Byte: Beware the Boiuna

0:00On by beware, boyuna. This is exploring humanity through sci-fi. This continues my mission to get a better understanding of ourselves, through sci-fi fantasy horror and comics as her mode of exploration. In the special on-location edition of Byte, courtesy of Lionsgate, who supplied the audio, they headed deep into the Amazon rainforest with stars Jessica Bruffy, Keana Madiera, and also director Mike Nelson. From the set of that upcoming film. The cast reflects on what drew them to this ambitious project, discussing the film's unique blend of folklore, suspense, and psychological terror. Rathi and Madiera share their excitement about bringing a legendary Amazonian nightmare to life. Director Mike Nelson dives into the mythology behind the boyuna, and how it would help shape the film's atmosphere and themes. The story and the mythology are both separate but also together. It's an interesting day.

1:04I think you know you have a story of a group of people coming together, you know, trying to figure out where they belong, who they are, and then you have an area of the world that's in a lot of strife right now. You know you have the Amazon and you have the gold mining epidemic and forest being taken over, and then you have this mythical or not mythical creature who is out in the jungle reclaiming. And I mean that is it, that's how it all comes together, that's how it all congeals. There is much more on Beware Boyuna on Byte, so stay tuned. Here's Jessica Rathi on Byuna. Boy like oh boy look at that snake, you like do you see that snake and nah I don't want to be so fat snake so boy you nah.

2:05Yes, I'm it. Boyuna. Boyuna. Keanu Madiera who is Lena on the attraction to be in the film. What do you do to the film originally was Mike, also the script. I really was excited to tell a story of a character who didn't feel like she belonged growing up, especially like culturally. I also didn't necessarily feel like I fit in one box and I really think it's cool to tell those types of stories and portray characters that are of mixed backgrounds and for various reasons feel like they might not belong depending on what space they find themselves in. So that was initially what drew me to it. And then as I spoke to Mike and met the cast and found out it was shooting in the Amazon, I was just more and more down. But initially it was definitely the character Lena, her desire to belong, her love of family, her resilience, her strength, and her fearlessness. And then yeah, just meeting all these guys was like a cherry on top.

3:12Jessica Rothey comments on what drew her. Diddo in a lot of ways, I've been a huge fan of Mike's for a while and then when we met it was just like fireworks, gangbusters, awesome. The chance to go to South America, to shoot in Columbia, to meet the incredible crew that we worked with and to have that really immersive experience was really felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. And as for Ali, my dad's a surgeon and so I've always had a bit of a like, what if I had gone into a medical field? What would this look like? And it was really fun not only kind of honing in and working on all of the technical aspects of Ali's medical training that we got to capture like with the removing of the botflies and kind of the way that she works in the clinic. But I think it was also her earnestness and her belief and want to see the good and everyone and the want to fight for those that she feels are not capable

4:15of fighting for themselves that I really related to. And you know, just a good old fish out of water story where girl gets in way over her head. That's true. They comment on seeing this film on a big screen. Amy, you have to see it in theaters. It's a big movie. Yeah. It's a big snake, big movie. Yeah. And it says, like, see witness terror on a gigantic scale. I mean, that's that's the reality. That's what we're dealing with. You know, I think, I think what's special about the movie and why you need to see it is we get a great set up and a great payoff. We meet some incredible characters who are going through some stuff. We really feel like we're grounded in the real world and then throw in some insane circumstances that, you know, I just hope resonate with the audience and they just can't forget, they can't get it on their head. And really, just like when it was the last time, and I'm trying to actually remember this, when was the last

5:16time we actually tried to have a, an actual scary, serious, giant snake movie. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not, I can't even relate. Right. And so it was like, for me, that was kind of my end. I was like, I want to try. This is the challenge. Can I do it? And I think we did. I also have to give a huge shout out to our DP. Yes. It's so talented and so amazing. And that's another reason I think people have to go see this on a big screen is it's just gorgeous. Yes. And not only was he somehow lighting the Amazon? Yeah. Exactly. He might together really captured the scope and the luscious and the beauty and the sweat and the fear in this larger than life way. And I, it would just be short change to watch it on your phone or your computer. 100%. It's a sensory experience. You're going to get all you're going to get all the, you know, you're, you'll smell it,

6:18you'll hear it, you'll feel it, you'll taste it, you'll taste it. Taste it. Taste it. Taste it. And it's going to be dirty. Yeah. Look for Beware Bojuna in theaters. Sci-fi Talk Plus takes you inside the world of genre with interviews behind the scene stories and red carpet coverage from around the globe watching listen to premium commercial free podcast and videos for just $1.99 a month. Click on the link and go plus today for bite. I'm Tony Tolato.