Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

Director’s Statement

A Place to Fall Down was created as a response to something we all experience: grief. Humanity can be, at its core, a tragic existence. However, even in the face of the strongest adversities, we can find it in ourselves to search for the beauty of it all.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Production

A Place to Fall Down was filmed on a micro budget, and was shot in one day, with a crew of 14 incredible people. It was a typically gorgeous Los Angeles Sunday, and cameras were up at 8:30am and we wrapped promptly at 5:45pm. Nine hours and fifteen minutes, and we were able to create something truly magical.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Score

While writing the screenplay for A Place to Fall Down, I simultaneously wrote the creative direction for how I wanted to produce the score. I not only see the scenes in my head visually, but I also hear them – the ambient sounds, the room tone, and even the score.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Locations

One of the core tenets of a VOKSEE production is location, because locations matter. Not just creatively – of course it has to fit the part – but each place has a soul, a history, and it can influence the story, the cast and crew, and overall amplify the creative in its own way.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Characters

He was effortlessly cool with impeccable taste. His dad loved old Impalas and Cadillacs, and while Jose appreciated them, he was a product of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, so he was inspired by the innovation and design of cars coming out of Japan and Germany. But – more importantly – he was one to find his own path.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Cast

Born short, lean and mean on June 16, 1970, Clifton Collins Jr. started his career in 1988 using his real name of Collins, but two years later began billing himself as "Clifton Gonzales-Gonzales" as a tribute to his aged grandfather and his early accomplishments.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Filmmakers

Duane Fernandez is a writer and director. Born from a Danish mother and Filipino father, Fernandez's ethnic background towed him from his birthplace in Los Angeles, California to numerous corners and countries of the world throughout the years.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Visual Style

A Place to Fall Down is who I am; it’s the way I see the world. I have a very specific point of view that is easier for me to show you, than it is for me to tell you. I grew up a product of the ‘90s – I was obsessed with skateboarding and music videos – it was an era that changed the way I see the world.

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Duane Fernandez Duane Fernandez

The Easter Eggs

If it isn’t already clear, I’m a bit obsessed with the details, and how we can use them to make the story that much more meaningful and interesting. While I do believe one needs to be artistic and not too heavy handed, easter eggs are a fun way to engage with the audience, but should be purposeful.

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