Gonzalo Procupez
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1995, Gonzalo Procupez graduated from the Cinematographic Research Center, with a degree in audiovisual director. He worked on projects as a gaffer, sound director, art assistant, producer and director of short films from 2017 to 2021, he also did commercial projects and advertising for different companies during those years (video, photography, design, etc.). His first big job came in 2022 where he wrote, produced and directed his short film "A kind of justice", presented and awarded at festivals during 2023. He is passionate about psychological thrillers, mystery and terror, but he never stops enjoying and admire a good musical. His idols in cinema are Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock and Denis Villeneuve. Currently in Buenos Aires
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
My project is a classic revenge story of a mother who loses her daughter in the worst way, going deeper, it shows a sad reality that happens in my country and that many families go through. At the same time, I wanted to include a criticism of the corrupt security system, since as it happens, these acts go unpunished. From there the title "A kind of justice" was also born.
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
The initial requirement was a question of age. I didn't want actors who were so young or who appeared to be young, I wanted maturity both in age and in their way of being and acting since, as it was my first big project, I wanted experience. A bonus was that they were both parents of teenagers that gave me an area to experiment so that acting could come more naturally to them. I was lucky that both actors had great chemistry and approached such a delicate topic with great respect. We had previous rehearsals with just the three of us where there were exchanges of ideas. I like to let the actors be, so that they feel free to express themselves in the way that is most comfortable for them so that the script flows better.
How did you communicate with the cameraman?
With the cameraman I was lucky to have studied and worked on previous projects and we both know our way of working. I just had to get closer, explain my point of view along with the shot that I liked and it was flowing.
What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
For this project I chose an apartment and a shed. I wanted to create a contrast between the two, a bright, orderly, clean apartment and a dark, cold warehouse, with many things, far from everything. Like our protagonist who showed two personalities in the project
Why should distributors buy your film?
Distributors should buy my project because it is something genuine, although the revenge story is something classic, it is not the typical action movie of a muscular hero saving the maiden from the clutches of the villain. She is a desperate mother, who shows the dark side that each of us has if circumstances lead us to that, while the "villain" here is presented as an ordinary man who is clearly continuing with his life as if nothing had happened. The project shows the two sides of a person and where they can fall in dark moments, in addition to being the reality that women go through a lot in this society.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
On a technical level I like to play a lot with the resources of the lights and what they generate, especially cold lighting with well-defined shadows. This is with short or medium shots, I don't usually use many general shots, unless I need to show an environment. On the other hand, I tend to use a lot of time jumps and ellipses throughout my projects, which is why I always use a narrative montage that allows me to go back and forth in the timeline without the viewer getting lost in the story.
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
The project did well at the "Lens Fame International Film Festival" and the "Good vibes International Film Festival" both in India in 2023. In both it was awarded as was the team and me. At the same time, I was a finalist in the "Lily Indie Film Fest". On the other hand, it has not had a premiere yet due to different scheduling problems.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
My entry into the film world was from a very young age, my grandfather had a hobby of collecting movies, so my weekends were based on watching movies regardless of genre or language, and it is something that I continue to do today. Also, my family has a hobby of writing, and they instilled in me the passion for telling stories, and with cinema I can tell stories but also give them a face, a form, an idea of what my vision is like.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
I have two types of favorite movies, psychological horror ones, which play more with the senses, music, sounds and images; that attract you and leave you waiting to see if something is going to happen or not, generating a certain adrenaline and nervousness. And on the other hand, completely opposite, I like musicals that leave a message in the viewer, that talk about dreams that come true, reciprocated love, and wishes for the future.
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
The topics that I like to deal with most in my projects are taboos in society. We are in a moment where everything is inclusive, more open in a lot of aspects, but in others we still continue to create a black hole and avoid them. From diseases such as cancer or obesity, to femicides or revenge stories that show the darkness of society.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
The genres that I would like to film would be a mystery and suspense thriller. I am passionate about these stories, and I feel that with my way of telling them, plus the technical and visual resources that I use, they would be projects that could captivate the viewer, and show an aesthetic in cinema that has not been found in many projects lately.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
There is a very personal project that I am still writing, it is in memory of a very loved one to whom I promised that I would tell his story sometime. I trust that it will be a very emotional project and I think it will generate different emotions in the public, serving to raise awareness or simply to learn about another story. This project is about cancer and how it impacts, not only on the patient, but also on their inner circle, how in the blink of an eye your life can change and the desire that one can give to their life.
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
I am a fairly simple person, I have a regular office job during the week which distracts me from the film world. I like to enjoy my quiet home, with music, draw and play a lot of games on my console. I use the weekends to walk with my partner and get together with my friends either to eat or play soccer. I also spend a lot of time with my family whenever I can, since it is important for me to be with them. Also i love playing the guitar to relax
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
For the year 2024 I already have a project planned, also written by me, a police officer who investigates the murder of a young man. The project focuses on the police investigation along with the interrogations of the suspects and their relationship with the victim, showing flashbacks of their relationship with each one, generating suspicion of each of them, and an electrifying and unexpected ending.