Mistakes in the Making - Zair Montes - Funding Woes, Resilience and Navigating Contractual and Casting Pitfalls

Hello, Hello! In this edition of Mistake in the Making, Zair Montes discusses the production challenges faced during the making of the film Rumba Love . Initially, the project was planned to be shot in New York and Havana, Cuba, with funding secured for the Cuban portion. However, difficulties arose in securing additional funds for New York, leading to a two-week production halt in Cuba. Actors' schedules changed, and funding issues persisted for over a year. A key actor refused to continue, necessitating script rewrites and reshoots. A last-minute venue cancellation in New York further delayed production, requiring rescheduling and additional funding. Despite these setbacks, the film was completed and released on Showtime in 2021. Montes emphasizes the importance of having full funding and signed contracts before starting a project and reflects on the resilience required to overcome such challenges. Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts from this Mistake In the Making: Zair Montes reflects on the lessons learned from the production, emphasizing the importance of having full funding and signed contracts before starting. She advises against spreading production across multiple locations to avoid rescheduling complications. Despite the challenges, the film was a rewarding experience, both spiritually, financially, and professionally. Zair Montes promotes her company, Golden Ceiba Productions, and invites viewers to check out their projects on various platforms. Products, software, websites, people or places mentioned: Rumba Love (film) New York Film Office Cuba Film Office Havana Film Production Golden Ceiba Productions (Zair Montes' company) Zair Montes (filmmaker, producer, actress) Zair Montes - Instagram (@zairmontes, @goldenceibaproductions) Rumba Love on Amazon Rumba Love on Apple Check out our full conversation with Zair Here We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT All Links: https://beacons.ai/themakeitpodcast Subscribe to our newsletter at www.bonsai.film/subscribe Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-make-it-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy