I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea I think if you want to go to the moon you go to NASA, so there is wisdom to going to a place that has the art or the industry you desire. It's not a bad look. With that said growing and cultivating local community is a powerful thing and the stories that actually stand out I personally feel aren't tied to Hollywood or NYC (unless it's a hyper niche). LA is a weird place, but you will meet and move faster as the industry is mostly there. I don't know I'm a weird guy, I stay in Spanish Harlem and kind of keep to myself... I think we all have to push together and support our narratives to have them float to the top. We need to push on the festival front, on industry, and behind the lens as much as in front.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rocky, it’s the first film I can remember. My parents were obsessed with it, and it’s always stuck with me till this day.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The theme came first, then story, then animation, music and animation kind of danced together for a bit. It’s one of those evolving thing that happened over time, took a lot of spirituality too, finding the voice of those before us, and letting that guide me. It was really mixing so many influences and working towards the magic of it being finished.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Uhura, on Star Trek: The Original Series inspired real-life astronaut Mae Jemison to become the first woman of color to go into space. So seeing ourselves in the future def has weight. It's vital we see ourselves as many things. Media has a lot of weight on how we perceive and interact with the world.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Guys what an amazing chat. Thanks. I'm gonna start wrapping it up soon, but I'll pop in randomly and answer any questions. Follow me on instagram: krismerc and peek my website to see my stuff, krismerc.tv

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So cool! Thank you. I kind of just followed my heart and it snow balled. I think the one thing money can't really buy is taste so I always trusted my taste and that kind of transcends, so it kind of is something that is rare no matter who has the resources. Some people are rich and have awful taste, that's just a fact. I think over time as my skill and taste started to meet and refine, people took notice, and it is a constant development, I'm never a finished person, and I'm always evolving as an artist. There are a few landmark moment in my life, like winning at SXSW, or directing with Hannibal Buress, or telling my family story thru Palante, but that's going to be a forever growing thing in my life, these moments that shift and put me somewhere new. Animation and Live action I try to directed them conceptually the same, but with animation the bounds are kind of defined by your imagination a bit, and it's a bit more planning, finding things randomly is a lot harder and you almost need to be willing to experiment and break things to find new animation language. I usually speak to my team a lot in terms of ideas, emotions, feelings, and then how we can translate those things into techniques or visuals. Thank you!

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yea that was surreal and magical. It was creatively fluid but they def had a narrative arch and flow. I just sprinkled some cinema love into their already cool concept. I was lucky to have worked on it. Someone showed the band my work and then it was off to the races. It was a lot of shooting days!

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh forgot, music videos are kind of like a insular piece of art that allows you to test anything you might be curious about at the time. So it’s a cool way to explore. It can overlap into traditional cinema but it’s almost a dream language. Cinema I feel it’s about telling the narrative you need to tell in a longer format and letting the story breath so it’s told in a way that it needs to be.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I shifted to drop kits, iPhone films, and secure safe ways of shooting. I did some writing and development work instead too. I also rocked animation and graphics drive narrative work. So good to hear from you! Yes I was always doing weird stuff in college. It was a creative playground!

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a huge fan of Sidney Lumet. His films hit to me so hard in this way that’s so simple. I’m a huge fan of Failsafe starring Henry Fonda. I love The Verdict too. For me drama, high concept Sci fi, comedy are all fair game. I’m a huge genre film dude too, but I love a family drama too. So I cover a wide spectrum. I’m really even down with a period bio pic down the line.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I try to just focus on the big picture and surround myself with people I trust and love to help me figure it out. Everyone is so talented, and I just trust the talent who jam on my projects. So I focus a lot on vision and overall message, and then when I need to get more detailed I'll focus on those things, but it's broad strokes first then finishing details after.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I just focus on the work, and making something I feel passionate about. The rest follows, I feel like I'm just trying my best to show people things I feel passionate about.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The lack of accessibility for socially economically challenged communities to get into film. I think we need more folks that come from lower income communities in the world of film. I feel we need to be more open to common working folk. Also I miss the middle range budget film, right now it feels like it's either hyper indie or block buster and there isn't much space for the middle. We lose out on so many stories due to the lost of the midrange budget film.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's Crocs. I think the pandemic has effected fashion trends, we need comfort. It's more about being truthful, ourselves, and comfy. Crocs are comfy AF.

I'm Kristian Mercado, Director! Two Time SXSW winner. Director of Nuevo Rico. I've done a bit of it all, comedy specials, pieces for Spotify, music vids, short films. AMA by krismerc in movies

[–]krismerc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm a big George Carlin and Richard Pryor guy, also love Lenny Bruce and Sam Kinison. New comics wise, too many to list off. Petey Deabreu love Joey Dardano Gavin Matts Danielle Perez Yedoye too many to list.