after I graduated from Middlebury and the film was done , I still kept in contact with them . They ’ ve connected me with people who have given me more work opportunities , and they ’ ve also given me constructive feedback about my more recent projects .”
In the process of drafting ideas for his senior thesis film in the Fall of 2020 , Moretti decided that he wanted to make a film that focused on people who lived in remote and natural environments . “ At the time , the COVID-19 pandemic was raging at full force ,” says Moretti . “ People were feeling more isolated than ever before , so I wanted to profile several people who had lived inherently isolated lives before the onset of the pandemic . Separate from the pandemic , isolation is a universal theme that many people can relate to . I thought that it would make a powerful film .”
Moretti reached out to a number of Central Vermont-based contacts , who connected him with a Middlebury-based fish and game warden . “ The game warden told me about someone who had a family of beavers living in his backyard ,” says Moretti . “ I thought it sounded interesting , so I followed up on that lead . I eventually got to talk to a man named Walter over the phone , who ended up being the primary subject of my short film , Just Being Here .” Over the course of their conversation , Moretti found Walter to be an incredibly honest and vulnerable person who was very open about his mental health struggles . “ As someone who has always struggled with anxiety , I immediately connected with him on a deep level . Our initial dialogue served as the establishing foundation for what became an incredibly meaningful and dignified film . It also led to us developing a real friendship , which made the experience even more fulfilling .”
After initially connecting with Walter over the phone in October 2020 , Moretti began filming at Walter ’ s property in the Addison County wilderness several times a week for the next two months . Moretti began editing the film in December 2020 and filmed several additional winter scenes in January 2021 . After finishing the editing process in February 2021 , Moretti submitted the film to several independent film festivals , such as the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival , the Indy Shorts International Film Festival , and the Made Here Film Festival .
The film that resulted from Moretti ’ s efforts is stark , poignant , and incredibly moving . Moretti creates a vivid and expansive cinematic tableau in Just Being Here through a series of breathtaking nature scenes , which are brilliantly juxtaposed with introspective and pensive shots of Walter going through his daily motions . “ Walter is a person who is incredibly aware of his natural surroundings ,” says Moretti . “ Like all humans , he craves contact with others . Still , there is something deep within him that longs for a place off the beaten path that is all his own .”
According to Moretti , Walter ’ s property is surrounded by a tiered network of ponds and channels , which are home to a group of beavers that Walter has befriended over the years . “ Walter built a walking path on his property near the beaver ponds . He also notched out several sitting spots in between trees where he can observe the animals that live around his house . He goes out to sit with the beavers almost every day . Even in the winter , he will cut holes through the ice just to be able to spend time with them .”
According to Moretti , the time that Moretti spent with Walter taught him deep and life-changing lessons about the power of stillness and mindfulness . It also had a substantial impact on his creative trajectory . “ In the past , I tended to take a more active approach in how I tried to dictate the flow of my film projects . This film really changed my perspective . It ’ s amazing what can happen when you just let things play out in front of the camera without trying to change them . I find that whenever I approach a film shoot with an attitude of patience , I ’ m able to let the story take agency and direct itself . Ultimately , I think the true power of storytelling lies in giving other people the opportunity to speak . It brings you deeper into the film , and it gives you a moment to breathe and reflect . I think that ’ s incredibly important , regardless of what kind of film you ’ re making .”
In the summer of 2021 Moretti ’ s patient and mindful cinematic approach struck a resonant chord with the judges of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival ( MNFF ), where Just Being Here received the Shouldice Family Prize for Best Vermont-Made Film . “ It meant so much to me to be able to show my film in Middlebury , because my experiences
at Middlebury College have shaped me both as a person and as a filmmaker . I was already excited that the film had been selected for the festival , and I felt incredibly honored when MNFF ’ s Producer Lloyd Komesar called me up and told me I had won the prize .” Moretti wasn ’ t just happy that the film had won the prize – he was also grateful that Walter ’ s story was being recognized , as well . “ I think the film truly captures the spirit of what makes Vermont and its people so wonderful . Vermont ’ s natural environment plays a prominent part in the cinematic story of Just Being Here , and the film serves as a positive reflection of Vermont and its beauty .”
As Moretti continues to pursue his promising career as a cinematographer , film editor , and photographer , he encourages other first and second-time filmmakers and student filmmakers to submit their projects to the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival . “ The energy at MNFF is very cohesive , warm , and welcoming . They put a lot of care into promoting filmmakers and their films , and everyone who comes there feels like they ’ re valued . As a festival that specializes in first and second-time filmmakers , MNFF gives emergent storytellers and cinematographers a crucial platform that can help launch their careers . Filmmaking is all about making connections , and I made some absolutely amazing connections during the process of making Just Being Here . I connected with Walter , I connected with the audiences who watched my film , and I connected with a wonderful community of filmmakers and storytellers at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival .”
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