Joel Alfonso Bargas & Bronx Boys at 26th JIFF
- JEONJU, South korea – Director Joel Alfonso Bargas presented his film, a story rooted in the Dominican-American community of the Bronx, New York, at the 26th Jeonju international...
- Bargas' film, titled "Mad Bills to Pay (OR DESTINY, Dile Que No Soy Malo)," follows a young man's summer of self-finding as he navigates the everyday challenges of...
- “This film contains a very specific story of people living in New York," Bargas said.
Bronx Tale at Jeonju: Bargas Explores Fatherhood, Responsibility
Table of Contents
- Bronx Tale at Jeonju: Bargas Explores Fatherhood, Responsibility
- Unexpected Reactions in Jeonju
- Symbolism in the Title
- Casting Choices
- Breaking from Tradition
- Themes of Fatherhood and Responsibility
- Bronx Tale at Jeonju: A Q&A with Director Joel Alfonso Bargas
- What is “Mad bills to Pay” about?
- Where did the inspiration for “Mad Bills to Pay” come from?
- What are the key themes explored in the film?
- What does the title “Mad Bills to Pay” mean?
- Where was the film showcased?
- How did the audience react to the film in Jeonju?
- How did Bargas approach the filmmaking process?
- Who were the actors in “Mad Bills to Pay”?
- Can you summarize the key aspects of “Mad Bills to Pay”?
JEONJU, South korea – Director Joel Alfonso Bargas presented his film, a story rooted in the Dominican-American community of the Bronx, New York, at the 26th Jeonju international Film Festival.
Bargas’ film, titled “Mad Bills to Pay (OR DESTINY, Dile Que No Soy Malo),” follows a young man’s summer of self-finding as he navigates the everyday challenges of life adn unexpected cohabitation with his partner. The film began as a 20-minute short, a graduation project drawing on Bargas’ personal experiences and memories, and was later expanded into a feature showcased at the Locarno Film Festival.
“This film contains a very specific story of people living in New York,” Bargas said. “The starting point of the story started from the reality of the Bronx region where I grew up. my parents were parents in their teens, and they often had such stories that they grew up in such areas. It was a special journey that I started to go to Jeonju International Film Festival.”
Unexpected Reactions in Jeonju
Bargas expressed interest in the audience’s reaction to the film, noting the unexpected cultural responses he observed during the festival.
“The screening and GV in Jeonju were really warm and good time,” Bargas stated. “Especially, the reactions of unexpected Korean audiences were extraordinary. For example, when the name of the daughter was named in the last scene, the male protagonist joked that he would do Samsung, but the Korean audience laughed loudly in that area. It was fresh and fun.”
Symbolism in the Title
Bargas explained the significance behind the film’s title and subtitle, aiming to capture the reality, emotions, and burdens carried by the characters.
“’Mad Bills to Pay’ is an expression from a rapper song lyrics. It is indeed a song that expresses realistic hardships such as electricity tax and notice in the word ‘wound’, and they wanted to show the reality of the younger generations who were responsible for such things, and the Spanish subtitle is also a Dominica musician’s song. In the lyrics, the main character is a complex for his younger lover, and he wants to say that he is a bad dad.I wanted to fill it emotionally.”
Casting Choices
To authentically portray the lives of his characters, Bargas opted for a mix of professional and non-professional actors.
“Destiny CHECO, a friend who learned through the video of Destiny’s role, and actor Juan Collado, who played the main character Rico, was a friend of community theater. I have met more than 100 actors in that way.”
Breaking from Tradition
Bargas sought to deviate from conventional filmmaking approaches in both the script and the film’s execution.
“It wasn’t traditional from the script stage. I made a very simple outline and configured the scenes like a snapshot.The reference was obtained more in the picture than the movie. I gave you a work on the Bronx Beach,especially.”
He favored a documentary-style approach, minimizing formal camera techniques and encouraging improvisation from the actors.
“I had a lot of documentary approaches. The camera was fixed and the actors moved freely in it and made improvisation. So without a separate reading time, I simply conveyed the scenario and the situation to the actors.”
Themes of Fatherhood and Responsibility
The film delves into the protagonist’s daily life, exploring themes of family, gender, and poverty in a subtle, life-infused manner.
“This is a film that started from the character, but consequently, it deals with topics such as becoming a father, masculinity, and responsibility.In particular, it is a story that shows how the protagonist who grew up in the absence of his father should take responsibility as a male and what kind of masculinity is. The open ending of the younger generation will be asked to ask the audience for their own choices.”
Bronx Tale at Jeonju: A Q&A with Director Joel Alfonso Bargas
Welcome to a deep dive into Joel Alfonso Bargas’s film “mad Bills to Pay (OR DESTINY, dile Que No Soy Malo),” which delves into fatherhood, responsibility, adn the challenges faced by a young man in the Bronx. This Q&A will explore the film’s themes, creation, and reception at the Jeonju International film Festival.
What is “Mad bills to Pay” about?
“Mad Bills to Pay” follows a young man’s summer of self-finding in the Bronx as he navigates everyday life with his partner and faces unexpected challenges. The film explores themes of fatherhood, masculinity, and responsibility.
Where did the inspiration for “Mad Bills to Pay” come from?
The film is heavily rooted in director joel Alfonso Bargas’s personal experiences and memories growing up in the Dominican-American community of the Bronx. Bargas stated, “this film contains a very specific story of people living in New York…The starting point of the story started from the reality of the Bronx region where I grew up.”
What are the key themes explored in the film?
The film explores:
Fatherhood: The protagonist’s journey into fatherhood and the responsibilities it entails.
Masculinity: Examination of what it means to be a man and take on responsibility, particularly in the absence of a father figure.
Responsibility: The burdens and challenges faced by the younger generation.
Family: The dynamics of family life and cohabitation.
Poverty: The film subtly addresses the impact of poverty on everyday life in the Bronx.
What does the title “Mad Bills to Pay” mean?
The title “Mad bills to Pay” is taken from rapper song lyrics and encapsulates the hardships and burdens faced by the characters, reflecting the realities of everyday struggles, like electricity taxes and notices to the younger generations. The Spanish subtitle, “Dile Que No Soy Malo,” from a Dominican musician’s song, further emphasizes the protagonist’s complex emotions about his role. In the lyrics, the main character is complex for his younger lover, and he wants to say that he is a bad dad.
Where was the film showcased?
the film was presented at the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea.
How did the audience react to the film in Jeonju?
The reaction in Jeonju was very positive and, in some instances, quite unexpected.Director Bargas noted the particularly eager reaction of Korean audiences. He mentioned that the audience had a great response, especially when the name of the daughter was named in the last scene, leading to a loud laugh.
How did Bargas approach the filmmaking process?
bargas deviated from traditional filmmaking by:
Script: Using a simple outline and treating scenes like “snapshots.”
visual References: Drawing more inspiration from pictures than conventional movies, with references like the Bronx Beach.
Documentary Style: Employing a documentary-style approach with a fixed camera and encouraging improvisation from the actors.
Who were the actors in “Mad Bills to Pay”?
Bargas employed a mix of professional and non-professional actors. For example, Destiny CHECO was a key member of the cast and Juan Collado, who played the main character, Rico, was a friend from community theatre.
Can you summarize the key aspects of “Mad Bills to Pay”?
Here’s a fast overview:
| Aspect | description |
| :————— | :———————————————————————————————————————– |
| Director | Joel Alfonso Bargas |
| Setting | bronx, New York |
| Themes | Fatherhood, Masculinity, Responsibility, Poverty |
| Title Meaning | Reflects the hardships faced by the characters, taken from rapper song lyrics.|
| Filmmaking Style | Documentary-style, with improvisation and a focus on authentic portrayal. |
| Notable Feature| Unexpectedly positive reactions from the Korean audience during the Jeonju International Film Festival screening. |
| Source Material | Graduation project drawing on Bargas’ personal experiences and memories, later expanded into a feature film. |