Rodrigo Prieto pays tribute to his cousin

Dení Prieto Stock was murdered by the national army in 1974. The then 18-year-old girl belonged to the National Liberation Front ( FLN ) and was the victim of one of the most violent attacks in the State of Mexico by the government , which was fed up with the guerrilla movement.

Her body was never returned to her parents and she was buried in a grave at the Dolores Pantheon, from which she was not exhumed until 1981.

In the 1990s, Subcommander Marcos alluded in a statement: "P.S. You give us memories. Today is the birthday of Dení Prieto Stock (assassinated by the government...) We all celebrate."

On a Mexican government website, they refer to her as an example for renouncing her privileges and fighting for her ideals for a more just society.

Dení was a cousin of Rodrigo Prieto, the Mexican cinematographer nominated four times for an Oscar, who prepared what is now a miniseries about the young woman's life, with a title and platform yet to be determined. This would be his second foray into directing major projects, following the film "Pedro Páramo."

“It's about the 1960s and 1970s, a story about the Prieto Stock family. Dení, my cousin, joined the guerrillas in 1973; she was killed shortly after. (The miniseries) would be about the story surrounding the family and all that stuff,” Rodrigo Prieto reveals.

"I put it aside for a bit because of 'Pedro Páramo,' but it's still there. It's supposed to have seven or eight episodes. We've written two complete episodes, and I already have the structure, the package is already put together, and I'm working on it now with Talipot Studios to get it going," says the photographer for the film "Barbie."

Waiting for release date, Regina Solórzano , who has produced “ The Dean dont “ hurt ” by Viggo Mortensen , as well as Daniel Giménez Cacho's debut film, is one of the minds behind the project.

Initially, the series began to be written when it was still a feature film, by Alejandro Ricaño, but then Rodrigo decided to take the project into his own hands.

To the screen

Dení 's life was previously portrayed in the documentary "Flor de Otomí " by her friend Luisa Riley , released in 2013, which won the award in the social movement category at the Contra el Silencio, Todas las Voces Festival.

“Directing has been a very beautiful process. We've built a great bond with the 'Páramo' team, and I want to continue directing. The miniseries would be part of that, but I also want to continue photographing,” says Rodrigo.

As the miniseries progresses, Prieto is working entirely in advertising to join the new project of filmmaker Martin Scorsese , with whom she has already collaborated on films such as "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Originally, it was going to be one alluding to Frank Sinatra, but it was postponed and Scorsese is currently deciding what it will be.

"I haven't made several films yet, because supposedly the Martin Scorsese film was happening, but that's how it is. He asked me when we were promoting Killers on the Moon if I still wanted to photograph, thinking I'd already directed, and I said of course," he says.

The Universal

Oscar nominee

• “Brokeback Mountain.” He worked with director Ang Lee on the 2006 film. • “Silence.” A historical drama by Martin Scorsese. • “The Irishman.” Again with Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. • “The Moon Killers.” A crime drama; a 2023 film directed by Martin Scorsese.

They know him as Taylor Swift

In Mexico, he says, many young people approach him not so much for his films, but because he is Taylor 's cinematographer. Swift , the singer who has sold more than 50 million albums and is approaching 200 million digital downloads. And she finds it funny.

Just in February, he was nominated for the American Cinematographers Association Awards for his visual work on Taylor Swift's music video for "Fortnight."

“It's funny, because when I'm in Mexico, a lot of young people approach me (but) because of Taylor Swift, asking me what she's like, but oh well, it's okay,” the director notes.

"The truth is that she is a very brilliant person, truly, she is admirable, not only as a singer and businesswoman, but as a human being. She is a beautiful woman in every sense, physically beautiful, but she also has tremendous generosity and creativity," he adds.

CT