More about the photoshoot scenes in Martyr

The last time I only talked about the photoshoot scenes in Martyr involving Gabrielle, played by Veronica Paintoux. Now, I'd like to say a little about the photoshoot scenes involving Camille, played by Carmen Paintoux.




There is a certain moment in Martyr when Camille becomes the subject of Tadeusz's camera, played by Jac Avila, and Gabrielle feels pushed aside. He decides to divert from his usual style and to try something more involved with Camille. Gabrielle resents that he sees something in Camille that he does not see in her. There is something in Camille that Gabrielle simply cannot give.




In a way, we see these two women through Tadeusz's lens. We see what they give to him, that they give their bodies to make images, but they also use him to develop a part of themselves, a symbiosis. The scenarios that he makes for them, and the scenarios that the women make later on, are part of how they wish to see themselves, or perhaps also how they wish to be seen.

We do not sense in the movie that Gabrielle is merely a model, but rather that she is someone who wants to see herself as a beautiful image. Gabrielle's choice of clothing in other scenes of the movie, when there is no camera on her, speak of how she wishes to be perceived. And also connote that she is not a Puritan, they speak of her freedom, of her possessing libertine values.





Tadeusz makes it plain in the movie that he finds his inspiration from his models themselves, through his constant question and answer sessions, through his "education" of his model's by watching documentaries, research and looking at other images. By observing how they react to stimulus.





What he sees in Gabrielle and what he sees in Camille are different personalities entirely. But he views them as sources of, rather than objects of, creativity.

When we first see Camille from the perspective of Tadeusz's lens, it is with some of the same seductive qualities that we have seen before, with Gabrielle, but Camille brings a different sort of seduction to the images. There is something grittier, another kind of sexy. Tadeusz introduces iconic elements of sadomasochism; a blindfold made of red silk, he then uses the same red silk to tie Camille's hands together.




Later on in this shoot, we get a little closer to the theme Camille and Tadeusz develop later on in the film. In the image, she is straining toward the camera, we sense that in this moment, Tadeusz sees this special something in Camille, her arms spread, she looks like she might rise up off the floor and fly, yet her hands seem as if nailed to the very floor. Her expression is angelic, yet speaks of mortality, the fragility of humans.




So, what does this mean? I can tell you what it means to me, what it has meant to me.

Most overpowering is the feeling that we're there, that we're part of these moments, that the actresses are looking at us, that they're giving themselves to us. Which they are, because the act of giving is very strong in Martyr. Carmen and Veronica give a lot in this film. Something that I found, and still find every time I watch it, incredibly inspiring, so much so that I try to give more every time I act. It is in the act of giving myself to the viewer that I myself am freed.

Martyr can be found on DVD, and very soon as a download HERE!

A Second Trailer of Martyr

Here's a longer trailer of Martyr, enjoy!

Martyr is available on DVD HERE!

The photoshoot scenes in Martyr

I'm not a person who watches the same movies over and over again savoring the details and finding new things with each viewing. But I've done just that with Martyr. I've seen it in 3 different theaters, on DVD, and even almost frame by frame helping Jac to subtitle.

There are elements that I savor every time I see this movie, and I'll try to talk about them one at a time. The first is the photography sequences with Gabrielle, played by Veronica Paintoux.




One of the 3 subplots in Martyr revolves around Tadeusz, a photographer played by Jac Avila, and his model, Gabrielle. The lighting, the way the imagery is presented, each photo shoot is presented in a different way. Just as it would be in a real photo-shoot.

In the first shoot the lighting is darker, more blue, mysterious, Veronica looks like the sexy bohemian libertine from times gone by, but at the same time rooted in the contemporary. Her expressions draw something from the viewer,
they tell you to look at her, to enjoy what you see. The texture draws you in, you can almost smell the make-up, feel the heat of the lamps. The camera draws close to her, we feel like we're part of this glamorous moment, that we don't want it to end. The scene seduces us. This seduction is key to the seduction of the movie as a whole.

The second photo-shoot is lighter, brighter, white and colors flying, we see how fun this is; grown-ups playing like children. Again, Veronica looks into the camera, embracing the moment, reaching out and grabbing us. There's a visceral feeling that comes to the forefront. The moment is so beautiful,



we're there, we're part of this beauty. Almost as if we're making her do these fantastical things, like we're the photographer drawing these expressions out of her, and not the other way around.

I love beautiful images. For me, a beautiful image is something a bit rough, imperfect. It makes the illusion stronger. For instance, I'm a fan of Terry Richardson's photos. And the images created in these movie photo-shoots in Martyr have that quality, something real: the reality of illusion.




We see glimpses of how this illusion is made, but there's something else that we're not seeing; it's a movie and there are people behind another camera.

And still more behind those, watching this delicious movie.

Martyr is available on DVD HERE!

Jac Avila: El primer avance de Barbazul, toda una pequeña ave...

Since I'm too stressed out to blog today, I'll share this. It's all about me anyway. Cool beans.


Jac Avila: El primer avance de Barbazul, toda una pequeña ave...: "Jac Avila es Barbazul Un lunes que quedó en el pasado, en la mañana, estaba decidido a cortar un clip con escenas de Barbazul . La noche..."

The DVD Release of Martyr!

I'm very enthusiastic about announcing that Martyr is now available on DVD at VermeerWorks.

Now the whole world can see the film that changed the very direction of my life. I'm extremely proud of my co-conspirator and the director of Marytr, Jac Avila, for releasing this wonderful movie. It is truly a labor of love and the result is a film that is simply stunning a shocking. Yes, shocking, I'm still shocked after seeing it 5 times.

Sometimes someone creates something that is so powerful and so close to them that it touches you. It reaches right out and gets into your soul, it affects the way you see the world, and other people. That's Martyr.

Martyr is available right now in two versions, one with English subtitles, and another version with Spanish subtitles. Since the spoken languages of Martyr are French, English and Spanish, those who don't speak all three will want a DVD with subtitles.

And... very, very soon Sirwiñakuy will be available in the same store. at vermeerworks.com!

That's a wrap...again!

It's my birthday today and I've been thinking a lot on everything that's happened in the past year, the wonderful people I've met online, in real life, and finding the talented people I work with. The cooperation and encouragement I've received from friends, collaborators and fans has helped me to achieve my goals this past year!

I just wrapped on my third movie as writer/director, Le Marquis de la Croix, and I'm looking forward to shooting my next movie soon. Barbazul is being editing and Sirwiñakuy is being released this month on DVD and download. Incredible!

It has been a year of growth and learning for me and I am grateful to be alive right now, in this moment and doing the things I really want to do.

Sometimes life feels like an uphill battle, fears hold us down and get in the way of our goals and dreams. But this birthday, I feel that I have to try more than ever to realize my dreams.

So, more about Le Marquis de la Croix, which we wrapped on Saturday April 30th. We had a very long day shoot, from 10AM until 8PM. I love days like that, when at the end, you're incredibly tired and you've finished something. You feel like you've really accomplished something. In this case, my third movie.

The last shot we did was very complicated, but Miguel Canedo, cinematographer extraordinaire, pulled it off with his usual excellence. It's just a really super shot to end the film. Of course I can't tell you what it is, you'll have to see the movie.

Mila Joya, the star of Le Marquis, was amazing, she completely understood my concept, and she put up with all of the nasty things I had for her character, like eating bread off of the floor. Can I just repeat how awesome she is?! Every time I work with her it's a great experience, I can't imagine making a movie without her!

Some parties will get after me for making a movie like Le Marquis. They're going to be angry because a woman is making a campy "exploitation" film, in the footsteps of Jess Franco, Roger Corman, Jean Rollin, and others. Personally I feel that there could be more campy post-modern "exploitation" movies, films that have a little fun with the dark side, that don't take themselves so seriously. That go just a bit farther than their predecessors.

The support that I've received for this concept has been astounding. Thank you all!