More Peruvian and Chilean officer hats.

Finished two more hats for Baquedano and Lagos.
I had already made those like a month and a half ago but I'm making two more for some important characters as during battle scenes and filming they can get worn out or damaged. Filming in disorder sometimes allows continuity inconsistencies to happen so, this is my way of making sure none of that happens and get all accidents covered.

Also made four Navy hats. One for Guillermo More, one for Sanchez Lagomarsino (Ship-of-the-line Captains and Frigate Lieutenant respectively) and two more for lesser rank officers.

Tomorrow I'll finish hats for an Infantry Sargent and a Captain.
So far, looking good!

UPDATE: Here are two more hats for a sublieutenant and an lieutenant colonel.

UPDATE: Finished more forage caps: One for a Chilean colonel and another for the Granaderos a Caballo regiment.

Jib crane first test

So finally, I ran the first test of my new jib crane yesterday and today. The frantic days as filming date approaches doesn't allow much time for testing out in the open for by the time I'm done for the day it's already night. So...I went ahead and tried it in the parking garage.


I used to own a jib crane before. The PortaJib was a very professional tool and I have shot much of my prior films and videoclips with it, but sold it like 3 years ago. Now, the need for a jib has shown it's face as "long shots" of the battle scenes require high positioning of the camera above the massive crowds of soldiers. It also add dynamic energy to moving takes that helps give that sense of motion typical of cinematic techniques. So, did a bit of research on the net and found new options and companies that make interesting camera support equipment that years ago weren't around. Options and designs that make the jib crane simple and easy to operate even more than before. Got myself a new one in the end.

Well, the height of the parking garage ceiling is barely 2.50 meters high and that limited me to only use the basic configuration which raises my camera to only 2.15 meters. Not bad for interior shots but I'm eager to try it with the extension kit I also purchased.

So far, the weighs I got myself are doing the trick. Was kinda tricky to find a way to balance it for the difference in lens size I use changes the counter-weigh needed and it gets off balance a bit. 1.25 lbs weighs are hard to find but I was suggested a good hidden spot downtown where they sell all kinds of sporting good things and brought it home together with two 15 kg weighs. Carrying 30 kg while walking 5 blocks in downtown (not many parking lots there) was a bit odd and cumbersome but the effort's worth it.

Tomorrow, if time allows, I'll test the extended version which raises my cam up to 6 meters high!

My camera configuration weighs around 19.8 lbs which is like 9 kg. A bit heavy so better be careful and secure it tight. Don't want it crashing down against the floor.

Stop dreaming, it's here: Panasonic AG-AF101

Just as a side note while reading in Panasonic's website about the IBC 2010 in Europe, I stumbled again of what was mentioned earlier this year at NAB. The amazing prototype camcorder. The next generation. The Panasonic AF-101.









Introduced after the earlier model AF-100 just a while back, It delivers the shallow depth of field we filmmakers kill for and a wider field of view because of it's large 4/3 inch large imager/sensor, able to handle all standard lenses, filters, and adapters of the 35mm world. It has full native HD 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates just like my HVX200, professional audio capabilities and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media. The interchangeable lens mount is what I also truly like (which reminds me of my good old Canon XL-1 I bought back in the late 90's because of that wonderful feature), which allows me to use all available still camera lenses as well as film-style lenses I have. It records 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps) and to "ad insult to injury" (lol) it is worldwide compatible as it can be switched back 'n forth between 60Hz to 50Hz.

The built-in ND filtering is a huge plus together with HD-SDI out, HDMI, time code recording, built-in stereo microphone and USB 2.0, two XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability, 48-kHz/16-bit two-channel digital audio recording and supports LPCM/Dolby-AC3. Now this baby can save footage in easily available SDHC cards (goodbye to the expensive P2 cards I so hurt to buy for just merely 16 and 32GB).

SDXC is the newest SD memory card specification that can handle memory above 32GB and all the way up to 2TB.

This thing will definetly rock! I wonder how much will it cost. Scheduled to be released by the end of this year.

Here is popular Barry Green talking about this baby directly from IBC Europe.

My jib crane has arrived!

As soon as I came home from the Pachamanca, I opened the boxes I went to pick up at the airport earlier today (4am). Bought an EZ FX jib crane that came from Florida as its needed for the wide and high battle shots. We've been in contact with the dealer for many months trying to set up a good quote for me as the budget for the film was going a bit overboard.

I used to own another jib crane some years ago but sold it in 2007. I tried to contact the guy I sold it to but he resold it to another person and the daily rate of that guy was really ridiculously high. I won't tell names but many people here in the field assume I have a lot of money if I'm making a period film like this and try to take advantage in a way, that's why I always believed in owning everything you use so you don't have to depend on anybody. If they knew that no matter the costs here, I'm making much of the items myself to save as much as I can and put it all "on the screen", so to speak, to make it look like "big" and as good as possible. So, anyway, with the money I'd spent renting a jib, it was worth buying a brand new one instead with all its accessories.

So its finally here. I'm so excited about it. It complies with the weigh specifications I needed for my type of camera rig. I also got myself the extension parts to raise the camera even higher, like above 3 meters (more than 7 feet). Will test it this Sunday.

Pachamanca

Pachamanca day. It was worth the wait.

A BIG thank you to all who helped me make this amazing uniforms. I know I've been a pain in the ass with details, colors and stuff but it was needed for the film. Now that it's all done this delicious meal is for you!

Last day: Uniforms complete.

Finally, the last remaining section of 173 uniforms has been completed. The peruvian uniforms of Cazadores del Misti are done and I'm taking it home.

So, the workshop's duty is kinda complete too for just bits here and there are needed but it's not daily anymore. Besides, I need to take all the wardrobe to Gamarra to have the button holes made industrially / in-mass.

I talked afterward with everybody thanking them so so much for these last two and a half months of daily hard work that I shared and learned with them a lot.

I feel sad in a way. Sad for it feels like that "last day at school year" sensation and we are not gonna see each others faces anymore or for a long while.

Their words of gratitude also for giving them a brand new fabric Cutter was touching. Not only has it given speed to the production of the wardrobe but it will help them with all future works. I feel good knowing I've left something valuable too.

But, as not to end in a sad way, as stated two weeks before finishing this, I'm offering a Pachamanca (it's an ancient Inca underground cooking for those unfamiliar with it) meal and get-together with all the ones that worked directly or indirectly with this.

See you on Friday, lovely people.
:)

Rosa Vernal

A month ago aprox, I went to see a theater play where a couple friends of mine were performing. Only three actors were in it and it was quite good, but what got my attention was this lady's acting.

Never saw her before but still her name in the credits sounded familiar.
As it's usually common here, after the play I waited a bit and approached the actors backstage to say hi and congratulate them. "Where have you been all these time that we haven't crossed paths?" was the first thing I said to her. She was pretty good. Pretty dramatic. She was the extraordinaire Lilian Nieto.

I learned that she has been acting since a long time ago and was actually very well known in the performing field here but took a hiatus of nine years and was just returning to perform recently. No wonder then we haven't crossed paths.

Went to see the last day of the play season a few days ago and immediately told her that I needed to talk business.
Now, days later, she accepted to be in my film and play the role of one the hero's mother. She will play Rosa Vernal.

More civilian wardrobe and buttons

Damn..the box was heavy!
Brought home today more civilians wardrobe, mades and extras.
Took some pics but I'm late and need to rush to the workshop to keep working on the uniforms.

Last night brought home 130 more finished Chilean soldier jackets. Each Chilean soldier wears up to 16 buttons so I had to get 4800 for the three hundred remaining.
Never thought Id have so many in my hand together.

Posted pics of civilian wardrobe I had ready months ago and with this I'm covering for about 25 of them. I'll just have to double the use of these items between takes and exchange among actors. Maybe a dozen more and I'll be fine.

More location scouting: Quinta Heeren

As I have stated before, the filming deadline is approaching and some stuff still needs to be done.
The stress kicks in so much that its affecting my stomach and my nerves. Praying and meditation does a good job at calming me but I know myself and only having all things ready will make it go away for good.

Last night couldn't sleep well thinking of old streets needed for some scenes in my script. The ones I found at Callao and Barranco don't make it fully for only angles are useful and the rest has been touched much by modernity. I took a small drive-trip out of Lima to the nearest sierra towns and they kinda work but still...don't cut the part.

I then recalled a place that has been used a few times years ago as locations for Peruvian period soap-operas and googled Quinta Heeren. Watched the results and pics and it clicked for me.
I thought I finally found the location I needed. I had to go there so without any sleep, as the first rays of light entered my window, changed clothes and drove to Barrios Altos neighborhood where it is located. I know its not a nice part of town (actually pretty dangerous) but took measures by taking along a good friend of mine to tag along. Early riser he is so, he was up to it.

This is what I found. This place is "the" place!!

Oskar Heeren came to Peru almost 200 years ago and built this place with an XIX century European style not knowing it would become one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the outskirts of Lima (at the time) where much of the high-society people of the era would show up and frequent. Now, a couple centuries later it still keeps the beauty of a long gone past of poetry and romanticism and is guarded by a nice guy who is the caretaker working under a manager hired by the descendants of the Leguia family as I was told (the former president resided there for a time). An old, rusty gate keep strangers from coming in the neighborhood easily. Just four families still live here and the rest of the houses are abandoned.

To me this place is like a time-machine with only a few snippets here and there that give away we are in the 21rst century (car horns far away, water hoses, a couple parked cars and a few modern street lights that clash with the beautiful old ones still standing there but that don't work anymore) but definitely this place is like an oasis lost in the middle of one of the dangerous places in Lima surrounded by thieves and junkies.

I just hope no government or any stupid-ass business guy with power and money tries to demolish this place to make buildings or something. If that ever happens, we Peruvians would be committing historical suicide. I'm sure I'm not alone on this thinking.

Places like this should exist forever.

Uniforms almost done

Uniform making process is almost complete. One more week aprox and it's all done.
Still I need to have 500 soldier hats made in no time. Filming date approaching.

A word to all readers / Una palabra para los lectores

I would like to say this to all readers of my blog.

First of all I would like to say thank you. Thank you for being interested in my work and in my progress about my dreams and rants here and there spread all over the page.

As you may have noticed -if you have followed me since some years ago- my blog lately for the past 11 months have been about my film project that I'm about to begin in some weeks: the Battle of Arica.

Many that know me personally and have worked close with me in other projects for the past 6 years know my intention of making a film of this theme for quite some time now. It is not an improvised project nor is it a reply to any other film. It is solely a project of mine coming true at this specific time.

Having this clear, for all readers here in Peru as also in Chile (which I now know are reading this too and some even write nice letters to my inbox), I want to say these statements to all others who might wonder a few things. Here are the facts to know:

- This film is a personal project and it was began as a personal dream.
- This film is not sponsored, nor promoted by any government institution. It is totally an independent film production of mine and my audiovisual company.
- This film is not funded by any government or private institution. I am funding it with my own money and savings.
- This film is based on historical facts that really happened and that I have researched with fellow historians and people interested in history here in Peru and in Chile as also in my own personal research for the past 6 years to make it as accurate as possible, be it in facts and also in uniform making.
- This film is intended to show the HUMAN side of all the people involved in the battle of Arica. All those human beings that defended their land and ideas of the time and fought for them. Actions that eventually made them heroes of their own country. It is not to promote hate nor spoil any relations we have as fellow countries. I know it has been a difficult time for us both since 130 years ago but I am just making this film because I love history and I love bravery...be it from my own country or another. It doesnt matter to me from where. I get excited watching films like Braveheart, Spartaco, Glory or Gettysburg. I'm not from the US or from England where those ones are based on, but I love those movies and how people gave their lives to defend their ideals. Peru and Chile made what they believed in and normal people did brave things that eventually made them heroes.

I say this statements because it is important to know that even thought a war is a sensitive subject, it is not done by any government or anyone involved with them nor is it done with any intention to promote more war or things like that. It is just made because of reasons stated above and made by a normal citizen like me who as a citizen has a right to do his/her own dream.

I just had a phone talk with a friend of mine in Chile (in Arica) that I visited a few years ago while doing my research. He is excited to know that what was just plain talks back then in 2005, now -years later- is a reality.

So again...for all the readers out there who don't know more personal details of my project, this is what pushed me, just plain and simple: a dream of mine coming true about heroic events of our nation.

Because it is only human what people do every day to make a living, but it's divine what people do to defend life in general, even at their own life risk like policemen, firefighters or the normal guy/girl out there that does outstanding things. And that is what turns normal people into heroes.

A warm salute to all my fellow friends in Chile and in Peru.

Navy hat prototype

Now, having all the 36 out of 40 hats almost ready, got the prototype of the navy ones made yesterday.
It does look similar to the one shown in the Naval Museum so far. I spent the whole night working on it and putting on the adornments until it looked fine. I probably need a little sleep after this job as my weird drowsy face probably shows.

Timotea Vernal

Met tonight with Paloma Yerovi thanks to a common friend who introduced me to her while doing the casting for the few female roles my film has.

I want her to play Timotea Vernal, Alfonso Ugarte's fiancee and love interest. As history tells, they were supposed to get married but he decided to stay in Peru while sending her to Europe fleeing from the war.
He wrote her a heartbreaking letter days before he died stating how destiny was delaying his promise to come back alive as he knew the end was close and probably wouldn't make it.

Touching indeed.

Can't seem to find an online picture of Timotea. Have it only in print. I'll post it as soon as I have it scanned.

Lima in 1937!

Another off-topic regarding my film. I just had to post this!
Found an awesome video of Lima made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1937 as part of his show TravelTalks. It showcases some scenarios of Lima and the provinces of Peru.

Wish I had a time machine to travel to those times and enjoy how Lima was in those days. Now, many parts keep the same beauty as before, but one thing is simply horrible lately: some people in power allow other people with money to destroy and demolish old and historical buildings to simply make buildings or markets.

A total insult and blow to our history and a complete lack of respect for our past. The past that made us be what we are today.

Here is the lovely video.
Enjoy!!

The interview...again

Here it is again as asked thru emails. The newspaper interview a bit ago.

200 more Peruvian uniforms

I ordered more Peruvian uniforms to be made. So far, there are 180 already and 200 in process.
Because the load of work is really heavy at the workshop I sent 200 Bolivian uniforms to be made elsewhere. I'm making uniforms of the Sucre Battalion (colored yellow) and famous "Colorados" (n wearing red) that I will show in my next post.

Here I just show the Peruvian ones.