UTP University Seminar

Interesting Seminar given at the UTP University (Universidad Tecnológica del Perú) this friday. Was nice to share it with actor Carlos Vertiz (who portrays Col. Francisco Bolognesi in the film) and production assistant Eyner Callupe.

The intimacy in which it was conducted allowed us to not only share in a more personal way the ins and outs, the hurdles and the who experience of making such a movie, but the alumni inquires and questions.

My humble blessing to my friends and film extras who attended the event. Their public recognition was necessary. The applause is for you!

I thank UTP and all involved in allowing this event to happen and for their invitation. :)

San Marcos university: Seminar at the Education faculty

University of San Marcos once again. This time for the Education faculty. Shared the seminar with similar expositors very much knowledgeable about the Pacific War (Guerra del Pacífico). Once agian, it's good to share knowledge, history and also talk about the film with alumni....the future of our country.

Always good to share a seminar with knowledgeable people.

The future of our country. To know History is a must.

Storytelling: seminar in Piura

Piura: land of carob tress and mesquites, heat and semi-arid lands and also home town of one of our greatest national heros: Miguel Grau.

Invited by the University of Piura, gave a seminar about the war and about Gloria del Pacifico for its students and alumni this week in an event called "Storytelling: Stories worth being told" Protocol schedules were a bit varied and busy but all in all, exchanging and sharing experiences with young people is enriching.

Many from the audience will eventually become somebody in the business in the future and being a part of that is rewarding. You can tell from among the alumni who have the chops to do it, the curious ones, the ones interested in deeper topics about the field, the ones that have a broader picture of things without losing the details. Much enthusiasm is needed as a catalyst to do stuff here but experience and knowledge is the key. Told them that an "Initial spark and dreams is what everybody has....the chops and know-how not everybody....and that's what makes the difference between a professional work and an amateur intent."

Thank you Piura. Will be back soon to enjoy more of the city and surrouding beautiful areas. This time it was just work-hotel-airport.

Duty calls...

Another seminar at San Marcos

And invitations keep on coming. Because of my interviews on TV and news media, I'm being asked to many places here in Lima and provinces to talk about the Pacific War and the film. Others request also seminars and workshops for their students if its a university.

Was invited to participate in a small conference at San Marcos university for the alumni of the History and Social Sciences career. The name in spanish is "New Ways to make History". Love to explain to students how important History is and show them how we see it from outside their campus., how valued it is and how important and vital it is to keep it alive. A country without history is a country without culture, and in a way, the film is a voice to those who are behind closed doors making research and to those who spend their lives between bookshelves and corridors. After it, some other proposals came. Let's see what happens. Like I told them, I'm in a way a frustrated historian and would have also loved to study it but, anyway, I read and research a lot about it so I'm following their path basically.

Its always good to be able to talk to alumni of this wonderful career and answer their inquires.

Apart from that, days before the event, I had a surprise call from someone I wasn't even expecting from: a descendant from a war hero in Arica: A direct descendant from Marcelino Varela. It was such a nice gesture from him to be able to to attend the seminar and talk afterwards about his ancestor. He was quite excited to see footage of the film where his great grandfather fought in.

With the organizers. Thank you guys.

With the great grandson of Marcelino Varela.

Signing of Pacific War books. One on the way.

Gloria del Pacifico film seminar

End of last year, I was proposed to start expos and seminars about the film but time was tight and many things were restraining these from happening. Now its different and gave the first of many in schedule. This time at the Joint School of the Armed Forces (Escuela Conjunta de las Fuerzas Armadas).

200 + attendees among some civilians. A packed house meant a lot of interest and its a heart-warming experience to see interest in history and "Gloria del Pacífico". Showed a bit of scenes that were already finished and colored-corrected. Had the chance to talk about the process of creating the film, how it all came together, how my idea started, the hurdles passed in general and the mission to make audiences in Peru reflect on the errors made in the past and how we can avoid them now.

I can't stop mentioning my friend and fellow history-buff Peruvian Navy officer Captain Juan Carlos Llosa, who gladly invited me to the event.

Starting the seminar

A packed house of around 200 people.

Showcasing scenes of the film.

Shaking hands with people of similar history interest.