Juan Carlos Oganes' film-making and work blog.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

La música

Me reuní con mi amigo Fernando De Lucchi esta noche y fue algo bueno. No solo en ponernos al día en nuestras vidas de los ultimos años sino tambien en hablar sobre mi proyecto.
Le estoy propniendo componer el "tema" principal de mi película. He pensado encargarme de la música incidental pero depende de precios para ver si encargo mas a otros. Muchas cosas no lo hago asi no por angurriento ni acaparador, sino por tema económico. Felizmente conozco del tema sino no podría hacerlo.
Se barajaron varias ideas, y es que hay varios parametros que deseo sean cumplidos. El primero es que no solo deseo darle a la música un tono marcial sino además que tenga esa energía épcia y egregia. Algo mas "widescreen", algo bien "cinemascope" como cuando uno iba a ver esas peliculas grandes en los 50's. Se que puede sonar pretensioso pero no lo considero tal. Pondré mi mejor esfuerzo en traducir eso en imagenes que lo respalden.


Y el segundo es en lo natural del sonido. Ambos nos entendimos en esto porque tenemos los dos estudios de grabacion de audio y sabemos como músicos lo barato y/o falso que pueden sonar las cuerdas y metales en los sintetizadores o en algunos teclados.
Es lo que mas delata en una canción...ese sonido que muchos lo conocen como el "sonido Casiotone" (en referencia a eso teclados/juguete baratos que aparecieron a comienzos de los 80's y que tenian un sonido característico). Quizás en general muchos no lo notarían pero el purista o entendido sí, y eso restaría seriedad al proyecto.

Se barajó la posibilidad de usar músicos en vivo pero no creo que dé mi presupuesto, al menos que se sepan de alternativas que puedan cubrir esos costos. Sería interesante quizas mezclar instrumentos secuenciados por sintetizador mas músicos reales. Eso sí lo podría cubrir. Los matices mezclados le darían esa realidad de "orquesta sinfónica" que necesito para el film.

Pero...todo es presupuesto. Veremos como avanzo con ello en estos días.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Make up and prosthetics...not a good start

Ok, this is worry some.

Morning today was the make up and prosthetics camera tests but...the mustache applications weren't good. It didn't look realistic for my friend's expertise is more toward theater techniques than for film.

One thing to keep in mind is that theater make up is designed to be appreciated at a far distance for one's features need to be exaggerated to "reach" as far as the last seat in the row in a theater or auditorium, as in film....film needs to be natural and realistic for cameras -while doing close up shots- give away any imperfection....and now specially if I'm shooting in high definition!

So...I'm out of ideas so far. We juggled a few alternatives but I'll keep looking for ways to make it work.

This is extremely important now.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Found my lead actor!

I finally got the lead actor to sign in for my film!!
I met Fernando Bakovic thru a friend of mine and we arranged a meeting for this evening.
Walked him thru the whole project and explained what Id like Bolognesi to be portrayed as.

I'm glad he liked the dimension this project is growing to be and...he is in!
I can see that in person he has the strong features I was looking for and with make-up and some prosthetics, he will do just fine.


By the way....tomorrow I'm expecting the prosthetics specialist for the mustache and beard camera tests and then in the afternoon the meeting with the music composer.
I'll be writing the incidental music for the film but Id like another person to do the theme song and three songs for the main characters plus one for the enemy Chilean forces. Kind like their "Leit Motifs".

Have some melodies in mind that I want to play to him to use and develop.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Positive meeting!!

The meeting went very well!!

The entity inside of the army that required my presence was a committee set to study and analyze the psychological impact all types of work that involves the army, would have on the general public.
And mine was to their liking and approval!!

I explained in detail what the mission and inner involvement I have with my film so they could see it has been responsibly approached (I mean, 6 years of my life into this isn't a joke, right?).
So they will make with my help a letter to send to the commander general that my film is up to par and that their help can come my way!

Of course I need the letter signed by the army proving with it their formal support with what I need form them. But all is coming on January as these days are holidays.

I'm so happy about this progress, apart that I met good people in those officers.
Small moves and all is going well!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A new meeting...more hope

Today I got a call from the general headquarters by a colonel identifying himself as the one who I need to talk to about the needs I'll have for the film.
Other colonels told me he would call but time passed as these last weeks have been busy for the army: the miltary parade (that was supposed to be done on July 28th but was postponed till December 8th because of the Swine Flu thing) and the Army Day that is on the 7th.
it has alaso been interesting as Peru will be aquiring around 300 tanks. The thing is that from the three countries that are on the bidding (Russia, Poland and China), these latter one gave us tanks form less of a price and improving the standards that we needed to compete with the Chilean ones (the german made Leopard).

At $5 million each it was a bargain, but many are criticizing the purchase as its like a re-engineered tank and not built from scratch to meet the
high standards needed. Kinda like putting a Mercedez Benz motor into a Toyota chassis, so to speak. Not bad but not the best either. The new tanks MBT2000 were shown on this last parade causing much media attention and interest comapred to the old T-55 that we have had since the 70's.

I'm definetly in favor of renewing our army forces equipment but if I could have a saying in the decision-making process I'd definetly choose the best tank (maybe the Russian made T-90s). It costs much more and we woudlnt be able to buy 300. Maybe buy 240 or so, but put togerher with the old ones we have we might be able to feel we have made a wise purchase.

Anyway, the last word hasn't been said. China is re-tewking the tank and they only gave us 5 for the parade and will deliver the new ones in a 12 month span.
They have a few things to upgrade and then our tanks would lastly be up to par with our needs.

Many people feel investing in weaponry is a loss of money when we have poor people, hunger and education lacking more funds. I agree on that as a nation with knowledge and health is the best, but I also agree that a nation needs to be able to protect it's sovereignty and be able to repel any enemy action that challenges our peace and resources, specially when countries next to us are arming themselves way much more than us. We can't repeat the same error we did 130 years ago. There's a slogan I like that belongs to the United States army that states" "Army: not to promote war, but to preserve peace". I'm nodding.

Last Saturday was the Commander General's birthday so, that was another busy day for the army too.

So now, at last, another busy week for meetings at the general headquarters. Im having my hopes high for my film.
:)

Waiting almost ending

Haven't posted anything in some days. Been busy polishing the script.
I somehow feel more cleanly inspired and the new details put in it will embelish it.
Still have to rush it though as time flies and sooner or later the new script will be needed.

The army hasn't told me anythign yet and I've been waiting patiently to see if the Comander General would repeat his leadership again this next year (I so crossed my fingers as starting all over again the talkings and negotiations would be such a delay) and I think he will remain this 2010 (unless anything happens last minute).

This last Friday there was a mass on his name on the general headquarters and the priest and him gave away some words that denote his continuation in office. His speech gave it away too but I'll be more safely assured to read it officially.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Here comes the cavalry!


Went today to visit the cavalry school to seek support for my film.
They loved the idea and even offered some suggestions. I am looking also for horses that know how to fall, for the script need explosion scenes that make the horses and soldiers fly and fall.


Seems a bit difficult but if I've seen that in movies then it's possible.
Anyway, I love horses and it was good to see those noble animals after a while.