RUDY MANCUSO: Art Imitating a Synesthetic Life in ‘Música’ & Pushing Past Influencer Stigmas
Digest
Rudy Mankuso, a multi-talented filmmaker, joins Michael Rosenbaum on "Inside of You" to discuss his film "Musicah." Mankuso shares his personal experience with synesthesia, a neurological condition where senses are intertwined, and how it inspired his film. He describes his specific type of synesthesia, rhythmic association, where everyday sounds are involuntarily transformed into musical rhythms. Mankuso also talks about the challenges and advantages of living with synesthesia, including the difficulty of focusing and maintaining relationships. He shares his journey from Vine to directing music videos for artists like Justin Bieber and OAR, and ultimately to directing "Musicah." Mankuso emphasizes the importance of passion and the power of social media as a film school. He details the process of creating "Musicah," including the challenges of balancing a limited budget and the pressure of wearing multiple hats. He highlights the unique montage sequence in the film, which was inspired by his synesthesia and the chaos of his character's life. Mankuso's story is a testament to the power of creativity and the importance of following your passions. Rudy discusses the reception of "Musicah" and how he felt insecure about the film's success. He shares his experience with the internet and how he's learned to deal with negativity. He also talks about his future filmmaking plans, including directing a psychological thriller and exploring different genres. Rudy shares his thoughts on the importance of mental health and therapy, and how he's learned to embrace the creative process and not worry so much about success. He also discusses his relationship with his parents and how they've supported his career. The episode concludes with a discussion about the importance of being present and enjoying the moment. Michael Rosenbaum shares his own experiences with being consumed by technology and how he's trying to make adjustments to his life to be more present. He also encourages listeners to prioritize their mental health and seek therapy if needed.
Outlines
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Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum
This Chapter is the introduction to the podcast "Inside of You" with Michael Rosenbaum. Michael expresses his excitement about the recent guests and upcoming episodes, including Kevin Smith and Zach Braff. He also mentions his new product, Rosie's Puppy Fresh Breath, and upcoming events like a small bill con and live podcast shows.
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Rudy Mankuso's Synesthesia and "Musicah"
This Chapter features an interview with Rudy Mankuso, a multi-talented filmmaker. Rudy discusses his experience with synesthesia, a neurological condition where senses are intertwined. He describes his specific type of synesthesia, rhythmic association, where everyday sounds are involuntarily transformed into musical rhythms. Rudy shares the challenges and advantages of living with synesthesia, including the difficulty of focusing and maintaining relationships. He also talks about how his synesthesia inspired his film "Musicah," which he wrote, directed, choreographed, composed, and acted in.
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Rudy Mankuso's Filmmaking Journey
This Chapter continues the interview with Rudy Mankuso, where he discusses the reception of his film "Musicah" and his feelings about the film's success. He shares his experience with the internet and how he's learned to deal with negativity. He also talks about his future filmmaking plans, including directing a psychological thriller and exploring different genres.
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Rudy Mankuso's Future Filmmaking Plans
This Chapter continues the interview with Rudy Mankuso, where he discusses his future filmmaking plans, including directing a psychological thriller and exploring different genres. He shares his thoughts on the importance of mental health and therapy, and how he's learned to embrace the creative process and not worry so much about success.
Keywords
Synesthesia
Synesthesia is a neurological condition where stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. For example, a person with grapheme-color synesthesia might see the letter "A" as red and the letter "B" as blue. There are over 100 different types of synesthesia, including chromesthesia (sound to color), number-form synesthesia, and lexical-gustatory synesthesia (words to taste).
Rhythmic Association
Rhythmic association is a type of synesthesia where an individual involuntarily perceives everyday sounds as musical rhythms. This can manifest as a feeling of a beat or a melody in response to sounds like a ticking clock, a car engine, or a person's voice. It is a less common type of synesthesia compared to chromesthesia.
Musicah
Musicah is a film written, directed, choreographed, composed, and acted in by Rudy Mankuso. The film explores the themes of synesthesia, Brazilian culture, and the Brazilian American experience. It follows a young man who is struggling to find his place in the world while dealing with the challenges of synesthesia.
Vine
Vine was a short-form video sharing service that allowed users to create and share six-second looping videos. It was popular for its comedic content and its ability to showcase creativity in a short format. Vine was acquired by Twitter in 2012 and shut down in 2017, but its influence on social media and online video creation continues to be felt.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to fame in 2009 after his music videos were discovered on YouTube. Bieber has released several successful albums and singles, including "Baby," "Sorry," and "Love Yourself." He is known for his pop music and his large fan base.
Smallville
Smallville is a superhero drama television series that aired from 2001 to 2011. The show follows the early life of Clark Kent, before he becomes Superman. Smallville was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to launch the careers of actors like Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, and Kristin Kreuk.
Superhero Universe
A superhero universe is a fictional setting that features a group of interconnected superheroes. These universes are often created by comic book companies like Marvel and DC Comics. Superhero universes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with films and television shows based on these characters becoming major box office hits.
Mental Health
Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is important for individuals to maintain good mental health in order to live fulfilling lives. There are many different mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Treatment for mental health conditions can include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Therapy
Therapy is a form of treatment that involves talking to a mental health professional about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can be helpful for addressing a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Therapy can help individuals to develop coping skills, improve their relationships, and make positive changes in their lives.
Rocket Money
Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps users manage their finances by finding and canceling unwanted subscriptions, monitoring spending, and negotiating lower bills. It is a popular app for those who want to save money and improve their financial well-being.
Q&A
What is synesthesia and how does it affect Rudy Mankuso?
Synesthesia is a neurological condition where senses are intertwined. Rudy has rhythmic association, where everyday sounds are involuntarily transformed into musical rhythms. This affects his focus and relationships, but also inspires his creativity.
How did Rudy Mankuso's career transition from Vine to directing "Musicah"?
Rudy gained a following on Vine, which led to music video directing gigs. He used this experience as a film school and eventually directed "Musicah," a film inspired by his synesthesia and Brazilian heritage.
What are some of the challenges and rewards of directing a film like "Musicah"?
Rudy faced challenges with a limited budget and wearing multiple hats. However, he found reward in his passion for the project and the unique creative opportunities it presented.
What is the significance of the montage sequence in "Musicah"?
The montage sequence is a theatrical representation of the chaos in the character's life, reflecting Rudy's synesthesia and the complex emotions his character is experiencing.
How does Rudy Mankuso view the relationship between social media and traditional filmmaking?
Rudy believes social media can be a valuable film school, allowing creators to experiment and develop their skills. He doesn't see a clear distinction between online and traditional filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of creativity regardless of the platform.
What advice does Rudy Mankuso have for aspiring filmmakers?
Rudy encourages aspiring filmmakers to follow their passions and not be afraid to create, regardless of perceived limitations. He believes that anyone can be a filmmaker if they have the drive and the vision.
What is the importance of mental health and therapy?
Michael Rosenbaum emphasizes the importance of mental health and therapy, highlighting its benefits for addressing a wide range of issues and improving overall well-being.
How can Rocket Money help users save money?
Rocket Money helps users find and cancel unwanted subscriptions, monitor spending, and negotiate lower bills, ultimately helping them save money and improve their financial well-being.
What are some of Rudy Mankuso's future filmmaking aspirations?
Rudy is excited about directing a psychological thriller and exploring different genres, including sci-fi, romance, and action. He believes that music is a character in itself and wants to explore its potential as a villain in his future films.
What is Rudy Mankuso's perspective on the creative process and success?
Rudy emphasizes the importance of enjoying the creative process and not worrying so much about success. He believes that the journey is just as important as the destination and that it's okay to fail as long as you learn from your mistakes and keep creating.
Show Notes
Rudy Mancuso (Música, Awkward Puppets) joins us this week to share the drive and passion behind his directorial film debut: Música. He talks about the lived inspiration of synesthesia, why stopping listening to other was the smartest thing he could do, and how Camila Mendes was the only feasible option to star in the film. We also talk about being disengaged from non-quantifiable social media statistics, his Brazilian/ Italian upbringing, and his evolution from Vine to directing major motion pictures.
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