Love From
Writer, Director & Editor – Marta Kleczek
Writer & Co-Producer – Ava Ragavelas
Co-producer & Sound Engineer - Millie Longhurst
Director of Photography - Scarlett Metalli & Sophie Webb Sharp
Sound Engineer - Zoe Kovacs
Project Summary:
The film follows a pair of teenage girls partnered together for a school project. Gia, a quiet and introspective teen, finds herself drawn to Esme, her outspoken and confident classmate. Their unexpected connection sparks a journey of self-discovery, forcing Gia to confront themes of first love, shifting family dynamics, and the complex process of growing into her true self.
My Role and Responsibilities:
As Co-producer, I took on a range of both logistical and creative responsibilities, including:
Securing and booking suitable filming locations.
Handling all project paperwork and documentation.
Organising equipment hire and ensuring safe storage.
Tracking and managing actors’ food, travel expenses, and processing payments.
Development Challenges
Location Issues:
One of the biggest early challenges was securing a location that resembled a school dining hall or café. Initially, I planned to use our university café, but after several emails we learned the space was privately rented on weekends. Due to concerns about disrupting gallery customers, filming was denied. This situation helped me sharpen my professional communication skills and taught me the importance of always having a backup location. I made the decision to visit the head of facilities in person, and we successfully booked a classroom under my name as an alternative.
Last-Minute Casting Crisis:
A week before filming, our principal cast dropped out. With very limited time, we needed to find replacements. Thanks to my network of actor contacts, we were able to recast quickly. This challenge taught me that strong communication and adaptability are crucial in crisis moments. It also highlighted the importance of locking in casting early in the pre-production process having confirmed actors and backups allows the rest of the project to move forward with more certainty.
Balancing Scale & Creative Control:
As the project grew, so did the size of our crew. I found that as a producer, the more traditional and logistical aspects of my role began to take up more of my time, and I had to relinquish some creative control. This experience helped me understand the trade-offs that come with scaling a production, and the need to delegate while trusting others in their creative roles.