Film Tells Story Based on Diary of Conqueror in Middle of Pandemic

Over an eight-day span, dozens of people were involved in the recordings of the first Christian production shot in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. With the title " I No Longer Live," the story takes place in the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic and portrays the life of 19-year-old student Esthefany da Silva Maia. The plot addresses the girl's daily life and her participation in the Pathfinder Club.

Esthefany was a young student with many dreams. After discovering she was a carrier of lupus disease, her life was marked by many changes and the desire to make a difference in the lives of the people with whom she lived.

The diagnosis of the incurable disease and a new friendship brought Esthefany a change of direction in her life. Living challenging days with the complications of the disease, she began to write her reflections and projects in a journal that her father, Armando Maia, gave her. From that diary, the movie was born.

Production

The film, which is available on Feliz7Play, the Adventist Church's video platform, was written by Pollyana Corrêa and is directed by filmmaker Rudy Barros, both from RUDFilms South America production company. “From that notebook, the script began to take shape, inspiring even the title of the series and the essence of who that young missionary was. We also reconstruct the story after listening to various testimonies, especially that of Esthefany's parents,” explains Pollyana.

For the director, leading the project was a challenging yet rewarding experience. “Adapting a true story to fiction is a very great responsibility since the life experience of another person is there. So you need to respect the feelings of real people without looking dysfunctional on screens. The play will provide us with an inspiring and hopeful experience,” Rudy highlights.

The Cast

The cast was made up of professional actors such as Leonardo Novellino, Cláudia Simões, Estocia Castro, Karyme Dibo, and Valentina Marques. During the eight days of recordings, carried out at the end of August 2020, all safety protocols were taken into account with the reduced production equipment inside the set and the use of alcohol gel and {chinstraps?}.

Novellino played Esthefany's father. He has been acting in theater since he was 13 years old, and the web series project was very significant in his life. “It was inspiring and exciting because being an instrument to help tell the story of struggle, improvement, and victory in the faith of Esthefany and her family makes us reflect on the direction we are taking in our own lives and also motivates us to care and help others,” the actor emphasizes.

“It was an incredible new experience. I've met great people and I'm going to keep this experience for the rest of my life,” says Valentina Marques, who plays Leticia, Esthefany's sister.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site