Interview with The Pallor Producer/Director of Photography Michael Cuartas and Writer/Producer/Director Jonathan Cuartas.
Tell us a bit about yourselves?
Jonathan: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Miami. This boring town allowed my creativity to prosper. After giving up my dream to become a comic book artist, I decided to pursue film.
Michael: I was also born and raised in Miami, FL. I have a passion for filmmaking and enjoy photography and playing music.
Can you tell us about how you got started in entertainment industry?
Jonathan: It all started with a camera and an idea. And a competition. The 24 hour film Race was around the corner and I decided to shoot and direct my first short. They screened the film in Miami Beach, so that was pretty cool.
Michael: I’ve been playing music since I was about nine or ten years old. About five years ago I started my first band with some friends and we would play some shows locally. It was a lot of fun so I decided to pursue music. I graduated a few years ago with an A.A. in Music and Music Education. I stopped school for a few months and decided to start again when my college started up a film program. Ever since, I’ve been hooked. So, I’ve decided to keep music as a hobby and pursue film as a career.
What was your inspiration for The Pallor?
Jonathan: My inspiration was all the cult classics of horror. I have a passion for classic terror and old school macabre. I am inspired by the suspense and terror in movies, not the blood and guts.
Michael: I would say my inspiration came from many horror films I saw growing up. Horror always seemed to be one of my favorite genres.
Tell us a bit more about The Pallor?
Jonathan: The Pallor is centered on a run of the mill teenager who is faced with something demonic. I wanted to keep the plot simple by throwing the protagonist, Daniel, in an uncanny game of hide and seek.
Michael: The Pallor is a way of demonstrating what it might feel like to be alone at night.
Does character come from plot, or plot from character?
Jonathan: I would say plot from character. Simple plots with complicated, problematic characters win any day.
Michael: I agree with my brother.
Which is your favorite horror movie?
Jonathan: The Conjuring is up there with my favorite horror movies. It’s an ode to all the motifs of classic horror that I love.
Michael: That’s a tough one. I don’t think I could choose one, but I have been into James Wan’s films lately.
What in your opinion defines a good movie plot?
Jonathan: Simplicity and dire circumstances that take a strong arc to overcome.
Michael: A good plot to me stimulates the brain or keeps you at the edge of your seat. I enjoy films that really make you think.
Which writers and producers do you admire most and why?
Jonathan: Quentin Tarantino is by far the most admirable. The worlds he conjures are unbelievably real, yet ironic and humorous. It gives his movies that signature that others lack. As for producers, I admire the local ones who go the extra mile to help up and coming filmmakers.
Michael: I greatly admire Christopher Nolan and enjoy every single one of his films since Doodlebug. He is a great writer as well as a great director. It also interests me that he’s beginning to work on films solely as a producer.
When a writer has an idea for a movie, what questions should they be asking themselves before writing?
Jonathan: They should ask themselves: “Who is the protagonist?” The protagonist will carry the plot and it is absolutely vital for the writer to know the protagonist better than he/she knows him/herself.
Michael: Writers should ask themselves who the main character of the story is. Once again, plot comes from character.
Anything else you would like to say?
Jonathan: When you come up with a substantial script, do it yourself. Let your vision flow.
Michael: I’d like to say thank you to anyone who was involved in the making of this film and to anyone who has supported it, including The Horror Movies Blog.
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The Pallor should be due for release next fall.
The Pallor Movie Trailer:
Categorised in: Coming Soon, Short Film, Upcoming Movies
This post was written by Nadia Vella