Interior scenes first days: Bolognesi and heroes

Today was the first filming day for Bolognesi with the rest of heroes as Ugarte, Inclan and More.
Now we get serious! :)

Magazine interview

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by the MAS Magazine in Trujillo about the film and my career. it was good to remember the music part with Alter Ego and all. After many questions, as it's obvious, the answers needed to be shortened and the author has asked me to do a second part.
I'm simply glad for this event and share with you here a screen capture taken from the digital version of the magazine.

Preparing for interior scenes

First post of the year. Been 8 days of not only relaxing a bit but planning for next week's scenes. As the new year opens, there's a lot of movement in the army for many officers are being changed in their posts and sent elsewhere. The new ones will take a couple weeks to settle down in their new office so -in order not to lose momentum and rhythm- I'm changing the schedule to shoot interior scenes a bit ahead with Bolognesi, Ugarte and all the Peruvian and Chilean officers.

Went downtown to warm up connections with the cultural center I'm filming in and also went south of Lima scouting for a bigger country farm house as the one I scouted a year ago feels small now to my taste. A good friend Abelardo suggested a place who's owner is his father's close friend. Went there and it's simply perfect for exterior scenes. The interiors are modern now so they have to be shot elsewhere, but the outside is simply beautiful and even painted with that tone of pink typical of the era. It even has its own church! One curious anecdote is that while walking the offices inside I stumbled upon and old student of mine. His face seemed familiar until he told me I was his teacher back in 2002 in an institute I used to work at. Little things that light your day.

After that, went downtown again to check on some old houses around the Jirón de la Unión, a tour-de-force for anyone interested in old Lima. It's funny how houses and places that were "the place" in their heydays back in the late 19th century/early 20th are closed now and surrounded by modern buildings and businesses. I walk around people that seem (and I'm sure they are) ignorant of the big past and history they are walking among like the Palais Concert and the Courret Photography Archive where most of the photographs of the era were taken and saved.

History is everywhere!....we just have to look deep and pay more attention.
Wish I was a millionaire so I would buy those places and turn them into a museum or something before they become lost and demolished or turned into a low-class downtown joint.

Alto del Alianza battle

Last filming day of the year: yesterday Thursday the 30th. Filmed the Alto del Alianza battle.
Even though we had a late start we did fine. Regiment uniforms and flags of Zepita N 2 were used, the Husares de Junin and also the Bolivian Colorados and Aroma were present. It was also the first day with actor Gustavo MacLennnan playing Chilean general Baquedano.

I want to write a bit more but I am exhausted. It's been five full days of pre-production for these battle scenes, so I will just close this post saying it's been a great year of making a long-time dream come true. Practically making a life-dream come true.
I thank each and everyone involved in making this happen. To all who are not here anymore because they simply couldn't endure the hurdles and stress and specially to those who still remain and keep on strong showing they are true professionals and real fighter-soldiers!

To you all I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart.
Happy new year 2011 everyone!!!!

PS: We took an improvised picture during dinner time and twicked it to make it look like an old daguerreotype photo of the era welcoming that year 1880. Just for laughs! :)

I also want to thank the faithful participation of the following people who has showed up to the location to play -at least once- as a soldier. Many has come one day and some others for many days or even everyday! Testing their own abilities to face extreme heat, sun, dust, soil, rifle butt hits, prolonged hours of exhaustion, etc. Just like the real ones did 130 years ago. These men are true fighters and true believers not only in the cause but also in my project: Gustavo Perez, Alaan Placencia, Cesar Bautista, Juan Carlos Arana, Raul Bermudez, Jaime Trujillo, Carlos Buitron, Javier Liñan, Martin Josue Paredes, Raul Zambrano, Oblitas Condor Vasquez , Alvaro Heredia, Jorge Bayona, Paolo Rossi, Pedro Chambilla, Julio Maldonado, Vuldemar Casavilca and Abelardo Juarez.

Hurdles pass...Good work prevails

It has been quite rough these past weeks. Many changes and many difficult situations to face. Definitely this film is quite some tough project to pull off but I was aware of what could happen. I had to dismiss/fire the special effects guy Casanave after many months of confrontations for being too unpunctual, unable to follow indications and orders and for being a loud mouth. (Update: After all these time he has threatened for defamation. Curious...Where in the world is stating your opinion a defamation when there were even dozens of witnesses of this without me even saying a single word?) Anyway, I'll just leave it at that.
This film is serious and I can't allow people like that to come and spoil all the hard work of many of us. It was a huge mistake in hiring him as everybody told me. Everybody is a witness to that and I'm very sure he will have a hard time getting work elsewhere as word of mouth has spread quickly about his attitude issues without me even saying a single word...specially in the film business and with the Army.

But now I am very happy with the new ones. They are quite professional, punctual, discreet and hard-working people. People that make u feel at ease...not like the former guy.

I knew right from the start that only serious and professional people would stick around the heavy weather and work conditions this type of film involves and time has proven so. Now I know who's who here and who will finally get to the final credits.

Life goes on and the film is moving along well even among these busy holidays.
I'm very happy with the results so far. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say.

And on a side note, yesterday Thursday was the first film scene of Juan Manuel Ochoa as colonel Agustin Belaunde. Again I say I'm more than happy to have this wonderful actor aboard. He always puts his "touch" on every character he makes. Filming even as late as 1 AM in the morning isn't fun but working with him is enough to make it worthwhile.