Though she started her career working in front of the camera as a young actress, Effie Fradelos always knew she belonged behind the scenes and didn’t let fear stop her from making her way into the Queens World Film Festival.
The 25-year-old was born in Astoria yet moved around Queens for a few years before permanently settling in Bayside.
Starting as an actress in 2005, Fradelos worked in student-made and independent short films for two years until she realized she wanted to go into film production.
“I wanted to be the one telling the story,” said Fradelos. “I love being on set with the crew and making stuff happen from scratch.”
She then began her journey in creating a film that would bring female filmmakers into a world that is viewed as ruled by men.
“There’s not many of us women. Women need to tell their stories,” said Fradelos.
Her debut 10-minute film titled “Blooming Road” tells the story of Victoria, a lost artist attending medical school to please the desires of her mother, but who reaches a breaking point once she can no longer take it.
“I want to show people you can get out of your cage. Don’t be afraid to do what you want,” said Fradelos. “I want to entertain people and also want them to feel better about a situation.”
The whole film took a year to complete, yet actual shooting time only lasted three days back to back in locations at Fort Totten Park in Bayside, her grandparents’ apartment in Astoria and Downtown Manhattan.
After her sister told her about the Queens World Film Festival, she submitted her film and waited to see if she would make it.
“Someone had to pinch me, I felt like it was a dream,” said Fradelos. “I’m happy I was accepted into the Queens festival because it is my background, it’s my culture.”
“Blooming Road” debuted on screen Friday, March 8 at the Secret Theatre.
Fradelos will graduate from The New School for Communications and Film Production in May and already has her first feature-length script in the works, along with two other ideas.
“For sure there will be a Queens location in my next film,” said Fradelos. “It’s time that Queens is looked at like a place to come for the arts. It’s not just L.A., it’s not just Manhattan.”
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