Private Project

A day in the life

Short Synopsis In "Um Dia na Vida", we follow Dandara on her journey where she faces not only professional challenges but also personal dilemmas as she tries to balance her work with her family ties.
Synopsis The day begins in an agency apartment where Dandara, a responsible and determined model, shares with other models, not all as professional as she is. She heads to the photo studio for a long day of work and, despite the fatigue, seeks motivation from famous quotes to get through her day.
Dandara takes a moment to call her mother, expressing how much she misses her and promising to visit soon. She then goes to the agency to question strange deductions from her earnings, but she is offered an opportunity for a trip that comes at a high price, forcing her to confront the delicate balance between her work and her responsibilities to her family. Uncertain, Dandara makes a decision that brings her closer to her roots.

  • Luciano Mello
    Producer
    New Faces,
  • Osana Souza
    Key Cast
    "Dandara"
  • Tatiene Silva
    Key Cast
    "Aimee"
  • Bianca Toniolli
    Key Cast
    "Zoe"
  • Luciano Mello
    Director
  • Luciano Mello
    Writer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Um dia na vida
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 27, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Full HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Luciano Mello

Name: Luciano Mello
Age: 54 years
Origin: Brazilian

Luciano Mello is a self-taught filmmaker with over 30 years of experience as a commercial photographer. His passion for cinema began at age 8 and led him to a diverse career, working mainly in the editorial and advertising industries. After working with renowned magazines and ad agencies, he moved to Las Vegas, where he continued his career as a photographer for 7 years. Upon returning to Brazil, he started teaching photography and marketing to newcomer photographers.

Since 2007, when he filmed a music video for a Vegas band, he began experimenting with filmmaking. However, it was in 2014 that Luciano fully shifted his focus to filmmaking, his first passion. He wrote and produced several short films such as "Tempo," "Compromisso," and "Influência." Additionally, he wrote a feature film and produced the short "New Faces" as a proof of concept. Currently, he is involved in various projects, including a short film called "Meu Romance Cósmico," an animated series titled "A Revolução dos Pombos," and a documentary about caregiving and mental health.

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Director Statement

"Um Dia na Vida" offers a portrayal of the realities of the modeling profession and its market without the glitter of glamorization and romanticization. The film explores various layers of work relationships that often go unnoticed by the public, turning the model's job into a quest for an idealized dream while in reality, they suffer from the continuous precariousness of their work.
The film sheds light on the pressures faced by models, especially black models like our protagonist Dandara, who believes she must prove her worth to the fashion industry doubly, often at the sacrifice of her personal relationships, which grow increasingly distant.