{"id":13163,"date":"2019-05-15T11:34:56","date_gmt":"2019-05-15T18:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/dodge\/2019\/05\/15\/storytelling-directing-and-the-academy-awards-a-conversation-with-brian-robau-mfa-fp-17\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T16:34:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:34:45","slug":"storytelling-directing-and-the-academy-awards-a-conversation-with-brian-robau-mfa-fp-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/dodge\/2019\/05\/15\/storytelling-directing-and-the-academy-awards-a-conversation-with-brian-robau-mfa-fp-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Storytelling, Directing and the Academy Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

About Brian<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Brian Robau is a Cuban American award-winning director, born and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2014, Brian moved to Southern California to pursue a M.F.A. in Film Production at Chapman University. In 2016, he won the Student Academy Award for his intermediate film It\u2019s Just a Gun<\/em><\/a>. Earlier this year, he won his second Student Academy Award for Esta es tu Cuba<\/em><\/a>\u2014his thesis film is inspired by the many stories of the children from Operation Peter Pan (or Operaci\u00f3n Pedro Pan), which includes his father’s. He is passionate about exploring the human condition through stories that have an added layer of social consciousness.<\/p>\n

The Interview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We took some time to ask Brian about his inspiration for the stories he tells through film, his directing style and experience being nominated for, and winning two Academy Awards.<\/p>\n

The Student Academy Awards <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe best part of the experience was getting to spend the week with fellow finalists,\u201d Brian says. What many people may not know, is that as a finalist, you are invited to spend a week being hosted by the Academy with fellow student filmmakers. The week is packed with activities that include site visits to various studios, meetings with industry insiders and a screening where you can watch your fellow filmmakers\u2019 films. \u201cThe films were all very good. You get to watch it and understand why they made their film. It turns into an exchange of ideas and stories\u2014the mistakes you made and what you learned. I would definitely call it a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being a winner in the Student Academy Awards opens many doors, opportunities and relationships. Brian adds that \u201cit\u2019s not about winning, but what opportunities come from the experience of being [a part of the Student Academy Awards].\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Brian Robau, winner of the bronze medal in the foreign narrative film category for \u201cEsta Es Tu Cuba\u201d\/\u201cThis Is Your Cuba,\u201d during the 45th Annual Student Academy Awards\u00ae on Thursday, October 11, in Beverly Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Winning a Second Student Academy Award<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Brian was nominated for his second Student Academy Award for Esta es tu Cuba<\/em> earlier this year. His first nomination came in 2016 for his film, It\u2019s Just a Gun<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Brian shares that \u201cthe second time around there was a strange pressure to live up to the expectations of the first film, but I really wanted the success of the film to be doing justice to the story, this community and this time in history\u201d.<\/p>\n

Storytelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For his thesis film, Esta es tu Cuba<\/em>, Brian was inspired by his father\u2019s story as one of the 14,000 kids that fled during the Cuban revolution. During pre-production, Brian had done a substantial amount of research into Operation Peter Pan, interviewed many people and accumulated a variety of stories and experiences, but struggled to nail an angle down. This was when his writer, Daniel Klein, presented the story\u2014the first chapter of that “innocence lost,” told through the perspective of a child in the midst of a revolution that was tearing his life and family apart.<\/p>\n

\u201cChoose stories that are meaningful, and that you are passionate about in some way, and don’t quit on your film until you’re satisfied with it\u2026 The process of making a film is demanding in so many ways\u2014it demands all of you, and you can get frustrated with it.\u201d Brian shared that at times he felt the need to walk away from the film, but because of the fact that it was “so personal, [he] wanted to come back to it and make it as good as [he] possibly could.\u201d Caring about your film and choosing stories that are meaningful to you will help you stay committed to your work.<\/p>\n

Advice for Filmmakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cCast good actors. As a director it will make your life so much easier, so spend a lot of time casting.\u201d Brian also emphasizes the importance of choosing your crew, \u201cyou’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with, keep that in mind in film school.\u201d When asked how his team came together, Brian says that it came down to the people he had worked with previously. \u201cIt happens naturally in film school, you gravitate towards certain people. It\u2019s best when it happens organically.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the topic of his producer, Brian recounted that in the summer of 2016, there was an opportunity to pitch stories to producers at an event on campus. Knowing that finding a producer was an important part of the filmmaking process, Brian went to this event and ended up meeting his producer, John Sayage. \u201cIt’s so important to go to these events, and to go out and find people who you get along with, who are talented and who will work with you\u2014those are the people you could end up working with for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Work Hard and Acknowledge Your Team<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhat made [the film] work, was the great working relationships and trust.\u201d Brian explains that how you work with your core team will set an example that flows out and influences everyone working on the film. \u201cIf the director, producer and writer trust and respect each other, and work hard to make the film the best it could be, everyone else follows suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

As opposed to the image of a domineering director, Brian describes his directing style as \u201cwork[ing] really hard, and mak[ing] sure you know everyone [on the team]\u201d\u2014from all the production assistants to the extras. His approach has to do with making everyone feel included. \u201cThey really are an important part of the process, every single person. There are so many gears moving, and you can take for granted that a person has been working for seven days, but if it’s not for them, we couldn’t get this done, this person is just as important as me.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Esta es tu Cuba” Awards and Festivals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So far, Brian’s film, “Esta es tu Cuba” has won the following awards and been accepted to the following film festivals:<\/p>\n

AWARDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 2018 Student Academy Award (Bronze) in the Domestic Dramatic Category
\n\u2022 2018 Caucus Gold Circle Award 1st<\/sup> Place
\n\u2022 2019 HBO Ibero-American Award (Miami International Film Festival)
\n\u2022 2019 Student Emmy (College Television Award) \u2013 Best Drama
\n\u2022 2019 WindRider @ Sundance \u2013 Best Student Film<\/p>\n

FESTIVALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Miami International Film Festival
\n\u2022 Fargo Film Festival
\n\u2022 Phoenix Film Festival
\n\u2022 RiverRun International Film Festival
\n\u2022 Newport Beach Film Festival
\n\u2022 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
\n\u2022 Rincon International Film Festival \u2013 Puerto Rico
\n\u2022 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase (occurring at the same time as the Cannes Film Festival)
\n\u2022 SENE Film Festival<\/p>\n

Thank you, Brian, for taking the time to speak with us!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Brian Robau, left, and Daniel Klein of Chapman University pose for a portrait with the drama series award for \u201cEsta es tu Cuba\u201d at the 39th College Television Awards presented by the Television Academy Foundation at the Saban Media Center on Saturday, March 16, 2019, in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles. (Photo by Phil McCarten\/Invision for the Television Academy\/AP Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Find out more about Brian\u2019s second Student Awards Academy win, in our blog post: “Chapman Film Takes Home Bronze Medal at 2018 Student Academy Awards.”<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The deadline for the 2019 Student Academy Awards<\/a> is fast-approaching! If you plan on submitting your film, be sure to do so by June 1, 2019. Submission is free! For more information, visit the announcement<\/a> on our blog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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