THE MAGICIAN | EL MAGO | By Matias De Rada | Beautiful Destinations

The inspiring story of Daisel Cabriada Díaz, a young boxer in Havana, Cuba who follows his true calling to become a magician.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Cory Martin and I decided to go to Cuba on a whim. We had just wrapped another Beautiful Destinations project, and we had never been to Cuba. I suggested spending the weekend there before heading back to the office in New York on Monday. On our first day in Havana, we heard Daisel listening to hip hop music right outside a boxing gym. Since I love to dance myself, I approached him and started dancing with him. Right off the bat we were able to communicate through dance and I felt a deeper connection to him. As soon as we stopped dancing, he randomly pulled out a deck of cards and started to perform magic tricks. To our surprise, he was an extremely talented magician as well.

After speaking to Daisel for thirty minutes, and asking him questions about his journey with magic, I said to Cory, “We should come back and tell his story.”

Three months later we both were able to find a week within our travel schedules to go back to Cuba, and attempt to bring Daisel’s story to life.

Due to the lack of Internet in Cuba, it was a shot in the dark if Daisel would be able to meet us and if he would be passionate about the vision I had in mind for the film. I was so surprised by how everything worked out. Daisel was a natural on camera and his best friend and cousin also became characters in the film.

This project allowed me to dive deeper into my own thoughts, and discover what I am passionate about. Once I found it, all other problems I previously had went away and I looked at life with such excitement and optimism. I hope those who watch this film feel that same sense of empowerment to explore new passions.

Cory Martin y yo decidimos ir a Cuba por un capricho. Acabábamos de terminar otro proyecto de Beautiful Destinations, y nunca habíamos estado en Cuba. Sugerí pasar el fin de semana allí antes de regresar a la oficina en Nueva York el lunes. Él aceptó de manera espontánea, y tomamos la decisión consciente de traer solo un lente cada uno, para poder andar por las calles de La Habana sin un plan establecido.

En nuestro primer día en La Habana, escuchamos a Daisel escuchar música hip hop justo afuera de un gimnasio de boxeo. Como me encanta bailar, me acerqué a él y empecé a bailar con él. Desde el principio, pudimos comunicarnos a través del baile y sentí una conexión más profunda con él. Tan pronto como dejamos de bailar, sacó al azar una baraja de cartas y comenzó a realizar trucos de magia. Para nuestra sorpresa, él también era un mago extremadamente talentoso.

Después de hablar con Daisel durante treinta minutos y hacerle preguntas sobre su viaje con magia, le dije a Cory: "Deberíamos volver y contar su historia".

Tres meses después, ambos pudimos encontrar una semana dentro de nuestros horarios de viaje para regresar a Cuba e intentar dar vida a la historia de Daisel.

Debido a la falta de Internet en Cuba, no estábamos seguros si Daisel podría encontrarnos y si le apasionaría la visión que tenía en mente para la película. Estaba tan sorprendido de cómo funcionó todo. Daisel era natural en la cámara y su mejor amigo y primo también se convirtieron en personajes de la película.

Este proyecto me permitió profundizar en mis propios pensamientos y descubrir lo que me apasiona. Una vez que lo encontré, todos los demás problemas que había tenido anteriormente desaparecieron y miré la vida con tanta emoción y optimismo. Espero que quienes vean esta película sientan la misma sensación de poder para explorar nuevas pasiones.

THE BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS TEAM
Director, Creator, Editor | Matias De Rada | https://www.instagram.com/matiasderada/
Cinematographer, Editor | Cory Martin | https://www.instagram.com/cory.s.martin/
Second Editor | Johana Hernandez | https://www.instagram.com/_lifeofhana_/
Producer | Oliver Gallini | https://www.instagram.com/treeolives/
Graphic Design | Susan Salinas | https://www.instagram.com/sus.salinas/
Social Media Manager | Meagan Bryan | https://www.instagram.com/meaganbryan/
Head of Production | Kate Balch | https://www.instagram.com/balchette
Art Director | Lizzy Cole | https://www.instagram.com/lizzy4391/
Creative Director | Emmie Nostitz | https://www.instagram.com/emmienostitz/
VP Content Creation | Tom Jauncey | https://www.instagram.com/tomjauncey/
Chief Creative Officer | Remi Carlioz | https://www.instagram.com/remi.carlioz/
Chief Content Officer | Gabor Harrach | https://www.instagram.com/beautifulde...

SPECIAL THANKS
Daisel Cabriada Díaz | https://www.instagram.com/mago_boxer/
Drone Footage | Stephen | https://www.instagram.com/the_sky_explorer/
Sound Mixing | Matthew Smith, Ben Hale

MUSIC
“What’s up danger” | Blackway, Black Caviar
“Me Voy” | Cimafunk
“Say It Yo My Face” | Thutmose