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Conversations with Gedaly Guberek

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gedaly Guberek.

Gedaly Guberek

Hi Gedaly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was inspired by Star Wars at an early age with the magic of the movies. I loved watching behind-the-scenes of how things were made.

I love stories with quests, treasure, sword fights, and exploring new lands. To me, the exploration of new worlds and feel-good action are some of the best magic that cinema has to offer.

In high school, I began acting in theatre. I loved connecting with an audience, co-creating entertainment with a small group of fellow artists, and the non-stop learning journey.

After studying performing arts in college and being a founding member of a theatre company in LA, I still wanted to make movies.

I assumed I was just an actor and didn’t need to tell my own stories. But after some time, I realized that there are projects I want to be in and types movies I want to exist that just aren’t being made anymore. So, I set out to create!

My mission is to create entertainment that inspires joy & wonder. I love all sorts of stories and art forms, but the projects I create are the ones I’d most like to see.

I love creating something that makes people go, “How did they do that?”, gets laughs, or leaves people feeling good.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an artist is anything but a smooth road. I think most artists will tell you that.

I often struggle with wanting to do too much. There are so many crafts to try, disciplines to study, and projects to do. Oh, and make money to pay rent.

I often wonder what it’d be like if I wanted to do one thing. A simple, singular career path and maybe one hobby. Would it be easier? I’ll probably never know.

There’s so much to learn! This is one of the reasons I love entertainment; each project provides new challenges and new learning opportunities. I guess it’s sort of a way for me to focus on one thing at a time without ever really focusing on one thing for life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I recently premiered a sword-fighting comedy short film called The Flower of Battle. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfwDhfbKHlQ)

This has been a labor of love in the works for a couple of years. It began when learning about a real historical figure whose Wikipedia entry said he was an “itinerant swordsman.” My brother (who co-wrote / co-directed) and I thought that sounded funny, and we were intrigued enough to start writing.

I’ve always been a fan of swashbuckler films like Zorro, Three Musketeers, and The Princess Bride, and saw this as an opportunity to make something like that. Despite being a genre that many people love, it’s just not being done anymore. Swashbucklers were popular in the early days of Hollywood and gave way to Westerns and other types of adventures.

Today, swords have largely been replaced by guns and superpowers. But while the world experienced dark times, I yearned for a classic, light-hearted, and fun storybook sort of tale.

So we set out to develop a story, and after writing and feedback from trusted professionals, we had something we felt good about.

Other movies like this tend to rely heavily on action, period costumes, and grand sweeping landscapes. Elements that most filmmakers will tell you to avoid when producing on a low budget. So we got crafty and put on our problem-solving caps.

A combination of research, planning, fantastic collaborators, and some determination led us to a product we are proud of!

We were accepted to the Academy-Award Qualifying Film Festival, LA Shorts, and then premiered online! The feedback has been wonderful, and I’m so glad that others responded so positively to the film.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The importance of collaboration in art can’t be overstated. I can do a lot on my own; I can do a lot more when I work with others.

The Flower of Battle, for example, was only possible with a community of committed artists.

It first started with my brother and I playing with the idea and writing together. Followed by feedback from trusted peers, rewriting, a Zoom table read with friends, and getting more feedback. Then, assembling the cast, costume designer, cinematographer, composer, and many others.

I always try to come in with ideas, but being able to trust my teammates and ask, “What do you think?” often leads to better ideas.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Pearce Healey Charly Charney Cohen

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