A tribute to the shadow architects of Spanish cinema

After that 25 hours of talk via video calls During the pandemic, López Aliaga synthesized 328 pages and eight chapters experience of well-known professionals in the industry “The history of Spanish cinema”the author points to his experiences, anecdotes, curiosities and ways of working. these Pedro del Rey, Elena Jaumandreu, Marisa Pino, Teresa Font, Pablo Blanco, Nacho Ruiz Capillas, Fernando Franco And Irene Blecua, “shadow architects” Films whose work is “fundamental in the creation of any cinematographic production” because, he adds, “The editing room is where movies are shot”.

the book with creation López Aliaga’s Berlanga fellowship for a later and different research project for 18 months. movie academyThis is due to the researcher’s own concern and the absence of such books in Spain. “Yes, there are editorial essays and works from other countries, but they have not been published so far. a work in which professionals have a say Spanish cinema. And my crusade is to help make this profession visible and valued above all else.”

“It is very fortunate that Guillermo López Aliaga exists,” says the author of the foreword, Joan MarimonProfessor of fiction at the Catalan film school ESCAC adds: “His adventure has spanned many years and now allows us to learn from the experience of a privileged group of professionals that spanned a historical period of nearly seventy years; history from the 1950s to the present”.

heroes

There are veterans among them King Peter (Madrid, 1931), editor of Buñuel and some of the most emblematic titles of Spanish cinema, e.g. Viridiana, Tristana anyone Carmenbetween him Moreover 150 movies worked; Elena Jaumandreu (Barcelona, ​​1936), to whom Orson Welles He said he was “the best editor in the world” after working. midnight bells and also collaborator Saura or Marco Ferrerilearned the profession from his father. Maria Luisa Pino (Madrid, 1941), editor of international productions Robin and Marianrelated to Richard Lester anyone Conan the Barbarianrelated to John Millius; Teresa Font (Barcelona, ​​1956), p.has been nominated for a Goya six times and two winners numbered days related to Urbizu And pain and victory related to aldovar; anyone Paul White (Madrid, 1955), nominated seven times and owner three Goya awards (Airbag won’t be peace for the wicked And Witches of Zugarramurdi).

Among the youngest Ruiz Chapel (Madrid, 1966), nine nominations and a Goya with Othersamong his extensive filmography; fernando franco (Seville, 1976) has been nominated four times as editor as well as film director. spring blessing; And Irene Blecua Beginning with merit in (Barcelona, ​​1971) day of the beast and worked with female directorsor Isabel Coixet or Paula Ortiz and is a founding member of the Spanish Association of Audiovisual Editors (AMAE).

jokes

Among the anecdotes included in the book are Marisa Pino, Conan there was so much filming material that they hid it from the director because otherwise he would never have finished editing the film; or Teresa Font describing which scene Terele Pavez falls down the stairs day of the beastbecause it is too short, several planes need to be repeated to provide more travel to the ladder, or Paul Whitecaused a different ending There will be no peace for the wickedmore hopeful with a shooting change that the director and screenwriter accept.

“Everybody knows that When the picture goes through the door, the writing goes out the window.and they also agree that registry errors (continuity in planes) they are not that important if there is emotion in the scene or if the actors have achieved it,” he sums up this “artistic and intellectual” work of the editor.