Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Roses Are Blind’s Gui Agustini

Gui Agustini is a quadruple threat who’s gone from serving aces on the court to creating memorable moments on the screen. His latest short, Roses Are Blind, has made its way around the festival circuit to wide acclaim. We caught up with Gui to learn more about Roses Are Blind and whether there are any plans to adapt it into a full-length feature.

Career

PC: You’re an actor, director, producer, and writer. How did you discover your passion for the arts? Is there one that you naturally gravitate towards?
Gui: It’s funny because I spent my whole life playing tennis. I traveled a lot, and acting was my first introduction into the arts. That happened while I was living in Venezuela. I was practicing and training to come to the United States on a scholarship, and I fell into acting through modeling.

I went to an audition for a Subway commercial. It was an awful experience. [laughs] I had to improvise, so I went back to my agency and I was like, “I need to get an acting coach or start taking classes so I’m able to book these commercials!” They referred me to this school. I went in, and it was for professional actors. The teacher was on the fence. I was upfront and said I was a tennis player but I wanted to sit in because I fell in love with watching actors who could emote and create these stories. That’s where it all started.

I read my first Shakespeare play in Spanish. I loved the psychology of it. Coming from sports, I was fascinated with that. That was what initially grabbed me. Acting is about exploring human behavior and human psychology. Later on, I started to fall in love with filmmaking.

PC: What did you learn about yourself during your time as an athlete that you’ve now been able to transition over to your career in the arts?
Gui: The most important thing that I learned was dedication. I’ve always been committed to tennis. It’s about putting in a lot of effort and practicing. That transferred right away because I wasn’t afraid to put in the long hours. I spent a lot of time practicing and taking classes at night and during the day. I created my own university by going to all these different classes and surrounding myself with people in the industry. I was super committed.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Gui: Oh, wow! That’s an interesting question. It’s hard to name one person. As cliché as it sounds, I would start with my parents. They were so supportive. My dad is a tennis fanatic. He supported me from the beginning when I decided to transition into the arts.

Also my tennis coach. He has become like a second dad to me, and he was so supportive. He’s a master at the game, and he was all for me taking classes. His support meant a lot to me.

Then, I would say this Venezuelan actor that I met. He had a long career, and he became such an inspiration to me. He took me under his wing the last three months I was there. He was the one that I attribute to planting the seed inside me. You know those people that come in your life. They’re like angels at the time. So I would say those three. When I moved to the United States, I had more great mentors and many people who were very, very important throughout my career and my journey.

Roses Are Blind

PC: Your new short, Roses Are Blind, has been well received on the festival circuit. What was the inspiration behind the film?
Gui: Roses Are Blind is based on a true story. It’s based on Wendy J. White’s life. She’s living in Florida now, but when she was growing up in New York, this very fantastical incident happened to her. I connected with her through my wife. They used to do a lot of short plays together. I even ended up doing one of her plays before moving to New York. She knew that I was studying and going into filmmaking, and she shared this screenplay that she had written. She was like, “Look, this is based on my true story. I would love for you to direct this, and I would love Christina [Jolie Breza] to play the lead.” I read it and I was fascinated by it. I couldn’t believe it actually happened. I decided to do a short film first as a proof of concept because I’ve never done a feature film.

PC: What do you think it is about the story that it’s resonating with audiences?
Gui: It’s such a raw and unique story that people haven’t heard of. It’s so fantastical, and the way that it’s put on film is a bit ambiguous. That wasn’t really the intention, which is always fascinating when you put something out and then the audience starts interpreting it in a different way. They’re questioning whether it’s actually happening or if it’s something in her own mind. We don’t have a definite ending at the end of the short, which was done on purpose. After the Q and As, the audience wants to know more. They’re like, “Is this based on a true story? Did all these events really happen?” And they did. We’re just setting it up in present day. This happened in 1970. It’s resonating because it’s so unheard of.

PC: The short is now being adapted for a full-length feature. Is there anything you can share about that? Will it follow the same characters?
Gui: Yeah, it’s still based on our main character Julie Janson. Her parents are a big part of this movie. They’re the catalyst of this horror. It’s a family drama, and in the end, her uncle plays a big part of the storyline. The characters that were portrayed in the short are going to be in the feature. We’re still at the beginning stages of writing, but I can say that there will be a definite ending. They’re going to be satisfied with the story because we’re going to resolve all these conflicts and these questions that were raised.

PC: What did you learn during the process of filming the short that you’re now going to apply to this full-length feature?
Gui: I learned a lot because I worked with these incredible actors who have had long, long careers like Daniel Davis, who was in The Nanny. Boyd Gaines has won four Tony Awards. My cinematographer was also such an incredible artist, and I learned so much working with him. He was also the editor. In every area, I really learned a lot.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Gui: You

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Gui: Joker

PC: Favorite book?
Gui: I’ve been listening to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts. I just listened to That One Audition [podcast] by Alyshia Ochse.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Gui: Fly by Night and Sex with Strangers

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Gui: Green Day

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Gui: Leo DiCaprio or Rodrigo Santoro

To keep up with Gui, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Kristin Hoebermann