FILMMAKER Q&A – 59 Days – Zina Papadopoulou – Director, Animator

OR: What was the inspiration for your film?

ZP: Staying home with our three kids for 59 days during the first lockdown in Athens, Greece.

OR: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?

ZP: We started filming our children just as a game, passing our time in a small apartment. Progressively we started forming an idea of the film, recording and editing during the day and animating at night when the kids were asleep. When the lockdown ended, the film was almost complete.

OR: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?

ZP: Working on the specific short film was challenging because we didn’t have a script and we didn’t know how it’s going to end or how long it will become. It depended on the lockdown and how long it would last. And then it ended abruptly and we had to put the film together.

OR: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?

ZP: The most challenging thing was “working” with the kids. You never know what they are going to say or do. Sometimes they would say something very funny when we were not filming and we would ask them to say it again. It never worked! We only had one shot for every situation. 

OR: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?

ZP: Keep to the point, whatever that point is and don’t forget to have fun!