Checking locations for the battle scenes

So, I went to the Morro Solar today.
The last time I went there was to do some HD camera tests last year and before that I did it way back in 1992.
This time I went all the way up to the top where the TV antennas are located. The driving to the top is a very steep, rocky and narrow dirt road that I wasn't prepared for but even when there was a straight-down abyss on one side, it was worth it....and necessary.

In my prior visit to the Historian Institute, I got a hold of some maps and topographic charts to study the terrain and choose beforehand what areas would be suitable for the battle scenes and that mimick the Arica mountain in Chile (that used to be our territory before we lost it). Shooting there would have been awesome but difficult nowadays for obvious political and territorial reasons.
So the best alternative at hand is the Morro Solar; it's here, it's close and it's very similar in shape and in height.
To help myself even further I checked with Google Earth. Awesome tool for previewing land and altitude of any place and from anywhere in the world.

In this pic, down in the beach below, I'll be placing digitally the city of Arica when seen from up above. Although the city is on the other side, t'll have to be flipped horizontally in post to make it happen as on the other side here it's the city of Lima.

Only one thing to keep in mind is that I'll have to plan my shots right, for in the opposite side I can see the TV antennas in frame. If there was another closer similar location it would be easier but, to transport hundreds of extras to play the soldiers, plus gas expenses, equipment and logistics, etc....the budget would skyrocket.

War uniforms

Been a while since I posted any progress. Was trying to rest and get better on some physical stuff.
I finally went today to the other place where this ORG keeps the uniforms found on site. They scanned the whole terrain of the war zone with archeologists and metal detectors. Set a parameter and digged carefully and found not only the props and equipment from soldiers, but also their bodies and uniforms.

Shown here are some of the most known typical uniforms of the war. It's known that usually the colors chosen reflect the ones of each country's flag. Same thing here but the similitude I'm sure created some confusion that during the battle must have caused quite a stir and fatal errors in the craziness and adrenaline of the moment. Peruvian officers used the Prussian style of the era like this which I'm glad to have now at my disposal for the film. Here they are displayed on manequins so they can be appreciated at full:















Now, the peruvian soldiers mostly used creamy white uniforms with black shoes as you can see here (it is heavily dirty with soil and dried blood from the soldier):

















Now this is the chilean soldier's uniform. Notice the similar colors with the peruvian officers (deep blue jacket and red pants). They didn't use high black boots though but khaki/brown colored ones.

















The hats (kepis) will use the same shape of the Civil War soldiers; a flat foward-inclined top.

Now my next step is to do a walk-thru of the location I chose for the battle scenes: the Morro Solar by Chorrillos. Taking pics and studying maps to check the terrain and altitude beforehand.

Canons and rifles and guns...oh my!

Went today early morning to the Cuartel Barbones (Fort Barbones) which is an old fort near downtown which is mostly run by the army logistics office and is the place where most of the old weaponry and obsolete equipment goes for archiving and saving.

Asked for the ranking officer and was nice enought to attend me after the order from the General came in my name (usually it runs like that. Not leverage and you get nowhere) and told him about my plans for the film. I was hoping to find they had old rifles liek Chassepots and Comblain models there but they only had Mauser 98K series (which wasn't used in our war for that model was made around the 1920's). Asked him if he would be nice enough to show me one.

He did.

As much and as hard that I've looked around all forts, not enough quatity of the older models are to be found. The fort had around 60 Mausers at my disposal including the bayonets. Some were a bit faulty but, who cares? It can be fixed...although it adds up to the budget needed for it.

More sponsors would have to enter the game to reach the amount.
Also I was lucky enought o find three more canons of the late 1800's that work!
That adds more possibilites to the film.

Im smiling.

At least I got somewhere.

Meeting with historian

So I went today in the morning to another meeting with a war historian called Luis Guzmán at the Legión Cáceres Institute.

Met with two army generals and the historian. We shared some info I happened to gathered and cross-checked for any errors I might have slipped in my research.

Very interesting chat. Valuable hours of important info.

Tomorrow: my visit to the Barbones Fort where old and obsolete weaponry is kept. I have to check the number of rifles and bayonets they have there that could look the part (if not actually belong) to that 1880's era.

A travel through time...

Here is my visit to my fellow Pacific War forum member.
His house is a plethora of war paraphernalia. Things he got thru the years of having a profound attachment to this era like I do.
Oscar Ferreyra not only keeps original stuff for the war times he has collected with his non-profit organization for almost 20 years, but also is a great source for knowledge about the topic.
It was like going back in time in a way. Gave me a broader notion of the war.
I felt like a kid in a candy store!

Thursday going to check the uniform gallery he keeps in his office/museum.

Found the location to shoot the famous Bolognesi response

Found a location to shoot the famous response Francisco Bolognesi gave to the Chilean enemy in 1880, two days prior to losing his life...and it's right here in Lima!! As any Peruvian and knowledgeable person about the war should know, he said to the enemy officer: "Sir, tell your commanding officer that Arica will not surrender. I have sacred duties to fulfill and I will do so 'till we shoot our last cartridge".
An example to every Peruvian or others who loves his country and has a healthy sense of patriotism.

The first time I went there (Arica) was back in 1982 and visited it again in 2005.
Now, I know that a real life replica is here and I'm able to use it!!

The real one is in Arica (picture below) and used to be later the Peruvian consulate in that city until 2000. Now it's a museum.

Inside, there is a reproduction of a picture taken the same day that the famous answer was given by Bolognesi.



UPDATE: It's has now been questioned to not be a picture of the actual "response" moment but a theater play just a few years later depicting the battle. It was in the posession of an old man living in Tacna and was bought by Genaro Parker (owner of Panamericana Television) in the early 90's while making a documentary about this topic. The theater play is assumed to be from the early 20th century, just about twenty years after the war. This is the digitally retouched version as the orginal was in poor condition and if you can see closely, some beards and faces look altered. Also there are give-aways of its fake authenticity as the light in the room doesn't resemble the actual lighting of the Bolognesi headquarter. It was only lit by candlelight and from windows but here it is well illuminated. Another fact is the Commander's uniform which doesn't match the original one (deep blue and red like the rest of the officers). In here it looks if it was of a clearer shade.

Here are the top officers uniforms that I'd be able to use so far. Just a matter of being given the green light by the peruvian army.

And this is the replica here in Lima. I'm so excited about it. The only problem is that the surroundings are scattered with modern buildings and stuff. Seems that computer effects and digital replacement will have to be used to erase them out for the shot.

Retaking an old project

I wrote in a prior post (don't recall which one) how into history I'm in.
Peru is rich in it and so it's the world but, being a Peruvian myself, I cannot stop being in awe about how many things shaped the place I live in and how many things a lot of people don't know about it. Maybe simply because of not being of their interest or because of being focused on something else.

Well, I may think of myself as a "romantic" about heroic stuff. Maybe because it inspires or becuase it serves me as a purpose to love life and appreciate it more.

One of the topics I'm very fond of is the Pacific War years (Guerra ddel Pacifico 1879-1883) and some particular events in it like the Battle of Alto del Alianza (Tacna) and the Battle of Arica.

Many years ago, 5 years I think, I wrote a script for a feature lenght film about it. I did a long research since the late 90's for I wanted to take it to the screen but shelved it for funding reasons.

Back in 2007, after coming back from the US in sept. for personal reasons I wanted to bring the project back to the front as to uplift my spirit a bit and do what I worked for for so long. This time I wanted to do make it just a short film among friends. I wrote another script to just focus on the emotional and personal side of our heroes and people around the matter. I visited a couple of possible locations also but things looked a bit difficult and after a strong event a month later, I shelved it again to focus on my healing.

Now, 2 years later, for same personal reasons I decided to recapture the project again and bring it to life. This time Im gonna try harder and put my best efforts in it. I already secured the wardrobe for civilians of the period (1880), I talked with fellow actor-friends of mine here and so far they are jumping in my "dream", I talked with some tech people and they are willing to help and the hardest part is to get the battle scenes a reality.

30 years ago there was a mini-series about the war and although the production was impressive (wardrobe, locations, props, uniforms, etc.), the acting and the directing/editing left a lot to be desired...but I wondered where those uniforms were now. The series was made by the Ministry of Education and I pulled some strings here and there for I have worked closely with them years ago and asked them about those TV series of three decades ago. They got rid of them already as it was old and getting eaten by moth and humidity. No wonder....so many years ago and knwoing how the government works doesn't come as a surprise to me. So I just have one options left: the Army.

I already had a meeting with one high rank colonel and he is in charge of a battalion that is able to perform the "soldiers extras" that I need, but getting as many uniforms of the period is gonna be a hard task. Having them made is out of the question now for it would cost a lot of money and I need hundreds.

I have seen on TV years back some performances done by the army when it's the anniversary of a battle and there were hundreds of them so Im sure the uniforms are somewhere. Just a matter to finding where. I have a meeeting next week with a general that is charge of the corresponding office and I'm sure he will be of great help.

So far, I'm here polishing the script, I have read countless books from army history, about Bolognesi (our national hero), about the weapons used in those times and the uniforms and colors they used (taking on what I researched years back to write the feature lenght film). So now, it's just a matter of finding the uniforms.

On Saturday I went to visit a member of the Pacific War forum I belong to. He happens to have a huge collection of real props and weapons of the war. He has more stuff u can see for real in a museum. What a dream!! It was really a pleasure to visit him and spend hours sharing info about the war and telling him what I plan to do.

I'm sure this film, if coming to the light, will get a lot of attention. I just wish it happens this time.
Not only for my liking of history or that period of time, but also to show fellow peruvians how the war was and what emotions were involved in it.

This is very important for me. I guess it's after all, what gives me a bit of light in thess times of hurdles. I guess that whatever happens after, If I get to do this the way I envision it, I can say for sure I'd be able to die in peace.

I just hope the stars get alligned for me this time.
I really need it.

Closing my eyes...partially.

Coronary crap...
Never thought it would happen.

"Utopía" behind-the-scenes video

I began editing the behind the scenes of the "Utopía" videoclip backn in october last year but sidetracked after so much happenings.
Now here it is...the extended version though. The short one isn't worth posting.
Do like this one better.

Here, the behind the scenes for the Alter Ego song "Utopia".

"Gaming By Design" - new film

Now here's the result. Added some more special effects and sound elements here in Peru.
The final version:

"Gaming By Design"
Oh!...by the way, the pass to view it is "utopia".

"Gaming By Design" is the latest film I did and was written by my friend Peter Myhr who also plays the lead actor. Along with other scripts of his, this one was somehow waving at us so he proposed me to make it.



Something that began as just talking turned into a nice project and just a few weeks later these came out.

So...after a week n a half of non-sleep editing, here it is folks.



Shot in HD 720p at 24fps using the Letus adapter, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens, Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 D zoom lens, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II lens and the Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 prime lens.

Timed with our Proceso Cinematico Digital-PCD™ for film-look.

Editing "Gaming By Design"

Now editing, this little process has grown into a meaning of its own.
And I say this because it's my last project on this last trip here.

My friend Peter was kind enough to put his trust in me on his script and even allowed me to do some changes in it to pump its drama a bit more without loosing its tounge-in-cheek sillines.

The special effects are taking a bit more time than expected. Being a "virtual video game", so to speak, I'm making a lot of "video" effects and "defects" to sell the idea/concept. Lots of chroma key, color correction and bezier masked layers in After Effects. And then...the sound and music score.
So far, I'm running like hell editing full time without much sleep hoping to finish before I go back to Peru in some days.

It's amazing how much you can do now when concentrated and focused...and nobody would tell it was edited in a simple hotel room. UPDATE: I had to finish polishing the special effects in my laptop while flaying back to Peru.
I'll just do the final touches here in Lima.

Weekend filming

4 am and we just finished filming for this weekend.

We ran overtime as some little problems aroused that were fixed after a while.

Been a long week of shooting.

We'll do the last takes during the week.

I have slept only 2 hours in two days and a half.

I'm pretty exhausted.

Gaming By Design - new film

Pre-production has began on my new film. A short flix written by my friend Peter Myhr.

What I like this time compared to when I shot the anti-drug commercial is that Im surrounded now by people that have worked in the field for some years so they have the experience to pull of this braoder production. Finally, I can rely on people I feel confident with.

Some ex Nebraska Film Group members and friends are jumping in and we are all excited about it.

Im just happy that it has all become like a camaraderie and that it just started as a personal mission to make my friends Pete project come to life. I know how it feels to see one's baby up on the screen and more than happy to be one of the team to make it happen.

Some sections of the script need some tweeking and Pete was cool enought to let me re-write some parts for punch.

Now...on to work.

Anti Drug Commercial

And now the result...after a few days of editing.

Making the dream

This first day of shooting has been quite good. Things went smooth most of the way and time was mostly on our side. The second day (sunday) was full of electrical problems and some lights wouldn't work, but a way around it was found and had to use car lights to mimic a solution I tried a couple of times in Peru that worked fine. The only setback was that the Letus eats out half a stop and needed more light of what was available....so more cars were called for to help. Yes, just for the lights!

I have to say that doing things here are much difficult that in Peru. It's a lot of hassle to get things going, lack of support and an excess of laws that puts obstacles in everything.

To secure a place or location you need so much paper stuff or so much coordination that if not backing it up with the right amount of money you wont get far anywhere. I was lucky to have some clearance thought, thanks to the help of close people to me that had contacts.

In Peru there's not so much lawsuits for anything like here, not so much fear of giving, not so much fear of risking like in the US. If a location or simple image of a building shows in the shot they freak out and say no just for fear of the image being mishandled...no matter how much u explain what the idea is. I think people in the US would have to go and make business in Peru to know what I'm talking about and they agreed when I shared my stories of how I get things done over there. Things are gotten easier there. People are more supporting, warmer. I's sure if indie filmmakers here had the freedom I have in Peru, there would be more productions and more movies finished. The fear of lawsuits here is so strong. And that simply isn't just annoying...it's fatal to filmmaking.

Found out that ambulances here are not aloud to turn on their siren but ONLY if in a real emergency. The EMT's and the station could get in serious trouble for doing that. When I've shot in Peru similar situations, sirens could go off at any time and cars would pull over or clear away of the ambulance's path and then it could be turned off later....no big deal. Who cares anyway?

I could only have sirens and lights on for 15 seconds (after which the police came in the act, but I already had the shot "in the can" so to speak). Placed siren sound effects in post later to fill in the takes.

But I was lucky, I've got to meet and make the most amazing friends that putted so much of their support on my dream and thanks to them (actors and crew), this was able to become a reality.