Tag: Berlinale

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Cinema

Sand Storm at Berlinale

Sand Storm

From the Berlinale the Black and Paper interview with Director Elite Zexer and Actor Haitham Omari.

What were the challenges of making this film and as a director and an actor?
My main challenge as a director was making a film about a culture that was not mine. I think that is why it took so long to make it. There were a lot of steps along the way. It took me years to get the script the right, 4 years of writing and rewriting. I made a short film in the interim.

Omari: I am a news cameraman. I was close to the Bedouins in their villages but I wanted to understand them from the inside. At times in the film you like my character and then there were times when you hated him.

Why did you want to shoot a film on the Bedouins?
My mother has been shooting Bedouin women for 10 years. She became friends with them. I started going with her, one evening I went to an event similar to the one in my film. That was about 8 years ago that started the process of making the film.

Where did the title come from?
Sandstorm refers to an internal storm with the characters and of course in the desert.
It was originally a working title. After winning the Locarno Film Festival we decided to keep the title.

Phtography Vered Adir- Jalal Masarwa-Lamis Ammar

Were there script changes after the casting?
The main changes were made to the Layla character. I met Lamas but thought she was wrong for the part. Layla is shy while Lamas is strong and outgoing. The auditions were ongoing for months, meeting, talking. Lamas had something. In the end we mutually changed our approached to the character. I adapted the script with her in mind.

Was there one village used in the location?
No, there were different villages used for the production, one for the family house, the second wife’s house, and another for the celebration.

Is the ending of the film a message of hope?
No comment (laughing). I wanted to end the film with the audience thinking of what will happen to the next generation.

For more information go to beforethebombsfall.weebly.com

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Cinema

Ants on a Shrimp at Berlinale

Ants on a Shrimp

Black and Paper spoke to Director Maurice Dekkers at the Berlinale 2016 about his culinary documentary on one of the world’s best restaurant, Noma, from Copenhagen.

How did the idea come up for the film?

I read Rene was going to Japan.  I wanted to record a chef creating a new menu, in a different location.   It was a complete change of routine for both of us, a real challenge.  This was my first documentary film while he was preparing a 14 course meal in Tokyo.  Everything was new, fruits, vegetables, and herbs,

How was Rene during the filming?

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Chef Renee

Calm.  He was not always so tranquil in the past but during filming he did not lose his cool.  I did not want to make a film about a screaming chef.  I followed him around for 2 months filming.   He tries everything, asks a lot of questions.

And your interaction with the crew?

I saw them as one person.  But they did not experience the kitchen, not Japan.

One of my favorite parts of the film is when Renee and his crew are out picking twigs in the forest.  This was a “normal” moment.

What about the kitchen? What was different?

There were no fires or pots. Everything was fermentation.

What was your favorite item on the Noma menu?

The citrus and underground root based dishes.

Did the team crack the Code of the Turtle?

No, not while I was filming.

How did you become interested in the culinary arts?

I have been interested in food from the time I was born.  I produced KEURINGSDIENST VAN WAARDE (‘FOOD UNWRAPPED’) for many years in Holland.

Ants on a Shrimp was part of the Berlinale 2016 Culinary Cinema Section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cinema

Berlinale 2016 Press Conferences

Jude Law

Images from the Berlinale Press Conferences powered by Canon G3X

 

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Cinema

Berlinale War on Everyone

There was bit of  buzz for John Michael McDonagh’s film during the screenings.  A known director known for making quirky black comedy in his native UK.

This time McDonagh tries his at at the American Buddy Cop Comedy with Michael Pena and Alexander Skarsgard.  The Result? When a director does not show up for a press conference for his film at a major festival, action speaks louder than words.  I could go on and on about  why this film does not work but life is too short to read a review about a film that will be on sale in the DVD leftover bin in a few days.  And I am being generous when I say, leftover bin!

I have to hand it to Alexander and Micheal for being profession and engaging during the press conference and after the public screening.  They had the guts to show up to face the fire.  Good going guys!

 

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Technology

Berlinale 2016 Images

Tilda

Images from the Film Festival

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Cinema

Shooting Stars Berlinale 2016

European Shooting Stars 2016 at the Berlinale

10 young actors were chosen from across the continent for the 19th edition of the European Initiative.

Martha

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Martha Canga Antonio from Belgium

Martha Canga Antonio is from Belgium. She debuted in first film BLACK in 2015.

Why did you become actress?

I was 15 years old. I read there was an audition for a film. The filmmakers were looking for unexperienced actors. So, I took a chance and got the role.  I discovered something amazing during the making of the film.

Is there a particular role you would like to perform?

Of course I would like challenging roles. Something people would not imagine me doing.

Anything new coming up?

Yeah, I am looking at roles and new projects.

Will the Shooting Stars help your career?

It feels like the official start of my career.

 

Lou

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Lou de Laage from France

Lou de Laage is from France. She has been nominated twice for the French Academy Awards as Most promising Actress for her roles in “Jappeloup” and “Breathe”.

How did you get involved in acting?

I did theater when I was 10 in Bordeaux. I always wanted to do it. It was a dream for me. I went to acting school. When I moved to Paris at 18 I got an agent and continued to work. Then I started in cinema. It was another world.

What have you learned about your profession?

I learn from each project.   There different methods and styles of working. I have been in co-productions in Holland and Poland. The styles were different.   I took the best from both.

Is there an actress you would like to emulate?

I have many but no real model. I cannot have the same career as actresses I have to go my own way.

 

Maria

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Maria Valverde from Spain

Maria Valverde is from Spain. She started working in 2002 winning the prestigious lead actress award for her debut film.

How did you start as an actress?

I started drama school at 10. I made my first film at 15.   I won a Goya Prize at 16 for The Bolsheviks’s Weakness. I have constantly worked.

What is your style of acting?

I did not attend drama school. I learned from other actors, their techniques and styles. I am always practicing. I find acting therapeutic, drawing on real experiences.

Do you have an actress you admire?

I admire many.

What is your goal as an actress?

I do not have one. Acting has been fun for me. It has given me so many opportunities to work and travel. I am learning French now. It will be my fourth language.

Images by Canon Legria mini X

 

Categories
Cinema

Hail Ceasar

Clooney

The Hail Ceasar press conference kicked off the screenings for the 66th annual Berlinale.

The 1950’s comedy from the Coen Brothers marks a reunion with stars Clooney and Swinton along with stars,  Brolin, Tatum.

The film concerns the disappearance of film Baird Whitlock (Clooney) during the filming a mega budget Biblical Epic.  Studio head Mannix (Brolin) works hard keeping the scandals and secrets from leaking to the press while trying to keep the studio and stars inline.

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Beauty

Make Up Artist to the Stars

During the Berlinale 2015 L’Oreal Paris was generous enough to allow us to go behind the scenes to interview Andrej Baranow. Mr. Baranow has been the key make-up artist of the festival for 17 years.

What is your favorite product?

The Eyebrow Plumber! It looks like looks like a mascara brush but it is used to fill and cover up. It can also be used for men cause it’s clear, no color. It is a nice grooming product because it straightens the brows.

Should every celebrity wear red lipstick?

No! Only when the celebrity wants to say, “Hello I am here!”

Is there a Berlinale Look?

I would say defined by L’Oreal Paris with red lips or a clear face. Dark painted smoky eyes are typical or nude mixtures.  But as far as style goes, Berlin is understated, no as glamorous as Cannes so less can be more here.   First time actors here are a little nervous about to what but we tell them the carpet is not so rigid. I can coordinate their make-up look with their fashion choice.

Are there different smoky looks for day and night?

Yes, of course. Darker colors are used for the night, browns and blacks. I bleed the eye shadows. For the day versions I use rosy or nude colors.

Describe your day during the Berlinale

I am on daily standby for around 10 hours. It also depends on the performer, an actress may need more time than an actor.  Sometimes I have appointments with actors to go to hotels or I have to spend a whole day with them.

How did you start as a make-up artist?

I studied to become a tailor but went to theater doing make up, heavy masks for theater acting, then moved into cinema before getting contacted by the beauty business and I have been doing ever since.   I want to be a make-up artist forever.

After a night of partying at the Berlinale, How do you hide the circles under the eyes?

I recommend using L’Oreal Lumi Magique Light Concealer. It is a light, fluid concealer.   At the end of the festival, attendees may need something a bit stronger or heavier because this is Berlin, a city known for its nightlife.

Do you have a celebrity wish list?

Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep. They travel with their teams. I love working on veteran actresses. I am fast but I like the challenge of making a face with character beautiful. It is not so hard making a young actress look great. Isabella Rosselini told me she wished she had met me a look time ago because she wasted a lot of time getting ready in the make-up room.   I worked with Bruce Willis, Anthony Hopkins, and Ben Kinglsey. For 2015 I was with Christian Bale for the whole day.

What would you like to do in the future?

I would like to teach make up. I would like to show women at home to do make up properly. How to create an eye looks, show them what they can do themselves.

Do you have a philosophy?

Yes! I have a few when it comes to my profession. I like to influence the look of the face not change it. I believe in finding the nice features of the face and bringing it out. And,,,The client is King not a Dictator!

Is there a story behind the last one? A crazy Berlinale incident?

One time I had a celebrity who insisted on me following her around while brushing her hair. She even wanted me to go to the bathroom with her. She yelled I hurt her with the brush. After one day of this I told her I was quitting.   Funny enough, she would not accept me leaving and asked me to stay.

L’Oreal Paris has been a sponsor of the Berlinale for 17 years.