We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicolas Casanova. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicolas below.

Nicolas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always been surrounded by a creative environment. My father, Hernando “El Culebro” Casanova, was a very famous actor in Colombia. I always accompanied him to work which means I grew up between the world’s of wardrobe, makeup, and seeing him create his characters behind the scenes. At home the atmosphere was not very different, while other children played hide-and-seek or soccer, my father directed my brother and me in short films. What seemed like a game, then became a whole day of work. Somehow without wanting it. When I was six years old my dad taught me the compromise that audiovisual production implies. When I was in school, I realized that I couldn’t play spontaneously, I had to have a script to justify hide-and-seek and I wanted to find a backstory to everything I did. Even playing soccer I asked my friends to get in formation and prepare to sing the anthem as I pretend we were rolling. In perspective, I thank them for following along with all the things that occurred to me.
When my father died in late 2002, my brother and I evoked him by making short films, just as he taught us, but this time without his presence as director. I guess it was our way of making catharsis for his death.
I remember that even when I was playing with my toy soldiers, I was bothered by the fact that I couldn’t preserve the stories I imagined. I needed to narrate and to have a record of my stories. Sometimes I would build the sets out of paper, shoe boxes, and my toys. Then I would take photos and make it stop-motion. When I entered adolescence, I began to record any kind of short film with my friends. At that time it was a game for everyone, but I wanted to take it to another level. I wanted us to improve our acting, wardrobe, and editing. Practically every Friday night I was making short films with my friends and when it came to choosing a career at the university, filmmaking was the obvious choice.
Although the conception of cinema was something natural for me, having the opportunity to study this form of art opened the doors for me to discover its true potential as an instrument to convey ideas, as well as its impact as a weapon of mass communication. Then, at the age of 24, I premiered my first documentary, which was broadcasted on national television.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Nicolás Casanova I am a Colombian film director, producer, screenwriter, and programmer based in Miami, Florida. Shortly after entering the University, I learned the basic tools to tell a story. Along with my siblings, I started the production of a documentary feature about my father’s life, the road was full of challenges and lessons, but in the end, I felt that I did justice to his legacy. The documentary took me on a tour of Colombia at various film festivals and was later shown on one of the leading private TV networks in Colombia. Seeing a production you did with so much effort for the first time on a screen is priceless. From that moment the doors opened for me. I began to work in films, as well as produce short films, more documentaries, write scripts, be a part of a film festival, and more. You could say that I fully entered the business.
I recently moved to the United States and I am currently working as a film programmer for the Coral Gables Art Cinema in Miami. This has allowed me to connect with more people and more importantly, learn from the perspective of the exhibitor, how the business is currently moving. However, I have not forgotten my creative spirit, I have been able to work in television productions, music videos, big events, and even travel the world.
I love cinema and everything it stands for. I try to leave my mark as a director in all the productions in which I have creative control. I believe that the difference comes from the context and that is why I believe that personal experiences are the best source material that you can have. I think it also serves to heal wounds that we have deep in our hearts, for it speaks what words cannot.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Art in general is a fire that seeks its way out within you. I think putting your heart at people’s disposal and having it be welcomed is an amazing experience. There is nothing more satisfying than telling a story that you have buried deep down and that connects with others. Not only because of the story as its told but also how it is interpreted within the context of each person. Art can change the world. Film is an ideological vehicle and therefore each artist has an enormous responsibility with the content they produce.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I would stick with the classics when it comes to book reading. Such as: Story by Robert Mckee, The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, and most recently Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. These are fundamentals for reading. When it comes to films, I do believe you learn as you watch. I don’t want to have ten thousand titles of films that I like, but these are fundamental to me: Like Father, Like Son, Canaguaro, Battleship Potemkin, The Lion King, Interstellar, and The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology. I know that sounds like a lot but let’s not forget the alternatives to storytelling, such as video games like The Last of Us (pt. 1 and 2), or experiments like P.T. These are tremendous sources of inspiration. These are all works that I look back on when I am looking for different approaches to telling a story.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicocasanova_s
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicocasanovasa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolascasanova93/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicocasanova_s
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicocasanova_s

Image Credits
Sandra Sarmiento, Diego Quijano, Juan Pablo Díaz, Carlos Mario Mendigaña