Exclusive Interview with Abraham Mejorado ( Cursed Waters )

How did you get attached to Cursed Waters?
My friend Omar Parker is a big indie producer and he was the one who taught me how to produce films and social media content. He had produced a bunch of films with the Mahal brothers before like Camp Pleasant Lake which went to Starz and Arena Wars which just hit Paramount+ so he helped hook me up. I was just one of Omar’s PA’s back in the day and now I’m executive producing films with him, so we have come a long way together.

Tell us a little bit about your experience with the Mahal brothers?
They’re the best. It’s crazy the kind of output they have had the last few years and how much success they have been able to create from indie horror films. Can’t say enough good things about them.

What sparked your desire to become part of the film community?
Ever since I was a little kid movies & tv consumed me. All of the sudden I could escape from what most consider a “normal” life, and become this great hero running into battle amongst a field of enemies, or I could be the funny guy who skates by on his charm. The guy who loves life, and is loved by life. I could be anything I wanted to be. I could go anywhere I wanted. Even if at this point it was all in my mind I knew if I stayed true to who I was, and chased the “call” of film, well, my imagination would become reality. I was always a part of the “film community”. I just didn’t know it yet.

How did you turn that desire into reality?
I always knew film was where I wanted to be, but I had no idea how I could get there. Believe it or not my first film opportunity came while I was working at sonic! A woman came in, and revealed she made movies. All of the sudden my opportunity had come, and nothing was going to stop me from taking it. Fast forward a few years & a few small acting roles later, and I was officially on the scene. It was on a TV pilot that I met another person who indirectly led me to what would be my first “Producer” job.

Is it more satisfying acting or producing?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. They both have their pros & cons, but if I had to say which one I preferred, “acting” wins every time! Don’t get me wrong I love “producing”, but it is my dream to act. Acting is the love of my life. It doesn’t matter where I go, or what I do. Aliens would invade the earth, and I would still be thinking of my next role, my next project, my next chance to make a small piece of my dream a reality.

You amassed over 190 million views with your social media content. (He says his bio isn’t updated it’s actually 577M now)

What type of content do you produce?
The content I have been producing is all centered around “YouTube” as well as a few social media platforms! The company I work with most closely is amazing! I love everyone there, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start. That being said, that’s why I was excited to get back to my roots with traditional film!

 B. How do you get your content to produce those kinds of results?
Well first of all, before you start producing any content you have to put yourself into the headspace of who you’re making it for. If it’s for children, unleash your inner child. If it’s for senior citizens, take a trip over to grandmas! Find out what your target audience wants, and ideate on how to give them something even better! Something that not even they knew they wanted to see! Mix in some data with your own personal touch of creativeness, and you’ve got yourself a trending video!

Do you think there are similar methods to make an indie film stand out as opposed to social media content?
Absolutely! If you can find a happy balance. In the world of social media/YouTube, things come in and out of relevance so quickly. One minute everyone is asking Kiki if she loves them, and the next they’ve forgotten she ever existed! Social media/YouTube evolves on a more recurring basis. There’s always a new trend, and who knows how long it’ll be around, so you have to jump on it right then & there! Film isn’t so easy to grab hold of “trends” because of how much slower the “turnaround time” is. However, with all that being said, “demographics” never go away. For instance, there will always be an 18-25 demographic, and if you made a movie that an 18 year old loved, chances are they’ll still love that “recipe” for 7 more years! That gives you the time to not only fix where you may have gone wrong, but also to improve on all that you got right! Just as the world & its people continue to evolve, so shall the content they crave. That’s why you have to enter that special headspace, look at where past projects exceeded and failed, and add something new based on what aspects did the best.

What is your favorite film genre and why?
Okay I’ll have to admit I’m a bit all over the map on this one! Let’s get one thing straight. I’m naturally a pretty calm guy, but I love the thrill of unease & anxiety. Being on the edge of your seat the whole time, and that rush when the music begins to intensify. Horror definitely checks all those boxes, but it’s “thriller” that I think may take the cake. I’m swept into the world so much faster as if I’m actually there running & fighting for my life! Even in movies where there isn’t “fast paced action” it’s more the thrill of the emotion that just gets me. I love it when all the odds are against you, and everything is on the line. It feels close to home.

Who in the film industry inspires your creativity?
Who inspires my creativity? Well that’s simple. Someone that I look up to, and thoroughly enjoy watching. His name is Matthew McConaughey. I can relate to his life story more closely than anyone else in the industry. I particularly enjoyed his “hero” speech in 2014 when he won his Oscar. If you haven’t heard it long story short his hero is always his future self. He’s always chasing somebody great knowing that he’ll never catch them. If he can do that then I can chase whatever crazy thought, story, or idea that exists not just in the present, but in the future. I can learn to not only think outside the box, but outside of this time. 10 years from now Abe has seen more things, and done more things. He has more variety of life to work with than I do now. He has an advantage when it comes to his imagination. If I can channel the creativeness of someone 10 years in the future then I can create something world changing right now.

What are your aspirations with the film industry moving forward?
I love to think of my life as a video game. Right now I’m starting with most of the “film industry” map, all undiscovered & blank, but I know that certain destinations exist. I just haven’t discovered them for myself yet. That’s my plan. I want to experience the key points of this industry from bottom to top. I want to leave my mark on every aspect of film. Acting, producing, writing & one day even directing! I want to create something that stands the test of time, and when it’s all said and done then I’ll help the people who are just starting out. The people who are where I was a few years ago. The Lord knows I’ve had help along the way! I’ll put it this way. I don’t care about the money. I don’t care about fame. I care about doing what I love. I care about waking up everyday, and knowing I get to live! Not just be alive. Many have made their marks on the film industry, but not everyone has made an impact. I plan to do just that and then some.