Do you prefer Comedy or Drama?

As an actor I prefer comedies. As a filmmaker I prefer a good script to tell a great story. As a screenwriter, I am attracted to a story that has a provocative conflict to develop a substantial script. My next work is the feature film "Duzinda", a drama that discusses violence against women, an urgent issue to be discussed all over the world.

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life?

As Aristotle once said back in ancient Greece, "Art imitates life", but today, with globalization and social networks, the sensibility of the artist with it's own concepts, innovations and thoughts are dictating fashions and behaviors. A movie, a theatrical show, or a successful soap opera may provoke styles such as trends in clothing, haircut, etc...

Which is the best Moment on set?

The one you are shooting the last scene and realize the schedule has been strictly adhered to.

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

I have never had a negative review, because I am extremely rigorous in my projects, whereas with my team I stimulate extreme debates in the decoupage of the script, preparation, pre-production, shooting, and post-production. In this way we avoid problems, but if it's found, we come up with an adequate solution. I work in a team, but if I need to make a choice, I do it, because I am the director. However, if by chance a critic or a journalist speaks negatively, I respect their opinion and try to understand it. An opinion is an individual view, it's part of the game. But I will be very worried if the public doesn't like it.

How can you stay focused on your goal?

In Brazil we had great setbacks in the arts in general and in special to movies. The military dictatorship (1964 to 1985) with its censorship, prohibiting countless works; the Collor de Mello government (1990 to 1992), closing down EMBRAFILME (Brazilian Fil Company), and during the Jair Bolsonaro government (2019 to 2022) declaring war on culture in general. Recently, despite the pandemic and a strong depression, we managed to overcome the obstacles and make - in the garage of the production company, along with a modicum financial resources - the film "Doctor Hypothesis", which won 42 awards in film festivals around the world, of these, 14 as best leading actor. Also made with a small budget, we produced the DOC "Ayrton Meninices in the Heart of Brazil", about the life of the racing pilot Ayrton Senna from the ages of 7 to 17, which won 53 prizes in film festivals. To conclude the answer to your question, I will borrow a quote from Ayrton Senna: "I stay focused with faith, determination, perseverance, and a lot of desire to achieve my goals. I never measure the pain and sacrifice to achieve victory."

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your Job?

Adrenaline is the tool needed to stimulate creativity and hold the frenetic pace of a set. I always managed to keep everything under control. I never allowed stress to overtake adrenaline.

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

Talent is the ladder to take you to success. Success is a big trap. If you settle for success you will be in the curse zone. I wrote above Ayrton's quote on the subject of winning. You have to make investments, you have to make sacrifices, you have to have humility, maturity and joy on your path. If you have achieved success, be very careful with sycophants and try to be around sincere and true friends. 

What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor/director/screenplayer?

The understanding of conflict to delve into and understand the human soul even more.

What's the worst criticism you have received?

I've never received a crushing criticism. If some day a critic or journalist speaks negatively of my work, I understand that although I write for a media outlet, it is a private opinion. I will be very worried if one day I realize that the public is turning away from my work. Then I will know that I am making a mistake. 

If you weren't an actor/director/screenplayer what would you like to be?

I never saw myself exercising another profession. I started studying law and discovered that my life was in the arts. Gaining this knowledge was extremely important for me to write the script for the documentary "Justice! A History", which tells the history of the judiciary power in Brazil since the arrival of the Portuguese Crown until the 1998 Constitution.

If Cinema was a color what would it be?

I have a particular attraction for B/W. In all my films I manage to find a scene to finish in Black & White.

A day without a movie is...

Very difficult for this to happen, because when I am not writing, preparing projects, producing, directing, I am watching films... But if it happens one day... It will be tedious!

If someone offered you to play/direct/write a movie that you hate, but that is sure to make you rich and famous... would you accept the job?

I try not to use the words "hate" and "detest" in my vocabulary. I think that there can be qualities in every product. My feet are planted in my free imagination.  Creativity has an infinite palette of colors in which we can find ways to transform the lemon into a tasty lemonade. 

What's your greatest ambition?

I don't have giant ambitions (laughs).  I have goals and dreams, which I organize in schedules with planning for execution, and also I look for partners to build on these goals.

What's your biggest fear?

Not waking up smiling on the morrow as I still have so much planned to accomplish.

Does music help you to play/direct, write?

Music helps me to think and solve scenes of difficult architecture. I also need the deep silence to solve these difficulties. 

You have the chance to make a silent film, what is your message to the audience?

I am the second mime in chronological order in Brazilian theater and the most awarded mime in Brazilian history. There are several sources that point to Charles Chaplin's films as the biggest audience ever in the history of cinema, and this is because he used the language of mime which has always been understood by everyone. The message I always try to convey in my films is the eternal human quest for love, despite all conflicts. 

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.....

I never dreamed of this possibility, but if one day it happens, I will have no speech, only gratitude.