3 minute read
MOVIE MAKING 101
BY KAREN DAY
Opera is boring, right? Think again. “Aria” offers a fresh spin on the ancient and mysterious art of opera, following four young, diverse singers striving to find their place on the world’s greatest stages despite racism and prejudice in an industry created by dead, white European males in the 17th century. Loss, sacrifice, discrimination, and failure test their personal commitment: from losing custody of a child to losing 300 pounds, from facing rejection at 30 auditions to facing stereotyped sexism. Despite daily challenges, each finds solace and strength by literally lifting their voice. Their empowering, unique stories spotlight the tenacity required to universally succeed against great odds, while proving that diversity and inclusion can attract new audiences and infuse relevance into an obscure art.
“Aria,” the 88-minute documentary, begins its own journey this month with submissions to major film festivals around the world. The path for an independent film is as fraught with obstacles as that of its singing stars. Film festivals are gateways to worldwide distribution, and competition for admission is tough for films with a cast minus A-list stars. Ironically, Hollywood is not the blue-sky goal of most independent directors and producers. The plethora of streaming platforms and social media have enabled creative outliers to find global audiences and vice versa. After all, the real reward for a director is in crafting a compelling story that captivates the viewer for the time they are watching it.
That sounds simple, but it’s not. Movies are like three-legged stools. Having a great cast with a good story is first. A dedicated film crew is second. Generous and knowledgeable production partners are third. And then, there’s the work. Two to three years per film is standard for a documentary since, unlike scripted feature films, the story must evolve organically over time.
“Aria’s” opera stars Cecilia Violetta Lopez, Ben Gulley, Brian Major, and Tahanee Aluwihare faced unpredictable life challenges over the course of filming, but the story’s universal thread remains their determination and dedication to the art of opera. You don’t have to understand Italian or love “Tosca” to appreciate the film. Then again, you might just walk away from “Aria” humming “La Traviata.”
Follow “Aria” at: ariafilm2024 ariafilm2024
