Lisandro Boccacci is a filmmaker with years of experience. He has worked with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Tulsa King,” and “The Killers of the Flower Moon” productions. However, he is best known instead for his short films, including “Bankrupt on Boardwalk” (a semifinalist in the 2019 Los Angeles Cine Festival), “Out from Smoke & Ash” (an awardee as Best Student Film in the 2017 Tulsa American Film Festival), “Lonely Hunter,” and “Invisible Walls.”
The TCC Connection recently interviewed Boccacci. Below are his responses about his life and career as a filmmaker:
What got you into filmmaking?
I was initially drawn to filmmaking after watching “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (movie) on TV as a child, but as a kid, my grandfather played a significant role in fueling my passion for filmmaking. During his visits, he introduced me to the works of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. We spent a lot of time together watching those old silent movies, and it was at that time that I couldn’t think about anything else. I was deeply impressed by Chaplin’s life, his career, and how he made his own films and even music. I knew then that I wanted to be like Chaplin, creating meaningful stories through the art of filmmaking and being like a master artist and craftsman.
What is your favorite short film and full-fledged film that you have worked on during your career?
My favorite short film that I worked on is ‘Bankrupt on Boardwalk,’ created during my time at the University of Tulsa. It stands out as my best work, pushing my creative boundaries and incorporating everything I had learned in my filmmaking journey. Hands down, working on “Killers of the Flower Moon” for three months was the best experience of my life. It’s something I always dreamt of after reading about how the top directors spent time observing their favorite directors… But I got my wish… I got to watch all of these top pros in their field do the work, and be on sets, and just see it all be built up and come together. I was lucky to be on the night shoots, too, and those nights would be fewer people, and so sometimes I could be closer to the action, a list of actors and Marty Scorsese himself.
Do you plan to publish your short films on streaming services?
Yes, I’m actively exploring opportunities to showcase my work along with fellow local filmmakers, as a set of volumes. It’s a possibility, and it’s a fairly new idea on the horizon. For now, I like the idea of having exclusive short films that you can only watch at one of the screening events. I already have my sights on something local, called NDEBOX in which local community leader and screenwriting professional Hank Byrd is a part of… so that’s something I’m looking at seriously.
What plans do you have for the future as a filmmaker?
In the future, I plan to continue creating compelling and thought-provoking films. I aspire to explore different genres and collaborate with talented individuals to bring unique stories to life and all of this on a new level for me. I have my eye not just on local talents for acting and writing aspects, even producing. I really want to work more with local directors like Micky Reese and John Swab. The Indie Showcase is pending review from film freeway, and once we achieve film festival status with them, we will be open for business with the goal of bringing a community of talents together.
If you are a filmmaker and want to screen your short films, contact Lisandro Boccacci on Facebook.