Meet Pedro Paulo Araujo | Screenwriter and Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pedro Paulo Araujo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pedro Paulo, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I’ve been told by many people that I smile pretty easily, but the truth is many things make me happy. Those who know me know I’m an optimist, and a smile is not hard to get from me. However, the smiles that linger with me the longest are the ones I get after watching, hearing, or experiencing an honest, unique, and motivating story.

The idea of being able to see life through someone else’s perspective or lens is fascinating to me, especially when that person is showing a life that is far different from mine. Having grown up around the world and living in many countries, I was fortunate enough to hear distinct and peculiar stories that reflect how beautifully diverse our planet is. Today, whenever I experience those stories, whether, through songs, games, novels, or films, I instantly get an unwavering smile.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a screenwriter and director born in Brazil. Still, it was that unconventional upbringing of living in several countries on continents like Africa and Asia that I think shaped me into the artist I am today. As mentioned previously, I was fortunate enough to hear and experience stories that are so often neglected by mainstream media, and today I find myself trying to create space to showcase these diverse narratives.

I started working in music videos at an exciting time when reggaeton continued making its global crossover. This was particularly interesting to me, considering I had just moved to the United States from Venezuela, where that genre was already popular. So, it was exciting to see how these videos and songs were being received globally, and I was also thrilled to tackle the challenge of depicting part of Latin culture in a new light. I was blessed to work with young artists like Becky G, Guaynaa, and Sebastian Yatra, who continue to expand the genre in their distinctive voices.

While music videos are fun and exciting, I always find time to work on my craft as a screenwriter. Whether that is during weekends or holidays, I am aware that there are certain stories living in my hyperactive brain that will be best framed through fiction films.

In 2019, I was honored to co-write the Saudi Arabian horror film Junoon which utilized the genre to depict the insanity some people go through to get “good content.” As a writer, I am thrilled to see how the film has been well-received by people in different parts of the world. The idea that we crafted a universal story while still showcasing the Saudi culture puts a smile on my face.

Today, I am working with Brazilian filmmaker Selton Mello on a feature script that is very personal to both of us. Our writing process has been extremely therapeutic and has reminded me that creating art can heal certain wounds you thought were incapable of being cured.

While none of these things came easy, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I think facing certain difficulties, like our own insecurities and having people doubt you, forces you to see what makes you unique, and once you own that, then the power just kicks in.

But I know things are warming up for me, and I look forward to the next couple of years. I believe stories have the most significant impact on the course of human history, and I want to continue working on my craft to tell stories that touch and move audiences while showing them a new culture or way of seeing.

I’m currently working on my directorial debut, O Porteiro, and every day before I open my current draft, I look at a sticker above my laptop that says, “stories make the world go around.” and that’s true; you can travel the world without leaving your seat when you let yourself be taken.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, this is fun, I love this city, and I think there are so many things worth checking out.

As is usually the case when I have friends or family visiting, I load up our days with a bunch of film screenings and concerts because Los Angeles has some of the best variety when it comes to entertainment. So, I would definitely check what the American Cinemateque has going on, and whether we end up going to the Los Feliz 3 or the Aero, there are some delicious places nearby those theatres to grab a bite before the film starts. Once it ends, why not go dancing? The Lash, in Downtown, or The Echo, usually have really fun parties, although I often turn to my friends at Subsuelo to see where the party is at.

The next couple of days would be devoted to visiting some of my favorite places like The Hollywood Bowl, The Academy museum (where I’m usually the first to arrive and last one to leave), The Broad, LACMA, The Getty Center, Beyond Baroque, and obviously going on one of the studio tours.

If the weather is good, which is usually the case here, the beaches are a must. I love kitesurfing, and the southern shores have some great spots to enjoy the surf and grab an Acai on our way back.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow, there are so many people that have helped me get to where I am today. It’s hard to pick who I want to give a shoutout to, in fear of leaving others behind. But obviously, my parents and my sisters played a crucial part in why I opted to become a storyteller. Since we were always moving around because of my father’s job, they were and still are my foundation to express myself and are usually the first people I brainstorm new ideas with.

But, while being here in Los Angeles, I was fortunate to find a second family of friends and collaborators who have embraced me and my voice. In film school, I was paired with some of my greatest collaborators to this day. There’s something extraordinary about watching each other grow artistically that creates a special bond. Yet, people like Enrique Aular and Daniel Duran, who mentored me through my formative years after film school, will always have a special place in my heart. They are both talented Venezuelan filmmakers who believed in me from the start, and I will always be grateful to them.

However, a lot of people have inspired me and my decision to become a filmmaker who are probably completely unaware of it, like the various people I crossed paths with who lived or live extraordinary lives. They helped broaden my perspective. Those countless and nameless people are part of the ink I use to write my own story.

Website: www.pedropauloaraujo.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/pedropauloaraujo

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-paulo-araujo-219434bb

Other: www.imdb.com/name/nm6207048/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Image Credits
Martin Garcor, Renata Meirelles, Hatem Alharbi