The Directors: Cassiano Prado
Cassiano Prado is a Brazillian director based in Berlin. His Brazilian blood is visible in every frame and the energy and pace of his films is exceptionally engaging. He recently signed to international agency Johnny Foreigner.
Commenting on his recent signing, Cassiano said: "Being part of an international agency like Johnny Foreigner signifies collaborating with a more extensive array of clients, as opposed to being restricted to a fixed roster. It also unlocks opportunities for a highly diverse range of projects, encompassing not only conventional commercials but also various formats of brand content."
Name: Cassiano Prado
Location: London/Berlin
Repped by/in: Johnny Foreigner
Awards:
LONDON INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, UK Xbox - Hard Times Bronze Category: TV / Cinema / Online Film - Music Original
CICLOPE, ARGENTINA Time - Google Silver Category: Live Action - Editing
CICLOPE, ARGENTINA Xbox - Hard Times Bronze Category: Specials - New Talent CICLOPE, ARGENTINA Xbox - Hard Times Bronze Category: Live Action - Cinematography
EL OJO DE IBEROAMERICA, ARGENTINA Time - Google Silver Category: Editing
D&AD, UK Xbox - Hard Times Inbook Category: Best Cinematography D&AD, UK Xbox - Hard Times Inbook Category: Best Use of Music BBC Radio 6 - Music Video of the Week White Belt Yellow Tag
Reanimacja Film Festival, Lødz, Poland Electrelane - In Berlin Audience Award Channel 4 Talent Award
Shortlist: 5 to watch on British Animation Short List
LBB> What elements of a script sets one apart from the other and what sort of scripts get you excited to shoot them?
Cassiano> There are those scripts which have the potential to look cool, and those which have the potential to move us emotionally. I stick with the latter.
LBB> How do you approach creating a treatment for a spot?
Cassiano> I always try to deliver something truly new in terms of concept, something I have never seen before. Secondly, all my decisions unfold for the sake of the story, not for mine.
LBB> If the script is for a brand that you're not familiar with/ don’t have a big affinity with or a market you're new to, how important is it for you to do research and understand that strategic and contextual side of the ad? If it’s important to you, how do you do it?
Cassiano> Understanding what a story is about is essential before beginning any discussion about the film's style.
LBB> For you, what is the most important working relationship for a director to have with another person in making an ad? And why?
Cassiano> A director is never the sole creator of a story but rather the guardian of it, and trust in those around is key to making them good at their craft.
LBB> What type of work are you most passionate about - is there a particular genre or subject matter or style you are most drawn to?
Cassiano> I adore making people feel a whole mix of emotions in whatever I create – from nostalgia to joy, sadness to happiness, and perhaps deeper reflections on things they never felt or thought about before.
LBB> What misconception about you or your work do you most often encounter and why is it wrong?
Cassiano> Though I've collaborated with numerous sports celebrities in my career, specialising in that isn't my deliberate focus. My true passion lies in working with actors, whether it's in thriller mysteries or comedies.
LBB> What’s the craziest problem you’ve come across in the course of a production – and how did you solve it?
Cassiano> The two episodes of the Netflix series I shot last year experienced a significant script change just a month before filming began. Consequently, I had to organize a script breakdown session with the entire crew, fully aware that numerous shots would need to be dropped. To be frank, I'm not sure how I managed to resolve it. I suppose my morning meditations played a role.
LBB> How do you strike the balance between being open/collaborative with the agency and brand client while also protecting the idea?
Cassiano> I never hold onto an idea too tightly because that suggests I'm not open to changing my mind if someone else comes up with a better one.
LBB> What are your thoughts on opening up the production world to a more diverse pool of talent? Are you open to mentoring and apprenticeships on set?
Cassiano> Mentoring newcomers, especially those who have been sidelined due to the dominance of the privileged, is crucial and needs to happen right now.
LBB> How do you feel the pandemic is going to influence the way you work into the longer term? Have you picked up new habits that you feel will stick around for a long time?
Cassiano> Maybe it's less about forming a habit and more about developing an understanding: there's nowhere to go if we leave others behind.
LBB> Your work is now presented in so many different formats - to what extent do you keep each in mind while you're working (and, equally, to what degree is it possible to do so)?
Cassiano> Formatting, in terms of personal style, naturally adapts to the story I'm telling, and I'm not afraid to explore any avenue necessary to enhance the storytelling. What truly matters to me is the voice, and that is not about effort but rather about intuition.
LBB> What’s your relationship with new technology and, if at all, how do you incorporate future-facing tech into your work (e.g. virtual production, interactive storytelling, AI/data-driven visuals etc)?
Cassiano> This topic, for me, consistently leads to the same conclusion: these are incredible tools that, if used wisely, can yield great results. However, the content that urgently needs to be told for the sake of our evolution resides not within any AI but in our collective unconscious.
