We caught up with the brilliant and insightful 3CW PRODUCTIONS a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
3CW PRODUCTIONS, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Being our very first feature film as an independent production company, we consider our current project of “Johnnyboy and Zelda” to be the most meaningful to us. We’ve challenged ourselves in more ways than one, but most importantly, the story of orphan twins Johnnyboy and Zelda Cruz has reminded us of what it means to be family. The twins’ journey recounts real-life conflicts and human emotions that we have overcome ourselves throughout the years. Especially as immigrants and first generation Caribbean-Americans, the topic of family is close to our hearts – whether its the distance between estranged relatives, or people you see so often that one day they’re your cousin. For 3CW, Johnnyboy and Zelda sparks a conversation about identity, and begs us to wonder what or who is holding us back on the journey to defining who you are. On a more logistical front, the making of Johnnyboy and Zelda has brought about multiple challenges, but ultimately, it has proved to us that we have what it takes to make our goals a reality. In order to put all of our time and energy towards this project, we left our regular jobs for three whole months. Thankfully, this was the right decision considering we had to handle last minute emergencies, search for a talented cast and generous locations that were willing to work with a small budget, as well as maximizing the use of our very small crew. To top it all off, we’re not immune to the growing pains that come with being a twenty-something figuring out their path in life. Nonetheless, we’re grateful for it all, and we can say that we are proud of our project and proud of the version of ourselves we have become while working on it.
3CW PRODUCTIONS, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
To our new friends, welcome! While our goals are sizeable, 3CW Productions is a small but mighty team that consists of three charismatic, opinionated, and steadfast women from South Florida: Imani Leila Kanzki, Selene Serra, and Veronica Eduvigis. Even though we met in our high school TV production class, 3CW didn’t become a unit until the summer after the pandemic when we decided to take on our first project. After a summer of writing, gorilla filmmaking, and many sleepless nights editing, we created a three-episode science-fiction mini series. The exhaustion was beyond anything we had felt before (we were still working our day-jobs) but the reward of a completed project eclipsed any struggle we endured in the process. It was then we knew we wanted to take this all the way. We’d go on the next three years of college making our families crazy with week-long shoots during winter and spring breaks, while focusing on our respective industry paths in the meantime. Before we knew it, Kanzki graduated Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts with a specialty in Directing, Serra was seen on Telemundo and Miami Fashion Week as she focused on Performance and Producing, and Eduvigis worked under Oscar Nominated filmmakers on the sets of Warner Bros and Netflix whilst focusing on Cinematography. All together, we make for a well-rounded team with a unified goal: to rule the world. Only half-joking; but it’s safe to say we have a laundry list of worlds to build, people to meet, and hearts to reach. It’s a good thing we’re best friends.
Now, we spend most of our time creating, whether we realize it or not. This includes (but is not limited to) music videos, short films, narrative and/or editorial photography, and documentaries. Of course, we write all of our own works and enjoy dabbling in other mediums such as theatre, production design, and prop making. All this to say, our next step is to take 3CW Productions to the west coast in the new year. While it can be daunting, this change is so exciting for us, as it is only a drop in the ocean of possibilities.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As three creatives in our tiny corner of this world, it’s especially rewarding when our art is able to tug on the hearts of people beyond arms reach. Whenever an old classmate, a friend of a friend, or even a stranger expresses their love for a project of ours, it’s pure exhilaration. Even though our stories can take place in absurd worlds with impossible scenarios, the hope is for our audience to anchor themselves onto how our characters feel at any given moment. It’s okay to want the rest of the world to fall away! We want our audience to feel safe in <i>our</i> worlds for as long as they need to. They are welcome to run away into the minds of others and feel recognized while doing so. If any amount of that happens while someone takes in our work, it’s a good day at 3CW Productions.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
To creatives who just need the push, it’s important to know that there is not one right way of doing art. There is no magic potion to take, no yellow brick road to follow, no secret ingredient needed in order to achieve success. <i>You</i> have to forge your own path using the tools that work for <i>you</i>. Trial and error is a creator’s best friend. How else are you supposed to know what kind of artist you are? Our group of three is an example of how different paths can lead to the same result. While the three of us share the mutual goal of growing our company and making a name for ourselves in the industry, we have all taken very different roads to get here. To non-creatives, though it’s hard to define anyone as a “non-creative” as creativity is required of everyday life, always know that there is a seat for you in artistic spaces as well. There is a space for those who vary in perspectives and experiences, those who crunch numbers day in and day out, and for those who have little time to unravel their own thoughts. The blockbusters you watch on cable tv while you do the dishes, the clothes that make you feel brand new, the music that calms you during a trying time. We, creatives, do what we do so you can feel just a little bit lighter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://imanileilaa.wixsite.com/3cwproductions?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYlNxa-VA_eAOsVNoSvrwPO07Vm_gB16chZNTzqONJQdvKalKONmA0FzcM_aem_CDDZqQ1PdpqxsT_LxyUnaQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3cwproductions/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@3cwproductions
- Other: Our personal instagrams. Selene: https://www.instagram.com/sele.sserra/
Veronica: https://www.instagram.com/veromartinezdp/
Imani: https://www.instagram.com/imanileilakanzki/