Interview 5 for Maleficarum

That's me, in split screen.

Here's another interview we did yesterday for Cadena A, here in Bolivia, about the movie Maleficarum. Hooray!

You can download Maleficarum or buy the DVD at these links:

DVD

DOWNLOAD

Las Vegas, baby!

I talk about the nudity in Maleficarum

Lots of news lately, Maleficarum is doing well in the movie theaters, and receiving all kinds of feedback. Not only that, but has inspired a debate in the Cinemateca Boliviana (more below), Sirwiñakuy is going to Las Vegas, and we did another TV interview for Maleficarum, which is posted right here below.

Wait, Sirwiñakuy is going to Las Vegas? Yes, you read correctly! I'm excited to announce that Sirwiñakuy will be shown in CineKink Las Vegas. If you're in that area, you can catch it Friday, June 8th, 2012 at 11PM at Theatre7  1406 South Third St. in the Downtown Arts District Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702.568.966). Hooray!

In Las Vegas June 8th!

I'm very excited about how Sirwiñakuy has been projected and seen in so many places now in the world, and the international response, which remains polemic.

Sirwiñakuy and Maleficarum can been had on DVD and download here:

DVD

DOWNLOAD

In other news, Jac has been invited to a debate in the Cinemateca Boliviana, about "censorship, curation, and cinematic exhibition spaces", which should be interesting. The Cinemateca has repeatedly claimed that they did not "censor" Maleficarum, but when you tell someone for months that you will show their film, you then see the film in question, and then write a letter saying that the film uses "explicit language" and you "do not have any slots to project the movie", because of said explicit language, that's censorship.

I might add that the Cinemateca Bolivia, while it carries that name, is not in fact a national organization, it's a private foundation that claims to represent Bolivian cinema. In my opinion, if they are going to carry on in the way they have been, refusing to show many Bolivian films (we are certainly not the only ones), and show instead commercial films such as "The Avengers", they should change their name and stop asking for funds on the basis of being the "Cinemateca Boliviana". In many countries it would be considered misrepresentation to ask for, and accept, funding from national or international groups and organizations on the basis of that name, when it does not represent the Bolivian cinematic industry and community, nor is it a national organization.

In other countries, France for example, the Cinemateque is a national organization, it receives funds from the French government, and from outside, and adheres to a strict code of showing national films and educating the public about film. It is a serious institution which would never show commercial Hollywood films if they were not represented in the context of education. The government utilizes the Cinemateque as a representation of a facet of their culture. Their directors and actors are often seen as ambassadors.

If the Cinemateca Boliviana were to be nationalized and transform itself into a serious institution, it would be more liable to receive funds from other organizations and institutions. It should represent Bolivian cinematic culture, and foster and grow said culture. If that is not their intention, or if they continue to refuse to follow through with their supposed edicts to show all Bolivian films, it would be better if they change their name and end the misrepresentation of the Bolivian cinematic community.

As a filmmaker in Bolivia, I care about Bolivian cinema, not just some of it, but all of it as a whole. Every Bolivian film should be projected, regardless of content, and in context. Bolivian cinema is growing, and the Cinemateca Boliviana should be involved in that growth, not blocking it.

Here's an interesting article about the Cinemateca and censorship, along with some good comments at the bottom.

Maleficarum Goes to the Movies

What am I looking at?

Today is the opening of our movie Maleficarum! In 3 cities and 4 movie houses! We're all very excited to see how the public reacts to the movie, but based on the reaction we had from the many who attended at the premiere, it'll be interesting. Speaking of the premiere...

What do you do when everyone has to walk to the premiere of a movie? Monday, May 7th, 2012, Jac, Beto and I sat in the Multicine on the avenida arce waiting to see if anyone else would arrive for the premiere of Maleficarum. We decided that if only a few showed up, we would simply go home and have a beer.

This is the guy who tortures me the entire movie...

But as it edged closer to 8 o'clock, more and more people began to trickle into the theater. We greeted actors and friends, and when it was suggested that we all take some pictures in front of the banner, as the flashes started popping in a frenzy, we realized that there was a crowd.

We posed for many photos, press, social pages, people with cell phone cameras, professional cameras. It was great, we all felt very proud of ourselves and everyone who participated in the movie.

One of the spectators asked if the movie was filmed in 35mm, the photography was that good. Another said that their video games are so violent that violent movies no longer affect them but they liked Maleficarum. And another said that Maleficarum surpasses The Passion of the Christ and Saw for its violence, that it's veeeeery strong. For each person who had a hand in making this project happen, it's your movie, own it and be proud!

Downloads and DVDs of the director's cut of Maleficarum can be had here:

DOWNLOADS

DVDs

A large portion of the cast of Maleficarum!

Another Interview About Maleficarum & A Transportation Strike

Me, smiling.

Today I awoke to the sound of... nothing. No cars, not one vehicle in the street. A 48 hour transportation strike has been declared. Fortunately for us, that didn't put much of a damper on the turnout for tonight's premiere of Maleficarum! (I'll be blogging about that tomorrow)

So going back to this morning, Jac, Mila, Eric and I had an interview programmed for 11AM this morning in Fides, Bolivian TV. Eric made a big effort and walked down from his house in El Alto (loooong walk, folks), Mila walked from her neighborhood (not as long, but still), and Jac and I power-walked like maniacs as well. We all arrived to the TV station on time, hooray!

This is the interview below, enjoy!

My birthday and a second TV interview for Maleficarum

How nice of them to phonetically spell my name for the viewers!

Right on time, a birthday card arrived at my door from my mom! Inside it played James Brown's "Do What You Wanna Do". So great! My parents have always been supportive of what I wanted to do in my life even if they thought it was risky and crazy. If my dad didn't have advanced dementia, I'm sure he would have called me like he always did on my birthday. I'm so grateful to my parents for bringing me into this world and teaching me valuable life lessons (mom), and how to fix a car (dad), among many other things.

So, for my birthday I thought I would post the second interview, from last night. This one went a little better... since I was actually awake! While I still haven't managed to master the Spanish language, I communicate pretty well. 

First TV interview about Maleficarum

We've started the media tour for the premiere of Maleficarum in cinemas here in Bolivia, which means lots of TV interviews. I've translated part of the first here so you can laugh openly at me. It's ok, go ahead.

Please keep in mind that I normally don't get up before 9AM unless we're shooting a movie (I sleep a lot, ok?), so rising at 6AM was really early for me.

Also, I put on the clothes I was wearing the day before, like, picked them up off the floor and put them on. More thought should go into these things. I look like I'm from the far North (which I am...), or very cold. Very, very cold.

Hemos empezado el tour de medios aqui en Bolivia para el estreno de Maleficarum, muchas entrevistas pues. Yo puesto uno aqui para que puedan reirse un poco de mi.

Normalmente, me levanto a las 9 de la mañana, excepto cuando estamos rodando una película (me gusta dormir, ok?) entonces levantarme a las 6 es un poco tempranito.

Tambien me he puesto la ropa del dia antes que estaba en el piso. Parece que soy del Norte (si lo soy, pero...), o que tengo mucho frio. Mucho frio.

TV announcer: You're the producer and actress of the film, yes?

Me: Yes.

TV announcer: So, what's your role in the movie?


Me: I'm Mariana and I'm tortured by the Inquisition.

Jac: (Lots of talk about the movie Maleficarum, which I really should have participated in, but was basically a zombie instead.)