We’re looking forward to introducing you to Paulo Pérez. Check out our conversation below.
Paulo, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
In terms of nobody seeing or noticing, I take great pride in the work that I’ve been able to foster from my team of artists in departments that typically don’t get attention in the mainstream. Such as the sound design or the color grade. Those are areas that the audience doesn’t typically mention unless it’s awful. Ironically, if the sound design or color grade are exceptional, one usually doesn’t notice. They tend to be naturally immersive. I see and boast about the tremendous effort that all the artists put into our feature, The Human Supremacist, and their contributions to cinema, whether or not others recognize the work behind it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Golly, so much has changed for me since the last interview here. I’ve had a whole philosophical revolution and a mini-epiphany in this solar cycle. Where do I begin though? I wrote. I directed. I created. The Human Supremacist is the first feature I’ve directed. There’s no movie like it. The Human Supremacist and I hit the festival circuit with a turbulence of emotions. Rachel Mackall won a Best Actress award, Zoe Donmoyer won a Best Supporting Actress award and Jake Alexander when a Best Cinematography award. On the flip side, there are the rejections which come with the territory. Though, that in and of itself isn’t problematic. It was seeing favoritism, seeing a lack of meritocracy in the festival circuit.
I want all art to flourish. It is for that reason that I started the Baltimore Film Festival & Screenplay Competition. The premise for the festival being that only the best will make it through, no matter the runtime, language, genre, personal connection to me, budget etc. May the best art win. That’s unheard of in this industry unfortunately at a large scale. I know how important festivals can be for films to find their place, to receive a boost. I don’t see the Baltimore Film Festival & Screenplay Competition as the final stop for artists. It should be a destination that continues their journey. I want artists to build their next project from what happened at the festival, to have a screenplay turn into a film, to have a short turn into a feature, to have a feature realize distribution. I envision the festival as a compelling addition to the world of Baltimore and a call for others to be enriched by Charm City.
Moreover, I have a top secret project I’m writing. A novel. The title is locked away. Literature, as we know it, will never be the same again.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad inculcated the concept in me that no job is perfect and to accept that. It’s only after that realization that one can shrug, unless it’s extreme, the pitfalls of some duties to later bask in the wonder of the work. Alex Rodriguez taught me the second most about work. He said, “Enjoy your sweat because hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but without it you don’t have a chance”. If you only find joy from external factors, you succumb to a whirlwind. The fulfillment should come from within.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself to take more risks. Of course there will be failures from risk-taking but the worst years of my life have also been the best years of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is the real me. The caveat to that is that I don’t stay the same. I update. I evolve. The morning I was driving to set for The Human Supremacist for the first day of production I felt like a boy. By nighttime, I had grown into a man. The word “authentic” is almost losing its meaning in the way its thrown around so much I’ll double dog dare and say that I am “authentic”.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes. That goes back to determining your value entirely internally. I’m not in this for praise or red carpets. The Human Supremacist had some good reviews from critics. I’m sure my novel will be admired as well and I want the Baltimore Film Festival to connect with filmmakers but no matter what they say, I will put myself on the line for anything I put my heart into. Besides, failures can lead to the greatest successes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pappictures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauloperez13/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PAPPictures
