Happy day Tacna!

A day like today, you returned to our homeland, your motherland. A day like today 82 years ago you saw the light back again knowing that you are safe among family. Have a happy day, you heroic city. You were a fountain of martyrs who gave Peru so much glory. Have a wonderful day, Tacna. Today I celebrate you with corn and cheese and Mercado Viejo just like I used to as a child .... as in those delicious sunday countryside meals in Pachia!

Another magazine interview

Interesting interview I had a few days ago for the Hildebrandt magazine about my film.

Flu

Finally coming out of bed. Been sick for many days. This changing weather and my long days of tiresome filming in water and fire drains my body of needed defenses.

Have to keep an eye on exceeded stress and lack of sleep.

Independencia flashback scenes: flood and fire.

It's been quite a week these days and I am beat as a boxer after this. In a few words: exciting, dangerous, adrenaline-filled, scary at times but worth the emotions.

Also, tuesday morning we went to the San Lorenzo island some miles in front of Lima in a zodiac speed boat. Was told that around the island the waters are clear so I can do the underwater scenes as the Peruvian sailors fell into water and were shot to death. The beach was amazing as I never been there before. Funny how all falls in place here. Sadly, the water wasnt clear enough but I was told it depends much on how sunny it is and on the currents. Perhaps I'll have to wait a bit longer down the year to do those scenes. Can't simply go one day just out of the blue if the sun comes out strong as those shots need a lot of preparation. Have to think of plan B in case it doesn't work there. At least I visited the island. :)

Filmed basically the fire and flooding inside the Peruvian armored ship "Independencia" during the bombing as it ran aground. The chosen location worked perfect as it was prepared the prior days during the holidays.

Two new production assistant team mates are in summing up to the "growing family" and they began with the right foot with these exciting scenes. Welcome to the team guys!

Preparing the run aground of the Independencia scene

It's Tuesday 26 and getting ready the scenario and set for the run aground of the peruvian Independencia ship. The scene involves ocean water flooding and fire plus explosions inside the armored ship because of the bombing happening outside. It also involves fire shooting of the sailors desperately trying to control the damage caused by underwater rocks. Navy officer Guillermo More is
in command (played by my actor friend Manuel Rojas) ordering black sailors aboard.
It is to be the flashback memories of him during his explanation to Bolognesi's question about it in front of Ugarte and Inclan the night before the Arica morro siege.

We will be also filming in the San Lorenzo island because of the clear waters surrounding it that would allow me to film underwater as the Peruvian sailors are shot to death by enemy fire.

Such a dangerous and delicate scene but happy that the Navy will help me with transportation to the island and also with the use of old ship metal shell inner casing so I can destroy it and open holes in the walls to allow for the water pumps to shoot pressured sea water in it.

The rest is just good acting and camera moves.

On monday I'll be doing some tests for fire control, lighting, how big the explosions would have to be and how much heat build-up will happen inside. Lenses would get really foggy and also my camera handles at least 50 Celsious and I don't want it to melt during filming!!

Let's see what happens. I'm very excited to shoot this scene!!

Good news: Navy is in

Happy again for I got good news to share.

As many who follow my blog would know, last year I also contacted the Navy for support by supplying ships that still kept the look and feel of 19th century. It wasn't much but initially they said yes but backed away in the end. It definitely was the opinion of someone in the higher spheres of the Institution that didn't get it. Decided to drop the issue right there.

But that was last year before I even started filming. This new year, some friends insisted that I rekindled talks with them as it is now new people who make the decisions. So I did and made a stop while filming to met with officers in the Navy headquarters a couple months ago.
Today, I just got in my hands a formal document stating they do like my project and mission and are deciding to support me.

Sometimes, good things come late...but they come.
I am glad that I can add now the Navy in my list of helpers and supporters. Regardless of being a personal project or a personal dream, I consider this film to be important also for the nation so having the ones who are in a way supposed to help jumping on the wagon, quite something to be happy about.

:)

Vavasseur cannon painting process

Despite de light drizzle today in Lima, the cannon paiting process went along fine. I commissioned Cesar who -apart from being an extra in the film- is a painter, to take care of the painting process. He recommended not to do it under rain, even a drizzle like today, but the porous finish it gives it is exactly what I'm looking for. I don't want the cannon to look smooth and glossy (it looks shiny in the pictures because the paint was fresh but its more like a matte color in the end).

This is the main body plus the long neck that is able to come out in order to put the blast charge inside.
Now that it looks painted, it resembles more like a period cannon.

Apart from being huge it is quite a look alike of a real 250 lb. Vavasseur.
Now, I'm not bothered by any scratches happening on the way to the top of the Morro Solar where the battle scenes are gonna be for up there I'll even give it a more beaten up and aged look. Make it look used, so to speak.

So far...so good. :)

Vavasseur ready for painting

Today, the new Vavasseur cannon was brought to the painting place to start on Thursday.
Quickly, the cannon was built on the support wooden sides and checked for balance. Didn't take off the plastic wrapping as these days, the humidity and rain is becoming an issue and is starting to rust the metal. Because of the extra thick casing shell inside the long neck (that forms a compartment that is going to be used for actual firing special FX) the nose tends to dive down faster than the back.

This is gonna be fixed by attaching a heavier piece in the back hidden under and a hook in order to keep it pointing upwards depending on the firing direction. The rest of the firing explosion will be added digitally in post.

So far, it does looks huge just like the 250lb. Vavasseur in actual scale. With the painting it will simply look amazing.

Can't wait to see it painted and test the firing mechanism!!

Chiclayo conference - 2DP

So, this week is basically full of meetings and pre-production work to gather all stuff required for the next big scene: the Morro, Bolognesi's and Ugarte's immolation.

It is required a lot of things in that scene, no wonder it's taking a lot of days to prepare, specially when the army is so busy now getting ready for a new president entering office soon.

A few weeks back, I was invited by the University of Sipan in Chiclayo to do a conference for their Communication Sciences career department to talk about my career as a filmmaker and also about the film. Today, I'm finally flying there and the conference is scheduled for tomorrow.

Among all the stressful situation's being lived lately, I see this flight as chance to renew a bit and to get in touch again with the academic side and recall the times when I taught in Inictel some years ago.

UPDATE: The conference called 2DP was smooth. It all went pretty well and the atmosphere was in general very appealing and of much sharing. The students were very interested on what was said regarding film-making advices and tech experience and afterwards was flooded by people with questions for more info. Next day it all continued with a local TV interview.

Thank you Francisco Barquero - a great guy, also his wonderful staff and the Universidad de Sipán for a great time and offer to teach your students the ins and outs of this wonderful but hard field that is film-making.