A look at executive production and the construction of a “bat” by the actor currently betting on cinema from both sides of the camera.
In Que Se Acabe Todo, Pancho Melo joined the cast while simultaneously taking on the challenge of being an Executive Producer for the second time with JUNTOS, following his previous experience in Oro Amargo. For him, this role has been a long-term learning process.
“An executive producer is someone who does everything possible to ensure the film is made with the tools at hand: whether it is money, contacts, or strategies,” he explains. “Embodying this role has helped me value the challenge of daring to make cinema in Chile; it is an epic odyssey that requires a lot of ‘thick skin’”.
Regarding his work with the director, Moisés Sepúlveda, Pancho highlights the importance of the emotional bond: “Working with Moisés was a gift. I love how he approaches his work; he has a very sensitive gaze and maintains a kind set. He sets the frequency; his past as a magician makes sense to me regarding ‘the trick’. The film has spatial and temporal tricks: it seduces you with magic”.
The acting challenge this time was twofold. On one hand, there was the technical complexity of the long take (plano secuencia), and on the other, the construction of Ramiro Tocornal, his character. “Moisés gave me an interesting instruction: to keep a bat in my head. Ramiro is a bat, rather than a vampire. He has a vulgar overflow, something dirty, and a certain brazenness. I trust he will be a dissonant note that will attract both supporters and detractors,” Pancho explains regarding this role.
The nature of the shoot also defined the experience, generating a mystique similar to that of theater due to the length of the takes. “The performance began and there was no stopping, no matter what happened. One forgets the camera—or rather, the camera becomes another character. It generated a nervousness that put us all on the same wavelength,” Pancho says.
This synergy was further enhanced by his castmates, Paulina García and Benjamín Vicuña. While Pancho had previously worked with Benjamín on projects like Los archivos del Cardenal, he notes a sense of maturity in this reunion. Working with Paulina, however, marked their first time together in an audiovisual project: “It was a pleasure to watch her work; she has a passion for the craft that is moving. Additionally, fundamental trust was established to offer opinions, make mistakes, or share a laugh,” the actor and producer recalls.
In this new collaboration with JUNTOS, Pancho Melo reaffirms his commitment to a national cinema that does not fear technical risks or emotional depth, setting the stage for a film that promises to seduce through its own magic.