April 21, 2020

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Gigi saul guerrero

NFFTY has grown into a wonderful community of over 2,700 filmmakers from around the world. Alumni have experienced success in many areas of the media industry. To celebrate these achievements, we are highlighting NFFTY alumni here!

Gigi Saul Guerrero (NFFTY ‘12, ‘14, ‘15) is a filmmaker and actress whose work has been showcased at film festivals around the world. Gigi’s debut feature film Culture Shock, part of Blumhouse Production’s Into the Dark anthology series on Hulu, premiered in 2019 to rave reviews.

Gigi was named one of Variety’s 10 Latinxs to Watch in 2019, and has been praised as one of the top emerging directors in the horror genre by Empire, Dread Central, Bloody Disgusting, and Creators.co. You can find Gigi on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @HorrorGuerrero.

OUR INTERVIEW WITH GIGI:

You’ve been praised as one of the top emerging directors in the horror genre. What is it like to receive such positive feedback at such a young age?

It still feels surreal! I am incredibly humbled and thankful for the recognition. I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for all the talented people I have had the privilege to work with.

What inspired your interest in horror films as a genre you wanted to focus on, and do you have any interest in writing/directing in a different genre?

I would love to try different genres. I have a dark side to me though (haha), so as long as it has elements of something spooky, violent or mayyyyybe a hint of blood? Then I can deal! But I have to be honest to myself and say that I love horror and violent dramas. I grew up in a very Catholic Mexican household, in a very spiritual country, Mexico. Our folklore has so many legends and rich stories that we are told since childhood! My mother wouldn't allow me to see anything scary! Horror movies were a way for me to be rebellious against my parents. 

How do you decide what projects you want to attach yourself to? Is that process different as an actress versus as a writer/director?

You have to be honest with yourself and acknowledge if you love the material or not. You need to SEE YOURSELF in it. Whether it’s as an actor or as a director, you have to imagine the material as your own. Can you bring your originality and personal touch? If you can't see that, then it is not the project for you. 

What stories do you hope the horror community will tell more of, and what stories are you personally fighting to tell? What are some sources of inspiration for those stories?

In general, our industry needs more original stories rather than remakes. I am, however, incredibly excited by how much horror has became more mature and recognized in the medium. From Get Out to Hereditary to Mandy, genre films are being looked at so differently, and actually given the chance to be a hit at the box office or on a streaming platform. For myself, I strive for great stories with rich characters. Sure, gore and scares are fun and addicting elements, but I look for stories I can relate to and see myself bringing to life. I will always lean more on Latin horror content, but I am excited to dive into all dark sides of the genre.

When telling stories as a writer/director, how do you bring your own lived experiences to the table? Is it important for you to keep emotional distance when telling these stories, or do you find it beneficial to be pulled into your work on a deep, emotional level?

I think of each project as my own baby. You are creating something so special from nothing. You NEED to emotionally love your project and want to do everything possible to protect it and make sure it turns out the way you want. Yes, let's not forget filmmaking is a collaborative process! But listening to your gut feeling, using your best judgement, and being good to work with will always be the key to more projects in the future. You need to live your life and experience all kinds of personal emotions. Directors are good at what they do because they fully understand where the characters are coming from. 

How has NFFTY impacted your life or career?

AHHH, I LOVE NFFTY!!! It was the first festival I ever attended, and where my first short film I had directed was accepted. I will never forget that moment, sitting in a large theatre and listening to the audience react!! That is when I knew this was the career for me. All of the struggles, sweat and tears during the filmmaking process are fully rewarded when your film plays in front of an audience. It's beautiful! I love sharing with young filmmakers about this festival. It's important to recognize young talent and push them to continue to work hard, tell their stories and chase their dreams because it is a tough industry. NFFTY gave me confidence, and a great start to my career. 

What was your experience like getting a deal with Blumhouse, and do you have any advice for other young creatives looking to strike similar deals with production companies and producers?

FILM, FILM, FILM! GRAB THAT CAMERA AND START SHOOTING. Short films are what have gotten me to where I am, because festivals lead to all kinds of networking opportunities. I love my Blumhouse family. They gave me a dream job directing my feature debut, Culture Shock (available on Hulu). I couldn't have asked for a better project to showcase my passion and drive for storytelling, and my love and pride for my Mexican background. Blumhouse trusted me with an ambitious story, and I recommend any filmmaker just starting out to always begin with short films so that you have full control of your skills. That way, awesome companies such as Blumhouse can recognize your unique voice. 

What's next for you?

We are in tough times, living in quarantine, but I am staying creative at home by writing multiple ideas and pitching via zoom the next big feature project! My company Luchagore and I are excited for the amazing stories we are ready to film once things go "back to normal". We can't let this pandemic get to us and affect our imagination because that is our most important instrument as storytellers.