Meet Pedro Tavares | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pedro Tavares and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pedro, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Believing in myself.

I’ve been residing in Los Angeles since 2012. During this time, I’ve been striving to secure representation for my scripts and ultimately see one of them produced. Unfortunately, breaking into the film industry has proven to be challenging.

As a result, I saved money from various jobs, enabling me to finance my own feature film, “Don’t Tear Yourself Apart.”

I created Squall Films as the production company for my projects, with “Don’t Tear Yourself Apart” being the inaugural venture. Currently, we are in the process of securing investment for my second feature, a horror movie titled “Apologize.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been working as a filmmaker since I was 16 years old.

It all began in Brazil, where I started as an editor, cutting corporate videos. From there, I transitioned to producing and eventually secured a role as a director at an advertising company. I spent two years there, saving up enough money to move to Los Angeles and embark on a new chapter.

At UCLA, I honed my skills further, and through various connections and a bit of luck, I found myself working on shows like “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. I even produced a Netflix Doc-series titled “Vai, Anitta” – about Brazilian super star Anitta.

My ultimate goal is to become a director and writer, but I also have a backup plan to work for a production company that handles fiction feature films. Regardless of what path I take, knowing that I’m involved in crafting feature films, delivering new narratives that have the power to transform lives—or, at the very least, offer a brief escape from reality— brings immense joy for me.

My journey has never been easy. While it may seem like I’ve achieved a lot, each step has been filled with hard work, sweat, and the occasional tear. Yet, with every stride forward, I move closer to my goal.

Currently, I’m focused on finding investors for my second feature film, titled “Apologize.” It tells the story of a lonely teenage girl from a family plagued by a history of mental illness, who finds herself haunted and guided by a dark creature that compels her to punish the wicked.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I had several friends and family members visiting me from Brazil! The itinerary is always the same.

Day one – Westwood Village and visiting Marilyn Monroe’s gravesite at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary. I know it sounds unusual to start the trip there, but I find the love that so many people share for Marilyn and the many kisses on her crypt quite endearing.

After that, we head to the promenade for shopping, then spend a few hours at Santa Monica Pier – watching the sunset there is quite a view!

in the following days, of course, we need to visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see the Hollywood sign. A nice activity is to visit Vista Hermosa Natural Park to get the most beautiful view, in my opinion, of downtown LA.

There are so many fun things to do in Los Angeles… Visiting bars, theaters, and museums is a must.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family.

My mother and father, have believed in me and my dream to become a writer and director since my teenage years. They not only supported my dreams and allowed me to express my creativity but also helped me financially when I needed it the most.

I urge all parents out there to stand by their children when they express aspirations to pursue careers in filmmaking, acting, writing, or any other field that may not seem financially stable. Sometimes, finding creative fulfillment can be more rewarding than accumulating wealth.

On a lighter note, video games! I’m a proud geek who has been playing RPGs like Final Fantasy since I can remember. Not only have these games taught me how to speak English (without ever attending any classes), but they have also expanded my creative imagination into uncharted territories.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-tavares-446079100/

Other: One of my goals this year is to forge new connections with fellow filmmakers. So, if anyone out there is interested in making new friends and talking about movies and video games, I’m your guy! https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-tavares-446079100/