Story & Lesson Highlights with Gica Pucca of Los Angeles

Gica Pucca shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Gica, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
As a director, I’ve never thought I’d have so much fun working on a comedy with my friends.

Mataya Britton, Julieta Gerlein and Barret Levy have an incredible comedic timing; transforming the set of “Crystal Meth” into a hilarious and bold chance we took as creatives.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey world! My name is Gica Pucca – A brazilian filmmaker based in LA.

I’m the founder and creator of “Dragon’s Spirit” an independent film production dedicated to bringing bold stories to life.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful is when I’ve discovered lucid dreaming, realizing I could fly. There’s nothing more powerful than the pure magic we’ve created with our own minds.

Inside the world of “Crystal Meth” we showcase a type of “mystical power”: tarot reading. Crystal – the quirky psychic – played by the lovely Julieta Gerlein, makes us question whether true love is shaped by destiny or simply coincidence.

I guess life is made of these balance, knowing what’s real from what’s fantasy, but being able to choose to believe in what’s right for you.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Shooting “Crystal Meth” was a challenge itself. First time directing a comedy, first time having a four person crew each day, first time doing camera work and first time using a phone to shoot a movie.

At the end, if Sean Baker was able to make “Tangerine” with his Iphone and sending it to festivals; so could we. And gladly, we actually won multiple awards with “Crystal Meth”.

Of course it’s far from being a perfect movie, to be honest, no movie is; but it’s a piece that we’re proud of making it together.

I’ve learned how to take risks and I’ve changed my mind about comedies: yes, I’d do it again, cuz it was a lot of fun.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I’ve used to believe I needed to know all about the theory before exercising the practice of something I’ve never done before.

Now, I see there’s no right or wrong way to start something new. With research, you can prepare for certain outcomes, but without practice, you can never discover the singularities of your own path.

I’ve used to be afraid of not knowing enough before the first step. Today, I give myself permission to start and grow as we go.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Without a name, a professional role, or possessions, I’d still be a traveler.

Nothing matters more to me than curiosity about the world. It’s what allows us to truly connect with places, people and ideas.

Trying a new dish, practicing a new habit, or speaking a new language are ways seeing the world through different lenses.

Each way expands my understanding a little further.

To me, this is what it means to experience life fully. There is no material thing that could ever replace that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gicapucca.com
• Instagram: @gica.pucca
• Youtube: @gicapucca
• Other: IMDb: Gica Pucca
  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12961660/?ref_=ext_shr

Image Credits
Ethan Ingram
Ryan Chang