SYNOPSIS
Broke, brilliant, and tired of waiting for a lucky break, three aspiring actresses hatch a bold plan: to stage their original play by any means necessary, even if that means turning fiction into (slightly criminal) reality. Morte, Vida e Sorte is a heist-flavored comedy about ambition, friendship, and the blurred lines between art and survival in the heart of São Paulo.
MY ROLE
I was the production designer and executive producer. On top of that, I created the entire visual world of the film, from sets and props to fake money, illustrations, sculptures, and the stage design of the play within the film. The film is in black and white, so I pushed texture, contrast, and composition to build a bold, cinematic identity on a micro-budget.
WHAT WE DID
We launched the film with a hybrid campaign: part digital, part guerrilla. On social media, we mixed the expected (trailers, behind-the-scenes, cinema listings) with chaos: quizzes with the cast, drinking games, fake news clips about the "crimes" in the story. In real life, we hit the streets with fake cash flyers and vinyl stickers that, to this day, still pop up in the weirdest places. Morte, Vida e Sorte had a two-month theatrical run and is now available on YouTube Films, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video.
Production Companies Estúdio Manic and Área 51 Films
Staring Maria Paula Lima, Luiza Valio, Eva Bensiman, Dionísio Neto and Guilherme Gomes
Written and Directed by Alexandre Setembro
Art Director João Gabriel Gragnani
Executive Producers João Gabriel Gragnani, Eva Bensiman and Deborah Zapata