“ Find your ground, your truth and you will unearth what makes your heart content, share your talents with the world. We can all live happily & peacefully when we create and share our art… ”
— Francine Romano
The Interview Q&A
Where are you primarily based out of?
Montreal
What role do you typically play on set?
Videographer, Art Director, Video Editor, Journalist , Video Journalist, Writer, Script Writer, Production Coordinator, Producer
How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?
If we don’t count my first script that I wrote in my sailor moon spiral journal at 5🙊✨,MATV located on Montreal was my first start🥰
What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered and how have you overcome them?
Being an aspiring female Italian anglophone writer trying to make my mark in Montreal. English and even greater bilingual films are very rare coming from Montreal. The majority of the English Canadian shows are filmed in Toronto. There isn’t much room for someone like me within Quebecois cinema and I am trying to change that with my television show Notes in which will bring much awaited inclusion for the Montreal communities
Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?
Wow this is a tough one, there are many loved ones who have inspired me in my life, I’d have to say all have led me to where I am today, however my mother never once questioned my choice to fulfill my passion for the arts, she genuinely believed in the reality of it and believes in me. She always taught me to believe that nothing is impossible and to work hard and you will achieve great success along your journey, I’m lucky to have her to inspire me on mine. She was a single mom with a business, me to raise a\and was in university, a true inspiring woman I am happy to have in my life as a mentor. She is in many ways kind of like my agent! And of course my dog Milo who has always been by my side, or sitting in between my legs while I write or have meetings with producers/ broadcasters.
What does it mean to you to be an inspiration/mentor to someone else?
If I could inspire someone else to fulfill their passion or to help mentor them would be an incredible honour.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Human connection, Mother Nature, beautiful unique experiences that I’ve been blessed to encounter or witness along my journey here on earth.
If you had one message to share with the world, what would it be?
Find your ground, your truth and you will unearth what makes your heart content, share your talents with the world. We can all live happily & peacefully when we create and share our art…
What’s are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
Oh wow there are many that I’m proud of, the little things, being able to actually film live to tape shows, journalism reports, writing a television series for a year, Having meetings with broadcasters, steaming apps, and producers, getting a call back to be a journalist and making it to the last round ( even though I didn’t get the job 🥲 ), art directing a music music video for a singer song writer. I’m proud of my journey thus far, it doesn’t always take an Oscar hehe, though it would be nice one day 🙊!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)
Somewhere in Italy with my pup Milo sipping espresso looking for our next story while the sunsets! Hopefully at least one of my written scripts have manifested into a films. And perhaps starting to film season 2 of notes ( you did say no dream is too big hehe 🙃)
If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?
Do it! And don’t ever doubt yourself. The film industry has changed and if it hasn’t in your community yet then be the trailblazer who paves the way and makes space for women!
What kind of projects are you currently working on that you can share? (Feel free to leave links to the projects to view)
I’m currently working on the administrative side of producing a short films and a television series pilot it’s been a year long event filled with meetings doing so! Hopefully I’ll be able to share something soon
What does being a part of The Women in Film Project mean to you?
It is an honour and a beautiful surprise to be apart of the project! It makes me feel valued and apart of a global community🩵