INTERVIEW with Alexandra Echavarri
Una historia de trauma, pérdida, duelo y el uso del arte para la sanación, “Walking” trata de dos almas gemelas quienes deben desafiar el paso de los siglos para demostrar su verdadero amor. Enamorándose repetidamente a lo largo de distintas vidas, sus reencuentros siempre se ven truncados por circunstancias imprevistas. Inspirada en hechos reales, Alexandra, a los 23 años, pierde al amor de su vida, a su alma gemela, en la guerra de Afganistán en el 2009 - poco después cae en una profunda depresión. Décadas más tarde, decide reconectar con las enseñanzas ancestrales sobre almas gemelas y vidas pasadas, y toma la valiente decisión de revivir esta experiencia traumática a través del arte. No para revivir el dolor, sino para comprenderlo y, con suerte, sanar finalmente.
9/2/202610 min read
Can you tell us about your latest film project and the process you went through in
bringing it to life?
WALKING was a deeply personal journey—one I could not have brought to life without my co-producer, co-writer, director, and best friend, Gema Interiano.
Originally we set out to make a feature film about my relationship with my boyfriend, his death while serving in Afghanistan, and the aftermath of that loss. I also wanted to somehow incorporate a song - not connected to the story at all - I had created, but never published to mix both my talents. But, as we developed the project, we realized the budget simply wasn’t there to tell the story on the scale we had envisioned.
Instead of letting the story go, Gema and I went back to the heart of why I needed to tell it. Through countless conversations and rewrites, we began exploring trauma, grief, memory, spirituality, and the possibility of healing—and realized that the story could be told in a much more intimate and symbolic way.
That process led us to create WALKING as a hybrid between a short film and music video, weaving together my personal family stories, beliefs about souls and spirituality, fantasy, music, and narration.
Most importantly, using art itself as a form of healing—a way of taking something painful we carry and transforming it into something meaningful.
The project took several years to develop, from writing and reshaping the concept to finding funding and bringing together the people who believed in the story.
As my first project of this magnitude as a producer, I wanted WALKING to be made with intention, heart, and love. What began as a story about one very personal loss ultimately became a story about what we carry, what we believe, and how art can help us find a way toward healing.
What inspired you to become a filmmaker and pursue a career in the film industry?
WALKING wasn’t about becoming a filmmaker - I am, and will always be, an actress and a singer. It simply allowed me to step outside of those roles and become a storyteller in a different way. And it also allowed me to create my own opportunities and what better way to do that than sharing my personal story.
As an actress and singer, I’ve always used art to express myself, and creating this film became another form of that. Producing this from the ground up to create an opportunity to share something deeply personal, in the hope that it might touch others, help them connect to something real, and perhaps even inspire their own healing.
What challenges did you encounter during the filmmaking process and how did you overcome them?
There were definitely many challenges, especially because this was my first time producing and creating a project of this magnitude. Finding funding took a couple of years of researching ideas, creating a pitch, and learning to ask for help—something that doesn’t come naturally to me. Sharing such a personal story publicly was also difficult, but reaching out to friends, family, and people who had followed my career allowed our indie campaign to grow and eventually gave us the support we needed.
The production itself brought another set of challenges. Wearing multiple hats—actress, creative, and producer—could be overwhelming, especially while shooting a 16-minute film in just three days. Again, wouldn't have been possible without the guidance and full support of Gema interiano, having her by my side was invaluable. Her experience as a producer, editor and director helped guide me through the learning curve and allowed me to focus on the story while learning what it truly takes to bring a production together. I also have to thank Juan Carlos Arvelo for hopping on from once we started pre-production and giving it his all and Angelina Villapiano for going all in during production.
It was exhausting, but incredibly rewarding. For a first production of this magnitude, I’m very proud of what we accomplished and, most importantly, of the people who helped us get it there.
What was the most memorable moment for you during the production of your film? Can you share any interesting anecdotes or behind-the-scenes stories from the making of your film?
Honestly, one of the most memorable parts of making WALKING was realizing and seeing right before my eyes, just how many people believed in me and were willing to jump into the chaos with us, before, during and for everything that came after shooting. My family, friends, and people I had met along the way supported us in every possible way. They shared our IndieGoGo campaign, opened their homes (while occasionally freaking out seeing all the equipment come in and all their things being moved around, Mami and Papi, los amo! Gracias.), lent us bars—thank you, Hermano Lucca—buses for cast and crew transportation—thank you bestie Tony and his family’s company Castillo Tours—jewelry from Yarash
Unique Accessories —Teresa Casellas for creating the art for our poster —- Colmadoriqueño for their tote bags—- Giuseppe Arte y Enmarcados —-incredible pastries for the cast and crew private screening from Lucia Patisserie and so much more. I am sure I am missing a couple of key important people, but I am sure they know how grateful I am. Another very memorable moment was when my costume designer disappeared at the last minute and Gladiris Silva came to save the day. People simply showed up, and I’ll never forget it.
And then there was the exhaustion, which was another memorable and funny moment. I remember one night when Gema and I finished filming incredibly late, only to realize we had to be on set again at 6 a.m. At around 3 a.m., we were lying in the same bed, surrounded by all the wardrobe, equipment etc, trying to decide what outfit I should wear for the next scene - you know cause of the last minute disappearing costume designer - while literally falling asleep mid-sentences discussing all the shots for the next day, I mean that same day - in just a couple of hours. At that point, I’m pretty sure we were just dust in the wind.
I’d like to believe that made us even closer than we already were, if that's even possible.Somehow we didn't kill each other, we freaking rallied, got up, and made it to the beach to film those scenes. How we pulled it off, I have no idea. Thank God for makeup, adrenaline, good friends and in the words of Lorelai Gilmore, coffee coffee coffeeeeee!
How do you approach storytelling in your films? What themes or messages do you try to convey?
My approach to storytelling is rooted in telling stories I know—experiences that my family, the people around me, or I have personally lived through. I’m interested in stories that feel personal, real, and aren’t always represented on screen. At the same time, I believe storytelling should be fun and freeing, allowing us to step outside of what is expected or what “sells” and create from a place of passion. I think most indie artists can relate a little. The themes I’m most drawn to right now are trauma, loss, and healing through art, as well as our connection to nature and other living beings and the losses they experience.
What is your preferred genre of filmmaking and why? Are there any specific directors or filmmakers who have influenced your work?
I am not sure I have a specific genre I prefer or favorite directors. Now if you ask me who my favorite actors and that have influenced me, I would say, Lucielle Ball, Rita Moreno, Zoe Saldaña, Robin Williams and Morgan Freeman.
How do you select your cast and crew for your film projects? What qualities do you look for in collaborators?
For WALKING, I wanted to surround myself with people who genuinely connected with the story and loved what they did. The budget was a reality, but passion and connection mattered just as much.
When I approached people, I shared where the story came from and then asked them a different question: What department have you always wanted to work in but never had the opportunity to? I wanted everyone to feel they had creative freedom—to bring their ideas, their talent, and a piece of themselves into the project. I think this, in a way, made most be flexible with their cost and incredibly pumped to participate in the filming of Walking. WALKING became as much theirs as it was mine, and I think that’s what made the team so special. As for the actors, it was the same process in a way. I went to all that I knew were incredibly talented and were not given many opportunities such as myself on our island. Of course we had an audition process, because it was a tough choice and ultimately, like any production, weneeded the person that would bring to life the character they auditioned for and also had the availability - an important component. I wanted it to be, as much as possible, a fair and loving production. Even though we ALL know filming can be a crazy process.
How important do you think film festivals are for independent filmmakers, and what has been your experience with film festivals so far?
Film festivals have opened so many doors for independent filmmakers like myself. They give us something incredibly valuable: a space to share our work, connect with audiences, and have our stories seen beyond our own communities.
For me, it’s important that festivals continue creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for filmmakers at every stage of their careers. These opportunities allow us to take risks, discover new voices, grow as artists, and most importantly, continue creating and sharing stories that might otherwise never have the chance to be seen
Can you tell us about any awards or recognition your films have received and how they have impacted your career? How do you handle feedback and criticism of your films? How do you use it to improve your craft?
I personally believe - and I say this from an actress's perspective - that feedback and criticism are very important, as they help me become better and see what I can improve in order to keep growing. At the same time, I believe you have to take criticism with a grain of salt, because not everyone is going to love your work or share the same vision. I always try to listen, look at my work objectively and through other people’s eyes, and then decide if the feedback would truly help the quality of the film or storytelling, or if it’s simply an opinion based on different preferences.
For my first project, the VERY artsy, no-budget, experimental music video ROUND AND ROUND, shot with a canon and iphones, made with a couple of my close friends/friends of friends, who some, also worked on WALKING—Gema Interiano, Angelina Villapiano, Camille Padilla, and Juan Carlos Malve—we received a couple of recognitions. It won Best Music Video at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival, became a semifinalist at the Toronto Independent Film Festival, the song received local radio plays, and the video surpassed 16k views on
YouTube. For my first single and production, I’m going to call that a win in itself. And it’s all thanks to everyone who believed in me and chose to support a new artist.
What do you enjoy most about the process of filmmaking? Is there anything you find particularly challenging?
I personally love the ability to tell our own stories—to share a part of our world through our lens. But mostly, I love creating and collaborating with different kinds of people and how it allows me to learn and grow throughout the process, not just in filmmaking, but in learning about other people’s lived experiences.
What’s particularly challenging—and I think MANY can agree—is budget. Finding funding, finding creative ways to get that funding, and doing what you can with what you have, no matter the challenge ahead.Like losing electricity or water while filming, which is a reality for many Puerto Ricans on our island. It definitely makes us resourceful, but honestly, we could do without that particular challenge when we’re already facing so many as indie filmmakers. But, I wouldn’t trade doing what I LOVE where I love for anything else in the world.
How do you approach the distribution of your films? What strategies do you employ to reach a wider audience?
For this project, I wasn’t truly thinking about distribution, since it is something so experimental. But I do believe that, based on the subject matter, this is a project I would love to share with programs that deal with trauma, loss, and grief—military programs in particular, since the project is inspired by the loss of the love of my life at war.
I want to share this story with others who have gone through something similar, in the hope that it might help them feel less alone, or perhaps help them heal in some small way. And maybe, one day, it will open the doors to finally get the funding to tell the full feature story of A young Puerto Rican actress who moves to the States for college, falls in love with a 23-year-old soldier, and is forced to face the realities of growing up—including loss and death brought by war at a young age.
But honestly, if WALKING simply reaches the right people, makes them feel something, or helps someone heal, I’ll be equally as happy. For me, that would already make it worth the journey.
What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers who are just starting their journey in the film industry?
I think what Morgan Freemon told me when I met him at the age of 14, stranded in a bay in the British Virgin Island because one of our engines was having issues, was pretty good advice - “Good Luck”! It was a crazy day. It was amazing and funny meeting him and getting such an honest and heartfelt response. I swear, he said in the kindest manner. And well, I went for it - as an actress of course. Then I met him again several years later in nyc while pursuing my dream and I thought, now this is a great sign!
Especially because I love doing voice overs and he is amazing at that like Robin Williams and I hope, one day, that I get the chance to narrate a documentary with him or an amazing movie - either way i’ll be PUMPED!
Finally, can you share with us your future plans and upcoming projects as a filmmaker?
Well, if I get to make the feature that would be awesome. But, at the moment I am working on some pretty amazing projects - hopefully I can share soon. And, I also just got done working on another single, which is the one that was the final ingredient to close this cycle of grief for me - it’s about him, me and the things we never said. And hopefully we will be shooting a music video real soon.
