Making of Cortado
Behind the scenes from the restaurant scene at Enoteca Harlem on Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Team
The Cortado cast and crew was an international force hailing from 9 different countries collectively. Each team member brought their own sensibility and approach that enhanced this project, rounding out the vision for the film. There was no shortage of the essential on set energy source of yerba mate being passed around and various languages being used to make Cortado happen. The hope was not only to make an entertaining and relatable film but also to connect with each other through creative, cultural and common means.
Camera Approach
The visual approach and intention for Cortado was to create a story that was set in reality and could be a real couple truly experiencing similar tribulations. This meant utilizing naturalistic lighting outside and lived-in locations to augment the authenticity of action on screen. The camera was mostly handheld or supported by an easy rig in order to orientate the audience to the unpolished and raw nature of the characters and story. We also worked to move the camera from one character to another in several shots, shifting the films perspective back and forth in hopes of simulating the relationship ping pong happening between main characters, Franco and Rachel. This required solid preparation regarding actor and camera blocking particularly in the apartment scene in order to find a flow that audience members could follow without becoming too disconnected.
Cortado wins Best of Fest at the Lee Strasberg Film Festival
Sol Henriquez works on actress Natalie Yale prior to shooting