Roberto Moreira, the brave and brilliant Brazilian director of Paulista (Quanto Dura Amor 2009) is here to speak with us about his international award winning film. I spoke at length with Roberto and actress Maria Clara Spinelli in Palm Springs. See attached links below for previous dialogues with Roberto and Maria.

ME: Robreto, muito obrigada for being here tonight! Can you speak with us about your film Paulista? What is it about and what inspired you to make this film? Also, can you share with us your opinion about how it reflects Paulista life (life in Sao Paulo, Brazil)? 

ROBERTO: I wanted to make a film about the transition from adolescence to maturity, about the process of losing illusions that are very damaging and gain a realism that is an achievement and growth. The film came out of a minor character of my previous film, a Soninha, acted by Silvia Lourenco. What happened with her in the story's of Soninha's continuation? It was from this question and of key word- delusion- that we built the script. I wanted to represent a world that I know well, of young artists and of the Paulista nightlife and I think that we were able to make a realistic representation.    

ME: Well, indeed it was realistic, and much more with twists and turns in the story that left me not wanting it to end. Do you have any stories about the filming process?

ROBERTO: The most difficult was the editing. We had 2 hours and 45 minutes in the first cut, with 52 speaking characters with 9 stories. We cut down to 3 histories and 8- minutes. To find the tone of the film and to hit success of
the scenes required a lot of force. The film is a chronic of customs, that is, it doesn't have huge turning points. It is slices of life. In the structure of multiple plots, there are pieces that can change place with great ease. It doesn't
have causal connections between one scene and another. The result was a huge headache!   

ME: I know how hard it is to write stories with multiple characters. It's not easy as people usually prefer to identify with one main character. What do you hope to convey to the world outside of Brazil with your film?

ROBERTO: I want that my audience is touched by the film, that they recognize how much the encounter of love is arduous and difficult.

ME: Can you tell us how hard it is to make a film in Brazil? How are films funded in Brazil? Is there a filmmaking norm in Brazil, apart from indie filmmaking? And what is the state of Brazilian cinema today?

ROBERTO: To make films is difficult everywhere in the world. In the case of Brazil, our major problem is to go in search of fiscal incentives. There are many investors and holdups to assemble budgeting. The average time of producing a film in Brazil is 4-5 years. It is diversified with films of quality. Unfortunately, our market still doesn't make the size of the country's continent, but I am optimistic. The number of sales and the market dimension augments every year.

ME: Can you tell us what your upcoming projects are in the near future?

ROBERTO: I will make a psychological thriller with supernatural elements. If everything goes well, I will film it next year. Uffa!  

ME: Muito legal! That's super cool that you are going from a multi-character drama to a psychological thriller. I love it! Thanks so much for speaking with me again Roberto. Hope to get an update again next year. See your name on the big screen!

Interview by Vanessa McMahon on August 22, 2010.

see my interview with award-winning actress Maria Clara Spinelli from Paulista:

http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/vanessa_mcmahon/maria_clara_spinelli_on_pa...

see more on Paulista in Palm Springs, 2010 here: 

http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/vanessa_mcmahon/paulista_quanto_dura_amor

director Roberto Moreira 

photo still from Paulista

 check out more of Moreira's work. Contra Todos (2003)