Release Date:
September 25th, 2020
Directed by:
Steve Sanchez Rosales
2018 - 2020
Debut:
I started an interest in filmmaking when I was 16 years old in 2018. I spent two years trying to get a short film made with no success. I was still learning how to write scripts, operate a camera, and work with actors. I had unfinished films that I discarded because I didn't think they were good enough to be my debut.
I wanted to make a film before I finished High School, and right as I had a production going the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and my plans had to be cancelled. I became an adult that year and filmmaking felt more and more like a childish dream. I had no crew, no actors, and no friends to support me.
The biggest hurdle was self doubt. I wanted a perfect film to be my debut, I didn't know at the time but there is no way to judge a film until it releases. In the summer of 2020 it was now or never. I was tired of being indecisive and this was the last opportunity I would give myself.
August, 2020
Setting the Scene:
I wanted to showcase the iconic and memorable locations of my town Willimantic, CT (a.k.a. Windham, CT). My debut was to also be a representation of where I grew up before I moved out to the city. It's special seeing places so familiar be shown in a film, I decided the best way to do this is by making a film that is purely Willimantic.
This was a risk because I wasn't sure if people would be open to watching a film that has no characters or story. If the love I had for my town could be felt by other people.
September, 2020
Bittersweet Poetry:
To aid in the scenery I wrote a poem that I would voiceover the film. It was about all my frustrations I had with growing up in Willimantic. It was a hateful poem but it's what I felt at the time. The poem was deleted and is now lost media. I wish I could read it again all these years later.
September, 2020
What a Day for a Walk:
I went into the shoot ready to capture footage of the grimy and gray Willimantic Streets. I had already recored the poem and used that to guide the cinematography. However when I went out to get the first shots, the sky was an amazing deep blue. My footage quickly became beautiful and I was reminded of what it was like to be a kid. I spent the rest of the day visiting some of my favorite locations and getting footage I didn't think I was capable of.
The shoot lasted days, whenever I had free time I would go outside and film. Willimantic is huge and I didn't have the days to film all of it. I stuck to the landmarks and I was happy with the footage I got.
September, 2020
The Final Steps:
Editing was easy, I just cut the footage to the music. I was nervous of what the final product would look like, I think I delayed the release by a week because I was so nervous to put it out there.
Most people didn't even know I was interested in filmmaking, it was something I kept to myself, I could only hope people would be okay with the film I wanted to them to see.
At Long Last:
After years of trying, I finally had a film to my name. Sunshine is an amazing film that captures memories of growing up in Willimantic. Amazing was also the reception, people understood what I was trying to express.
This is a great first film, and I'm proud that it would go on to inspire future films to be made!
