Amazon Prime 2019 – Tirachinas
A wild North American love tale that follows three couples as they explore some of humans' most animalistic desires.
Interview with Writer/Director Pedro Patricio
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made Tirachinas to complete my MFA in Film program at USC. I focused my degree in directing and writing and I decided to shoot a thesis film to complete my film studies.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s an entertaining live action short film that follows three couples as they explore some of humans' most animalistic desires. It's fun to watch and has a dramatic twist at the end.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Themes: desecration, family feuds, playing with savageness, infantilization, fictional love affairs, solitude.
I wrote Tirachinas because I wanted to talk about our current violent times, the lack of communication in our society, forbidden love affairs, broken promises and the unexplainable turns of destiny.
As an initial creative impulse, I took from my childhood times in Guinea-Bissau, Africa, where we had to invent things to play with. We made slingshots from garbage we found out in junkyards. My first encounters with violent acts.
I wanted to talk about the United States, and I used direct symbolic events/objects like the 4th of July, the American flag and the bald eagle (the national animal). I wanted to make a story that would speak about our violent times in a subtle way. I stayed away from graphic violence or graphic nudity. I used slingshots instead of guns, I used late teenagers who make and use these primitive weapons, along with their violent childish forms of communication, to exemplify our infantilized society.
How a naive crime, a childish act of desecration, can lead to total chaos. How a heated exchange of words between a mother and her son can lead to an irreparable life experience.
I’m interested in portraying the constant transformation of human relationships. And I wanted to leave the audience with a feeling of desolation, solitude. A wild North American love tale to reflect upon. After all, I believe that love is the center of all emotions. From their, mankind has built its history and thrived in becoming better humans.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Tirachinas premiered in 2017 as part of the USC thesis film program showcased at the Norris Theater in Los Angeles and later had its world premiere at the Sherman Oaks film festival. Currently, it’s being showcased (streaming live) on Amazon Prime Video, part of the first season of “Discover Indie Films”.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback at the Sherman Oak film festival was very positive. People really enjoyed the film. It was mostly remarked as being an original piece, full of action and with a twist ending that leaves you thinking. A film that has an author behind its making.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Any feedback is always good because it gives you a reading from a real audience, someone who is totally impartial with their opinion and it allows you to have a record to look into for future projects. From every small to big comment, opinion, you can take things and learn from them and make a better film in the next filmmaking journey.
An audience member asked me: “So at the end, it’s a transition in time where we see Jerome older by himself cutting wood, remembering his past?” and I replied: “Yes, you completely understood the idea of this character and how we jumped forward in time and showed him in his senior years, remembering this story we just watched, witnessed.” It’s a nice rewarding feeling when you hear from an audience member that has completely understood what you were trying to do.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I want more people to watch the film, to reach a bigger audience. To find an international sales agent. Sign an international distribution deal for the film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors.
I’m currently launching my new film Kids Don't Die and I would really like to find representation and distribution. KDD has begun its international festival run this summer 2019.
I'm also searching for investors to finance my next film: Hung shooting this coming fall. Part of an NYC trilogy.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like to showcase this film in any other indie film platform where people can enjoy this rare, original, personal, live-action narrative short film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Who’s your favorite character, Jerome, Valery or Nicolas? What are your feelings towards mom at the end?
Would you like to add anything else?
I’d like to thank We Are Moving Stories for reaching out and writing this article on my film Tirachinas .
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently launching my new film Kids Don't Die and I would really like to find representation and distribution.
I’m shooting a trilogy in NYC and Kids Don't Die is the first film.
I will be shooting the second film Hung this coming fall. I am currently looking for producers who would be interested in financing this second film.
Interview: June 2019
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Tirachinas
A wild North American love tale that follows three couples as they explore some of humans' most animalistic desires.
Length: 15:00
Director: Pedro Patricio
Producer: Bryce Morgan
Writer: Pedro Patricio
About the writer, director and producer:
PEDRO PATRICIO is an American-Chilean director, writer, producer and actor based in Brooklyn, NY. He was raised in diverse cities and cultures: Guinea-Bissau, Africa, New York and Santiago of Chile generating his unique multicultural roots. After finishing his undergrad theater studies at UChile, he created a theater company and toured with plays through Chile and Italy gaining significant experiences in the actor’s process. Pedro received his MFA in Film and TV Production from USC by writing and directing his thesis short film, Tirachinas (2017). He's currently launching his new short film, Kids Don't Die (2019) into the indie film festival circuit, and starting the pre-production of his next short film Hung (2020), part of NYC trilogy of short films.
Key cast: Jakob Katchem (Jerome), Emma Maddock (Valery), Daniel Olson (Nicolas), Ellie Grisaffi (Marta), Lisa Ermel (Tara), Abe Martell (Marlon), Miles Coverdale (Jerome Senior)
Looking for: sales agents, journalists, distributors, buyers
Website: www.pedro-patricio.com
Funders: Self-funded