A Quick Chat with Filmmaker Matt Macedo About His Short Film – Our Oceans
Our Oceans is a short film that explores the complex relationship between two estranged siblings after the passing of their foster mother. A sad but beautiful portrait of brotherhood. Sean, a trans-man returns home to reconnect and help his brother in the aftermath of their foster mother passing. Chris is reluctant to reconnect and uses this opportunity instead to express his perspective and grief. As with reality, it’s not always a beautiful ending.
Hi Matt can you tell us a little bit about of background about this short.
In 2018, I was tasked with an assignment for school and for that assignment I choose to create a PSA for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. During my research, the information I came across was horrifying. I felt even after creating the PSA that my work wasn’t finished. But what else could I do?
How did this develop into Our Oceans?
I began brainstorming ideas for the next project, my graduating thesis film from the New York Film Academy and landed on this telling of a moment in time during this particular family’s life. Through a combination of external and internal searching, I was finally able to understand the many layers that make up this family, and ultimately this film.
It sounds like this has been a very torough project.
How did you go about casting for the film?
Casting this film was particularly difficult. I wanted to be as authentic as possible and cast a trans male actor who was available and willing to help with a student film (on a student budget). The search was incredibly difficult, but thankfully we were able to have Andrik Ochoa on board, a Non-Binary Trans-Male actor.
I am sure it was very important to have someone who can truly understand the nature of the role.
How about the people working behind the camera?
Those behind the camera are just as important to making this film become what it is today. I was incredibly lucky to have Award-Winning Director of Photography Adrian Sierkowski on board early on in pre-production.
In post-production, we invited Emmy-Nominated Sound Designer Bruce Chianese on board for our post sound work. He did an incredible job, and it was a blast working with him.
It sounds as though you have had put together an extremely strong team on this short which is very telling by the end product.
It was special working with everyone attached to the film. Even though it was only a four-day shoot, life long friendships were made.
That’s great. Thanks for chatting to us Matt.
