At 31 years old, Mario Bregieira , a Brazilian actor, producer and director, has been increasingly standing out in the national entertainment scene. Born in Piracicaba (SP), he began his career in theater at the age of 14, and today he accumulates prominent roles on TV, such as in Jesus, “Genesis” and “Kings”, in addition to starring in the series Neemias, which premieres on September 30, 2024. In addition to acting, Mario is the owner of the production company Manhattan Films, having won awards with the film “A Fantástica Fábrica de Sonhos” and worked on impactful projects on the world festival circuit.
You started in theater at a very young age, at 14. How has this experience influenced your career to date?
I started acting when I was 14 years old. From the first day I stepped on stage, I was fascinated by the possibility of playing characters and telling stories. It all started there. My background is in theater, although today I identify more with audiovisual language. I am very grateful for everything I learned during the three years I studied and practiced theater in Piracicaba.
After acting in several successful soap operas, what was the experience like of participating in A Rainha da Pérsia and now playing your first lead role in the spin-off of Neemias?
Backstage during filming, I realized that the protagonist becomes a kind of leader on and off the set. I tried to be as much of a partner and friend as possible to everyone, so that we could create unity and friendship between the cast and the technical team. I believe we were able to achieve this goal, because we became a family. This connection made it much easier to build relationships between the characters and motivated us at all times.
You also have a film production company, Manhattan Films. What motivated you to start your own production company and what has the experience of working as a director and producer been like?
I studied Film and Audiovisual Arts and graduated in 2015. Since then, I have also worked as a director on several projects. I believe that my acting career has benefited greatly from my interest and studies in directing, because after several experiences as a director, I now understand exactly what goes on behind the scenes of a production when I am acting. This gives me several creative possibilities to collaborate with the technical team. Currently, I have my own production company, Manhattan Films, and when I am not acting, my focus is on producing series and films that make people reflect. I believe that my purpose is to touch people’s lives through art.
Your film “The Fantastic Dream Factory” has already won awards and is competing for other international awards. What was the biggest challenge during the production of this project?
This film was recorded and produced during the pandemic. It tells the story of a woman who apparently has everything a person could want, but because she suffers from depression, none of it is enough. I believe the film was well received at festivals around the world due to its theme and the artistic aesthetic we adopted in the direction.
You recently received awards for best actor at national festivals. What was that experience like and what does this recognition mean to you?
Ever since I started acting, one of my dreams was to receive awards for my work. I think it’s important, considering that we play each of our characters to reach the public, and these awards are a recognition of our dedication and commitment.
The series “Caminhos” is in post-production and addresses psychoanalysis. What attracted you to this theme and what was it like working with real stories in this project?
“Caminhos” is Manhattan Films’ biggest production in recent years. It features a script by Camilo Pellegrini and a cast of great talent, including Pérola Faria, Day Mesquita, Luci Pereira and Bernardo Mesquita, among others. Each episode addresses the dilemma of a character who is facing different types of problems, all accompanied by the protagonist, Angela Sirino. The series is scheduled to premiere in 2025 on the main streaming platforms.
Having worked in both soap operas and festival productions, what are the biggest differences for you between TV and cinema?
The pace of filming for TV is much faster than that of film. I think this is the biggest difference between these two media outlets. However, the last three Record productions, in which I had the honor of participating, were filmed with a more cinematic approach, with more elaborate shots and fewer scenes filmed per day. This has added a lot of quality to the final product of the series.
With so many projects in the works, how do you balance acting, directing and producing in your career?
I confess that it is not an easy task (laughs). In addition to the production company, I also have a cinema equipment rental company called Bronx Cine. I divide my time between these roles, but when I am involved in a production, I have a team of professionals who cover my needs both at the production company and at the rental company.
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