Time, time, time...

I usually write all the stuff that happens and it seems perhaps to many as easy going and that all goes as planned. Maybe some happy faces here and there and smooth transitions among schedules...Have to admit it's not. Much of it isn't easy and there is a lot of stress regarding support from entities that help this to happen.

These last weeks have been a battle in itself of conflicting schedules with the helping entity that supplies us with horses and the gathering of many extras for massive scenes. Independence day is coming and all institutions are wholly devoted into marching rehearsals for weeks and weeks that clash with the carefully planned schedule. Making actors and hundreds of extras coincide in time and space is not only time-consuming but frustrating when the entity changes plans without telling you or consulting you at the last second. "Orders are orders" - they say, and can't fight against that as it's understandable...but forces me to stay in one location for weeks and weeks waiting for the right day or time to come, prolonging and delaying my schedule for weeks, upsetting me in the end and building up a lot of tension and stress, for time is running and each day isn't cheap for I have to feed and move many people around. Need to finish this in a couple of months. Usually don't mention this for many say that even writing it down is like declaring a statement to happen or bringing uneasiness into your life...but well, life is what it is and all isn't roses, smiles or sunny skies. I even see myself in the mirror and can see the stress taking its toll on me. Aging a bit faster than normal I guess. Funny how long exposures to deep stress ages you quick. No wonder we see here a president enter office looking younger and by the time he is out he looks worn out and with grey hair. Running around trying to make the people that decide is very emotionally consuming. Makes you feel alone in all these. I know I have friends here that help me a lot. Can't deny their lovely support and may God have them in their list of favorites but....can't help feel alone.

Wish I had a magic wand to arrange it all to fit and finish this quickly. Would have been done like seven months ago but....things are like they are. When all this is done, it will be a bliss and even though I tell everybody that it will be like the last day at school, I'll personally be happy to finish this ordeal called "institutionalized stalling". Being at the mercy of people who don't see you as a priority is simply so frustrating.

But this dream...this crazy dream is slowly coming to the light....and it's worth every wrinkle and tear.

More chilean officer scenes

Writing here from location. Internet signal comes and goes very bad and its so weak its exasperating. So I just post some pics to show progress. Want to get out of this location soon to move on to the next 6 left. Love the valley scenario here :)

Making the tent.

Rehearsing lines with actors.

Our cute little companion we found here on location.

One more scene completed.

Building Maldonado's mother hut.

Putting the side walls for the hut.

...and the ceiling.

Explaining the required intention to actors.

Map with enemy tags.

Getting close to final scenes north of Lima.

Been in talks about the "Infiernillo" TV pilot filmed recently. Glad it has gathered a lot of attention for its form and quality that differs from what is usually shown here on national television. The point is to elevate the standards and offer entertainment but with similar quality as north american series have. Working to have negotiations closed and positive.

Now restarting filming sessions for Gloria del Pacifico and the final week for all scenes to be shot here in this location. Facing dilemmas again regarding police personnel that helps with massive scenes as they are already starting to rehearse for July 28 (Independence Day) so schedules are becoming hard to complete. Filming these days scenes that require few to no soldiers and the good old extras are here to help but it's worry some for I still have scenes that require hundreds.

Working hard on it...but glad to know I'm close to finishing in this location.
Filming today in a few. This internet usb device connection is extremely slow here. Takes way too long to load a page (if ever). Not even cell signal here.

Good people liking what they do here.

Lagos and Baquedano.

Applying adornments to Baquedano's uniform jacket.

Ccarccaria - a new film

Been in talks for the past weeks with fellow friend Juan Manuel Ochoa who was kind enough to propose me to direct a new film about famous and talented Peruvian scissors-dancer Damian De La Cruz.

Caught me by surprise for -as I was told now in detail- the project has been on hold for many months due to extreme problems with the prior director and production company. Later found out who that guy was and what he did.

The film is an autobiographical approach that not only covers his life but also much of the mystical and disciplined preparation of a scissors dancer and all the rituals involved in becoming one. It caught my attention for I so love and know much of the Andean cosmovision. Living in the highlands for many years and all the experiences learned while making documentaries up in the high sierras of Peru years ago will come in handy now. A topic worth every decent man's attention.

Damian De la Cruz is perhaps the humblest man I've ever met. Very calm, very thoughtful and very friendly. While checking him out online to see and learn more about his life, found out he is one of a handful of extremely succesful scissors dancer in the world, having traveled everywhere in the world and taken his dance skills to festivals in Asia and Europe. Quite a jewel. No wonder the scissors dance is now recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage because of its ancestry and longevity. Such a remarkable man with the humblest of attitude is quite rare and although I just met him, his energy is a positive and bright one.

Happy to know him and honored to be called on to direct such a vital project. Not only because it is about the life of one man that represents Peru very well but also because of the importance on taking this ancient folk dance to the masses and showing new generations about Peru's culture and heritage. We will be filming in Huancavelica and Lima.

Hurrying with "Gloria del Pacifico". If God allows, I'll be finishing in a couple months. Meanwhile, I'm starting to read and learn about the topic. Must document myself a lot in order to touch the subject professionally and realistic.

Such a great guy

With Damian De La Cruz -Ccarccaria

"El Infiernillo" TV pilot side project finally done

After many days working on it, the filming and editing process of  "El Infiernillo" is finally done. Im quite happy with the images and results and it has been a pleasure working with so many talented people again and some new. It has been like a blow of fresh air to work with more assistants this time that makes it all easier in a way, but it is a smaller in scope compared to "Gloria del Pacifico" so I'm just keeping it in perspective.

I started with Reynaldo Arenas and Hernan Romero for they could only coincide one single day so we had to shoot fast. I met Reynaldo back in 2003 when filming another movie together up in the highlands and this is the first time I get to work with Hernan. Few people know that since my teenage years back in the 80's when I could start to see myself in this acting and film business, these fine extremely talented actors were the ones I looked up to. Those marvelous performances on TV were quite the inspiration. During filming back in 2003, I told Reynaldo so...now this 2012, I told Hernan the same fact.

Now many years after, this is the second time directing Reynaldo and the first one for Hernan. What do you know... directing the ones that somehow shaped my artistic taste decades ago.

Jose Luis Ruiz, whose idea is portrayed here was kind enough to give me enough rope and trust in selecting the actors and making artistic changes in order to make it appealable. The idea of a modern Jesus who fights against all odds with just his word as a weapon has depth and a message to tell, specially for those whose path has been twisted by delinquency and wrong-doing.

Quite an interesting experience filming with real prisoners and extras, specially for the mob scenes where a lot of control is needed. Working with hundreds of extras in "Gloria..."has helped a lot of course. Gives you handling techniques for it

So, after many sleepless nights, I have here in my hands the final product of "El Infiernillo" ready to shop it around. Just have to clear some copyright details here and there before showing it online.
Here, just a few behind-the-scenes pictures.

Now I can go back to continue filming "Gloria del Pacifico"again.

Here is the final product. The TV show pilot.