THE FOLLOWER

"The idea for this story came about during an anxiety attack I had during lockdown. I wanted to use a metaphor to illustrate how mental illness can be as scary as a horror movie.
Many people think that depression is not as debilitating as something more physical and tangible. However, the effects of having this deep melancholy can keep you from getting out of bed as if you had a broken leg. Perhaps people would take it more seriously if this disease, which could be considered abstract, materialized itself in front of the cameras as an evil entity.
As this was an independent project from the beginning, I thought of writing something concise, that didn't depend on a lot of resources to be filmed. That's why only one location, few characters and very little dialogue. But the message is clear and compelling." Renata Moraes

"Initially, I was most enthusiastic about the project's concept of being a short film that doesn't depend on a lot of dialogue to tell a lot about the story. Furthermore, as a long-time admirer of horror movies, I relished the opportunity to experiment with new ideas within the genre.
Throughout my career, I have undertaken numerous independent projects without financial backing, relying solely on the volunteer contributions of my team. However, I recognized the crucial role that funding plays in the final quality of a production, particularly in technical aspects. Therefore, when I received this script, I knew that investing in the necessary equipment and compensating my team would be essential to achieving the desired outcome. Thus, I personally financed the equipment rental and the team's wages to ensure optimal results.
The team I assembled comprised experienced professionals with whom I had the privilege of working before on other film sets. Though I initially had specific actors in mind for the roles of Sara and Erica, circumstances arose during the process that required a change in casting. While Amanda was originally cast as Sara, upon further consideration of the character's depth and complexity, I decided that a more mature actress was needed to convey Sara's troubled history convincingly. Therefore, Renata and I reversed the roles, casting Kelita as Sara, who embodied the necessary gravitas and depth.

Thanks to our close rapport, which is evident on-screen, we were able to deliver a high-quality final product. As a result, we are already planning future projects together." Pedro Kalli.