Cossette Llanes

She worked in Vladimir Kalugin‘s Alfie: All That You Love Willl Be Carried Away Dollar Baby film.

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Cossette Llanes: My name is Cossette Llanes. I’m an interior designer based in South Florida and the founder of Verday Design Studio. I specialize in designing high-end residential interiors, focusing on thoughtful spaces that blend beauty, function, and sustainable materials. I’ve been working in the design field for decades and love transforming spaces so they feel personal and timeless for the people who live in them.

SKSM: How did you become involved in Alfie: All That You Love Will Be Carried Away Dollar Baby film?

Cossette Llanes: My boyfriend, Vladimir, asked if I could help with the design and colors for the set. As an interior designer,  I create atmosphere through color, texture, and objects so I was excited to help shape the visual environment of the story.

SKSM: In this production, you wore several hats: Camera Operator, Set Designer/Production Designer, Stylist, and Voice Actress. Let’s take it one step at a time, when did you know you wanted to become a voice actor?

Cossette Llanes: Set design and production design felt natural to me because that’s what I do in my professional life. Creating spaces and visual environments. Being a camera operator was new, but Vladimir walked me through everything. We prepped. He showed me how to move the camera, how angles affect the scene, and why certain shots matter. It was fascinating to understand the language of filmmaking.

For the voiceover, I had never acted before. Again, Vladimir guided me through it. He helped me understand the tone, the tempo, and the emotional place the character was coming from. That made the process much easier and actually very enjoyable.

SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?

Cossette Llanes: It was written for me and even rewritten a bit along the way. We also improvised as we went, focusing on what felt natural for me. I’m not someone who can easily memorize lines and make them sound natural, so instead we focused on the meaning behind the dialogue and the emotion of the character. That approach made it much easier.

SKSM: When you’re going to shoot, what are your favorite lenses? formats?

Cossette Llanes: Honestly, I just loved being behind the camera. I was learning as we were shooting, which made the whole process exciting. We used the 50mm lens a lot, and I liked how natural it felt for the scenes.

SKSM: As a stylist, how do you translate the script into a visual style?

Cossette Llanes: When I read the script, especially the motel scenes, I immediately had a visual in my mind. I imagined using saturated colors and strong visual elements to reflect Alfie’s emotional state and the world he lives in.

SKSM: How much influence does the actor have on the creation of the final style?

Cossette Llanes: For me, it’s always about collaboration. I like hearing the ideas. I also share how I visualize things, and then we find something together. I think it’s a beautiful process when artists collaborate.

SKSM: How do you communicate with a director to design a visual strategy for a film?

Cossette Llanes: Almost like creating a mood board. I show images, textures, and references that represent how the story should look and feel visually.

SKSM: What has been the most difficult technical challenge in this film?

Cossette Llanes: Definitely learning everything on the go. I was asking a lot of questions on set and figuring things out as we worked. But that was also part of the fun.

SKSM: How were the technical or economic limitations solved with creativity?

Cossette Llanes: I actually think limitations bring out even more creativity. Sometimes the best ideas come when you have to solve problems quickly. It was exciting to come up with solutions on the fly. One way we used creativity was when we were shooting the park. In the film, the opening shot is of a squirrel in silhouette, which represented Alfie. Isolated and mysterious. That wasn’t in the script. It wasn’t planned. But it was there and we thought it would be a great opening shot. Vlad saw it a few minutes after we arrived and we shot it right away. It was perfect.

SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?

Cossette Llanes: I think there are a lot of Alfies in this world. It’s a sad and quiet story, but I believe it resonates with people who may feel similar emotions but don’t always talk about them.

SKSM: You worked with Vladimir Kalugin on this film, how was that?

Cossette Llanes: It was great. He taught me so much during the process. By the end of the film, I honestly felt ready to work on another one. Filmmaking is such a beautiful art form, and I really enjoyed being part of it.

SKSM: Was there any funny things that happened while filming (Bloopers, etc)?

Cossette Llanes: Yes, one moment that stands out was during a scene where Alfie enters the motel room and turns on the lights. Because of the lighting setup, I had to turn on the set lights at exactly the same moment. I think we did that scene ten times or more. Every time we laughed because I would turn them on too early or too late, and his facial expressions were priceless.

SKSM: You worked in a Dollar Baby based on a Stephen King short story. It was your most challenging film?

Cossette Llanes: It was actually my first film, so yes it was challenging, but also very exciting. It was a great experience to be part of a project based on a story by Stephen King.

SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?

Cossette Llanes: These days I’m back at designing homes in South Florida and other cities around the United States. But when Vladimir calls me again to help design a set, I’ll definitely be there. I know he’s working on a feature right now and I’m excited to see the final script.

SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?

Cossette Llanes: Yes, I am. One of my favorite films is The Shining.

SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Cossette Llanes: I have a horse named Donte.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

Cossette Llanes: You’re welcome! Thank you for being such great fans and supporting storytellers.

SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?

Cossette Llanes: Thank you for the interview.