Soldiers uniforms prototype progress

Today, after having that wonderful news reach my ears, eyes and heart (receiving another letter of approval), headed down to my workshop to check on the soldiers uniform prototype making.

Much to my surprise they made it close to how it was given to them in design.
The results are as presented here.

The uniforms are replicas of what was found on-site at the Arica battle conforming to most of the Peruvian regiments and battalion's (Cazadores de Pierola, Granaderos de Tacna, etc.) and the Chilean's 3ro and 4to de Linea.

The Navy is in!

Finally...the Navy said yes!
I got the approval from the commander in chief himself formally!
Now the Police and Navy are on board.

Just to fix some stuff and it's all good.
:)

Time is getting close for filming time!

Sarmiento as Lagos

Having most of the actors that will play the Peruvian heroes covered, I'm focusing on the Chileans now.
Again, I'm sticking to physical similarities but also on actors that can portray the energy and character that I've researched each hero had.

So, for the temperamental and strong-headed colonel Pedro Lagos I could not make a better choice than to call Pepe Sarmiento.

I met him 6 years ago while doing a theater play together (doing "The Little Prince" at the Segura Theater where he played the Businessman character). He is a very good actor. Having that deep commanding voice and that presence, I found him suitable to play Lagos. I took a picture of us with the Chilean officer in the computer screen and as you can see, he does look similar.

He was more than happy to be in the film. In fact, he happens to have Chilean family (his mother was Chilean)
We shuffled actor names that could play General Baquedano and a couple of names came to mind....specially one.

And he happens to be back in Lima after being in Argentina for years.
I think the stars are aligning for me!!

Improvised "measures"

An improvised, quick, rushed taking of measurements for the wardrobe.

I called my wardrobe friend and she happened to be close to where I was so she took measurements of Eduardo and Havier who was around.
He was flying out of Lima to promote a film he is in so I had to rush with him before he left.

People were watching us on the street but...who cares.

A good friend to play Saenz Peña

5pm and met with an actor friend of mine. Was thinking of calling him months back but wanted things to be more advanced.

Eduardo Alonso met with me for coffee (although just had orange juice, not into coffee to be honest) and it was nice to see him after 7 years. Last time we crossed paths was while filming another movie back in 2003.

I want him to play Roque Saenz Peña and he has not only his resemblance but also the age range the hero was during the actual battle.
Eduardo may look young for many here in the pic but I'm keeping it real to the actual age each hero was in 1880.

Found soldier equipment I can use!

Today I found interesting stuff I could use for the soldiers bullet carriers and straps for the backpacks.
They are obsolete army equipment that could do the trick.

I have to check it with a finished uniform, though.
I really hope this does it or I'll have to make at least 1200 of these from scratch.

At least the boots I found will work covering the strings.

Officer's uniforms fabrics: Gamarra

It was a hot day today and being at the biggest textile emporium in Peru (Gamarra) was simply a task not easily enjoyable: so many people, being on the lookout for thieves and pickpockets, etc; but it was finally time to go and buy more fabrics to make the officer's uniforms. Making 40 of them at full detail has showed to be not only exciting but pricey. It was a good thing though that Maria Medina knew all the places to go to where the best prices were offered. Being an expert herself makes her know all in this field.

Didn't know the buttons (those metal ones with the Peruvian and Chilean insignia) are not available for the public but on authorized dealers only. It was a surprise. Chose then to pick ones that have similar insignias in it but they are expensive as hell. I'm going another route as I have other options.

Then went to meet the wardrobe makers at Rimac district to show them how I want the soldiers uniforms to be with details. The cost was around what I expected.
It certainly was a long day.

Going back to Rimac tomorrow to finish uniform-making details.

40 horses, 40 riders and 200 men more!

I finally met again with General Pitot at his base in Rimac and shared with him my needs for the film.
He told me last year after listening of this project that he would be willing to help with his fort resources as much as he could and believed in these thing.

He confirmed it once again and will be going tomorrow Friday again to meet other officers to talk about what I need.


Agreed yesterday to meet with Police Colonel Gamarra after my visit to the fort so we could go together to the "Potao", the Police Force's horse regiment. Like we agreed with the Police Director, they will help with 40 horses and 40 riders.

They even have three white ones to choose from for the famous Alfonso Ugarte jump off the cliff!
I asked the Commander of the place if I could bring my actors who play horse-riding officers to practice some riding and he agreed happily.
Things are turning good this week.
I'm just worried about the rest of teh soldiers uniform-making....I can't find the correct metal buttons so far!

Tomorrow Friday going to the biggest textile emporium to find more stuff: Gamarra!

Meeting with vice-admiral Pizarro

Today I had a scheduled meeting at the Comando Conjunto de la FF.AA. (Peruvian Joint Army Forces) to sit down and talk with a very much recommended person who happens to be in love of history just like me...and specially about the Pacific War: Vice-Admiral Reynaldo Pizarro.

As expected, he understood the hurdles to push this project thru amidst all bureaucratic stages of dealing with government institutions. So he offered strong help on this and even valued the effort to make a film about a topic like this.

Later today he will have a meeting with the Secretary of Defense and will talk with the Army Commander in Chief. He said not to worry that if the army doesn't take participation, the navy will do it alone.
At least I have the Navy and the Police willing to support my battle scenes filming.
And that is really something!
Let's see what happens.

















UPDATE: He talked with the Army Commander in Chief. He says he is willing to help and wants a full report from the Army History Commission. Mmm...I was told he didn't want to help before (according to those two officers that were wrongly handling my project inside).
I can't help but be leery. Let's see what happens.

Strange happenings

Negotiations going pretty well this week.
On Friday I got a call from the Navy telling me advances on their decision and all seems positive so far.

But got a suggestion by them that has developed today into a very unexpected string of meetings with the former institution.

So far, this is pretty interesting but....delicate I must say. And odd.
Tomorrow Tuesday will be full of meetings to...and more interesting I might add.

Mmm....

Police support confirmed!

Today had a meeting at the Department of Interior with the General Director of the Peruvian Police and after explaining my project he bluntly offered his full support for what I asked for my film.

I'm so happy about it.
Things are getting closer now. More tangible.
:)

Ochoa is onboard

Our beloved and recognizable Peruvian actor Juan Manuel Ochoa is on board also.

We met for a coffee (which actually turned into a Pisco Sour by his suggestion) and talked about life, his projects and late life and all and then moved on to the film project explanation.

I want him to play the antagonist which falls on the character Agustin Belaunde, known for being a traitor and deserter prior to the Battle of Arica (Batalla de Arica). Told him how his character was and what was expected of him and he took it as a challenge.

He is quite a character himself, very hyper and blunt, lots of energy and stamina.
He is gonna be quite a thing.

Things are moving along pretty well.

Another perfect location. 1800's house!

Found an old house downtown built around the 1840's and I got permission to shoot some scenes of my film in it.
Lot's of history in that house.
I couldn't help but shoot around with my picture camera. Thank God I took it with me for I wasn't expecting to find this!

Old friends and wardrobe making

How crazy this world is.
Stumbled upon a good old friend of mine back from the theater school years. Maria Medina was in charge of the ETUC wardrobe department and we've been good friends but lost contact almost 13 years ago.

We catched up in our lives and shared what I'm doing with this film and asked her to be in charge of making the officer's uniforms wardrobe. She happily agreed.

It feels so good to know one is in good hands.
Sadly I have to do the soldiers uniforms somewhere else as being in the hundreds it would cost a lot of money to just do it herself.

I have other options at hand.

Explosions test

Driving like 6o Km south of Lima and into the desert via a dirt road we headed to a huge empty sandy place far from all the city and civilization. It was kinda cloudy when we left by as we drove there it got sunny. The flies out there were annoying and getting in my car. I wondered where they came from as we were in the middle of nowhere and perhaps its because of some hen farms I see kilometers away. The wind was blowing soft and suddenly hard in just a matter of minutes. Those sudden changes in wind speed were gonna be hard to predict as I wanted a clean slate to test the digital compositing on. Of course, in real life the wind changes dramatically and in a matter of minutes, but for this first test, the calmer the better. This is the first explosion test after the special explosives arrived from overseas. The waiting has paid off for I see that no actual damage is done far from the sides of the explosion. This type of charges work best when having actors around it so I know they wont get hurt. I can then apply special effects to it to make it bigger and more menacing. I need to include more debris in the real explosions though.


This time we just exploded a small charge so I could test the digital compositing here at the studio.
You can see here explained in the video.
This is just the first of some tests to see how much I can pull things off without causing major damage to the actors and extras playing soldiers.

So far....I'm happy with the results.
:)

Here is the video with the actual testing and digital composite afterward:

"Alfonso Ugarte" is onboard

So, last night had a meeting with my next casting option and I'm happy to make the right decision: Fernando Petong is simply one of the few actors on the theater scene here I happen to respect work-wise.
His acting skills Ive seen in other people's visual works and also in one of mine 4 years ago was enough to convince me that he could carry on the weigh of being one of the lead actors to represent one of our main national heroes: Alfonso Ugarte.
Even Ugarte was originally 33 years old when he fought and died in this battle (and Fernando must be in his early forties with some gray hair here and there already), make up can make him look younger for even when Im being picky when choosing actors that also look and have lots of resemblance to the real ones, I'm giving myself some license here with him.

Explained him what the story is about, all the dramatic moments im portraying in the film and he seemed excited.

On another note, a curious and hilarious anecdote was that in the middle of our meeting, a guy dropped by who seemed somewhat "tipsy" and approached us out of the blue and inmerged himself in my talks about the film: it was one of the best representatives of the poetic scene, the one and only Antonio Cisneros.He was happy to share some of his views about the war and about history and how he saw it. Interesting stuff.

One thing that remained in my mind thru the night was during his farewell...he shakes my hand and says: "Enough of crap, I think you are making such a good project and film and I wish you the best in making it. You are risking your balls here. You have to do it for it will serve a purpose to our nation!".

Little words like that do make a difference for me.
Specially in these months of hard moments trying to push this thing forward so it ends looking as professional as it can get.

Makes my efforts worth it.
:)

Exhausting

Pushing this film project forward is a very steep path and very emotionally exhausting...and I'm pulling thru with the best I can.
Definitely so far, one of the most tough projects I have put myself in as a goal and I know in the end it will pay off so much effort. 6 years of devoting on research and now 8 months pre-production. And this is my work stuff, my life so to speak, the things I love to do and done it for almost two decades.
The problem here is not the project itself...but the government institutions I approach. Don't get me wrong but....dealing with so many close-minded persons is simply annoying sometimes. Draining and frustrating at most.

The problem is that because of the script touching sensitive topics of the war, with a fellow country time ago (and which we still are in political conflicts nowadays) many of the institutions that would help for the battle scenes are putting a lot of hurdles and paper work and bureaucracy that it simply has converted this last step in the film pre-production process into almost 99% political and bureaucratic hassles. Not to mention the long waiting process and all while the rest of the stuff and actors need a fixed date now. I can say that I have met very helpful people here inside and out and their devotion to this project is so God-sent but the higher you go....the more uptight and more politically-scared those guys become. And I dislike that fear so very much.

Dealing with so many government institutions and their own interests is just a pain in the ass but I'm coming with some pretty good offers for them.
Politics don't mesh with art definitely and I hate people inside that have their own agendas and ulterior motives.

Proven fact.

But, right now I'm mostly wearing the producer's hat.
I don't know if its age or else but, calming myself after so much disillusion is handled better. I must admit that these months are a crush course on patience and resilience. I close my eyes and take a deep breath and later or tomorrow I feel better.
I know that a window opens the next day or the very moment a door closes and I'm a prove of that. The Navy and Police are being helpful so far.

So, after ranting and giving myself a pat in the back, I'm pushing forward....an that's what happens when you believe in yourself, so a big fuck you to the few people that doesn't believe in me. They simply don't know or just judge me by my needs/worries right now.

Modesty aside, I'm sure they wouldn't be able to push and handle so much as I'm handling now for a project of this scope is definitely no joke.
I dare them do it.
The rest is just a matter of time.

Got myself horses!

So, after having a meeting this last Saturday at the Department of Interior -the entity that runs the police- I cannot stop smiling.
My proposal was of their deep interest and they will be willing to give me 40 horses with their own horsemen for my film. They even have a white one for Alfonso Ugarte!

Now, in a few days, my next meeting with the Commander in chief of the Police force.
Things are coming along fine but still...lots to do.
Life is in the details and films are not distant form that idea. All areas need to be covered.

I just need to find more older weapons.
The quantity they have is not enough for the battle scenes.

Some ideas are coming to my head and like I said in a prior post...can't share all that I do and find everyday in here for political and security reasons. Don't want to shoot myself in the foot.
:)

Civilian wardrobe and locations!

Haven't updated in some days for mostly security reasons (better to keep things private with the navy for now) but all I can say is that I'm happy with the talks so far. Today I got an informal approval stating the head is interested. I'm just keeping my feet on the ground until i get it officially.


Today, I went to check on civilian wardrobe I have ordered a while back and things are developing good so far: full dress uniforms for the high-class people scenes, maids clothing, top hats, sandals and old lady's day dress, gloves, etc.


After that I dropped by an old house under re-construction and renovation that was built around the 1840's. The patios, hallways, rooms and doors/windows are kept intact like it was back then. Talked with the person in charge and got permission to shoot some scenes there also!
The energy felt there was so magical to me...so so magical. I felt like I had transported back to that era. I couldn't help but wonder how many generations of families have lived there...right there: children walking and running around the house while nannies chased and yelled at them to behave, ladies in day dresses with beautiful make up, gentleman in suit pants and neckties, etc. As I looked out the window and saw the main avenue full of cars I imagined like all cross-faded to a cobble-stone street with gentleman and old carriages pulled by horses. Lima of the mid 1800's.

And this means that this house was fully occupied while the war was going on.
Mmm...so beautiful.


So...wardrobe is being worked on.
The project still going strong,
:)

A new begining

The waiting meant nothing but from "nothingness" I always get something.
Now -even after shadowy army explanations- I finally decide to turn the page.

Welcome Navy.
A window closes...a door opens.

All this hardship definitely develops temper.
Moving on and my dream is stronger than ever.

Newspaper interview

So, here it is: the interview I had like 2 weeks ago and done by a Peruvian newspaper.
It was supposed to come out last Sunday but -because of Easter- the newspapers had to do a special edition about it for the coming holidays.

Now this Sunday, I finally made it to the press.
I'm excited.

Im sure tomorrow, the army officers will ask me about it.

Deparment of Defense

Coming back from the Department of Defense. I met finally with the head adviser to the Secretary of Defense to talk about my film. It was worth the wait as for a while I didn't think it was gonna happen today. He came a bit late but excused himself when he arrived in a proper manner and he was such a decent and warm person. Seemed enthusiastic and he will talk soon to the Secretary of Defense to arrange a meeting between him and me so I can explain further my mission and goals with this project.

Talking to people as high up the food chain as those guys is really really hard. I'm glad to finally pull thru. I must admit sometimes its overwhelming, emotionally draining all these hurdles and patience-demanding, My dream is what pushes me forward and I want to take it to the limit.
But still, I want results.

One thing that annoyed earlier before the meeting -as I talked with a colonel who is supporting my film too- was the fact that while talking with the officer who is in charge of pushing my project forward with the Commander-in-Chief (and a person I was trusting and waiting on) has left it stuck in there without a follow-up, trapping my project in the commander-in-chief's office. And all just out of pure negligence.

Luckily I have 99% of the people inside on my side that see the importance and value of this thing.

The things I get to learn lately....mmm...

Navy talks...progressing.

Sticking with my plan B, I met today with the Director of the Naval Museum, Contralmirante Casaretto. I was highly recommended to him by fellow friends and by the Naval Academy's sub-director Capitan de Navio Millones.

I can resume that meeting into two words: simply fraternal.
Casaretto could comprehend my vision with this project and also my frustration with the Army's delay with the signing of the support treaty. I could not only see navy officer compliant with the navy's ideal, but also a human being knowledgeable of the necessity of this types of work to be released on to the public. In fact, he is a lover of art and has been the author and promoter of theater plays regarding Navy topics of heroism and has faced the lack of support many times during decades with art topics like mine. But, he pulled thru also, so he understands.

He suggested some names and also supported my idea to talk to the Secretary of Defense himself as I told him I was pulling some strings here and there to get to him. He finally gave the push i needed.
I explained that if the Army takes more than two weeks, I was planning to have the Navy's support with the film. He was more than eager to uphold that decision. Even suggested to do so.

But I'm gonna wait a week and a half. Otherwise, I'll go with the Navy.
I'm only asking for support for the battle scenes, not permission to make my film. So if I cant have their help, another will....and the Navy is interested.

Meeting with the Secretary of Defense's adviser next Tuesday.

Navy talks...starting.

Heading toward Lima's port is the quiet neighborhood of La Punta near the sea. Finally I arrived sharp to my awaited meeting at the Peruvian Naval Academy. The weather is so hot lately that wearing a suit is unbearable but there -even under a clear blue sky and no clouds to cover the burning sun- the ocean breeze was soothing for a while. I can't wait to have my car's AC fixed. I really don't know how I'm driving around without it!

Jorge Millones, my friend's Milagro's husband was a very helpful and awesome person.
Being the sub-director of the Academy, he knew what people to talk to regarding my film project and even made some calls in front of me to make sure we were heading somewhere.

Can't be more optimistic now. There is hope!

Plan B

Today I met with Milagros Bellido, journalist and a very smart woman. Introduced by a common friend, we happen to share same mission and values regarding the necessity to evaluate and push up the sense of nation and patriotism.
She has written many articles for years about the unjustice and biased opinions against the army by localized political and social groups that look to diminish, belittle and dismember the authentic mission of the Institution. She understood very clear what my mission was.

Her husband happens to be also the son of an army officer and he is now a high ranking officer in the Navy. His name sounds familiar in the army family's circle of friends.
We arranged a meeting with him to start talks with the Navy as plan B.

The army is taking too much to answer.
And the sad thing is that its not the Army itself....but just one or two people inside that trap my project.

Thank God 99% inside are in favor, but still. I need to move on.
Can't wait on them.

Explosives' on the way!

The explosives and ammunition for my film has just been ordered now for importation. Scheduled to get here in 45 to 50 days aprox, will arrive from the US inside a special container by the end of April.
Getting all the permits with Discamec and the Ministry of Interior is a hassle in itself but...necessary to do.

Can't wait to do some explosion's and gunfire tests!!

I just can't bear this heat anymore...

Focusing on the "art department"

Waiting for the commander in chief's approval is taking longer than expected. I can't say I'm calm but I'm handling it by working on other areas of the film like the Art Department meanwhile.

Last week I went to visit the site where the Bolognesi headquarters replica's at: the Real Felipe fortress, and today to the Museo de los Combatientes del Morro de Arica (Heores of the battle of Arica museum). I brought along the interior designer and friend of mine Juan Carlos Araujo. This is gonna be the first time he gets involved in a project of this size and type but I'm sure he will deliver. Besides, I trust him as a person and as an artist.

The museum is awesome and both places really bring you closer to how they lived, weared and also gives a better perspective of how the furniture, architecture and atmosphere were in that era. I want it to be well detailed in the film.

Here are some pics in the Respuesta Replica at the Real Felipe fortress and the House of Bolognesi.
Now the decorations and props that needs to appear on the film is better understood now.
















Definitely...I love this era.
The high ceilings and tall doors and slim corridors of Bolognesi's house reminded me of my grandfathers' one in La Victoria. Their house was from the early 1900's.