Luizo Vega
Luizo Vega is the last true visionary. An independent film-maker that comes from the real underground, but is ready to take over the world. Just think that his best known movie “The Material Boy” was filmed during 14 years around the globe. Everyone told him that was impossible, but he had his idea and he made it real. A perfect example of what means to be an artist today: creativity alone is not enough, determination and hard work are also necessary if you want to succeed. He doesn’t care much about trends and role models. The only thing that matters to him is to give birth to his voluptuous and dark imagery.
His upcoming film is about Dracula. Vampires are one of his lifelong obsessions and he already made several short films about these creatures of the night. Now it’s time to prepare ourselves. We will be dragged in the darkest side of a gothic and glamorous Paris, full of monsters and fashion freaks. Here, Dracula, that in the movie is portrayed as a famous fashion designer and photographer, is dying, but first he has to present his last collection in what will be his final show.
Julien Grasso by Luizo Vega
In which moment of your life you understood you wanted to be a director?
When I was a kid and people would ask me “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I remember I always answered “I want to be a filmmaker”. I was obsessed with cinema, so I studied direction but very quickly I was disappointed and I started my own experimental way.
Which was the movie that changed your life in your youth?
There is a long list for sure, but “Wild at Heart” by David Lynch was my favourite movie, I watched it like forty times. I was also really fan of “My Own Private Idaho” by Gus Van Sant and the first films of Almodovar and Luc Besson.
Who is your favourite director of all times?
David Lynch is my favourite, and I also love Stanley Kubrick, Polanski and Ridley Scott.
Jon John by Luizo Vega
What does it mean to make a film today?
To make a film is a huge work. You have to find the cast, technical team, art direction, music, edition, but you also need to work a lot in social media, distribution and festivals. So it’s a full time work, day and night… especially if you work in art cinema, you need to found the artists that will suit your project and this is a long process. For me, it’s also an opportunity to give something to the public, to share my own vision of the world. The connection with the people in the darkness of the cinema room is really powerful, it’s an intimate experience.
How you would define your imagery?
I’m a son of Lucifer so I’m deeply connected with the darkness light of the universe (lol). In my world the fallen angels and the vampire muses live together in a beautiful, elegant, minimalist and VEGAN planet.
We know that you upcoming film is about Dracula and Vampires, tell us more.
I’ve been working on “Dracula is not Dead” during the last ten years. I made a punk version in Buenos Aires in 2006, and now it was time to make the glam one in Paris. With my partner Mathieu Klein, we are creating a horror fashion movie with incredible haute couture designs by Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, mixed with new creators like Mikaela Sandell and Joshua David. I’m really proud of the cast, only talented people, dancers, performers, acrobats. I don’t care too much about models and trendy people. So I present a new style of fashion film without models, with real artists and performers in the cast.
Mathieu Klein by Luizo Vega
Why make a Dracula’s film today?
Because Dracula is not dead! He is one of the most popular characters ever and it’s always a big challenge to make a new version. In my movie, Dracula is a fashion designer and photographer and he is dying. So he’s presenting his last collection but in the same time he doesn’t give a shit about the fashion world. He doesn’t want to die, he wants to live forever, like everyone. Finally we are all a little Draculas. During the 80 minutes of the film you will witness the last 24 hours of his life, so the rhythm of the movie has to be very fast, and the vivid soundtrack by French bands Flesh, Chrysalide, Horsk & Sonic Area will emphasize that impression of haste.
What’s your daily routine on set?
It’s always different, now we are working in the art book of the film and the official pictures so it’s a really creative period. We are around 40 people working in the project right now. The movie will be shot in September, during the Fashion Week of Paris. We will produce a big party, a fashion show and there will be a lot of people involved. Everyday a new adventure. And I play Dracula role too, so it’s a double work, intellectual and physical as well. I follow an intense training for the role because I want my Dracula to look really hot!
These days making an independent film is becoming everyday harder, how do you get funds for your films?
We made a crowdfunding campaign to start the project and now we are investing personal money because we want to have the full artistic control. I come from the real underground so I can make good things with almost nothing. But of course, cinema is technical too so yes, it’s always hard. But you know, hard can be good too.
What’s the best advice you could give to young independent directors?
Don’t follow anybody, just yourself. I shot my first film during 14 years around the world, a crazy story about a bastard son of Madonna who tries to catch her attention in the media. It’s a political satire and everybody told me “you cannot do that”. But I did it anyway and now the movie is in 30 festivals, it was projected last year in the Centre Pompidou presented by Diane Pernet, and now we are planning a premiere in the USA at the Lincoln Center. So, fuck the system, fuck the critics, fuck the limitations. Be yourself, follow your visions, do what you feel.
Apart from “Dracula Is Not Dead” tell us your plans for the immediate future.
I’m opening my own Studio in Paris and we will start to create a network of partners in the principal European capitals. I’m also creating my own brand for men, only vegan and sustainable wear, and for the next year I will shoot “Sister Samanta” my first big movie with an international cast. It’s the beautiful and real history of a transsexual nun.
