Michael Cecchinelli

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Michael Cecchinelli and thank you so much for having me. I am originally from Seattle, Washington.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Seattle has certainly changed quite a bit since I grew up here in the ’90s. However, living in the Evergreen State as a filmmaker does inspire a lot of creativity for me. Being surrounded by all the breathtaking scenery, from the mountains to all the forests and greenery, leads to a lot of ideas for my projects.

I would say the main factor that keeps me in Washington state now, though, would be the freedom I have with my indie productions, while shooting in places just outside of Seattle. Rather than filming in California, where everything is quite a bit stricter. And while I do love it, and it’s where I’m from, I have been looking around quite a bit the last couple of years.

And now that I am in production on my third film, Some Like the Melee, which will also be my third film shot completely in Washington state, I am certainly ready for a change of scenery at this point.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

My company, Solveig Pictures LLC, is an indie production company. Focused mainly on feature films, but we have also branched out into an animation pilot that could hopefully be made into a series one day.

Our last feature film, Recluse, has been a film festival hit the past few months, since being completed in June 2026. Winning twenty-six awards, currently as I am writing this. However, the film is still currently circulating around film festivals worldwide, so we are anticipating that there could potentially be a few more awards too. And the film has also recently been licensed by Tubi, Kalingo TV, and Future Today for streaming. However, we are still hoping to be picked up by a few more services as well.

And as previously mentioned, we recently began production on the third film from myself and Solveig Pictures, titled Some Like the Melee. Which I am especially excited about. And truly believe it’ll be this film that stands out and really makes a name for Solveig Pictures LLC.

And under the umbrella of Solveig Pictures LLC, I always hire the same people for projects, whenever possible. Including a few additional, based on whatever the script calls for. And I tend to compensate the people I continually work with better. Which ends up with hiring on less help behind the camera than you would typically see on any other production. Therefore, I always end up wearing a lot of hats on these projects.

However, thanks to Recluse, I have also been blessed enough to have won awards for all the tasks that I do perform on these projects, including Best Producer, Best Editor, Best Cinematography, Best Writer, and truly honored to say multiple awards now for Best Director as well.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

If there is one thing I have learned from doing this so far, it’s that there are no perfect roadmaps to getting anything going. There can be a lot of excuses though. There is a quote from Jimmy Iovine that always sticks with me. And I would say it’s been very helpful for me to keep in mind, not only for starting a business. But also, especially when pursuing anything in the entertainment field.

“When you’re a racehorse, the reason they put blinders on these things is because if you look at the horse on the left or the right, you’re going to miss a step. That’s why the horses have blinders on. And that’s what people should have. When you’re running after something, you should not look left or right — what does this person think, what does that person think? No. Go.” – Jimmy Iovine

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

The sales acquisition representative that helped with securing the licenses for Recluse being featured on streaming platforms did take one look at my film and commented, “This is really high quality, huh? Well, you made my job easy!” Which I was very grateful to hear him say.

Swedish International Film Festival, and the RED MOVIE AWARDS in France, also sent me incredibly gracious messages about Recluse. Which was very touching, after many of the festivals that we had submitted to prior widely had not been catching most of what was great about the story.

Whereas both these festivals thanked me for all the attention to detail that went into the making, and the story. Having caught all the hidden Easter eggs, and the hidden meaning at the end. It meant the world to me to hear that from these festival directors that were featuring my film at their festivals.

And finally, even though our film was not selected at their festival for this project, Recluse, it was very heartening to hear Cannes say that they want to see everything I make from here on out as well. And once again, I have a very good feeling about our chances in 2027, submitting this time with Some Like the Melee.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I have stated this in a previous interview. And I know it sounds grandiose. However, I am hoping eventually Solveig Pictures can give audiences a reason to come back to cinemas.

I believe that the art form that I have loved and wanted to be a part of since I was seven is dying. My cast and crew that fly into Washington from Los Angeles for these projects tell me every single time that all that’s available for work in Hollywood is verticals. Series that are captured in portrait style and are app-based for your cell phone.

And as I watch my favorite filmmakers, like Tarantino and Scorsese, stepping back. In addition to fewer movies being released in general, which usually ends up being another remake or comic book movie anyway. It’s safe to say that I see a void in cinema now, that I do see Solveig Pictures filling soon.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

That it’s in any way easy. And all fun and games.

Nothing can be further from the truth. While I never had as many laughs on any other job, I have also never felt the level of burnout I feel at the end of every production day.

Filling as many roles as I do especially. You are basically using every part of your brain nonstop, while handling heavy cinema equipment. And then you miss full nights of sleep as well. Since there’s no way of shutting down your brain while in the middle of filming the movie that you also wrote. It’s very taxing.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

I would say that I am just now hitting it. Despite Recluse winning 26 awards and being picked up by three different streaming services, it’s still going to be a while before I see anything back from the licensing. And I ended up financing this next film myself again. Essentially, putting all my chips in on this next one that we are currently shooting.

Who was your favorite director or filmmaker growing up?

The earliest I can recall being completely obsessed with a movie as a child was after the first time I saw Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. And it wasn’t until years later that I fully understood why. And that it was because of the thought and all the details that went into making the film that made it linger on long after watching it. Therefore, growing up I would have to say Stanley Kubrick was my favorite director and filmmaker.

And it goes without saying, Stanley Kubrick was one of the heaviest influences for not only Recluse. Which is why those festivals were able to pick up on the elaborate details I made throughout.

The Shining itself was also a heavy influence in general for the concept of my first film, Rose.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Absolutely! I want to shout out my team that’s been working with me on all my projects. And are the greatest group of hardworking, kindhearted people that I have ever known.

My make-up and hair artist, who has been with me since my first project, Rose: Jessie McCollum blew me away from the very first day working with her. She did so much extra behind the scenes, past just make-up and hair for the talent. Getting everyone in line when I was having difficulties made me give her the Producer credit for that first film. And I have made sure to have her with me ever since. Also making her the Assistant Director on these last two films as well.

Manasa Veena, who has also been on multiple projects with me now. She is not only the most all-around talented actress, who I gave the most dialogue to on Recluse because I knew she could carry it. She’s also one of the hardest workers I know, taking on the role of Production Coordinator as well on Recluse, when she had the most lines. And has already been one of the biggest helps for me with Some Like the Melee as well.

Meitar Paz is so multitalented, I didn’t even know what an amazing singer she was when I originally cast her on Recluse. And it’s safe to say the film never would’ve turned out as good as it did without her singing Gabby Young’s song, “In Your Head.” Not to mention, without Meitar Paz starring in general. It was a no-brainer for me, before we had even stopped rolling cameras on Recluse, that I had to cast Meitar as the lead in my next film, Some Like the Melee.

Not only possessing a certain magnetism on screen that I have yet to find with anyone else, Meitar Paz herself is a very hard worker as well. Not only was she pivotal in helping me develop Some Like the Melee, through chatting with her for hours on the phone while writing the script. However, Meitar is also a very accomplished and award-winning filmmaker herself, for Invisible Flags.

And I would highly recommend seeing any project that Jessie McCollum, Manasa Veena, or Meitar Paz had a part in. It is guaranteed to be of the highest quality, and very entertaining.

And finally, I had to give one last big shoutout for Some Like the Melee. Which unfortunately, I cannot give away too much about the script now. The entire cast and crew had to sign NDAs based on the originality, and because of all the misdirection and twists throughout the film.

I can say it is by far the best thing I have ever written. And I would highly suggest people check back to our website www.SolveigPictures.com around mid-November. I will be releasing an official trailer with what we have shot already of the film. Giving away much more of the story and informing audiences what the movie is about. And I can guarantee! I’ll have anyone who watches it dying to see the entire film with the trailer alone.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Either the website: www.SolveigPictures.com (where all the following links can also be found).

I am also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.cecchinelli

Instagram is @SolveigPictures: https://www.instagram.com/solveigpictures/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cecchinelli-161936429/

And the YouTube channel, of course: https://www.youtube.com/@SolveigPictures