This week on the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza about her award-winning film In the Summers, which took home both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Best Director at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Lacorazza shares the deeply personal roots of the film, the tumultuous road to production, and the pressures of staying true to a creative vision in the face of industry challenges.

The conversation dives into casting across timelines, editorial discovery, and the intense final days before Sundance. It's an intimate and inspiring look at how a deeply personal, quietly powerful film almost didn't get made—and why it ultimately resonated so profoundly.


In this episode, we discuss:

  • The semi-autobiographical inspiration behind In the Summers
  • Creating emotionally complex characters and tender portrayals of masculinity
  • Casting multiple actors for the same role across time
  • The chaotic production process and financial uncertainty before filming
  • How Alessandra balanced creative integrity with commercial pressures
  • Editing discoveries, including changing the film’s ending after test screenings
  • What it was like to win at Sundance—while sick and alone
  • The unexpected emotional reach of the film across different demographics
  • Advice for emerging filmmakers on trusting collaborators and staying clear on your vision


Guests:


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This episode of The No Film School Podcast was produced by GG Hawkins.

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