Awake

Andrea and Francesco Cordaro are the sibling directors behind Awake. Together they run Fusion Box Films, which has been operating for over 10 years. They hail from the Wallkill River Valley, which is located in New York’s Hudson Valley region.

The children of an Italian pastry chef, they created the documentary Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table. The project was funded by a grant from Anthony and Joe Russo, and won Best Documentary at NYWIFT’s Shorts Festival.

As many independent filmmakers, the two wear many hats.

Francesco Cordaro is a producer, director, editor, and cinematographer. He discovered his love for filmmaking as a teenager - making films with his friends on a camcorder and working as a projectionist in his local cinema. His first major collaboration would be as the producer of the documentary Aerodrome, winner of Best Documentary at Newport Beach Film Festival. As a director he would find more success. In the branded content space, he created a film for the Greenwich International Film Festival with Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford which would be aired on NBC’s The Today Show. Francesco also spent time in the ad agency world, working for an agency owned by Samsung. There he created many ads for companies like JBL, Ford, Subaru, and Mark Levinson. As an editor for Sony Music, he worked on branded content for fashion brand Marni starring Future, as well as content for Fenty with singer Joy Crooks. He is also a drone cinematographer, and shot the aerials for Adrian Brody’s film Clean, as well spots for Kenneth Cole and Cadillac.

Andrea Cordaro is a producer, director, actress, and voice over artist. She discovered her love for storytelling in her high school and local theater. As a director, she created the pilot of Water Is Life for emerging streamer Hudsy, which explores the cultural legacy of the Hudson River. Her horror film The Nursery, was produced and filmed along side Awake, in collaboration with Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions - considered one of America’s top haunted attractions. As an actress, she has performed on stage at Off Broadway’s New York Live Arts Theater, in the award winning comedy “Gay. Porn. Mafia”. Cordaro has lent her voice to characters in video games such as Dorothea in Kiss of War and Cleo in Hidden Expedition. She is a proud member of NYWIFT, SAG AFTRA and AEA.

Our Mother, Maria Cordaro, can often be found on our sets running the craft service table putting together a memorable lunch featuring embarrassing childhood stories.