Towards Authenticity, Guerrilla Style: Mad Bills to Pay Sketches Out the Bronx

Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) by director Joel Alfonso Vargas and producer Paolo Maria Pedullà is an exceptionally energetic, yet sensitive film balancing on the boundary of fiction and reality. It transports audiences from Karlovy Vary to the Bronx and its vibrant Latino subculture – a blend of American and Spanish heritage – and this fusion is also reflected in the film’s bilingual title.

“We wanted to convey this bilingual experience to the audience. This is a completely natural way one speaks in the neighbourhood shown in the movie. When I first took Paolo there, everyone spoke Spanish to him because they’re so used to it,” said Vargas, explaining the culture of his home community, the raw authenticity of which he captured in his film. The creators filmed on the streets, among people going about their daily lives. They did not want to disturb the environment or its inhabitants, so they used documentary-style methods. They only took the necessary equipment so that it would not be too obvious they were filming.

“Invisibility was key. We always made sure the camera was very discreet in public. The crew consisted of thirteen people, and a maximum of six of us took to the streets,” the creators explained, describing the constraints associated with their guerrilla method. The audience seems to appreciate the unique concept, with particular praise for the visuals and acting. Despite having a well-defined narrative structure, the creators employed both professional and amateur actors and relied on improvisation in terms of framing and staging.

The small crew provided them with a great deal of flexibility. When the subway ride to the next location took longer than expected, they spontaneously started filming. Everyone was prepared to start shooting at a moment’s notice. While filming on the beach, the filmmakers spontaneously decided to visit a local party and incorporate it seamlessly into the plot. They shot a total of 27 hours of footage over the course of sixteen days of filming. Then, in the editing room, they searched for the right key points to include in the narrative. Despite the late hour, the audience in Karlovy Vary had many questions, and the creators’ friendly approach further added to the pleasant atmosphere.