MAGIC & THE MOON Directed By Pia Infante

Indie Express: Tell us about your film?

Pia: magic and the moon is a metaphysical children’s story about a girl’s journey

of acceptance after her mother leaves her in the Philippines to look for work

in the U.S.

IE: How did you come up with the idea for the film?

P: It’s a common story – my own, my sister’s – many children of the global

diaspora whose family’s are forced by global economic trends to seek work

away from their impoverished home country.

IE: How did you assemble your production team?

P: Family & friends really pitched in – particularly my family in the San Isidro, Philippines where I shot the film.

IE: How did you find your cast? 

P: The lead is my cousin’s daughter and other main characters are also relatives who live

in  San Isidro.

IE: How long did the film take?  (From conception to final edit)

P: 9 months.

IE: Tell us a little about your process of directing (writing) this film.

P: This was my first film, birthed from a story that’s been percolating in my spirit

for the last ten years – so it was emotional, exhilarating, transformative.  I think

good art is personal, this film feels very personal to me and my family.

IE: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

P: My family was wonderful and supportive as my cast and crew but basically it

was really difficult to organize the shoot without anyone around who had any

experience at all with shooting films.  Folks were hanging out and playing games

and music – chatting during every take.  There was a group of youngsters who also

made it a game to jump in front of the camera at any moment.

IE: Any particular moments from filming that stand out for you?

P: There’s one shot in the film – where magic gets a hug from the goddess character

named Love that is so beautiful – the camera slowly spins around this embrace from

the top spiraling down.  No crane, no equipment – just me holding the camera and somehow not making the image tremble.

IE: Tell us about the film’s festival experience so far?

P:  It premiered as the opening film on the opening night of the Queer Woman of Color Film festival put on by QWOCMAP – to an incredibly welcoming and warm audience.  The film has gotten so much love from folks so far.  I’m interested in seeing how the film screens with audiences for varying backgrounds and how the Frameline audience responds on the 25th.

IE: What are you most looking forward to at the festival?

P: The Women’s Brunch.

IE: What films or filmmakers inspire you?

P:  Deepa Mehta.

IE: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

P:  Wanted to awaken my creative self.

IE: What is next for the film?

P: I’d love to see through the process of getting magic & the moon made into an actual children’s book.

IE: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?

P: Start a big “foolish” project (like Rumi wrote) and the universe will shower you with the resources to make it happen.