The Last of Us 2 is one of the most successful games ever in terms of awards, and it made for an exception from other blockbuster games in many ways. Its story was told in a beautiful and emotional way, and it featured characters all over the LGBTQ+ community.

The game was so successful that it spawned a lot of art, ranging from fan drawings to cosplays. One group of cosplayers act in a fan-made short film about The Last of Us 2, directed by Italian filmmaker Marco Ritelli. Game Rant spoke with the director and HotGarbageTeam about what it meant for them to work on this short film, and how much of the games appear in it. Interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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Q: How did you come up with the idea of making a The Last of Us-inspired film?

Ritelli: I'd like to start by saying that this is not going to be a full movie, but rather a short film. We tried to convey the same feelings and emotions of the game into it, but we chose to make a short film because we don't want to spoil The Last of Us 2 for those who haven't played it. Our film doesn't add anything new that isn't in the game, and we tried to make it faithful to the original plot. As for how the idea came about, I saw a few Facebook posts, including a picture of Virginia Ceci and Rita Grieco [cosplaying as Ellie and Dina, respectively].

I noticed we are all from Puglia, so I reached out to Virginia, who then reached out to everybody else, and soon after we were briefing stuff as a group. We started working on the structure of the movie and some ideas. The script was written by me, Virginia, and Rita, but overall everyone participated. In the beginning, what I did was coming up with the idea and sharing it, as a videomaker myself. When we started, the pandemic was still going strong, so finally meeting as a group was not easy. We had a few video calls to work on the project remotely. When we met, we could arrange things differently and in a better way, too.

Q: When did you start working on the film?

Ceci: Marco reached out to me in February, I think, and then we actually started toward the end of March.

Ritelli: Yeah, and then the actual filming bit was in June and July of this year.

Q: What was the highlight of the experience for each of you?

Ritelli: For me, the main thing was being able to work with [HotGarbageTeam]. Then, while filming, as long as there are positive vibes there's a lot of fun to be had. When I work on a movie or short film I try my best to take everything with a smile, otherwise, the whole experience can suffer from it. I had a lot of fun, and there were many nice moments.

Ceci: As for me, I'm unsure if the best moment was when I found a backpack pin that I had previously lost. While filming, I lost one of the pins on the official backpack from The Last of Us 2, and it was scary because I had to spend a lot of money getting it. We were filming a scene in a very narrow place and I bumped my backpack against something. After a while, I noticed I had lost one of the pins from the official collection, the Ellie Edition.

I had to pay a lot of money to get it because it was never available in Italy, so I was bummed, to say the least, when I discovered the pin was gone. It was awful for an hour or so, but luckily I found it, and I'm happy about that. But no, the thing is, we are cosplayers - not actors. The highlight for me was experiencing what a professional actor does and goes through. So, working on my tone of voice, my behavior, and to experience first-hand what the character went through to make something valuable, artistically speaking. It was a tribute to the game. This was a new challenge for me, and I loved it. It was great, every part of it.

Grieco: As far as I'm concerned, there was no single highlight. Every moment was unique and beautiful in a way. If I had to choose a specific moment, it was not a scene where I was involved, but rather something that happened while filming scenes in a run-down building. Because I didn't have to act at that moment, I was watching things from the outside, so I could see what everyone was doing. I got to see the behind-the-scenes moments and enjoy them.

But yeah, everything I get to do with the others is a highlight for me. We always try to be as professional as possible in what we do, but of course, we're all friends, and we have fun. When you hang out with your friends there's no single best moment, as hanging out with them is the highlight itself. We've known each other for a little over a year now. Alessia Grassi and Virginia have known each other for longer, I'm not sure how long exactly, but they were friends even before we met. When the game first came out, I made an instant cosplay as Dina. I'm sort of known for insta-cosplays, and I got to make one as Dina, who also happens to be one of the characters that I liked the most. That's how I met Virginia, as she reached out to me, and we started chatting.

Truth be told, our friendship grew stronger later on because, in the beginning, we would talk mostly about what we had to do. Then, Naughty Dog shared for the first time a picture of me and Virginia cosplaying as Dina and Ellie. That's when we understood that what we were doing had value in it, and that's when the HotGarbageTeam was created. We started talking more because we knew we had to carry on with what we were doing. So, talking all day, every day, led to our friendship being so strong to this day.

We hang out on the weekend and during the week as well, we go shopping together, we even play games on the PlayStation together. It's almost like we're siblings, rather than friends. Sometimes there's a lot of fierce competition when it comes to cosplays, and while it can help at times, more often it ends up fostering hostility between people. So when something real happens, even with all the arguments that may arise, it's good because we get through things together.

Grassi: I feel in a similar way, meaning that there wasn't a specific moment I loved more than others because I had a lot of fun throughout. I enjoyed shooting my combat scenes and filming with my friends and new people as well. Yet, for me, one of the most important things was putting myself out there, as I never acted before. I had to try hard for it because I don't feel like I'm very expressive, emotionally speaking. So, I tried to step up my game and learn something new to help me get better, even grow in a way.

As a cosplayer, I'm used to photoshoots, but with this short film, I had to get out of my comfort zone. I thought I was not going to be able to do it, but the others cheered me up and gave me a lot of tips. Especially Rita, who has been doing theatre for a long time. I'm happy I got to try something new that I would have never thought I would do. A short film is not exactly what you'd expect from daily life unless that's your job. Then a videomaker reaches out saying "I want you in my short film," and it's quite like Naughty Dog sharing HotGarbageTeam's pictures, mine included. You're sitting there, and you're like "Wow, someone noticed me." You feel like you can finally reap the rewards of your hard work.

Ceci: As for Naughty Dog sharing our work, it happened eight times total, and then an extra time it was Neil Druckmann himself.

Grassi: Naughty Dog shares pictures of several cosplayers, and yet it also shared a lot of ours. That doesn't happen every day, and that's why I said that you feel like you can reap the rewards of your hard work.

Ceci: I usually notice first when something like this happens, and I immediately notify everyone. What I'll never forget is when Neil Druckmann shared one of our pictures. He doesn't share a lot of stuff online, so when that happened it was an honor for us precisely because we know he doesn't do that very often. It was a privilege for all of us.

Amelia Falco: Circling back to the highlight question, I think one of the moments that hit me the most, considering all the scenes I shot, was probably the make-up bit both before and after filming. Whenever issues arose, especially because of the bald cap I had to wear as Lev, everyone tried to figure out what we could to fix them. Issues with make-up would often be quite bad, and we were afraid they could hinder the project as a whole. Because it was very warm, glue and gel would drip from under my bald cap, and I would have them everywhere. It happened to everyone to an extent, as sweating would damage the make-up, but we managed to get everything done in a way we were happy with.

Grieco: The high temperatures were exhausting. We also tend to do things wrong end to, as we often wear light clothes, maybe have the neck exposed, which is often a sore spot for me, especially when it's cold. This time it was very warm, but we had winter clothes on. Alessia was wearing a bomber jacket, Virginia had her coat on, I had a fleece shirt on. So yeah, it was exhausting. Then, because we wanted to film the scenes in places that would fit the setting, we chose places that were similar to those of The Last of Us.

This often resulted in us filming in abandoned, run-down places, where air conditioning is non-existent, and so is electricity. We used coolers and ice cubes, but it was all very dirty. We also didn't want to use artificial lights, so we had to make do with what we had, and this meant we often couldn't take many breaks from the excessive warmth. That's why we try to prioritize those with the most make-up on when filming. Like, the Infected's make-up would melt very fast, as it consisted of heavy foundation and fake blood. Stuff like that tends to melt with sweat and water so, we also tried to be as quick as possible.

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Q: Have you all played The Last of Us? What was your experience with the games?

Ritelli: I'm a gamer, so I played both chapters. I played the first one only much later, on PS4, and it was very emotional for me. I really liked Part as well, mainly because Naughty Dog chose to tell the story in a raw, brutal way compared to the first game. It's much like real life - things happen, suddenly. There is no warning sign, they just happen. I really loved the way Neil Druckmann wrote and directed the story. There was another short film I made for the first game, a long time ago. The Last of Us was dear to me, and when Part 2 came out I knew I wanted to make another one for it too.

Ceci: I've been a fan of the games since the first chapter came out, in 2013. I think I've replayed it 20 times or so. I immediately fell in love with Ellie's character, as I relate to her completely. This holds true both for The Last of Us, back when I was 15, and for Part 2, a year and a half ago. I try to avoid anything that's too dramatic, though. Before watching a movie I ask other people if it ends well, in which case I do watch it, otherwise I don't.

After a long wait for Part 2, actually playing the game was very tough for me. I cried a lot, and towards the end I just wanted it to be over because I couldn't handle it. This is why I liked the first game better, as it had a relatively positive story compared to Part 2. I did love Part 2, but it hit like a truck, emotionally speaking, hence why I'm more attached to the first one.

Falco: I couldn't play both games, and I played the first one this year thanks to Virginia because I managed to get a PS3, so she lent me the game. I was not entirely new to the game, and I had already seen it in the past. As for Part 2, I've seen it online a few times, but I haven't had the chance to play it just yet. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to, as I like quieter games more because I'm easily scared. The first game was already quite scary, but if I'll ever have the chance to play Part 2 I will. I like its setting, and I like the story it tells.

Grassi: I played both games. The first one was amazing. I loved the story a lot. I had some issues playing it as well, since I'm easily scared, like Amelia. I also don't think of myself as a very good player. I didn't think there would be a sequel, but when I played it I loved it. It's true, however, that is much more brutal and raw. It forces you to face reality for what it is, much more than The Last of Us ever could. Considering I cosplay as Abby, and considering that I didn't relate too much to any other character in the first game other than Tess, even if only a tiny bit, I'm glad I found Abby in Part 2.

I can't really decide which game I like more, as I like them for different reasons. Part 2 has a lot more characters than the first, where even side characters play major roles in the end. Characters like Jesse, Lev, and Yara are not simply secondary characters, but rather they feel like life companions and friends. They help the protagonists pursuing their path, which makes Part 2 more interesting from this specific standpoint. Part 2 is deeper, in a way, because it doesn't come with a linear story and an end goal. Or rather, end goals change and so much happens in between that you don't even know what the ultimate goal is.

It tells the story of how life can be full of surprises and unexpected, sudden events. It's bold because there are no clear protagonists and antagonists, with them switching roles all the time. It switches perspective. When you play games with a clear protagonist, you don't experience the story from a different point of view. In Life is Strange you play as Max, but in Life is Strange: Before the Storm, you play as Chloe, and that provides you with a different perspective.

Ritelli: Metal Gear 2 did something similar, as it allowed you to play as a different character at some point. Players were used to playing as Snake, so a different protagonist was unsettling in a way. It's what Part 2 did with Abby, so you go through the same three days, but from a different perspective.

Grieco: I don't have a preference between the two games. I liked Part 2 especially because of its narrative, but also gameplay-wise. It's never slow-paced, but rather, you have to pay attention to the surroundings even when things seem quiet. There's a moment while playing as Ellie, before running into Jesse, where you open a door and you are suddenly swarmed by the Infected. Normally, I am not easily scared, but this one time it was so sudden that I accidentally threw my joypad into the air. I like that about Part 2, as well as the NPCs, such as Dina and Lev. I loved them both, and Dina even more so. I can relate to her on many levels.

The first game, however, had a much bigger emotional impact on me. I have a complex relationship with my dad, with him being very much like Joel in the game - but also aesthetically. I told him to cosplay as Joel, but he didn't care about that. I played with him, and I felt the story on a much deeper level. As a gamer, I like Part 2 more, but as a daughter, I like the first one better. Also, The Last of Us is where the story begins, so I guess I'm more attached to it, emotionally. Part 2 is something you live as you grew up from the first game, so it hits different. While playing Part 2 I asked my father to be by my side, and when Joel died I was crying. On the other hand, he was seemingly not feeling it, and he left. It was like being abandoned twice at that moment.

Q: How much of the game's story made it into the short film? Is it faithful to the narrative?

Ritelli: We based the plot on the three days within the game. It's a way to relive the emotions and see the places that are so familiar in Part 2. There are several callbacks throughout the film, be it something a character does, or an interaction between two characters that is similar to how the game handles it. We tried to do what we could with the means available to us because it's a fan-made, non-profit project. We worked hard to make it good, even with no money or investors.

There are a few key places from the game that we tried to reimagine in the short film. We tried to avoid spoilers for whoever watches the film because it's meant to be a tribute to the game; we want people to be intrigued enough by our work to then go and play Naughty Dog's game to have a better sense of the story and what it wants to achieve and convey. We had to make a choice. We could either include much more from the game's story and characters, which would have also required a much bigger production, or we could do it this way.

Finding all the right sets and filming all of the most crucial scenes was no easy task like this, so a bigger production would have been even harder and more complex. Our film is like a long cutscene from the game, and we wanted it to include a few special moments that make the game what it is. I also wanted to have more intensity going into the action scenes.

Q: How was it for you to explore Ellie and Dina's relationship in the film?

Ceci: I love Dina, and I love the relationship between her and Ellie. It was a sort of emotional hook that I needed after Joel's death. He was gone, but Dina was there. I loved that they got to travel together and explore their relationship further. My favorite moment in the game is Day 1, as Ellie is alone with Dina. All the love and affection that Joel had for Ellie was in a way reignited by Dina, so it was even harder for me to watch Ellie walk out on Dina toward the end of the game.

I'm always very keen on recreating their relationship because it matters so much to me in the game. Ellie offering LGBTQ+ representation is awesome, and I too am part of the community, so it felt amazing precisely because I relate to her so much. It's rare to find games where you feel represented by their characters, and I've played a lot of games so far. Taking Ellie and Dina's relationship into the short film was incredible, I'd honestly do that all day. It was very emotional, and it's one of the elements of Part 2 that I love the most.

Grieco: I always related to Dina because I, too, am part of the LGBTQ+ community, like Virginia. Dina is a bisexual character, and so am I. It's incredible, really. I loved relating to Dina on this level as well, which is extremely rare. Ellie and Dina together lovely, but I would have acted the same way Dina did towards the end of the game when Ellie walked out on her. I have a mother's instinct, so I would have taken JJ with me to protect him.

Dina is very much like this as well, and she is a character I feel almost as my own. I am very protective towards Virginia as well, so if she gets hurt or something I try to help as much as I can, in a motherly way. Acting as a couple with Virginia came quite naturally to both of us while filming, even though we were incredibly embarrassed in the beginning. The first time we worked together we didn't know each other very well, and it was the first time we saw each other live, too. We were replicating the scene where Ellie and Dina dance in the game, so it was a bit awkward.

Virginia had a partner at the time, and she didn't want her to feel like she was cheating on her. She was upset. Now we're close friends, so that awkwardness is gone, and everything comes much more naturally. We don't laugh when we have to be very close, unlike the dance scene. We never kissed out of respect for our partners in life. It's wonderful to be able to recreate Ellie and Dina's scenes with a person who has become a little sister to me.

RELATED: The Last of Us 2 Fan Film: Cast Talks LGBTQ+ Representation and Relationships

Q: How was it for you to interpret Lev, a trans character? What challenges did you have to face?

Falco: It was a bit tough in the beginning. I'm not trans myself, but let's just say the theme hits close to home for me. When I first started, I was afraid I wouldn't be capable of playing that role because I feel like I'm quite different from Lev. Maybe a little in terms of character traits, but not on a general level. Luckily, I did some theatre classes back in school, so I wasn't exactly inexperienced when it came to acting and playing roles that differ from who I am. I tried to dress the part as best as I could, think the way Lev would think. I also tried playing the role from the perspective of friends who are indeed trans, knowing their path and what it means.

I tried dressing the part based on the relationship between Lev and Abby, and that came naturally because I and Alessia have a similar relationship to that of the characters. Having Alessia by my side as Abby helped me play the role in a better way. The way I feel with Alessia is not distant from what Lev feels with Abby. I'm scared of criticism, especially because Lev is transgender. Some people don't understand nor accept the LGBTQ+ community. The same happened with Lev, and yet he is a character I like a lot because through him people can realize how something so common and natural nowadays is no exception to criticism.

The trans community as a whole is not immune to criticism as well. It's interesting to see this in a post-apocalyptic world because we have much bigger problems than a boy who wants to dress up as a girl or vice versa. There are larger issues at play, so why should we focus our criticism on Lev for being trans, or maybe Ellie for being a lesbian? I cannot stand the way people criticize these topics, but I feel like it's something we have to learn to live with.

Grassi: Yeah, pretty much like people body-shaming Abby.

Ceci: The representation in Part 2 is something I especially loved. Some people ask why is it so important to have games that are politically correct, but the truth is that people are used to feeling represented across all media, including video games the caliber of The Last of Us. It's only natural at some point that people don't feel empathy toward one another, whereas, for people like us, who see themselves represented this way, this can be the spark that makes us love the game. I like The Last of Us so much precisely because of this.

Grieco: I agree with Virginia. There's a lot of talk about how things should be politically correct. Even Netflix started a beautiful campaign on LGBTQ+ topics. Yet, it happens quite often that the importance of representation is put aside because we're used to seeing cisgender straight white people doing things. If you have to think of who the primary example of female heroes in video games you think of Lara Croft. She has always been this beautiful straight woman with the perfect body type. Instead, it's nice to have characters who express their sexuality naturally in video games, where their sexuality is also not one of their dominant traits, especially if the game is not all about that.

Nobody cares about Ellie and Dina being in a relationship within the game, and that's great. Speaking from my own experience, I don't think I've ever found bisexual characters in video games. On the other hand, Dina is clearly bisexual. She is in a relationship with Jesse, then she gets into one with Ellie, but she also carries Jesse's baby - I think it was beautiful, an incredible representation of bisexual people. I praise Naughty Dog for what it did and achieved.

Q: What do you think of Abby's physical prowess? How was it for you to handle that while filming both regular and combat scenes?

Grassi: As far as physical training goes, I work out as well. Thus, seeing a character so well-trained like Abby, who's very muscly, was great. Characters in video games tend to be male or stereotypical females. It's rare to see a female character who has a muscly physique that's comparable to that of men. Some went so far as to say that Abby is not a woman because she's on steroids and that women can't have a body type similar to Abby's. It is possible, however, and there are lots of female bodybuilders who don't take steroids. If they did, they would be expelled from tournaments. I was training often before gyms closed, so I was at least happy to see Abby represented like that.

Much like Rita and Virginia are happy about LGBTQ+ representation, I was glad to see a character that's not the usual Lara Croft or Jill Valentine. Abby is a different sort of character, with a different lifestyle, and we are not used to that. It's not so different from how people can react to LGBTQ+ characters, be it transgender people, gay people, lesbian people, or bisexual people. It can happen that some people train their bodies to hide some weakness they have on the inside.

That's not always the case, but sometimes it is. Abby's father was killed, so she tried to become stronger physically, and she wanted to get over it and prove she is a strong person. I too tend to show off when I'm not feeling good, maybe I play the part and act funny even when I don't feel like it.

Training can be a way to vent. It can be a way to think you're getting over something when truly that's not the case. Training is often an outlet for what you have on the inside. Abby seems like a strong woman, emotionally, but she is also a very sensitive person. We can see that in the way she acts with Lev. With him, she doesn't feel like she has to show off her strength. She had to do that with Joel, Ellie, Owen, and Mel. Then, she meets a character that changes her. That's why we were discussing the relationship between Abby and Lev. It's the same sort of relationship I have with Amelia. I can show off a lot, but deep down I don't think highly of myself. With the way the world is, it's not ideal to show weakness, so I fake it and joke around.

Then I met someone with whom I didn't need to show off something I am not, and that's Amelia. Some people might think I'm mean or scary, even, but that's because I show something that's not truly me. On the inside, I'm quite sensitive. Being bigger on the outside shows how little people can think of themselves, really. That's why I like Abby so much. She is one of my favorite characters from video games alongside Lara Croft and the boy from The Last Guardian. I understand Abby because I see her in myself.

Q: Since we're talking about something similar, have you seen the announcements and trailers for God of War: Ragnarok? What do you think of the controversies surrounding Thor?

Ceci: Yeah, it's ridiculous at this point. People were unhappy with Aloy, then Abby, then now Thor.

Grieco: I don't know why this is the case, but it feels like video games should always feature protagonists who are perfect. Abby is not right because she is too muscly. Thor is not right because he has a belly. Aloy is not right because she has a double chin. So what?

Ritelli: I think it's easy to be hateful and to spread that hate nowadays, with how simple it is for people to make multiple accounts and trash-talk games or review-bombing them. And yet, despite all the criticism, The Last of Us 2 won several awards.

Grassi: Different body types are extremely common, too. In nature, no one can show off a muscly, fit body unless they train for it. It's all about unrealistic body standards.

Grieco: That's not exclusive to video games, but other media as well, like movies, tend to feature actors and actresses who are incredibly beautiful. Some characters are written or designed in a very specific way, but then the actors playing them are completely different from them. I'm a huge fan of Catwoman, who I cosplay from time to time. I'm not a very skinny girl, but I do care about my body and general fitness.

The actress playing her in the new movie is extremely skinny and lacks the typical sinuous, curvy shapes of Catwoman - something that's meant to express the sensuality of the character. I don't why, but today's society seems to be focused on the aesthetics of movie or video game characters, so they have to be stunning to look at. That's why I like The Last of Us - the characters feel real and realistic, at the same time. It is right for Abby to be the way she is, and the same goes for Ellie.

Ceci: The issue with Thor is that people compare him with Marvel's Thor. However, the latter doesn't even come from the original myths, so they go and give him an unrealistic body that people learn to recognize as that of Thor. The original Thor is completely different, and this approach completely undermines the initial image of the character.

Grieco: As much as I love Tom Hiddleston as Loki, in Norse culture Loki as a character was not so handsome and charismatic. It's not just Marvel, it's DC too. People think those body types they see on screen are models to pursue, but that's not good for them.

RELATED: God of War: Ragnarok's Thor Proves It's Time to Move Away From Traditional Body Standards

Q: Do you feel like Ellie has a more negative story than other characters in the game? Did you retain this aspect in the film?

Ceci: I think it came down to luck, in a way. Abby found Joel by pure chance while he was out on a patrol, just like that. She gets to torture him and kill him just like she wanted to, and that's it. Ellie, on the other hand, traveled to Jackson and it took her three days to be found by Abby, rather than finding her. I hear a lot of comments from people who believe Ellie and Joel are the true antagonists of the game, but that's not the point at all in The Last of Us 2. It's a matter of perspective, as I always say.

The real issue here is that people had years of experience playing as Joel and Ellie, whereas playing as Abby is a matter of hours. No matter how much of a positive arc Abby gets, people will likely always side with Joel and Ellie. I sometimes act like that in life, so when someone I care about does something regrettable, I'll still try and defend that person because I'm on their side. I couldn't manage to justify what Abby did because I'm on the other side of the dispute. As for Ellie, yeah, she's had a negative narrative arc, somewhat the other way around compared to Abby. Abby didn't show remorse after killing Joel if not when she understood Ellie had come for her friends.

Ellie had a mental breakdown after she had tortured Nora and after killing a pregnant woman by accident. After discovering Dina was pregnant, Abby was even more prone to killing her, and she would have done it if not for Lev. I did like that Ellie's humanity showed, even with all her flaws and the terrible things she did. She was trying to forgive Joel and come to terms with what had happened with the Fireflies. I do believe that her side of the story was more negative than the others, but I also think it was very human.

Grassi: Everything is a consequence of what was done. Joel killed Abby's father to protect Ellie, but Ellie grew up resenting Joel for it because she was ok with sacrificing herself for the greater good. Abby killed Joel for what he did, and then Ellie lashed out at her group for it.

Ceci: That's true, yeah. About the film, we would have needed many other characters to delve into that - someone like Mel, Owen, even Nora. We didn't end up including all this in the film because of that, but also because we didn't want to spoil the story for anyone. What we did manage to include was the dualism of Abby and Lev, and then Ellie and Dina, as we had the characters and the means to do that.

the last of us part 2 short fan made film marco ritelli hotgarbageteam lgbtq+ representation

Q: You spoke earlier about the relationship between Abby and Lev. How was that conveyed into the film?

Falco: I think the relationship is very similar to that from the game. Abby is often concerned about Lev because she cares for him. Lev would want to do much more than he actually can because he's inexperienced. Abby worries about him, but she plays tough. Lev tries to help, but he's limited by his means, both physically and mentally.

Grassi: I agree with Amelia. This sort of dualism is critical to the story. It's important to acknowledge one's limits and understand them, as even strong people do need support from the outside. Sometimes a person who's physically strong needs mental support, whereas someone who's mentally strong needs physical support. Abby and Lev complement each other. Even if Lev is just a boy who lives in a hostile world, this allows him to have yet another different perspective on things.

To Abby, this is something new. By protecting him, she notices other aspects of the world of The Last of Us. On the other hand, by being with Abby, Lev understands that there are more people out there who are not like those he knows from the cult where he came from; not all people are enemies. In the short film, we show this through a few events from the game. Viewers might notice how she keeps to herself in the beginning, but then she opens up and starts caring for him. There's this shift, and then being together is not just a mission or survival, but it becomes something more.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add?

Ritelli: Well, the film comes out on September 26. It's an emblematic date, for sure.

Ceci: Every scene was filmed in Puglia. Then, it's worth mentioning again we're not actors. Every single one of us never tried acting before, if not for theatre in school. So yeah, it was a new challenge for all of us.

Grassi: Maybe we could explain where the name HotGarbageTeam comes from.

Ceci: So, before the game came out, I was already following the actresses who lend their voices to Ellie and Dina - Ashley Johnson and Shannon Woodward. They were often joking around and teasing each other, at the time, and the trailer from E3 2018 had been out for some time. It showed the dance scene, among other things.

There was this exchange between Johnson and Woodward, where Woodward told Johnson "I know what you like," and she replied "Yes, a hot pile of garbage," which is the same thing Ellie says in that trailer. I left a comment saying "#HotGarbageTeam." When we started working together we didn't know how to call ourselves, so I thought back to this anecdote, and jokingly said "Why don't we call ourselves HotGarbageTeam?", but I got to say, everyone was pretty satisfied with the name, so we kept it.

[END]

The Last of Us Part 2 fan film is available now.

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