It’s an award-nominated short film produced in Romania, written an ocean away.
After losing her job as a youth support worker due to the pandemic, Langford resident Victoria Patterson decided to fulfill a lifelong dream by bringing her screenplay — called Luca, I am here — to life.
With little funding and local COVID restrictions, she needed to get creative to bring her vision to life. After researching online, she found the perfect crew and talent for her project. The only problem, they lived in Romania.
“It was very challenging to put this together,” said Patterson. “Everything was done online, through emails and zoom chats.”
Despite the many hurdles including a 10 hour time difference, the cross-continent collaboration is complete and has already received invites to film festivals and multiple award nominations in Russia.
“It’s a story of love, hope and determination,” said Patterson.
The 19-minute long film follows young couple Olivia and Luka, as they cope with unexpected tragedy.
“She tries to stay connected to her boyfriend Luka who recently suffered a stroke … I think this movie just brings things like awareness that stroke can happen at any age.”
“We felt pretty connected to it,” said Cosmin Andrei, the film’s director and male lead from his home in Romania.
“We actually both have family members that have suffered strokes,” said Andreea Chele?u, the film’s female lead. “We felt really connected to this project.”
For Patterson, the project was a positive distraction in a year with many twists and turns.
“Last year I also found out that my father wasn’t my father so it was a whole new DNA surprise,” said Patterson, who found out her birth father died three years ago. “So I think that kind of just was a therapy for me to write.”
Patterson says she channels her emotions into her writing and hopes Luca, I am Here is her first of many productions. The film is available for download worldwide and can be viewed here.
Written by Langford resident, Victoria Patterson and produced in Romania, Luca, I am here has received multiple nominations.
Kevin Charach
