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ALEJANDRO ANDRADE
FILMOGRAPHY:
Madrid: la sombra de un sueño (2007)
Hoy supe que te mueres (2004)
Juego de manos (2003)
LINKS:
Q & A with
ALEJANDRO ANDRADE
Q: Tell us a little about your personal background and your education and training?
I'm from Mexico City, born and raised there. I went to the National Film School (Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematograficos CUEC) part of the UNAM, the biggest university of Latin America, and studied there for 5 years, and graduated as film director in 2004. This school is one of the most important film schools in Mexico, and acclaimed mexican film makers such as Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter, Children of Men) studied there. I've also studied a degree in Audiovisual Communication in the Anahuac University. I've done several short films as director, writer and editor, winning prizes in Mexico and Spain. My short film JUEGO DE MANOS (Hand Game, 2004) was selected to be part of the official competition in the 54th BERLINALE (Berlin International Film Festival) one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. There in Berlin, I was also part of the TALENT CAMPUS, where I had the big opportunity to take workshops with great film directors like Ken Loach and Stephen Frears. I've worked in many film and television productions in Mexico, Spain and Romania.
My latest documentary MADRID: THE SHADOW OF A DREAM (Spain, 2007), that has interviews with Pedro Almodóvar and other Spanish artists, won the prize for Best Documentary of the Spanish Association of Authors and Editors (SGAE) in 2007.
Q: How did you find out about the Yuglo contest to go to India and work on a British TV series? What appealed to you about the contest and Yuglo?
A good friend of mine sent me an email with the information of the contest and a link to the Yuglo website. Both the website and the contest were very attractive and the Sharpe's production seemed to be something big and I wanted to be part of it.
Q: What do you think is your specialty in regards to directing a video? Or What do you think are your strong points in directing a video?
I love images, and I love editing them and bring out new meanings by mixing them and constructing a cinematographic sentence.
I think that the combination of good images and good editing technique could be my specialty.
Q: Have you ever been to India? Do you anticipate any issues regarding India and its culture in respect to the filming of your project?
I've never been to India, and I've always wanted to go there. India is one of my dreamed destinations, so I'm very happy and excited to go now. I love the culture, the food, the religion, the art, and Bollywood films. I hope that some of this great culture can be reflected in my work.
Q: Are you familiar with the Sharpe series and the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell?
I've heard of the books as they are very popular and some of them have been translated to Spanish, but I've never read one. The TV series has broadcasted in Mexico and Spain, but I haven't watched it. I'm looking forward to watch the complete series.
Q: What are you doing to prepare for this project? Are you reading any books on this period of British and Indian history? Are you reading any books about the Sharpe series?
I've read the "Sharpe's Peril" screenplay, and I'm researching in books and the internet for information about this historical period.
Q: What is being asked of you in terms of making this film? What would the producers like to see you do? Are you at liberty to come up with your own style on making this feature?
I have liberty to propose new ideas, the producers have been very gentle with me and they trust that we can do a great product together. They gave me some ideas, and asked for some things that have to be part of the making of but I'm working in my own proposition to have what they need but with my own style.
Q: What kind of access will you have to everyone involved?
I will have total access to all the parts of the shooting. I will interview the main actors and artists and technical crew.
Q: The three film/video samples you submitted relied mainly on visual impact, and on creating a mood rather than relaying information. Do you plan on using this approach when working on "The Making of... "Sharpe's Peril" or a different approach?
I think that the visual part is very important and I will try to have a visual impact also here, but I'm aware that it's also very important in this project to have a narrative part and also to inform all the viewers about the shooting and making them get close to the actors and the crew. So I will try to combine both things.
Q: Aside from a great "Making of..." film, what do you hope will come out of this experience, both personally and professionally?
My priority is to make a good project, to concentrate all my energy and talent in this "Making of...", of course that working in India surrounded with all these great professionals will be a great personal experience, and I will try to learn all I can from them. I hope that a lot of people can see my work, and in the future with all these experiences and the things I learn from these great professionals I could be directing a feature film.
Q: How would you like to approach this "Making Of..." to appeal to an international fan base?
I hope that all the Sharpe fans can see my work. I will try to cover for them all the aspects of the shooting. Will try to get them closer to the set. And of course try to get them closer to Sean Bean and all the other great actors. I will try to be your eyes and ears in the shooting, and make a great visual product so you can enjoy it.
Q: Is there anything about this experience that we haven't covered in our questions that you would like to share with the world?
Just to thank everybody very much for their time and help in making this a big Project. And also thank the Yuglo team for this great opportunity.