Interview with Héctor Rodríguez
Winner in WEB/TV Series 2024
Nominee in Comedy Short 2024
Héctor Rodríguez (Galicia, Spain, 1998) studied a Higher Technician Degree in Production of Audiovisual Projects and Shows. Since then, he has worked as a professional third assistant director in TV and streaming series and films for over 5 years. This is his debut as a director, writing, editing and producing POSCOITO.
Your project has been recognized in European Short Awards. Could you please provide a brief overview of your project and its significance in the context of our festival?
Poscoito is an anthology series which portrays different situations and conflicts that can occur after having sex. Every episode is standalone, with different story, cast and tone that shares postcoital moment as a common theme. The project started as a way to talk about sex with naturality, and also I find the postcoital moment very interesting in terms of human relationships and emotions. I personally think that the series has an European style of comedy, but the situations are mostly universal, so it is having a successful reception from all over the world.
What were the key criteria or qualities you sought in selecting actors to participate in your film?
I cast actors that were close to each other, and also to me. Usually, we worked together in the past, so we had an existing relationship that made rehearsing and shooting the sex scenes easily because they already had created a trust bond between them time ago.
How did you collaborate and communicate with the cinematographer to achieve your desired visual style?
I work with reference images from existing films and series to talk about the color palette, the shot size and the type of lighting. The thing I love about this series is that every episode is standalone, so it can have a totally different style in terms of cinematography, tone, acting… even genre.
Can you elaborate on the choice of locations for your project and the significance behind those selections?
I try to be creative choosing the locations where characters have sex, because I want those places to have an important part in the story and to add one more layer of complexity to the
characters psyche.
From your perspective, what unique qualities or aspects of your film make it a compelling choice for potential distributors?
Poscoito is a unique series that can be as big as anybody wants, because every episode tries to tell a compelling story, so it opens many doors on a creative level. Also, the variety of characters, locations and styles creates a diverse exploration of life's intimate moments.
Could you discuss the artistic elements or expressions you incorporated into your project, and how they contribute to the overall characterization of your work?
This is my debut as a writer and director, so I’m still looking for my own voice. What I can say is that I’m learning in every scene I make, and I think I have developed a certain versatility creating each one of these three episodes.
What initially inspired or motivated you to pursue a career in filmmaking?
Since I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a film director. I made short films with my family and friends every time I could, and I was learning in each step of the process. Since then, I try to be inspired by professionals I share work with.
Are there any particular films or filmmakers that have greatly influenced or inspired your own work? If so, what aspects of their work resonate with you?
I’m not looking for having a characteristic style, but prioritizing the story and characters over my own style. That being said, I find Martin Scorsese and Sam Mendes very inspiring film directors in terms of reinventing themselves in each work, but maintaining the essence of oneself's vision.
What genres do you find most creatively fulfilling to work within, and what draws you to these particular genres?
I love heart pounding thrillers, and I would love to direct one someday. But comedy is a collaborative process where I receive a lot of enjoyable surprises that you can’t find in any other genre.
When you're not immersed in filmmaking, what are some of your other interests or hobbies?
I like to share time with my family and friends, going to cultural activities such as theater and cinema, traveling and connecting with nature.
Lastly, could you share any insights or plans you have for future projects?
My plan is to continue working on the creation of more episodes of Poscoito. I don’t want this project to die so soon because it has a lot of potential. I am considering getting financing to make this series a very professional production.
Héctor Rodríguez IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10980225/
Poscoito IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31720753/
Nominee in Comedy Short 2024
Héctor Rodríguez (Galicia, Spain, 1998) studied a Higher Technician Degree in Production of Audiovisual Projects and Shows. Since then, he has worked as a professional third assistant director in TV and streaming series and films for over 5 years. This is his debut as a director, writing, editing and producing POSCOITO.
Your project has been recognized in European Short Awards. Could you please provide a brief overview of your project and its significance in the context of our festival?
Poscoito is an anthology series which portrays different situations and conflicts that can occur after having sex. Every episode is standalone, with different story, cast and tone that shares postcoital moment as a common theme. The project started as a way to talk about sex with naturality, and also I find the postcoital moment very interesting in terms of human relationships and emotions. I personally think that the series has an European style of comedy, but the situations are mostly universal, so it is having a successful reception from all over the world.
What were the key criteria or qualities you sought in selecting actors to participate in your film?
I cast actors that were close to each other, and also to me. Usually, we worked together in the past, so we had an existing relationship that made rehearsing and shooting the sex scenes easily because they already had created a trust bond between them time ago.
How did you collaborate and communicate with the cinematographer to achieve your desired visual style?
I work with reference images from existing films and series to talk about the color palette, the shot size and the type of lighting. The thing I love about this series is that every episode is standalone, so it can have a totally different style in terms of cinematography, tone, acting… even genre.
Can you elaborate on the choice of locations for your project and the significance behind those selections?
I try to be creative choosing the locations where characters have sex, because I want those places to have an important part in the story and to add one more layer of complexity to the
characters psyche.
From your perspective, what unique qualities or aspects of your film make it a compelling choice for potential distributors?
Poscoito is a unique series that can be as big as anybody wants, because every episode tries to tell a compelling story, so it opens many doors on a creative level. Also, the variety of characters, locations and styles creates a diverse exploration of life's intimate moments.
Could you discuss the artistic elements or expressions you incorporated into your project, and how they contribute to the overall characterization of your work?
This is my debut as a writer and director, so I’m still looking for my own voice. What I can say is that I’m learning in every scene I make, and I think I have developed a certain versatility creating each one of these three episodes.
What initially inspired or motivated you to pursue a career in filmmaking?
Since I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a film director. I made short films with my family and friends every time I could, and I was learning in each step of the process. Since then, I try to be inspired by professionals I share work with.
Are there any particular films or filmmakers that have greatly influenced or inspired your own work? If so, what aspects of their work resonate with you?
I’m not looking for having a characteristic style, but prioritizing the story and characters over my own style. That being said, I find Martin Scorsese and Sam Mendes very inspiring film directors in terms of reinventing themselves in each work, but maintaining the essence of oneself's vision.
What genres do you find most creatively fulfilling to work within, and what draws you to these particular genres?
I love heart pounding thrillers, and I would love to direct one someday. But comedy is a collaborative process where I receive a lot of enjoyable surprises that you can’t find in any other genre.
When you're not immersed in filmmaking, what are some of your other interests or hobbies?
I like to share time with my family and friends, going to cultural activities such as theater and cinema, traveling and connecting with nature.
Lastly, could you share any insights or plans you have for future projects?
My plan is to continue working on the creation of more episodes of Poscoito. I don’t want this project to die so soon because it has a lot of potential. I am considering getting financing to make this series a very professional production.
Héctor Rodríguez IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10980225/
Poscoito IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31720753/