“Love & Corona” Cast and Crew:
Production Companies: Kindred Kapwa & Stablished Projects
Written & Directed by Nicole Maxali
Co-Directed & Edited by Ratha Nou
Produced by Nicole Maxali & Ratha Nou
Executive Producer: Anthony Mac
Associate Producer: Julie Kuwabara
Director of Photography: Jeremy P. Castillo
Production Designer & Costume Designer: Clare Adamos
Assistant Director: Coalla Nou
CAST
Korinne / Rachel Rinko: Kristiana Torregosa
Dominic: Francis Lansang
Sammi: Shannon Skiles
Frank: Giancarlo Cariola
Michelle: Joyelle Nicole Johnson
Jessica: Nicole Maxali
Pikachu / Foot Fetish Guy: Eric Badique
Missandei / Larping Gal: Julie Kuwabara
Woody / Wood Fetish Guy: Jeff Francisco
Crossfit Employee #1: Michael Loria
Crossfit Employee #2: Doy Charnsupharindr
Crossfit Employee #3: Salai Da Vinci
Gym Extra: Danielle Mendoza
Gym Extra / Real Estate Broker: Amanda Nguyen
Gym Extra / Bathwata Guy: Will Henry Scott
Gym Extra / Jessica’s husband: Anthony Mac
CREW
1st Assistant Camera: Shermagne Umali, Travis Leech, Marcus Reposar
2nd Assistant Camera: Daniel Shurtliff
Script Supervisor: Danielle Mendoza
Sound Mixer: Gabe Martinez
Boom Operators: Jonathan Wilson & Cliff Cabute
Wardrobe Assistant: Kristine Boyd
Hair/Makeup: Alexis Dayers
Editors: Ratha Nou
Music Composer: Ratha Nou & Dominic “DJ Goldenchyld” Cueto
Visual Effects: Greg Del Savio, Ratha Nou & Clifford Cabute
Colorist: Jeremy Castillo
Second Unit Producer: Jeff Francisco
Second Unit Sound: Alberto Salas
Second Unit Camera: Crystal Onyx Chavez
Production Assistants: Judith Ferrer, Amanda Nguyen, Adrian
Aguaristi, Will Henry Scott and Stacey Cuevas
Set Photographer: Mike Ricca
Caterers: Raff Lim of Angry Cow Mastercuts and Alex Retodo of The Lumpia Company
The Producers would like to thank: Marc & Jeff Liban, Luna Salaver, Angry Cow Mastercuts, The Lumpia Company, Rebecca Siguenza of Crossfit Burlingame, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and The National Parks Services
Summary:
“Love and Corona” is set during the summer of 2020. During the start of the global pandemic and an election year for America, Korinne and her co-workers get the unsettling news that the Bay Area gym they work at has filed for bankruptcy and must lay off their employees. Desperate for money, Korinne turns to the SubsOnly platform to try to make enough cash to live in the most expensive city in the world. “Love and Corona” is a contemporary commentary on loneliness, love and obsession.
Through the lens of an introverted Asian American woman, “Love and Corona” is a contemporary commentary on loneliness, love and obsession in this post COVID world.
As the world is being thrust into lockdown and self-quarantine, Korinne begins to see a glimpse of her power and identity utilizing the SubsOnly platform while at the same time feeding into obsessions she and her subscribers hold as they deal with their loneliness. The film follows the ebb and flow of intimacy, the ways that connection can grow and evolve, then disappear, then develop again. This film also asks the viewer to contemplate whether a connection with a computer is actually a connection at all and if real love can be found through technology.
Press Write Up:
Nicole Maxali – Director Statement
When I was growing up in the 1980’s there was no representation of Filipino Americans in film and television. Because of the lack of representation and the lack of our stories being green lit by Hollywood producers, my parents persuaded me to focus my writing career on the safer route of News Journalism. It took me almost two decades to finally release my fears of being a “failed artist” and begin writing my own stories. Stories that reflect an Asian American experience that still has not yet been reflected by the films we’ve seen in the last 10 years.
I am now forty-two years old and I feel the world is finally ready to hear and see my stories come to life. Stories of Southeast Asian Americans that aren’t the “model minority” or crazy rich. And stories of women of color who are on their journey of finding themselves and defining who they are outside of the lens of white supremacy and colonization. My intention of writing grounded stories with women of color living and speaking their truth is the impetus of my short film “Love & Corona”.
Through the lens of an introverted Southeast Asian American woman, “Love & Corona” is a contemporary commentary on loneliness, love and obsession in this post COVID world. As the world is being thrust into lockdown and self-quarantine, Korinne begins to see a glimpse of her power and identity utilizing the SubsOnly platform while at the same time feeding into obsessions she and her subscribers hold as they deal with their loneliness. The film follows the ebb and flow of intimacy, the ways that connection can grow and evolve, then disappear, then develop again. This film also asks the viewer to contemplate whether a connection with a computer is actually a connection at all and if real love can be found through technology.
85% of our cast and crew were Southeast Asian Americans and 60% of our cast/crew were females of color. For a lot of my crew, it was their first time on a film set. As an emerging director, It was a such a beautiful experience to intentionally set a safe space with our cast and crew each shoot date. And the results are nothing short of magical. We shot everything independently.
I am no longer waiting for permission or an invitation by Hollywood to tell my stories. The world is finally ready and so am I. This will be the first of many in my long career as a writer/filmmaker. And I am grateful for the opportunity to create art that might heal generational trauma and represent folx that look like me.