Vicentini Gomez is a multimedia artist. Actor, director, filmmaker, writer and mime. Recognized by critics and awarded numerous awards in Brazil and abroad, he has a remarkable performance in theatre, cinema and television. He is a member of UBE - Brazilian Writers Union.
Q. Hello Vicentini, it's a pleasure to have you with us for this interview. Congratulations for your four awards (including 'Best Documentary' and 'Best Director') at last June's edition of the "Rome International Movie Awards" (click HERE).
Your new documentary is "Ayrton - Childhood in the Heart of Brazil": in a few words, what is it about?
A. The film recounts Ayrton's stories and tales, during his school vacations in Taipas city, in the state of Tocantins, North of Brazil, and his Kart beginnings shared by people who spent time with him, from the point of view of his cowboy friends and Kart mechanic enginners. The film's art direction was inspired by Salvador Dali, under the care of Veridiana Carvalho.
Q. Why did you decide to make a documentary about Ayrton Senna?
A. When the story was presented to me by journalist Goianyr Barbosa, I wondered about Ayrton, but I met Becão, who was Ayrton's seed, obstinate, unyielding in his convictions in the pursuit of his dreams. The cowboys told amazing stories, and I decided to focus the film on those simple, humble people, always in awe of the adventures of the boy Becão - Ayrton's nickname - an anonymous person who stood out from the cowboys for his antics and "madness", told through the eyes and heart of those simple people, with emotion and humor. In Kart, multi-champion, he was just Beco or driver 42, who in the future became known as the legend Ayrton Senna.
A. When I was young, I arrived from the countryside of the state to the capital, São Paulo, with the goal of applying to Law School, however the arts bug had already manifested itself. Initially, I went to study theater, and it was there that I met Giustino Marzano, a professor from Bari (Italy), who encouraged me to venture into Filmmaking. I always thought of directing as a goal. Later, I studied acting to understand the process. I ended up becoming a mime - I am still the most awarded mime in Brazilian theater. The seventh art kept on enchanting me and since the year 2000 I have dedicated myself almost exclusively to television and cinema.
Q. What can you tell us about your film work prior to "Ayrton - Childhood in the Heart of Brazil"?
A. My latest film "Doctor Hypotheses" was about the pandemic, also awarded at last year festival in the categories of 'Best Film' and 'Best Actor'. I have acted in over two dozen soap operas, especially on Globo Network, such as "Avenida Brasil" (Serjão) and "Joia Rara" (Commissioner Cavalcante) – 2014 Emmy Award for best soap opera in the world. The soap opera "Cumplices de um Resgate", an SBT TV production, is currently airing on NetFlix.
I have dedicated myself to historical films, telling the history of cities and regions of Brazil, which is a work that gives me great pleasure, especially for the research and knowledge acquired in each film, as well as presenting me with great fictional stories for future projects.
Q. Any future projects you’d like to share?
A. I am finishing writing the script for the film "Doctor Hypothesis 2 - The Devastation" about post-covid. I have projects lined up with sponsors for the films "Duzinda", which tells the story of a woman who pioneered the conquests of women in Brazil in the 1930s. And "Berimbau", a comedy for children.
My head is in constant ebullition thinking about new projects.
Q. How would you describe yourself as a director?
A. An artist curious about human behavior. Meticulous in the details about the abyss between the beautiful and the ugly.
A. Clint Eastwood always surprises me by the simplicity and subtlety with which he treats his films. Charles Chaplin, Bernardo Bertolucci, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, and so many other brilliant directors which I have watched their movies in over half a century of life.
Q. Your favourite movies? And of course, films you really deplore?
A. About the deplorables, I merely have them as models of what not to do. Let's go to the ones I mirror myself as an example, the positive ones:
"The Bridges of Madison", directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.
"Papillon", directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. I watched it dozens of times.
From the Brazil: "Memórias do Cárcere", written and directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos and starring Carlos Vereza; "City of God" and "Central Station", among others.
A. "Ayrton - Childhood in the Heart of Brazil is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2023. As for "Doctor Hypothesis", we are negotiating with a TV streaming company. For social networks I suggest the "Instagram" (HERE).
Q. Thank you for this very inspiring interview, Vicentini. Here at the “Rome International Movie Awards” we look forward to seeing and appreciating your new film productions!
A. During these "post?" pandemic times, the catchword is reinvention. In filmmaking, simplicity is still the best way. Thank you for the opportunity to share our work with you.
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