David Pascual

This project is a cry for help from people who don’t practice chemsex. Friends and our social circle play a significant role in this process, and we have very few tools to manage this problem. I was inspired by the idea of showing a reality that is often silenced and stigmatized.

I’ve always wanted to show this reality in a way that is free of bias. From the perspective of the person addicted to drugs, we make the viewer feel involved in the scene, putting themselves in the characters’ shoes. It’s an immersive experience.

As soon as I proposed the idea for this project, they all agreed. The actors, camera operators, lighting crew, and screenwriters accepted my proposal from the beginning. It has been a very enriching experience, full of both fun and sad moments.

From day one, we rehearsed with different methods, testing the best way to portray these kinds of problems, and we always listened to the team’s various suggestions.

Time and scheduling were key to being able to film. Getting all the actors available to film, ensuring they had the free time to spend hours recording and repeating scenes, was one of the biggest challenges. Fortunately, they are all professionals and showed up.

The house scene was especially emotional because we had to repeat the exact same scene from two different angles. We also ran out of space on the memory card, and it ran out right at the last second of the scene. When we started reviewing the scene, I couldn’t help but get emotional and cry. We were showing what we truly wanted to convey.

When we look back and see that the team said yes to everything, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve learned a very valuable lesson: there are many people aware of this problem, and we all have someone close to us caught up in this world of addiction. For me, it has been therapeutic to be able to show the project to the world.

The first project will always be the one I’m most proud of because I did it with no resources, using a mobile phone, a laptop, and investing time and money to show a problem that goes beyond addiction. “Slam, from Heroin to Methamphetamine” is a humble documentary in which we show another problem.

I couldn’t believe the impact it has had; it has been seen all over the world, selected for many LGBTQ+ and human rights film festivals. I couldn’t believe so much could be done with so little. Now you can watch it on Prime Video.

Just do it! If you’re eager to shout everything you have inside to the world, you can do great things with few resources. The viewer will always receive what you feel with enthusiasm and will feel exactly what you want to convey. Don’t be afraid to do it.

From the moment we presented the project, the actors identified with it. It was a very sensitive process because we had to get into the shoes of someone who wants to help their friend get off drugs. The actors relived many past moments, and we got emotional while filming, and some tears were shed.
In many families and circles of friends, we have someone who is about to destroy their life because of drugs. Talking about the subject openly helped us not to repress our feelings. We felt a strong connection to the project.

Sound is essential for reaching the audience. We worked with a professional who knew how to blend the sound well and give it the intimate feel we wanted.

Any feedback and criticism is welcome. They always help us improve and learn.
The team is the cornerstone of the project, and without them, it wouldn’t be possible. That’s why it’s important to receive all suggestions and incorporate them into the project.
So far, we’ve had very positive reviews and received awards, but we will always use negative feedback to continue improving in future projects.
This short film was made possible thanks to all the actors and crew who said yes and were willing to sacrifice their time to collaborate on this very special project.