WomenCinemakers vol V WomenCinemakers vol V | Page 46

As The Days Went By, Filipa Ruiz
The next day we had our extras coming in, and it the day in
which we would be shooting all the scenes where Hans plays
alone. We are confronted with the first unexpected
situation The phone rings, and it the makeup artist who got
a flat tire on her way to the set and needs to take her car back
to Paris It is the 1st AD who brings me the news while the
electricians and camera crew were already setting the
equipment down stairs. I knew that whatever we would
capture on the first take, would be our reference for the rest of
the shots. And being on a short film, we could not afford to wait
half a day or a full day even to get someone else on set.
Therefore I remem ber turning to the 1st AD and saying: ive
me one hour. and that moment I was so glad to have
attended drawing classes at the University! I had that in
common with my 2nd AD. So I went to talk to Dimitri while
Lauren Brown (the 2nd AD) went to collect all the make up
available in the house a couple of eyeliners, different
colors (so great to have girls on set!). I wanted Dimitri to look
pale, sick and needed to emphasize the wrinkles in his face
to make him look a bit aged too. So I sat with Dimitri and
Lauren in the Make Up room and one hour later we were ready
to shoot. The humor and emotional drive, was possible
through an immense sense of trust that we have built with the
actors and the crew from day one. Everyone was aware of the
film we were doing, and the intensity is built with every single
cinemakers // 18
choice that we make along the line. If you e talking to a friend,
or someone you just met, and you look in their eyes They
might be trying to persuade you to believe last night they had
a blast at a party they went to, for example. But their eyes tell
me more than that, the way they stand, a slide look away...
Their eyes will tell you the truth. They might bring you more
intensity to the enthusiasm, more depth, or they might just give
it away. If you give the right keys to an actor, he/she will
suggest you things. That where my work lays on, setting the
tone and giving soul and texture to the characters.
The staging of As The Days Went By is elegantly simple,
as if the play were a Greek tragedy.• • Your narration-by-
subtraction no doubt owes something to Vitor Erice.• How
did you develop the time structure of this film?
I wrote the script as well as directed it, and I had a very clear
idea of the hitting marks
nevertheless, I think it is impor tant
to leave some room to editing be cause one can never predict
everything what might happen during a shoot. And that is
where the magic lays on you start with an idea, and you bring
it to life. Whether it is a short or a feature film, the ultimate goal
is that you, as a director, tell a story. That is what the audience
will relate to. And to make that happen, it doesn’t need to be a
Nicole Arcalli (Italy)