The Strangers of Santiago (The Apartment Building) – Behind The Screenplay
In this “Behind the screenplay” post, we’re letting you know a little more about “The Strangers of Santiago” screenplay (formerly known as the The Apartment Building screenplay).
Kasia Pomes manages an apartment building in a seedy area of Santiago, Chile. What she witnesses in her day-to-day life has shocked her to the point that she wants out. Now, rather than finding another job, she decides it’s time to have a well-paid retirement, and her repugnant tenants should compensate her for what they’ve subjected her to. She begins secretly recording their activity but fails to take into account exactly how reprehensible and nihilistic her tenants and neighbours actually are.”
The Strangers of Santiago writing playlist:
- Calibre – Colby Park
- Hot Sugar – Judgement
- J Rocc – Stay Fresh
- S.Maharba – Girls In Pearls
- Tame Impala – Is It True – Four Tet Remix
- Julianna Barwick – Nod
- HAAi – Rotating In Unison
- Pye Corner Audio – Theme Number Five
- Chapelier Fou – Constantinople
- fantompower – Murmur
- Coldplay – Sparks
- The Heliocentrics – The History of LSD
- Lil Wayne featuring Drake – She Will
- Sufjan Stevens – The Runaround
- TVAM – Porsche Majeure
- Neptunian Maximalism – Daiitoku-Myōō no Ōdaiko
- The Gaslamp Killer – The Cat’s Meow
- Drab Majesty – A Dialogue
- Ekcle – Jindigo
- Radiohead – Reckoner
Why are the writing playlists relevant? It’s hard to properly say. I think if anyone’s interested in a creative process, they want to know as much as possible and I have no problem sharing what intangibly drew the story out from me. This playlist I tailored to TSOS and had it almost every time I edited a draft or actively wrote the story.
Story Inspiration
Living in an apartment building and understanding what it means to manage one. Like everything in life, you get to understand quickly how we are very similar, different, and complicated.
I managed a very tall apartment building for a while, and it seemed far too long. Working a job like that, you witness the dynamics tenants have within their lives and families, as well as with one another. We’re all a little strange. You witness arguments and hear rampant fighting emerging from inside suites in hallways. I applaud building managers who can withstand the toll. Unfortunately, that’s not a role for me.
It was, however, for my predecessor, Branca, a woman in her late 70s who Kasia is modelled after. Although a very loose modelling, this particular lady had worked for many decades for the building’s owners, wasn’t appreciated and was very much expected to be on call 24/7 and go above and beyond.
The building was close to a hospital, and Vancouver’s drug epidemic regularly spilled over to it. Users in the building, syringes behind the garbage bins and steps in front, theft and violence inside of suits and amongst tenants. The place was a hotspot for problems.
Crime takes place everywhere, as do questionable actions. An apartment building hosts the perfect mixture, no matter where you live.
The Strangers of Santiago is of course set in the world famous Chilean capital. Santiago’s a city I’ve lived in briefly and love. Extremely rich with character. The perfect accompaniment place for Kasia Pomes to go about her life and try to escape her draining daily slog.
