Film Name: Once You Pop
Director: Kevin Castellano, Edu Hirschfeld
Writers: Edu Hirschfeld, Kevin Castellano
Starring: Maria Caballero, Jorge Silvestre, Paula Usero
Alicia and Ruth finally leave Madrid to play with their band at a music fest. The problem is they are
stuck in the middle of nowhere. The only way to arrive is to get in Javi’s van, a young hunter who
gives them a bad feeling.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds leading up to the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, I got a chance to ask Co-Writer/Directors Edu Hirschfeld and Kevin Castellano a few questions about their film ‘Once You Pop’.
‘Once You Pop’ has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January at 15:00 pm
Q. Your film Once You Pop has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you
tell us what we can expect from the film?
A. We are really excited to show our film here, this is one of these fests, like Sitges, where you know
the connection with the audience is going to be amazing. You have a truly cool and faithful fanbase
and that’s something every director wants for his movie in a Film Festival. We just expect our movie
to be enjoyed as it is intended for: just a fun, entertaining and surprising movie with a good mixture
of pulp, western and musical genres.
Q. You co-wrote and directed the film with Kevin Castellano. What was the process for you
working together?
A. We’ve been working together since 2012, when we did our first short film so we have a mutual
understanding almost like brothers. We are twins of a different mother and share a father: Alfred
Hitchcock. We are best friends, we even live in the same house for the last three years, so it’s really
easy for us to work as a couple-team, maybe easier for us than working alone. If you ask us the same
question on set in a different space and time we’ll answer the same in a 99% of the cases.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. Absolutely The Coen Brothers, Sergio Leone, Alfred Hitchcock, the late Quentin Tarantino, Bigas
Luna, Goddard and Jaques Demy. Seems like a lot of different influences but you can identify them
easily. We can’t hide.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. Not really. It was a very simple script where much of the cinema narrative you see in the movie is
impossible to write. We asked the dialogues to remain like in the page to preserve the comedy
timing and the specific information that needed to be said. Maybe a few lines where slightly
changed, removed or added but mostly stayed the same.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. Filming with a horse is always cool and Frikels is an old pal. We filmed a western movie with him
some years ago called Nubes Rojas. and all the comedy moments where very fun to shot. And also
the blood. And the driving. ¡It was all very fun!
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. Not at all, the smoothest shooting we’ve done.
Q. What makes Once You Pop stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. We don’t think it is really a horror movie. It has a kind of horror ghost planning on the air the whole
time but it is more like a strangely accomplished mixture of genres as spaghetti western, musical and
comedy that walk towards a horror outcome. We like people to be surprised, to laugh and to have
powerful images stay on their minds.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. Just to have a good time and to feel they have seen a piece of what could be a bigger movie.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. In fact we are now developing a TV Show based on the main characters of Once You Pop for a
Spanish Streaming Company. We have also shot a new short movie, a documentary films and we are
writing our first feature film.
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. Don’t give a **** about what others tell you it’s right or wrong. Just work hard, prepare your movie,
every detail is important, make your story coherent and fun. Just do it for you, do the film you’d
want to see.
‘Once You Pop’ has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January at 15:00pm
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here:
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
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