Filmmaker of the Month - August 2023 - Arcadi Palerm
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Bio:
As a child, Arcadi wanted to be a tourist when he grew up. Later, after watching spaghetti westerns on Betamax with his father, he decided he’d rather be a cowboy. Arcadi Palerm-Artis was born and raised in Mexico City. He has written and directed three narrative short films, which received awards and recognition in Mexico and internationally. He has also written for advertising campaigns and collaborated as a writer for various projects, like the acclaimed Netflix series “Taco Chronicles”. Arcadi is making his feature film debut with Oliver and the Pool (Oliverio y la Piscina), which he wrote and directed. Although he no longer dreams of being a cowboy, he has written several screenplays from his current home in Texas.
Q & A:
Tell us your backstory. How and why did you get into filmmaking?
Since I was a kid I have been into visual arts, drawing and painting especially. One day as a teenager, I had this moment of realization - kind of an epiphany - when I decided I wanted to be an Production Designer for movies. Funny thing is that my grandfather (with whom I had a close relationship) worked as Production Designer in about 130 films, and never saw a connection with my decision and him. I was a dumb teenager! I found my way working as a PA, then switching to the art department where I worked for years, and finally finding out that I needed to write and direct. It was a long process, it wasn’t clear from the beginning.
How do you know when your story’s finished, when to walk away?
I don’t. My first feature film was Oliver & the Pool, so I don’t have a lot of experience, but while shooting I reviewed at night the scenes we would shoot next day, and I would rewrite the dialogues and surprise the actors with the new stuff the next morning. Always very subtle changes. My point is you could always keep editing, changing, adding, improving, but you’ve got to say action at some point.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everything. Part of accepting you are a creative being is to be permanently open, paying attention to a dialogue, a beautiful landscape, an awkward moment, textures, details in everyday life, and also reading. In the newspapers you will find the strangest plots going on. Also in history books, novels, Radiolab. I love Radiolab.
What is your favorite aspect of film production?
Leaving the artistic aspect aside. I love the coordination and logistics of a bunch of professionals, all focused on accomplishing very specific missions every day. The drama, the humor, the absurdity, and the beauty you see everyday behind the scenes are wonderful.
What are the next project or projects you are beginning work on?
I have another coming-of-age film coming next. I found an amazing producer, and we are developing it. This will be a Mexican film (I am Mexican) with some Argentinian participation. About ten percent of the film takes plays in Argentina in 1973. It’s based on true events, but events that happened to close friends of mine. I’m also writing what might be my first American film (I just became American this year). It’s a thriller set in the south. A Southern slow burn thriller, I would say.
