Where did you get your inspiration to write the script of “Ernesto”?
Most of the scripts are different from the original books.
It’s very difficult to adapt a book faithfully.
One day, I was reading a book
and I felt touched by several fragments.
I didn’t want to keep that emotion for myself.
I felt like sharing it with everybody.
So I turned those fragments into a short film.
How come you edited part of the film in black and white and what does it mean?
When “Ernesto” was shown
the memories were in color.
After having presented it in other places,
I introduced some changes.
One consisted in turning the memories into b&w .
After several screenings
I noticed that people liked my short.
But not everyone understood that there were memories.
When I turned those fragments into b&w it was less confusing.
You could tell it was a flashback.
They didn’t seem like memories in color.
That’s why I introduced the black and white.
I’ve always tried to make the audience get my message.
Is black and white still related to the theme of depression?
Some might say that b&w refers to the theme of depression
I didn’t use it with that purpose.
I used it so that the audience would get the meaning better.
It marks a flashback.
Haven’t you had memories in b&w?
It was such a long time ago that you can’t even remember the colors!
That’s why I chose b&w.
How was your experience of working with the actor Eric Alcantara?
Eric Alcantara has a personal sign
which is this one
but as an actor he has another one, which is like this.
So that we can differentiate them.
I spoke with Eric and I told him about his part.
I had worked with him in previous films.
You can tell he’s played in theatre.
He’s good. I like the way he works.
he learned his part and it came out well right away.
He got it almost without any help.
I knew that he would understand Ernesto,
When I shot the film it was perfect.
I trust his judgement. He’s a good actor, that’s all.
Could you count on a high budget for the production?
A high budget? Are you joking?
Of course the higher it is, the easier it is to produce.
But while working on the script,
I suspected that the production would be feasible with a low budget.
Just the minimum to cover the expenses…
It’s important to take care of the details.
And we never felt it was impossible.
There was a good atmosphere among the team.
When I offered them the project
they accepted without a second thought.
I was happy that they should trust me.
We supplied the lack of means by our motivation and pride.
With that kind of personal implication the project is usually a success.
I wish I had a higher budget,
though, in order to improve the quality.
It's not easy.
Is it possible to make good films in this sector with the low budgets we have?
It’s important to start off with a good idea.
If the original idea is good the adaptation may be good as well,
although there’s no guarantee of course.
To achieve what you have in mind you need a good budget.
There are always big differences between the initial project and the final result.
But not if there is money.
At the end of the day the most important is to have willpower and motivation.
What part of the film production is the most difficult for you and which is the one you feel most at ease with?
There are so many things happening in a film that
one can’t take them all into account.
Before I begun I felt I had it all under control.
But I had to change the script several times.
There are always things missing and you have to improvise.
At the end there’s a plan B, a plan C…
What makes me more nervous is the editing.
During the editing phase you realize that it’s not the script you had imagined.
You make some tests and the result is not bad
but you always end up modifying the original script slightly.
I can spend the whole night editing scenes.
I hate to leave things halfway.
You end up losing the thread.
I don’t feel at ease until I’ve finished.
I can easily be working all night long.
Just like the young people who can spend the night partying,
I can spend it editing the film until it’s all done,
then I can finally relax.
That’s the hardest part of the film production for me.
What does the Vicmovies competition mean for you?
Vicmovies is an important festival.
When the festival started
with science-fiction shorts.
Later the genre of the shorts changed each year.
People found it interesting.
When I sent “Mi vida perfecta” (My Perfect Life)
I was thrilled to see it accepted.
This way it would have an audience even if it wasn’t rewarded.
I was impressed to see the number of shorts
and the amount of people that went to Vic.
Congratulations!
At the beginning to travel so far to participate.
Afterwards the interest caught up.
Each year, I was happy to note that the audience kept growing.
The organizing body has managed
to get many volunteers involved.
It’s exciting!
It’s a small association who’s gained everyone’s respect
thanks to its great management.
Above all there’s a good atmosphere,
and the public feels it and really enjoys itself.
In many festivals in Spain,
the film genre in order to participate is free.
Each director sends a film according to
his or her preferences and the genre they are better at.
But Vicmovies changes the genre every edition.
So to make a film in a category that doesn’t appeal to you
and then learn that it’s been selected
leads you to dare new experiences.
I congratulate the organization of Vicmovies.
How come you’ve addressed the theme of a non auditory disability in a competition in sign language?
I feel deeply touched by films
which address themes of disability.
But why should I talk about
the one that I have myself?
Personally I’m fed up with
the shorts addressing hearing problems.
I’ve seen many
and they remind me of my own experience.
Whenever I see one about another disability
I feel touched and I want to share my emotions.
I try to express them.
And get the public to feel moved
right from the beginning of the film.
If I addressed the same disability
that affects my audience, deafness,
they wouldn’t blink.
I prefer to show different disabilities.
Because there are tons of them.
That’s my aim:
Raise awareness about equality,
try to create empathy.