Movie: Los Aspirantes -The Applicants
Director: María Yolanda Brown Melián, Kevin Ramos Fernández
Welcome to the SIFF, Maria and Kevin! Tell us how your journey in the films begin?
We started a few projects a few years ago. I decided to write a script and I told him about the project. I’m the producer and also the film director but as it was a hard task to do I called Kevin who directed the scenes as I wanted them to be done.
How, each of you, would define filmmaking?
Filmmaking for us means to be creative, it means to transform the script into something that is alive.
Maria, how did you come up with the story? What motivated you to pen this down?
Long time ago I was in a project called El Aspirante, but it was too classic and a bit old fashioned, too. I decided to write about the real Applicants in life but each character has its own defects.
Kevin, your direction was brilliant! What made you say yes to the story? Which part of it attracted you the most?
I have known Yolanda Brown for many years and she has been acting as an actress in one of my projects. She told me about her new project and I thought it was brilliant. She’s got a lot of imagination and she’s a very creative person.
The movie is a hilarious take on the present scenario. I am sure writing it was equally fun! Maria, tell us about your writing process?
I love to write so I decided to make a comedy full of characters who are stereotypes and who are somehow a bit crazy. I think that’s not so far from real life. A lot of people are like this somehow. I created a real situation that is seeking a job. All the employers are fed up with their own jobs so they will compete with the applicants.
Which character was the most fun to work with, according to both of you?
We love John The Rock. He is really funny. He mocks everybody.
Do you have any favourites among them? If yes, who are they? And why?
Carlos Ramdom is also a good character and Oscar, the director of the company. They are hilarious. The Alien is also good, but in the next season we will see the alien’s cousin who is really witty and evil.
The movie subtly raises certain prevalent issues of the industry. As first time filmmakers, wasn’t it a little tough to talk about it openly?
Kevin has got more experience than me because apart from being a film director he was and he is a filmmaker, too. I’m new in filmmaking. The best part is that I have been acting in several films and soap operas and I have always been aware of how hard filmmaking is. I looked at the producers, directors, the technical side of filming, how they were using the cameras, etc.
How did you two manage to pull it off so well?
We were rushing because of covid pandemic and we had to stop and continue after a while. I think we could do it well due to pressure.
Maria, how did you come up with the satirical names for your characters?
People have always loved to be someone else. You have favourite actors or famous people to look at. You have an ideal person or role in life, so why not depict them?
How was your filming experience, Kevin? Which part of the film was the most difficult to shoot?
The one when Kinu fainted. We had to film with a mobile phone on top of his face.
Which genre of films do stand out to you two the most?
Comedy, thriller.
As storytellers, what kind of stories do you want to tell?
We want to tell about the difficulties of life and how everyone can survive and compete for a job, for example.
Thank you for your company! It was a great session! Lastly, I’d like to know how was your experience of working with the Swedish International Film Festival?
We think it’s awesome. We love Swedish cinema, too. Ingman Bergman is one of my favourite film directors. We are delighted with this experience and we think this is a serious festival that takes into account not only the film but also the producers and directors. They are interested in knowing a bit more about how the film was made and about the background of the producers, film directors and writers. It’s really an awesome opportunity! Thank you!
