Meet Andrés Mejía Plazas | Writer-Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrés Mejía Plazas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrés, what do you want people to remember about you?
I have never thought about my legacy in film in terms of superlatives, as in “he was one of the greatest of all time.” Of course that would be nice, but to have a signature style that people recognize and my name becoming synonymous to it would be the greatest compliment. My favorite director is Pedro Almodóvar and I don’t think people are able to put his films in a certain box because his movies are so genre bending and they have such a recognizable style that he is kind of in a realm of his own.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a filmmaker and I like my work to really reflect me as a person even if it’s not necessarily autobiographical. There’s nothing I enjoy more than when people read a script of mine or watch the project and they react with “it’s so you.” I think my point of view is very colorful and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I enjoy comedy, but I also adore drama with a sense of irony or satire because it makes the “seriousness” somewhat humorous and self-aware. I also like big ensemble with characters who are so distinct that you immediately identify them just from reading their lines, while still keeping their voices authentic when I speak my mind through a character.

Being decisive is very important to filmmaking because there is a whole crew waiting for your direction and art itself is based on making choices. I used to procrastinate decision-making to the point where I would simply not move on. Directing has taught me to make a choice even if it might not work at all because by doing the “wrong” thing at least you will be able to notice what’s not working and adjust accordingly. At the end of the day it’s still art, so it is never the end of the world if a mistake is made. In fact, constantly correcting until something is just right is a very healthy way of perfectionism that still keeps you open-minded.

Perhaps because of growing up queer, I have always felt the need to explain myself or to be understood and because of that I fully acknowledge how my background is very noticeable in my projects. I am constantly inspired by the world around me and constantly learning from myself as well, so it is very special to me to see how my projects have improved not just from day one til the day we wrap but as I’ve outgrown them. I wish people saw how much craft comes into film, not just from a writer-director perspective but because it is a collaborative effort and it actually does take a village. I’ve never felt something as gratifying as seeing people coming together to make my vision come to life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This may be a hot take but I always want to take people to movie theaters. Sure, it’s because I love movies but the movie premiere experience in New York is something else. For someone who is touristing I would choose any of the theaters that play the classics, so the Paris Theater, Metrograph, Film Forum, and The Roxy come to mind. If there is a big premier I would take someone to Lincoln Square or Times Square AMC because to watch an anticipated movie on premiere night with a big crowd clapping for Nicole Kidman’s monologue is so special. My comfort spot is the Kips Bay AMC because it takes me a 20 minute walk to get there from where I live, and it shows a good amount of the independent movies I like to watch so I end up going at least once a week.

Anyplace with a view is also a plus in book: Brooklyn Bridge Park was one of the first places that left me in awe of New York when I first moved here. I personally love walking and I could do it all day with the right companions, so I take every chance I get to walk by the Hudson River piers, Central Park, or even down Broadway as you cross the city vertically. Coney Island is also a great go-to, more so the park at night than the beach itself because if how much I personally enjoy amusement parks and I have had great memories there.

I love eating but New York is so full of great places so I never worry about that, but to go out at night I would pick something in the East Village, the Lower East Side, and Christopher St on the west side because it’s such a historical point, if you know you know.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, my music because I draw a lot of inspiration from it both for film but also on a personal level. Shoutout to Madonna and Mariah Carey of course because I turn to their music a lot when it gets stressful. But on that note my mom and my best friend because I also call them when I’m 100% sure things were not going well and then they knock some sense into me and everything turns out alright, meaning I was 100% wrong. I’ll take that!

Instagram: @andres.mejiap

Linkedin: @andrés-mejía-032a40290

Twitter: @MejiaPlaAndres

Other: Letterboxd: @AndresMejia

Image Credits
Liu Lingyu