HOUSE OF MYSTIC MAGIC, 4min., UK
Directed by Alexander Miguel
In the House of Mystic Magic you will find all sorts. Creatures from Heaven to Hell and anything in between. Depicting a variety of scenarios all playing with the concept of the deadly sins, we showcase Mystic Magic’s fascination with dark, animalistic luxury couture. In today’s society more than ever the deadly sins powerfully elucidate some of the core emotional drivers of human behaviour which we explore in this avant-garde style short film.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve long been fascinated by the use of fashion within film. Coming from a place where my dream was to direct music videos, I found an alternative outlet for my creativity in the form of fashion films. It wasn’t that long ago that fashion films weren’t commonly recognised as it’s own genre, and now it is truly blossoming and everyone has jumped on the trend! I am good friends with the designer of Mystic Magic, and together we decided to make this art video to promote his designs, and my filmmaking.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

‘House Of Mystic Magic’ has been an insane rollercoaster, I can say without a doubt I’ve never struggled so much to complete a project. We started developing it in 2019(!) and for various reasons it kept getting pushed back. I got a team together and started auditioning/casting in early 2020. We all know what happened next. Lockdown for a good year and a half. After re-casting some of the models up to 3 times, we finally filmed the project late 2021. It then spent about a year in postproduction and we finally have the completed project in our hands!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Mystical Magical

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

It was a highly ambitious project, and because of covid we kept getting delayed and paused production several times. Making a low-budget but high-end flick like this requires a ton of clever solutions to try and be cost effective as well as wanting to look super extravagant. The team behind this was also quite big, and being able to manage all of that and keeping everyone on the same track at all times can be mental.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was a delight to watch people’s reactions and it warmed my filmmaker heart to hear people loving the extravaganza. I worked so hard for every detail in this film. I am pleased that the audience picked up on that. As a director I try and avoid explaining every detail of a project, especially something as abstract as this. I like to keep a certain air of mystery and let people piece together the puzzle themselves. I believe that’s the kind of story that will stick with you long after you’ve watched it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

From quite a young age, I’d say it came about for real in secondary school. I wrote scripts and collected/built props for my projects. I even wrote and directed a few plays. I knew exactly how I wanted things, even then. With the camcorder. I was always a very creative child. I did a lot of crafting, (something I’ve been picking up again now in the last couple of years.) I then went on to do a degree in Media and Communications, with a main focus on filmmaking. Then a Bachelor and a Master followed. So you can say I’ve worked my way up. No shortcuts here.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Home Alone! It’s like a global treasure. It also holds a wonderful 90’s childhood nostalgia for me.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

SEFFF has done a lot for our project, something that I’ve experienced as quite unique for a festival.

An interview with the director such as this, is tremendously helpful in order to help showcase our work and to provide a platform for us to be seen. It is getting more and more difficult to get seen and heard by the right people in this industry. A lot of festivals also have their own magazine in which they showcase festival winners etc.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I believe FilmFreeway is THE place for submitting to festivals. A few years ago it was trickier and all festivals had different requirements, a lot of DVD’s were sent via post. Film Freeway is now a digital gathering point for all festivals and the process is very simple and user friendly. You create your film’s profile and then share it with all the festivals with just a few clicks! Brilliant!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Living in London, I am a sucker for a good Sunday roast at the pub! Over here that is the highlight of any Sunday.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I am trying to keep busy by having fingers in many pies. Most of my upcoming projects are coincidentally centered around fashion in it’s various forms. I am in the process of developing a fashion documentary, as well as being in talks with some great up-and-coming London based artists to shoot some music videos in the next few months. Hopefully I can ride on the success of our fashion film ‘House Of Mystic Magic’ for a while longer!

Official Website:
www.alexandermiguel.com
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/alezmigz