10 Frequent Questions:

1. What inspired you to make this film?

 

Director George V. Lopez was inspired by the documentaries Buena Vista Social Club and Rene de Dios and the South Beach Shark Club to explore the musical legacy of his father's band Conjunto Universal. Producer Johannes Quiles wanted to capture a South Florida story with ties to his Cuban cultural background.

 

2. How was the experience of working on a documentary for the first time?

 

A heavy amount of research is required for any documentary. This factor was decidedly different from working on a narrative film. Instead of having a clear plan of what the characters will say, a documentary filmmaker has to direct conversations in a certain way to acquire the answers needed to tell a story.

 

3. Why did you choose to shoot at Versailles Restaurant?

 

Versailles Restaurant is an iconic part of Miami's history. The band members frequently stopped there after gigs and rehearsals to enjoy a cup of coffee and get a late-night meal. The restaurant's willingness to allow us to shoot there was certainly a factor. We were blessed to have their support.

 

4. How difficult was it to get so many former members of the group to agree to participate and to actually shoot their interviews?

 

The group members were happy to take part in this documentary, particularly because the director was the son of one of their own. They were friendly and open-minded throughout the entire process and for the first time, they allowed their story to be told from beginning to end.

 

5. Since the band leader Jaime Garcia has passed on, how were you able to obtain an interview with him?

 

We were fortunate to have the cooperation of the University of Miami's Cuban Heritage Collection in obtaining an in-depth interview, which Jaime Garcia conducted during his final years. This interview was extraordinary in that he gave us a thorough timeline of the group's career.

 

6. How long have you been working on this project?

 

This project entered development in the spring of 2018. Production took place mostly in the fall of the same year. It's been a long process because we had to learn how everybody came into the band and what led to their exit. The band dissolved in 1982 and briefly reunited for one-off performances over the years. Since several band members are no longer with us, we had to make sure their stories were represented as carefully and tastefully as possible. Since this short film was also a capstone school project, executive producers Adrian M. Garcia (no relation to Jaime) and Tommy Demos provided much support and we are eternally grateful.

 

7. How were you able to shoot at other locations such as Ball & Chain, Cubaocho, The Shack North Studios and Victoria Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Shack North Studios?

 

Much credit goes to our locations manager, Juancho Rodriguez who worked tirelessly to secure most of the locations. We were also fortunate that the management of many of these facilities saw how important this project was to us and how their support would mean that the story could be told more completely. Many thanks go out to everyone who gave us permission to shoot on their property. We hope they'll appreciate the outcome as much as we do.

 

8. How important was Miami Dade College's support in this process?

 

Throughout every step of the way, we knew that Miami Dade College was under no obligation to greenlight our project. We worked hard to prepare a compelling pitch for the school and once approved, we never took that decision for granted. We listened as much as possible to the advice of our professors and did everything possible to keep the production under budget. This film would not have been possible without the school's financial assistance. We are grateful for the opportunity to make this film for Miami Dade College's Bachelor of Applied Sciecen program in Film, Television and Digital Production.

 

9. How did the crew come together?

 

Director George approached producer Johannes about this project. Production manager Juliana Cadavid later joined the project after she learned what we were doing. Juliana suggested Lynisha Arceus as the First Assistant Director while Johannes asked Isabela Cano to come on board as Second Assistant Director. Michael Mechoso joined the project as Director of Photography and Editor a little further down the line. His contributions really brought the vision to life for which he was credited as co-director.

 

10. What's next for the creative team?

 

The sky's the limit. Michael Mechoso will continue working with Seventh Wind Productions. George V. Lopez will explore opportunities in production and sound engineering. Johannes Quiles will pursue opportunities on the business side of the industry.