Disturbing Cinema

Disturbing Cinema: What can you tell us about your segment Manna? Michael Todd Schneider:  There are great lengths some may go to obtain a higher level of being. We discovered a cult who will go to great lengths to create and consume their very own food of the gods. Disturbing Cinema: How was your experience working with Amanda L. Manuel? Michael Todd Schneider:  We had a great time. Instant blood brother and sister bonding. Through the spirit of cinema and dreaming.  Disturbing Cinema:  What makes “Manna” unique from all the other segments?  Michael Todd Schneider:  It began as it’s own thing. Originally it was to be used to raise funding for a feature version of its own. Amanda sought me out to fulfill that vision. But a mere two weeks before filming it was decided to expand upon this and create an international anthology. So it continued to grow into something much larger then it’s initial purpose. A chance to put my own stamp and personality into it. Al...

Disturbing Cinema: This was your first acting role in a feature length film. How did you prepare for your role as Olga? Elena Fokina: Yes! This was my first acting role in a big feature film, but not my first acting role in general! I've acted before on stage, and in dance films. My preparation for the role as Olga started as any other preparation for a movie role which is studying the script, and sinking into the character. Then together with the choreographer of the film Damien Jalet, we choreographed the solo of Olga's death scene, and then finally performed it in the location with Luca Guadagnino. Disturbing Cinema: Olga's last dance is a very disturbing and iconic scene in the film where your character Olga dies by getting contorted with the result of broken bones, urination, salivation, and blood. What would you say was the most challenging part about bringing this dance scene to life? Elena Fokina: It was such an exciting journey to film this scene! We were filming...

Disturbing Cinema:  What can you tell us about your segment "Gully" &  what was the inspiration/influence behind it?  Lorenzo Zanoni:  I began working on Gully when the topic of the disease touched me personally. I was sad and frightened and tried to reproduce these themes in the film. I wanted to focus not so much on the illness, but on abandonment and the reaction to the illness and its loneliness. Owen loses everything in his degeneration, but maybe he finds himself; He's the real virus of the story: a parasite who lives morbidly hanging onto his relationship, so fat that he looks like a larva, unable to take an independently step in his life. The blindness that led to Owen's reckless behaviour, leads him to a real loss of sight, a perpetual darkness where the only guiding voice is Stella's who accuses him of  "needing to change" just when the guy is mutating his essential condition. It's basically a story of love and hate, more with one self ...

Disturbing Cinema: When you first read the script for The Death of Dick Long (2019), what were your initial thoughts and impressions?  Virginia Newcomb: I had been primed to expect the dark twist, but I was more surprised at how humanely delicate Billy's unraveling of it all was. When you say it out loud, the scenario is jarring, but as fucked up as it is, you're immediately curious. On some super scary deep level, you feel shame just for being forced to imagine it. Then, the script goes and builds this empathetic, humorous, southern working class structure around it and voila, simulated repression! I understood those layers instantly and was terrified and thrilled to explore it.  Disturbing Cinema: What do you love about your character Lydia?  Virginia Newcomb: When I was introduced to the project, I wasn't asked to look at one specific character. I ended up reading for several, but connected with Lydia fast. I felt her heart break. I wanted to fill her up with this loya...

Disturbing Cinema:   What can you tell us about your character Lily?  Ximena del Solar:  Lily, my character is a very confident woman. Not exactly a villain, but someone willing to take advantage of any situation. She feels responsible for her best friend (Natalia), whom she wants to help due to certain dramatic circumstances that overwhelm her. Both woman are going through an economic hardship that drives them to commit a crime.  Disturbing Cinema:  You have collaborated with Lucio A. Rojas before, and have both co-written several projects together, including this one. How was your experience working with him again? Ximena del Solar:   To be honest, this is the first time that I have co-written a project with Lucio. In all the previous films I have collaborated very intensely, but I have not co-authored the scripts. When it comes to "Contagium", our segment we've created and written everything together from the beginning. It was a great experience for me. ...