Director’s Statement - Mazdey Snob

Tell us a little about yourself and your background in filmmaking
I studied graphic design, but deep down I wanted to work in audiovisuals. I started making fashion films in 2014 and I fell in love with the genre. With the freedom you have to tell stories. I feel that inside of its world they continue to take shape and they’re still open to experimentation. Of course, many fashion films are intended to be publicity, but there are also a large number of beautiful videos that have found their place in this classification and that tell stories through clothing, such as Mijo. Almost all of my work as a director in Mexico has been with independent designers, it has been wonderful to be able to create with them since it has been a very personal process, managing to create artistic films with commercial projection, achieving that balance and which are also recognized at festivals makes me very proud.

How did Mijo first come together as a project?

It started with the idea of King Midas and the word Mijo. I really like mythology and one day I thought it would be great to create the myth of midas in a fashion film and it occurred to me that instead of turning what he touched into gold, they would turn into the pimped up version to give it that fashion touch. Maybe it is very obvious but I found it fun. I like the word Mijo because of the tender meaning it has in Mexico, So I thought it would be great for the title of the film and give the protagonist personality. I also really like the style of the pachucos and I thought what if mijo is a
pachucho and receives the gift of Midas?, What would the story be like then?, the music, the situations, and so on with the character's personality I was putting together the pieces and the story taking elements that I personaly love and the kind of storys that I want to tell.

There's a wonderful feeling of magic realism in the film. What appeals to you about bending
the rules of reality in filmmaking?

I really like fantasy, I like my stories to have a romantic touch or details of the unreal. For me, the beauty of cinema is that is one of the only forms of media where we can see things that do not exist such as magic or mythology while we see them on the screen, we feel that magic is real and close. I like fashion film because its a genre where you can break the rules of reality with most freedom.

The aesthetics and costuming are magnificent. What was the collaborative process like with the designers?

This film is inspired by the style of the Pachuchos of the 40s but with particular details of the character and his own universe. For example the Mijo biker Jacket. Since I came up with the character I visualized him with a purple jacket with his name embroidered in gold on the back. I showed the idea to Manov, the designer, and he was in charge of designing and bringing it to life, creating a custom piece that tells us who Mijo is. The pachuco costume was designed by La Victoria Sastrería in the Lagunilla neighborhood in Mexico City. The tailor specializes in creating pachuco costumes since the 70s, the culture of the pachucos is still alive in Mexico. The colors of Mijo purple and gold are for the symbolism associated with royalty and opulence. The other garments were an editorial loan which is something I love because it was like scouting with designers and finding pieces already created that went with the story.

You've mentioned you want the film to reflect 'the Mexico of today'. Can you expand on that and tell us about what modern Mexico is like for artists?

In my Mexico there is a lot of beauty, the streets are full of color and movement, it is true that there is chaos, but within that chaos people make resistance and that resistance is often manifested through art. For example independent designers that we collaborated with for the costumes, and our wonderful casting as Dolores who is dedicated to the performing and the Drag queen art , The musicians of Jarana Beat who make Afro-Mexican music, They are all independent creators who try to carry out their projects and dreams from our culture and Mexicanity.

What was the biggest challenge in making this film?

It is a very detailed production full of props, locations and elements to create a unique universe with identity, we even produced the recording of a cover song. The most difficult part was to complete all those details knowing that we had a small budget and only 4 days to record all scenes. For example, the purple Volkswagen that we rented for the final scene, was stolen from the owner and got it back just a week before the shooting date. We had very complicated moments in which it seemed that we were not going to be able to finish the short film, but in the end we pushed through and I am very grateful with all the team that dared to be on this project, and they put all their hearts to it.

What projects are coming for you in the future?

I recently moved to Spain, my idea is to continue my work as a director creating fashion films, advertising and perhaps getting into cinema. I am always open for new projects here and wherever anyone wants to work with me.

Do you have any message for our Melbourne audience?

It makes me very happy to be in the official selection and I hope you enjoy Mijo, all of the team is
very proud that it is being shown in so many parts of the world.