Movie Name: Therapist of the Year
Director’s Name: Abel B. Padilla
Hello Abel! Welcome to SIFF!
What initially attracted you to this kind of dark comedy and filmmaking?
For Therapist of the Year, it was Dr. Saints who led me to the tone of the film. Dr. Saints had this excessive narcissistic approach in life that I thought was comedic at moments. But, at the same time it had depth, it started creating questions in me about what is the limit of narcissism, and that depth had to be taken in a more serious approach. And about the filmmaking style, I was just inspired by the French New Wave, it is probably the style of films that I was watching while conceiving the film. I was mostly watching Varda and Godard. Also few French contemporary filmmakers like Jeunet, Gaspar Noe, Coralie Fargeat.
2. Compared to a writer and a producer, what do you think is the skill of a director in filmmaking to shape the story?
I think the job is to listen and to find where the story is taking everybody. The script is the map, but a lot of things happen on the road that change the plans. It is important to listen to all the artists collaborating with you as a director. To have a vision, but at the same time see what everybody can contribute to the vision.
3. Do you love experimenting with filmmaking, or do you have a favorite genre?
Experimenting is essential for me to keep making films. I don’t really have a favorite genre. With this short film we combined a few genres and I feel in general my directorial work cannot be defined into one genre box. There are a lot of different things. Even the future projects or the ones I am working at the moment are hard to just put into one box.
4. Since you have also written the movie, where do you draw inspiration from for your stories and characters?
Real life. I grew up in a medical family. I would see some Dr. Saints’ in medical conventions or hospitals and I would be attracted to understand their personality traits. It mainly created a curiosity in me: Does saving lives make somebody closer to heaven? Or is it just a purpose that we have, to take care of each other. That was mainly it.
5. Do you collaborate in your work? How do you achieve collaboration with others to assure the delivery of the vision?
Filmmaking is all about collaboration. Unless I did it all by myself, but we didn’t. I believe it is important to listen. To see what is on the table and decide what is best for the story. At some point the story becomes part of all the crew, and each one tells the story through their own craft. My job as a director is mainly to set a vision, then to help put together everybody’s craft and finally make it work.
6. I’ll ask the same question again: how do you make certain that the story has an honestand grounded sense, whether it be in fantastical or highly stylized settings?
Just say what your heart wants to say. Trust yourself. Create questions, instead of giving answers. It’s a bit cliche to say that, but I truly feel that’s the way to approach our work with honesty.
7. What is the plan to decide the color palette and the overall aesthetic of the film?
I spoke a lot about it with our Production Designer, Antonio Saucedo. At first it was a subconscious decision, but as the film was evolving, I realized that it had to be with the nightmarish tone we were looking for. Green is a color that unsettles the eye when it is overused. But that is what we wanted, so we just went for it. Also the wide angle lens look had to do with that idea.
8. What are the challenges that you have faced during the making of this movie?
There were some. First I was going to do this short film as my thesis for the Toronto Film School but I just wasn’t ready for it. It took 3 more years for me to make it happen.
9. How did you overcome the challenges? Any tips for fellow directors and writers who aspire to make a foothold in the industry?
Just keep going. Not give up on it. Everything in life was telling me to stop making Therapist of the Year and I didn’t. Just be patient and persistent. Sometimes we are not able to do it today but, by putting a page holder on it, life will lead us to come back at it when we are ready. Could be in one or ten years.
10. How was your experience working with SIFF? We enjoyed working with you! Hope you are on the same page too!
We were so lucky to earn a Best Student Film Award and a Best International Short Film nomination with you. That meant the world to us! I want to come back to this festival with my future work. Thank you!
