Perfidy World Premiere

Below is an account from Liz VanDurme, one of the Park Productions students who the college sent to Miami for the Miami International Film Festival:


Last week, Christina O-Rourke and I had the opportunity to fly to Miami for the premiere of a film at the Miami International Film Festival.

Two years previous, an IC alumnus, Rodrigo Bellot, came back to Ithaca and enlisted the help of Park Productions to bring his script to life. His film is called “Perfidy” and the first time I read the script I was utterly confused. Imagine reading one of your first scripts as a freshman... and it has only seven minutes of dialogue, which come after flashbacks, twists and turns, and an unexplained murder. I had no idea what the film was even about nor what I was getting myself into.

We shot this feature-length film in various locations around Ithaca in approximately four days. We shot a feature in four days. It just so happened that those were the four days leading up to mid-terms, as well.

Despite the countless hours we spent freezing to death (remember, it was February) at Taughannock Falls shooting ten minute takes and 360 degree shots, and the painstaking hours at La Tourelle Hotel (I will never be able to look at that place as the relaxing, tranquil place it should be), every second spent was well worth it when I got to see my name scroll through the credits that night at Regal Cinema 10 in Miami Beach.

We arrived in Miami Wednesday morning and Perfidy was premiering that night. When we got there, we dropped off our bags and got freshened up in the gorgeous luxury-apartment we were staying in, compliments of Christina’s cousin who very generously allowed us to put him on the couch for two nights. Then we headed out to do some exploring and came across the Lincoln Mall. Anyone who has been to Miami Beach probably knows this place for the endless hops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Imagine a souped up Commons, Miami-style.

The premiere was amazing. We met the director, Rodrigo before we went in and he introduced us to other filmmakers and people in the industry. The film got a good response. It was such an exhilarating experience to see a film I worked on on the big screen with a full theater of people you don’t know watching it. During the Q & A session after the film Rodrigo was talking about the production of the film and the audience was shocked when they learned that a lot of the production was in the hands of college students. Everyone turned to look at Christina and I when he pointed us out, and I must say, this was a proud moment, I think, for the both of us.

After the screening, we were able to go out with Rodrigo and friends from the Miami International Film Festival. We meet some very successful people and lots of people who had already established themselves in the industry. Everywhere we went that week, we were ‘with the film festival’ and it was a lot of fun to get this sort-of preferential treatment.

On our second day there, we saw a few other films in the World Competition, the same part of the festival that ‘Perfidy’ was in. We met the producer of one of the films, called ‘Afterschool,’ a twenty-five year old NYU graduate who is doing very well for himself, and the lead actress in the film. They we’re great, very personable and a lot of fun. It was humbling while quite frightening to see someone only a few years older than you with a film in Cannes, London, Berlin, Toronto… however, what a great contact to have!

On Friday we went to a meet-and-greet at this great hotel, but it turned out to be more just for the press to meet with the directors and producers than we thought. We chatted a bit more with Rodrigo and other directors, which was good, but then had to head out to catch our flight back to L.A. (As we were leaving, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were casually having lunch behind a 300 lb. security guard, but I did manage to make eye contact with Mr. Kutcher before hurrying on in fear of the security guard. It’s kind of ironic, because his production company is located two buildings down from where I work in L.A. and I’ve never once seen him there, but when I fly all the way across the country, I see him!)

Anyway, overall, a great experience. And it all started from this Park Productions project that I was fortunate enough to get called in to work on. It was certainly a lucky break and that’s what can help you make it in this industry, good connections and good timing.

So thanks to Rodrigo, Carol, Dean Lynch and all others who made this entire experience possible!

-Liz