Meet underground director Axel Orozco
Welcome Axel, we are very excited to have you today with us to discuss about your work.
Who is Axel Josef Orozco Peraza and how did the passion for creating begin?
Raised and born in Mexico, Mérida Yucatán, Axel Orozco from a very young age was interested in filming his stories while playing with toys and from that start he was interested in movies and videogames but realised that there is more, the passion started when a movie came out ¨Transformers by Michael bay¨ and odd choice to known about cinema but it was the to start when i decided to grab my ipad, draw a storyboard and tell a story with my toys so that my friends could watch it.
Can you tell us about your previous work ?
My previous work starts by working for small bussiness in 2017 alone, I started being serious about my vision and craft in 2020 when i funded my small independent company AXL Despacho Creativo, years ago I did some small shortfilms but kept them private because of the quality but when the oportunity came in December of 2023 when Ricardo Canul the writer of the story wich chose me to direct this story I took it as serious as I could and told my team that we were going to do a short film as professional as we could.
How did your personal experiences and background in Mérida influence the tone and themes of Skate Days?
When my grandfather passed away in August 2023, I felt an emotional void that I didn't know how to handle, but thanks to my co-workers and friends I knew how to channel that sadness and create art from it, having been working professionally for 4 years in the area of videography and photography I knew what it was like to work with a professional team, just as in the story portrayed I see myself reflected in it but what I think most is portrayed in it is the affection with which we try to make the footage and the small community that we created for this same behind the scenes.
CONVERSATION ABOUT: Skate Days
How did you use skateboarding as a metaphor for Ernesto’s emotional journey and the theme of loss?
When we started to make the production portfolio and then the casting I had to talk to all the people and kids who skated and most of them mentioned to me that they did it to de-stress, enjoy and go out with their friends but I saw something more than just going to have fun, I saw a way to survive oneself, from the intrusive thoughts that sometimes sink or capture us, friends will always be there for us when we need help from these hidden feelings that we have, Skating is a way to enjoy life and to get up as many times as we can.
What challenges did you encounter during the filming of the skateboarding scenes, and how did you approach them creatively? What was the most difficult scene to film, and how did you overcome the technical or emotional challenges?
The most complicated part of the skate scenes was how to portray each character's skating and how the camera adapts to them and how time-consuming it was to get some tricks on their part, but it was a lot of fun to come up with creative ways to make them feel comfortable. with the camera because it was their first time being actors in something, the most emotionally difficult scene was when Ernesto's character returns home since the father's actor had a somewhat similar experience to that of his character, so he had to channel all these personal emotions which we respect and took care to make you feel comfortable during filming.
What role does the city of Mérida play as a character or setting in Skate Days? How did you capture its essence?
We tried to record in iconic places that several people liked to go skating in Mérida, such as the Alemán park, which is one of the many historical parks in the city, in addition to trying to portray through colors a warmth and historical essence that Mérida Yucatán has in the 2000s that little by little over time has currently been disappearing.
How do you hope the themes of Skate Days resonate with both local and global audiences?
I would like you not only to enjoy the story but to feel reflected in those moments of anxiety, loneliness and sadness and notice that we are not alone in the world, we need to keep close those who matter to us and enjoy life and of course those who love to make movies to keep making movies with people who truly understands not only heart of the story but your heart to create worlds.
In future projects, do you plan to explore similar genre intersections, or are there other genres you're eager to explore?
In future projects I would like to explore more sensitive themes that continue to resonate with people since we all suffer similar situations and sometimes we think we are the only ones, but creatively I would still like to explore comedy and psychological horror.
Can you tease any upcoming projects or themes you're excited to explore in your future works?
Sure ! We just finished our animated short that my production company produced and directed by David Igneas, who has been working in the independent film industry of Mérida for more than 10 years. This animated short film is called “Los dias are getting shorter.”
On a single visual plane, this animation follows the daily routine of a cat that depends on the company and care of a grandmother. But when Grandma disappears, the cat is faced with loneliness and uncertainty.
It’s a reflection on human connection and the inevitability of change.
This is an animation with a minimalist but deep narrative.
This marks the conclusion of the interview featuring our esteemed artist, Axel Orozco. Our community is growing steadily, with a continuous influx of skilled filmmakers and screenwriters joining us. Explore our other interviews, and consider scheduling one for yourself to showcase your creative endeavors.
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