I first started writing the script for a story based in Colombian folklore three years ago, in 2023. But the idea had been floating around in my head for even longer.
There were quite a few speculative chats with friends over drinks, and also quite a few Zoom calls with friends: Pipe, a film director based in LA, spoke with me at length about the intricacies of putting a story together; Lina, a good friend and designer, spent ages sharing childhood memories with me that could help establish the world, and exploring the dozens of possible shapes this story could have. Thank you, guys!
Then, there was research. Lots of research. Notes, abandoned ideas, sketches, rewrites and the occasional moment of wondering whether I actually knew what the film was about.
The biggest breakthrough came earlier this year. I hadn’t read the script in over six months, so it was refreshing to see it again, and I had an urge to prune it. I cut out lots of unnecessary details. You could say I got drunk with power cutting things down. But it helped me see. Like cutting an overgrown fringe 😅, I could finally see clearly.
A mischievous river spirit. A fisherman who really shouldn’t have annoyed him. A dog caught in the middle (there had to be a dog!). And, of course, the Colombian forest, full of magic and mystery… and birds. Lots of birds!
After many versions, Mohán finally has a finished script.
Now I just have to make the thing. 😵💫
