NJF TeamAge: 22
District: Poble-Sec
Recently Discovered Movies:
“One more time with feeling”, (2016) Andrew Dominik
“Toto and his sisters”, (2015) Alexander Nanau
“Betty Blue – le matin 37” (1986) Jean-Jacques Beineix
Recently Dicovered Bands:
Lebanon Hanover
Flavien Berger
Beach House
Your education background is based on documentary movies production. What is your mission in that field?
Just finished my documentary studies at the Red Cross film school in Stockholm and when being in school I discovered my interest of putting the production together, as the producer. With my OCD of organising that role came to me naturally when working on a production. Right now I could see myself either continuing my studies in that field or go into humanistic studies. At the moment I am taking a year off from studies to decide what direction is going to fit the best for my future. Working with commercials, in front of the camera has opened many doors for me. It’s been the best way to network with business people but also making me able to work with my personal film projects during the weeks. Right now, I am working on a film project about a Syrian refugee that came to Sweden two years ago. The film is about the awaiting for his asylum and what his daily life looks like. It’s also about the criticism of how Swedish and international media are reporting about refugees. How they absentmindedly or not use certain negative words to describe and expose people. What type of self-image is this creating, but most importantly how much can we really trust our media sources. When listening, watching or reading from a “trustworthy” media source we, or I don’t always critic the way the news come out.
If you use the word refugees and then put a picture of a police van next to the word refugee you are probably going to make the wrong assumptions. Since you are getting the news from “safe” source you instead of criticising the assumptions you might believe that the refugees are a freath and that’s the reason why the police is there. Because the police is there to make you feel safe. I can go on for hours about this. But you can see the film when it’s finished!
How did you choose the outfits for this shooting?
I used to have a great influence from the 60’s and 70’s music, films and clothes. Could spend hours watching films like “Girls” by Mai Zetterling, “Thriller, a cruel film” by Bo Arne Vibeus or “Factory girl” by George Hickenlooper. And also my main inspirational source is my grandmother, who had her most sassy clothes made in or bought during the 60’s and 70’s. Lucky I got so many of the pieces from her actually, for example the green jacket, the Scottish skirt and my Munich bag.
Recently you took your first steps in your acting career, too. Cate Blanchett said once “We’re constantly morphing into different outward manifestations of ourselves. That’s what I find curious about people.” What does being an actress mean for you?
“Most of us don’t want to change and why should we” said Nick Cave. According to my opinion, acting is a fantastic way to focus on the understanding of the character you are playing. Also to develop your own understanding of people around you.
You are half-Ecuatorian, half-Swedish. What aspects of your origin are the closest to you?
I grew up in Stockholm and didn’t meet my Ecuatorian relatives until two years ago when I lived in Cuba for studies and afterwards went backpacking through South America and visit them in Guayaquil. It was a dream coming true to seek my background since I throughout my whole life been asked where I am from. And saying just “Sweden” didn’t seem enough to some people. My Swedish identity doesn’t match the stereotypical images of what a “swedish” might be. So after years of being racialized I looked so much forward to go to see the people I “looked alike”. So, when going to Ecuador I thought I might would melt in better. But, no… Spanish is my third language and even if I do speak the language everyone could right away hear I was not from there. So, the question where I am from kept following me. I can be from everywhere and nowhere.
Barcelona is quite often named as a Miami of Europe. How do you perceive the city´s creative environment?
Barcelona is one of the most free and vivid spirit cities I’ve been to. It’s actually one of the reasons why I moved here at this time in my life. Here you are allowed to explore what your own desires are in a complete different way compared to Stockholm where I grew up. There, you are expected to, or normally make your creativity into your profession. Everyone I know here put so much love into their creative ambitious and for me that itself is inspirational. But you can do it yourself like. But of course this “bubble of creative happiness” has some negative aspects to it. Barcelona is like Neverland. A city field with Peter Pans. The lifestyle of working part-time with something you don’t really like at all to then be able to do what you want to. It’s all totally understandable. But Barcelona is a city field with so many things to do and explore and for me that can also be a trap if you don’t stay focused.
Where could I meet you over the weekends?
I never wake up at the same time. Sometimes it can be up at 4pm. Other times at 11pm.
Take it as it comes. I like to spend my weekends with the people I like and care about, then the place is not the important thing. When feeling the need to just spend time by myself I go to my ceramic studio in Poble Nou and let the hours pass. If it’s Sunday I love to enjoy a film at Filmoteca or an exhibition somewhere in town.
Where will I meet you in 5 years from now?
In five years from now I will most likely be on my master. ☺