Uruguay-born filmmaker Gustavo Sainz de la Peña, now based in Southern California, is known for his passion and enthusiasm, akin to that of a devoted Comic-Con fan. He co-wrote the script for the upcoming film The Prey, a creature feature directed by brothers Cire and Matthew Hensman. The movie stars well-known actors such as Danny Trejo, Adrian Paul, Nick Chinlund, and Kevin Grevioux and is set to be released on the indie-friendly streaming platform MoviVue on Friday, September 20. MoviVue is a transactional video-on-demand service that prioritizes independent filmmakers by offering them a larger share of revenue compared to other streaming platforms. Currently, Sainz is focused on his directorial debut, Baby Racer, and is working on creating a new mythical monster using practical effects. In a recent interview, he discussed the state of independent filmmaking, his aspirations to work with Sylvester Stallone, and offered advice for budding filmmakers.
The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus is a film about a group of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan who encounter a terrifying creature known as Karnoctus. The idea for the story came from the desire to integrate a monster into the storyline, inspired by the movie Predator and the legends of cave-dwelling creatures in Afghanistan.
The decision to use practical effects for the monster instead of CGI was influenced by the team’s love for practical effects and their attendance at Comic-Con. They opted to create the monster suit themselves due to cost and availability issues.
When it came to casting, the team coincidentally connected with actor Danny Trejo, known for his role in the film Predators, through a personal contact. Trejo’s involvement in the film was a result of a series of connections and negotiations, and he proved to be a great addition to the project.
The discussion revolves around the state of indie films in today’s film industry, with a focus on the coexistence of indie films and blockbuster superhero movies. Sainz expresses the belief that Hollywood is currently facing a transformative period comparable to the revolution led by directors such as Scorsese, De Palma, and Lucas in the 1970s. He criticizes the current studio leadership, attributing Hollywood’s decline to a lack of understanding in film production and excessive spending on projects that may not align with audience demand. Additionally, Sainz addresses the prevailing apprehension towards technology, emphasizing the importance of skillfully utilizing AI rather than fearing its potential impact on job security.
Sainz expressed his admiration for Sylvester Stallone and his desire to work with him in a movie. He admires Stallone’s resilience and willingness to stick to his vision, even when facing opposition from the studio, as demonstrated by his commitment to the script for “Rocky.” Sainz appreciates Stallone’s ability to adapt and innovate over the years, citing his involvement in independent films and the revival of old action heroes in “The Expendables.” Sainz also revealed his passion for action-fantasy movies, anime, and horror films like “The Babadook.” He cited “Big Trouble in Little China” as the movie that initially sparked his interest in filmmaking, noting its unique blend of a conventional storyline with fantastical elements.
In his upcoming directorial debut “Baby Racer,” Sainz discusses the plot involving a character named Baby who gets disqualified from a race and travels to Tokyo to confront illegal racing organizers involved in drug trafficking. Additionally, Sainz is part of the Native American Film Initiative and is working on a documentary called “Red Eagle,” which focuses on the untold stories of Native Americans. The documentary tells the story of the first Native American to win the Medal of Honor, and there are plans to adapt it into a feature film. The initiative aims to shed light on the diverse and compelling stories within Native American culture.
For aspiring filmmakers facing discouragement due to financing and budget constraints, filmmaker Sainz offers some encouraging advice. He emphasizes that age should not be a barrier to pursuing filmmaking, and highlights the accessibility of technology that can aid in the filmmaking process. Sainz underscores the potential of shooting quality movies with minimal resources, citing the example of using an iPhone to create compelling content. He stresses the importance of putting ideas onto paper and experimenting with filmmaking, reassuring aspiring filmmakers that practice and persistence will lead to improvement.
