Chronos

March 13, 2020. I remember like it was yesterday. It would be my last day working for a long time. Only fate could be so ironic: everything stopped on a Friday 13th. There were no more events, music festivals, music videos, films, or institutional videos. Everything stopped. Some thought it would only be for 15 days, others believed it would be months, but no one imagined the next two years to come.

The day I was forcibly quarantined, I was completely stunned, numb, paralyzed, to see all the work I had scheduled, falling apart. As a reaction, out of pure instinct, I immersed myself in films and series of the most varied genres. Without thinking too much, without ordering, without planning, I simply pressed play as hard as I could. Art saved me, strengthened me, helped me overcome the most difficult moments.

That's what kept me sane. I watched more than 500 hours of movies and series in a row, in the first few months of quarantine. I almost didn't get out off the couch. It's not an exaggeration, I counted. All I had was this. From one moment to the next, the way I delt with time changed completely. It was then that I realized: the only thing that kept my sanity was the internet. The possibility to watch the best movies and series and chat with family and friends. I thought: how would I be able to stay sane without the internet? And if all the means of communication just stopped working, what would I do without my cell phone?

That's when the idea for Chronos came to me. As I had time to spare, I decided to fulfill my big dream of creating my first film. I wrote it, unpretentiously. I thought I’d film it at my house, with my camera, with my closest friends. So, I talked to a few friends. One, that became my AD, helped me better the script. One, a steadicam operator for major productions, was thrilled to have a new project. And another, a spectacular actress that I deeply admire, accepted to play the role. Everyone read the script and loved it. It represented what we were all feeling at the time.

With them onboard, the idea of the film grew. I managed to create partnerships in the industry with rental companies, that agreed to lend me the camera and lighting equipment I needed. I talked to more friends from the industry, none of them were working, all agreed to join the team. With the idea becoming a reality, I created a crowdfunding campaign and managed to raise funds for the project, so I could protect the crew, and have all the sanitary protocols put in place. All ready.

The week the industry came back to work, we were ready to film. The realization of the dream came in the best way possible. Everyone who worked on that set was thrilled. After all, being able to film was an achievement. Each one put all their soul, their sweat, their will and that chemistry was caught on the big screen.

This film saved my life. And from that unforgettable experience, a new human being was born! I now have new goals, new ambitions, more strive than ever. And for sure, this may be my first film, but it will not be my last. Cinema has saved me once again!