and the same to come back. With rain, storms, and shooting mostly i exteriors. It was very tough. We had to stop several times for weeks. This made it seem like a long long process.
How long was the filming?
FINA: We started in March and finished in September but we really shot it in thirteen weeks in total spaced around those months.
How is Venezuela on the homosexual issue and how has the local audience responded to the film?
FINA: Venezuela is a subtle homophobic country. Everyone seems to be OK about it but really deep inside it's still not accepted in a healthy way. And I feel people disagree even more with female homosexuality than with men's. Maybe because of the media were lesbians have not been as popular and common as gay characters. Maybe it’s also that reason that made my film a bit disturbing, not only it shows gay women in a very natural and beautiful way but also goes into the issue of euthanasia which is very uncomfortable to many. Medical science has evolved so much that we keep alive people who are terminal, with absolutely no hope of recovery, who would like to rest, and be freed of pain, and we force them to continue in their terrible suffering. I agree to accept a miserable quality of life if you know you will heal sooner or later, but to suffer against your will when you know you are going to die, is to me unacceptable. But that choice makes some people uncomfortable. Ethics, religion, etc.
What was your experience screening the film at Aruba International Film Festival?
FINA: I liked it very much. People are very friendly, the Island is beautiful, the film choices are well made. This film festival is very promising and I think it's very important for all of us Caribbeans film makers to have this window. I hope I will come back soon.
The film will be released on DVD & VOD on November 3rd, 2015 via Wolfe Video.
"Must see film" - The Advocate
Audience Award / Best Feature, Miami GLFF
Audience Award / Best Feature, Outfilm Conneticut
Jury Award / Best Actress Patricia Velasquez, North Carolina GLFF
-Interview conducted by Vanessa McMahon; posted on November 4, 2015