Euskaraz irakurri: Gaztambide: ‘Ericeren zineak errespetua,zoztasuna,jakintza, exijentzia eta askatasun baldintzagabea ditu’

The screenwriter Michel Gaztambide (Apt, France, 1959) has a long connection with the Zinemaldia of San Sebastián, which celebrates its penultimate day today. His first film work as co-writer, Santa Cruz, the guerrilla priest (José María Tuduri), already participated in the Zabaltegi-New Directors section of the Festival in 1990.

33 years later, Gaztambide returns to his home festival, where he received the honorary Zinemira award in 2012, supported by a solid career as a screenwriter (he has worked in film with Julio Medem, Enrique Urbizu, Jaime Rosales, Jaume Balagueró…) and presenting your new job, Close the eyesa film co-written with director Víctor Erice, who tonight will receive, for his part, the Donostia del Zinemaldia award, becoming the first Basque filmmaker to achieve it.

We have spoken with Gaztambide about the film, Erice’s cinema and the work of the screenwriter.

What does it mean for you to show your work at Zinemaldia? In all this time, what has changed in your way of understanding the craft of telling stories on the screen?

I have been lucky enough to be on both sides of the Festival screen, almost always from the stalls, as a spectator, which I have been for the longest time, and sometimes from the screen, on the occasions when they have been shown. movies I’ve worked on.

On this occasion, there is an added and very stimulating responsibility, a tickling, a tremor; especially, if one remembers his first Zinemaldias, in which he could not even imagine that he could be part of this guild.

And it also brings a certain surprise and the small pride of realizing that, at this point, one is still participating in the adventure of film-making.

As for what’s changed, I guess I’ve learned something.

How did the film project come about? Close the eyes? When and in what way did the argument devised by Erice reach you?

The project, as you say, is by Víctor Erice, who sent me a very developed treatment of the film in April or May 2021.

José Coronado, in ‘Close your eyes’. © Manolo Pavón

What do you ask of a project to decide to get involved in it?

The great poet Jaime Gil de Biedma said that love was paid for with beauty, passion or money. These three words help me answer this question.

How has writing developed in practice? How does one participate from the outside in the writing of a story in which Erice himself works on his “most intimate concerns or vital interests”?

Sometimes, the co-writer is at the germ of the idea and develops it alone or in the company of the director or another scriptwriter, until it becomes the script of the film.

On many other occasions, as was the case, the idea comes very clear and the film may already be quite defined in the director’s head. In these cases, the screenwriter accompanies you on the journey towards writing a definitive script.

The way to do it, I suppose the only way, is to enter the story until you make it a little your own. Make sure there are no deviations, help it grow in the best possible way, contribute… It is a rather vague answer, but I think it is quite close to reality.

Ana Torrent, in ‘Close your eyes’. © Manolo Pavón

In line with this, how do you manage, if it exists, the frustration that could be generated by having to give up taking your ideas to the end in pursuit of an understanding with the co-author?

If you feel too much frustration, you may have chosen the wrong travel companion, or you may have chosen the wrong job.

What inspires a screenwriter? How is this art trained?

Inspiration is life. The training consists of learning and knowledge of cinematographic language and, above all, the habit of writing.

And then you have to have enormous respect for this beautiful and fragile work.

Close the eyes It had its premiere at the Cannes Festival, before arriving at Zinemaldia. How was that experience?

The premiere in Cannes was a wonderful experience. At the end of the screening, we felt that something special had happened, at least for most of the audience. An exciting and unforgettable moment.

How do you get along with your material once it is finished?

From the start I usually feel like a very lucky person, who always wins. I hand in papers and they return images to me.

Close the eyes It is screened within the framework of the Donostia award ceremony for Víctor Erice. How would you define, from your authoritative position, the way of understanding Erice’s cinema?

Respect, rigor, knowledge, curiosity, demand and incorruptible freedom.

Victor Erice. @ManoloPavon

Every year, Zinemaldia allows you to take a photo of the current film scene. How do you see Basque production in recent years? What aspects, titles or professionals have caught your attention lately?

I think these are good times: directors, directors, technicians of good level and a support framework that allows their growth.

As for naming names, I have many friends that I admire in the sector, and I am going to allow myself not to answer the second part of the question.

Do you have any work in hand that you can or would like to give us details of?

I work on a series for HBO and a feature film with Enrique Urbizu. I cannot give more details that, for various reasons, cannot be mentioned.

Source: Eitb

Bruce

Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.