Q&A with Filmmaker Madison Bolatto
Madison Bolatto
Madison Bolatto is a Brooklyn-based independent filmmaker who made her writer/director debut in fall 2024 with the short film THE BEING. With a creative background in painting and graphic design, she discovered filmmaking as a natural extension of her artistic work. Her films are inspired by spirituality, the surreal, the absurd, and the subconscious, with grief serving as a central theme across mediums. Though early in her career, Bolatto demonstrates a strong artistic vision and a sharply developed creative voice that continues to shape her work.
This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series
THE BEING (2025)
What inspired you to create this film, and how did the initial idea come to you?
It was through painting that I became inspired to make THE BEING. I was working on my first collection of paintings when I had the idea of making some kind of short film to accompany them. The paintings were all very graphic, esoteric, and feminine, so I knew that the short would reflect those qualities. I remember lying in bed one night when I had a vision for the film: an extraterrestrial being is brought to planet Earth in the dead of night, she awakens in the middle of the desert. That vision ended up being the intro of THE BEING!
How do you want people to feel after they see your film?
I hope people feel softened, reflective, and inspired after they watch THE BEING.
What was your favorite part of making your film? Memories from the process?
One of my favorite parts of making THE BEING was trekking through the desert with the cast and crew. We shot at some really gorgeous and awesome natural locations in Nevada, not far outside of Las Vegas. It felt pretty surreal to be at such otherworldly and beautiful places while simultaneously shooting a project that I had been dreaming about making for almost two years at that point. I felt really blessed.
Were there any films or directors that influenced your approach to this project?
There were many films and directors that influenced THE BEING, but one film that I will specifically call out is House by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi. First of all, I just love how absolutely absurd it is. In terms of influence however, I was particularly inspired by the graphic quality of the film. Ōbayashi intermixes collage-like visual effects that are dreamy yet somewhat crude and feel really playful. I wanted to approach THE BEING, not only with that kind of style in mind, but also with that childlike energy, letting go of perfectionism and control (both things for which I have a penchant).
How do you approach storytelling in your films? What’s your process for developing a script or concept?
My process with writing and developing a story almost always starts with the image. Before I write anything, I usually have visual ideas that come to me in visions or dreams. Sometimes the ideas come in fragmented flashes and sometimes the ideas are more developed and fleshed out when they enter my consciousness.
How do you feel about your film being screened in front of a festival audience?
I feel horrified about my film being screened in front of an audience of any kind, let alone a festival audience, but I am trying to be open to enjoying the experience.
What’s the last film you watched?
The last film I watched was Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven at Metrograph. It affected me deeply and I ended up seeing it there twice in one week
This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series