Sebastion Ferro x Experience Human
Sebastian Ferro Creative Director and Filmmaker @ N.A.B. Arts. A radical creative whose fluidity is reflected in his work and bold presence. Ferro’s of his favorite accomplishments as a human being was traveling all of South America for 9 months with only $1,000. Ferro’s most exciting project was“Juxtapozed” but unfortunately, he described, the excitement was short lived due to some unforeseen circumstances. Ferro is very excited for his next big project coming up called “THriFTED”, arriving in late November.
Experience Human: When did it click for you, that your journey as a filmmaker is the one you wanted to take?
Ferro: I would like to get something very clear, yes I am a filmmaker, yes I am an artist, yes i am a creator, my journey as a person led me to understanding that one must do what one loves. I don’t make films, poetry, drawings, etc. for people who want to lay back eat popcorn and watch a mere erotic fascination of our reality. I make art for people who want to tap into the ideals of humans and the hardships that follow us on our journey, not the fantasies of a reality that is blurred. I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to making art when I realized I wanted to tell the world that there is more to see than what you believe.
Experience Human: Which three words would you use to describe your intention with film-making?
Ferro: Enlightenment, the ability to understand that the world is more than meets the eye. Love, the ever moving, ever changing power that makes us humans and not robots. Human Desire, the journey we take every moment of the day trying to understand what it means to be human.
Experience Human: Are there any filmmakers/directors that have influenced your style and how have they influenced it?
Ferro: There can not be art, without art. I am constantly being influenced by the many great artists before me and the ones around me. I have many directors, writers, and artists that I look up to and that have shaped the way I see cinema. I take what they tell me and create something that is mine.
Experience Human: How do you approach creating your content, and what are some specific themes you like to capture?
Ferro: My creative work flow is very much like the workflow of a five year old with ADHD trying to figure out how they are going to create a whole universe for their friends to play dress up in. You don't realize what your doing till its done. As for the themes that I like to address in my art, I would say there isn't a particular theme within the film-making. My art is just what I see around me so if you think my art has a theme then maybe, just maybe, you’re understanding the theme to this whole life game, cause I haven't.
Experience Human: How do you approach crafting scenes and putting together films?
Ferro: I spend many hours of the day alone, many times staring at absolutely nothing. If you stare long enough at the wall, mirror, or glass, you’ll see the movie play itself right in front of you.
Experience Human: Has your journey changed the way you approach things now?
Ferro: I've always been an artist, I just didn’t always accept it. Luckily those days are over.
Experience Human: Do you feel it is easy to take the ideas you visualize in your mind, and materialize them into a film? How do you work around barriers you experience?
Ferro: The material world is funny, because there ain't nothing more real than what happens in my mind. To execute fantasy you have to believe in fantasy. Barriers are just the world telling you not to dream, and i'm in the sky so I can't really hear them.
Experience Human: At this time, you’ve decided not to go to school to study film-making. It is really amazing to make authentic decisions for yourself. How do you feel you’ve learned and progressed without taking college courses?
Ferro: Followers learn from others. Leaders learn from others and themselves. I’ve never been a fan of the view from the back.
Experience Human: Do you like to follow a structure, or do you prefer going with the flow?
Ferro: When I am sober I prefer structure, but I’m almost never sober.
Experience Human: If you had the opportunity today to direct any book, story or even movie you’ve seen, which two would you choose and why?
Ferro: I like to tell stories that you haven't heard or seen, people are so attached to what the know. If I had the chance to direct any two stories they would be the only two stories that need to be told.
Experience Human: What is your process behind choosing actors to perform roles in your movies?
Ferro: I choose my actors the same way I choose my friends, I try to make it as natural of a process as possible but If i can tell you wont take a bullet for me then I won't take a bullet for you, but I will for the project. I love working with old friends and I love making new friends.
Experience Human: You took a 9 month long solo trip to South America a while back, how did that influence the content your content?
Ferro: Before my trip I didn't understand the glass, I didn't understand the world, I didn't understand the boxes, I learned. Creation comes from the world I'm just its vessel.
Experience Human: What is the purpose behind why you decided to create the nab arts community?
Ferro: N.A.B. Arts is my brand its my outlet to share the world through my eyes, as a human anything I do is communal, that's just our nature. When I create it almost immediately in the hands of other humans. I made N.A.B. Arts to make sure Art changes and that ART CHANGES.
Experience Human: Do you feel nabarts is an extension of you and what kind of value are you wanting to create with it?
Ferro: N.A.B. Arts is my view of the world through art so it is very much me. Value is never really given to something indefinitely. I want others to put a value on it, I’ve already seen it and have my opinions.
Experience Human: Your advice to Independent filmmakers starting up?
Ferro: Learn.Fail.Repeat.Get Frustrated.Repeat.Punch a wall.Breath.Apologize.Repeat. Until you can't take it anymore then look in the mirror. Call Yourself a pussy bitch. Look deep into your soul. Get Your shit together. Apologize. And. Repeat. Understand. The. Great. Are. Never. Satisfied.