As a fan who has been captivated by J.A. Bayona‘s extraordinary storytelling prowess for years now, I can say with utmost conviction that his masterclass at Mipcom this year was nothing short of riveting. His insights into the creative process, particularly his emphasis on connecting deeply with a project’s core idea, resonated profoundly with me.
This year at Mipcom, with Spain as the featured country, Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona (“Society of the Snow,” “The Impossible”) led a workshop where he discussed topics like inspiration, grounding his narratives within specific moments, and the significance of improvisation.
Initially, Bayona was questioned about his artistic workflow, starting from selecting a project, drafting the script, and all the steps involved up until filming. As per the director, the initial phase involves discovering something that strikes a chord with him, and building everything else around that core idea.
For me to create a movie, I require a profound emotional bond with an idea that strikes a chord within me. This bond should be robust enough to endure the arduous and at times agonizing journey of filmmaking. It’s crucial to have a deep-rooted connection to the content in order to maintain this emotional tie throughout the process.
Using “The Impossible,” his 2012 disaster film for which Naomi Watts was nominated for an Oscar, as an illustration, Bayona explained, “This movie is inspired by a poem based on real events. However, I became deeply moved by a particular scene. If you haven’t seen the movie, there’s a scene where the mother character can no longer walk after surviving the flood from a massive wave. She’s with her son amidst the destruction, and they hear a small child crying nearby. The mother tells her son, ‘We will rescue that child, no matter what it takes.’
Upon finishing the poem, each retelling of the story left me deeply moved. The pivotal scene, nestled right within it, served as the core inspiration, guiding me in crafting the remainder of the movie.
Later on, Bayona expressed that the start of a film shoot is among his preferred stages in movie production, as it’s “the initial instance where I am working alongside actors in front of a camera, and for me, this is one of the most inspiring periods.
In a more relaxed manner, he shared that working on a film set often inspires him to deviate from his initial ideas. “Typically, I adhere to the script,” he said, “but I always reserve some moments on set to be influenced by the material and leave room for spontaneous changes or improvisation.
As a movie enthusiast, I believe in empowering my actors on set. “I invest a great deal of time in preparing my actors… it’s crucial to equip them with the freedom to improvise. If by the end of the day, I haven’t stumbled upon an unexpected delight or happy accident, then I can’t say I’ve fully achieved satisfaction.
Bayona, who has directed movies from blockbuster series like “Jurassic World” and “The Lord of the Rings”, admitted that he always feels apprehensive before any production he’s in charge of. He believes that a touch of anxiety can even be beneficial during filming.
“I think fear is good. Panic is not. Fear helps you to be alert and helps you be at 150% all of the time… If you’re working on something that you already really know how to do, it’s not as satisfying as if you’re exploring and trying to create something that will challenge you and give you the chance to give your best.”
When queried about whether he aims to please a broad audience with his films by reaching many people worldwide, Bayona stated that his objective isn’t to craft a smash hit for everyone, everywhere. Rather, he strives to develop something that strikes a chord with him as the storyteller.
It’s challenging to understand the perspectives of a million individuals; it’s simply not feasible. What I strive for is an idea that will strike a chord, one that will ignite a fire within me, keeping me motivated throughout the entire journey.
At Mipcom, being a TV market, Bayona was questioned about his perspective on the contrast between movie-making and producing TV series episodes, such as what he experienced while working on Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
As a dedicated cinephile, I don’t draw a line between the narrative style of TV and cinema. For me, there’s just one effective way to spin a tale, and that’s what I strive for. It’s about understanding how actors should perform in front of a camera and determining the ideal camera placement.
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2024-10-23 16:48