3rd visit to Huancayo and Santa Rosa de Ocopa

And another visit to Huancayo city to meet with its Major. I'm glad he is onboard this sequel project too. Dropped by the Convent of Ocopa. A small town some 25 north of Huancayo to check that location for history tells Caceres stayed there for some time directing the war. There is no official documents that state this but word of mouth and some facts state that as a fact. Talked with the priest in charge, Mr. Cajo -who also happens to be a historian- and he had some interesting things to say about Caceres. Definetly thi is one of many visits. The convent is beautiful and the inside is simply stunning! Too bad pictures were prohbited but I secured this location for filming the sequel. The footage will be amazing I'm sure. So much history in one place.

With Dimas Aliaga, Huancayo's Major.

Convent of Ocopa. The front is amazing.

With priest Cajo. Interesting talks.

Visiting the same places Caceres was at 132 years ago.

The outsides of Ocopa.

Cuts, dissolves, fades to black....Post-production process.

Editing "Gloria del Pacifico". Been doing it for the last 2 months now and still like 5 months away from finishing it.

Many things to cover and now its the montage. Then comes the adding of visual effects, rotoscoping, digital composition, sky replacement, 3D buildings and mountains, 3D water, musical scoring, color correction, etc. A lot to do on my own but the work is worth it. Wish I could delegate some work but the editing involves the knowledge of two basic things to make it right: knowing history, knwoing the script by hand and knowing where and when things were shot for soem scenes weren't shot complete in one place but in 3 to 4 differente places and in a span of 2 years from one another in some cases.

Considering the fact of training another person to work along with me on this. Im giving it deep thoughts....

My montage station.

My Radio Cooperativa interview for "Gloria del Pacifico".

Was interviewed by the chilean Radio Cooperativa back in April 1rst, 2013. It's just audio but I edited it with some images from my film.

I thank them for this nice interview and their interest on my film. It's a warm feeling to know a fellow country's interest on one's work.

Second visit to Huancayo, Pucará and Concepción: Pre-production for Cáceres-La Breña.

My second visit to Huancayo and this time to meet with government authorities to arrange help to do the sequel to my "Gloria del Pacifico" film which happens here in the highlands of Peru and its about Cáceres and La Breña. Also coincided with the reenactment of the Pucará and Marcavalle battle scenes. Have seen it a month and half ago while rehearsing and today I could see what I saw on video footage of it years ago: they had a good "far away look" but close up views gives away the artisan ways they are doing it. Not exactly pro but its supposed to be seen from afar. I have to make hundreds of uniforms again anyway.

Interesting experience and glad to count again with the Army's help and with local Majors of nearby cities and towns where actual battles took place. Too bad the Governor isn't as willing or interested as the others (many told me even so prior hand)  so like with Gloria del Pacifico, will do it on my own again. Its funny how during interviews and speeches, goverment officials always talk about how important culture and tradition is and so on and so on....but when the opportunity rises to do soemthing about it, they just stall and make you feel like they are doing you a favor (when actually you are helping them do their job).

Anyway....the sequel pre-production stage is on track now and Huancayo's, Pucará's, Marcavalle's and Concepción's Majors and the Caceres Legion is with me on this.

I'm not alone on this quest. After Gloria del Pacifico, more doors open and I'm quite happy people who are committed to our nation's values understand my mission.

"Ccarccaria -Danzante de Tijeras" interview Cuarto Poder

And another interview that was actually on hold for several weeks. This time it was for my next film "Ccarccaria - Danzante de Tijeras".
Being government and political new more important to the audience's eyes, the TV news program pushed the interview for about 3 weeks (let's face it....film or cultural news aren't of national interest anyway...or scandalous to that level).

Finally, one day after my live interview at TV Peru, had pre-recorded one shown on Cuarto Poder (America Television). Short but a good one.

TV Peru interview

Was called for an interview for channel 7 TV Peru. Arranged a couple weeks prior but had to say no first time for they were doing an special show over the La Haya legal situation of both Peru and Chile. Said no with all due respect for the simple reason that I don't want my film to be associated with this legal dilemma among both countries for I'm not making it for that reason at all. Period.

When I started doing the historical research to write the script back in 2004 (that's 9 years ago, folks) I wasn't even aware of the maritime area in dispute. In 2009 when pre-production started, I was nowhere even watching TV or reading news about the forthcoming Haya suit for doing this film is really time-consuming.....and now, just months away from the final verdict of the La Haya, I'm finishing my film. Mere coincidence and it's true. Nobody is endorsing this but myself anyway, and my intention is loud and clear: to renew the nation's pride and love for our past heroes. That's all in a nutshell.

So, having that cleared, they understood and gave me a different date for the interview and was glad to be given plenty of time (actually they told me 10 minutes but the interview went over 17 without cut as the news director liked it, she said). I'm glad to be able to show and explain the solemn and deep intention I truly have to just have my fellow countrymen and all who value history, know what our heroes went thru and how they became what they are now: men of honor.

Hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.
Here's the link below of the page:

http://www.tvperu.gob.pe/noticias/miscelanea/cine/47043-gloria-del-pacifico-megaproduccion-del-cine-nacional-.html

"Ccarccaria" trailer filming and "Gloria del Pacifico" street scenes

Crazy times, crazy life!

Been preparing logistics and all for the Ccarccaria trailer scenes to be filmed at Canta and Obrajillo.
Went back n forth twice to close deals for food and lodging needs. All went well.

The road to Canta isn't the best nowadays and many forced stops are made all along the way for construction equipment and men at work get the soil ready for the road to be expanded in width and size and apply tar. No mor bumps and dirt roads as it has been for years. To be done by mid 2014 as they say. It takes us around 4 to 5 hours to get there when it was 2 hours tops before. It was such a hassle but the scenery is worth it.

When I shot here Voces en el Silencio back in september 2011, saw the Obrajillo church stairs and streets and it looked just like Arica back in 1880 so with a few digital compositing, the church could be transformed into Arica's Eiffel designed metal arquitecture. Returning here to film was always in the back of my mind and now we did it for the church staircase shooting as it happened on June 7, 1880.

Obrajillo is simply peacefull and beautiful. We lodged at Balcones de Obrajillo and ate at La Choza de Omar. Not only it served as a great resting place but also made good friends along the way. I so love the highlands and sierras: the air, the animals, the blue sky, the calmness one inhales in every corner. Nature is such a great healer of human rush in life that stresses you. We thank both places for giving us the care and warmth we so needed. Anyone dropping by please give them a visit and make business with them. It's very much worth it.

Lamby everywhere :)

The church staircase behind.

Duck friend.

Giving last acting details.

Screen capture: "Dance, my son....dance"

Screen capture: "Something is wrong with my baby, grandpa".

Screen capture: Ccarccaria is born.

Screen capture: "I'll dance 'till I reach the stars!"

Screen capture: "Can't take it anymore, father"

Screen capture: The scissors.

Screen capture: Grandpa.