Priscilla Pugliese – Stupid Wife

By: MJ Asuncion

Q) How would you describe your style or vision as a director?

A) In the case of Ponto Ação, we have two. Natalie [Smith] who takes more care of the technical team, lighting, photography… And my part is more directed to the actors. My role is for the actors to be able to go to the scene without any kind of doubt, that they can go prepared regarding feelings, bodily actions…My direction is to sit with them, read the text, exchange ideas about what they think would do as people and characters and try to guide as much as possible so that at the time of recording they are prepared. With Priscilla Reis, mainly, that shoots several scenes – sometimes from a first episode until the last one – I need to guide, put them in a quieter field so that they can have fun when doing the scenes.

Q) Among the many stories you found, what inspired you to adapt “Stupid Wife” into a series?

A) We’ve had the rights to “Stupid Wife” for a long time. I always had this desire to do it, but I knew that we weren’t ready as a producer because of the equipment and finances to make the series. We put together some things we already wanted to talk about, like dissociative amnesia, anxiety, depression…But really what made me want to do “Stupid Wife” is talking about a sincere love, one that comes from other lives. That as much as you lose your memory, that the last thing you remember about the other person is something bad, you are destined for each other, and you will meet at some point. This connection of souls from another life inspired me to make “Stupid Wife.”

Q) The two main protagonists, Luiza and Valentina, are perfectly cast. What was it about Priscila Reis and Priscila Buiar that made each of them fit their characters perfectly?

A) My idea to call Priscilla Reis for the test came from her profile. She has a profile that reminds me of Camila Cabello and a stamped Latinity. When she auditioned, she did something no one else had done. She put herself in a childish college state, but when she went to talk about her son, she showed maturity. There she showed that she was a mother, that she was there preferentially. No other actress had provided this. She surprised me a lot. I already knew Priscilla Buiar, but I hadn’t thought of her for the character because I wanted her to do another project for Ponto Ação and Natalie was the one who insisted a lot on her. I already knew her from other works, and she is a very disciplined actress. I’ve never seen an actress as disciplined as Priscilla Buiar. She is dedicated, studious and there to give her best. When I saw that the character was hers, it was for her. I agreed with Natalie. I know how much she is an available actress, who listens to you, that we can direct well. I already knew her. It doesn’t surprise me how she’s been standing out. I always knew and believed a lot in her potential for any character.

Q) You successfully capture Luiza and Valentina’s chemistry through body language and camera angles in a very honest way. What did you notice about the chemistry and nuances that complement their dynamic?

A) The two actresses were available from the beginning. They are from the same agency, so they already had a link between them. I think the word is availability in relation to them. They always agreed to go to the limit of each one without going over. They have a nice exchange, talk, pass the text together. We also have a team that makes us give an extra touch to the chemistry they already have. The camera move takes you to a universe that shows the audience what we want the audience to see. There is a sensitivity of the technical team that makes a lot of difference. They help everyone fall in love with the character. There is this set of actresses with incredible chemistry and the technical team that makes us feel inside the series.

Q) You talked about the challenges of adapting your previous project “The Stripper” into a series. What challenges for “Stupid Wife” caught you off guard and how did you adapt?

A) I think the biggest challenge is understanding the size of the series. We thought it was a financially small series and when we stopped to see it…no, it was like that. We needed a big team. We have a big cast…There’s no way to compare it to the production of “The Best Friend of the Bride.” It’s a series the size of “The Stripper.” When we realized we were with something much bigger than we imagined, we needed to slow down and simplify some things. At the same time, we started selling character clothes so we could get the money to produce the series. Another thing that took me by surprise was the acceptance of the public. Every time we came up with new characters, there’s an insecurity. It was the first series that was loosely based, not a copy of fanfic. There are some things you have and some you don’t, like dissociative amnesia. In the fanfic they fight and Luiza loses her memory, but it is not really said why. And in the series we really put the disease and the reason for her to lose her memory becomes much more serious. They’re not from high school anymore. They’re in college…The fight isn’t out of jealousy, but out of politics. And today we have a very surreal amount of views and this is the answer to the good work.

Q) Which scene or episode was your favorite to film and why?

A) Episode 8. We introduce Valentina’s family, we show the executioner’s mother… There’s Léo laughing without understanding anything that is happening, we have the accident and the unfolding of Luíza’s abortion. She begins to have her first memory of a place that was supposed to be a place she loved. She is my baby, both to record and to watch.

Q) What advice or tips did you give the cast in order to help them execute some of the most intense scenes in the series?

A) We had a lot of work to understand the history. Speaking to Priscilla Reis and Priscilla Buiar…Always before recording a scene I would sit with them and talk. For example, in the scene where they are crying, we tried to understand the reason, the pain… We always spoke in the third person and when we realized we were speaking in the first person. We always seek to understand the characters, and in this process, we saw ourselves inside the scene in a few minutes.

Q) “Stupid Wife” has attracted the attention of fans all over the world. How does the series’ international success validate all the work behind it?

A) Our goal goes beyond borders. When we do a project within Ponto Ação, we want to represent people. I’m glad that we pierced a bubble inside other countries for so long. And countries that are not so representative. I am happy with that. We reached our goal.

Q) What can you tell us about the other projects you and Ponto Ação Produções have worked on?

A) We have projects that we would like to do at the production company, but we can’t say anything yet. What I can say is that our goal is to continue doing series in which we normalize the LGBTQIA+ relationship and focus more on other plots, such as dissociative amnesia, depression…But I can’t say anything else! We have projects for next year that we’re sure the crowd will love.

Q) What would you like to say to “Stupid Wife” fans and supporters?

A) I really want to thank each of those who helped us in every way possible – to all those who buy our products and who help us financially to continue producing. But I also want to thank those who can’t afford it, but who like and share. It’s a very warm and passionate fandom.