I recently had the chance to sit down and talk to Guillermo Arriaga, Oscar-nominated filmmaker who's known for writing fantastic films such as "21 Grams," "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" and "Babel." Arriaga most recently wrote and directed "The Burning Plain," and here is what the film is about:
A romantic mystery about a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey back to the defining moment of her life. Charlize Theron plays Sylvia, a beautiful restaurant manager whose cool, professional demeanor masks the sexually charged storm within. When a stranger from Mexico confronts her with her mysterious past, Sylvia is launched into a journey through space and time that inextricably connects her to these disparate characters, all of whom are grappling with their own romantic destinies.
In Mexico, a young motherless girl, Maria (Tessa Ia), lives happily with her father and his best friend until a tragic accident changes it all. In the New Mexico border town of Las Cruces, two teenagers, Mariana (Jennifer Lawrence) and Santiago (JD Pardo), find love in the aftermath of their parents' sudden deaths. In an abandoned trailer, a housewife, Gina (Kim Basinger), embarks on a passionate affair that will put Sylvia and the others on a collision course with the explosive power of forbidden love.
"The Burning Plain" opened this weekend and will expand during the coming weeks. Here's what Guillermo Arriaga had to say about how the film came together, what it was like working with Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, and what young filmmakers should do to get into the film biz. Enjoy:
The Screening Log: First of all, congratulations on the movie, I absolutely loved it. It’s a great film.
Guillermo: Thank you. Thank you very much.
The Screening Log: How did you come up with this film, and what inspired you to create these connected stories?
Guillermo: The process in my case is, you have several experiences through your life, and you think it’s worth telling them. That’s how it came together.
The Screening Log: Can you talk about how you created this screenplay? What was the process for you in making this film?
Guillermo: One of the great advantages of writing a piece is that it allowed me to understand better what I was looking for. Since I spent a long time writing it, and imagining it, when I came to direct it I had a very clear vision of what I wanted. Unfortunately, because of certain circumstances, I wasn’t able to have as much preparation as I would have liked to, and many things had to be sold on the set. But since I wrote it I knew perfectly what I wanted and how I wanted it. And of course, I have a great team that helped me during filming. You know, the set can be very confusing.
The Screening Log: So, would you say that certain parts and elements only came together on the set, during filming?
Guillermo: Yes, absolutely, yes. I would have liked to have more time to rehearse and I would have liked to have time to cast all the characters, but there were moments where I had no time to cast in person. I just saw tapes and I met people on set, like: “Nice to meet you; action!” But it was a great experience for me, and directing was a very enjoyable experience. I enjoyed it from the very beginning to the very last moment.
The Screening Log: I was about to ask you how you like directing and what kind of challenges you encountered during the shooting?
Guillermo: You know, all of the challenges were beautiful, I must tell you. There was not a single one that really stressed me out. I had challenges with the weather. I wrote some scenes in a certain way, and on the day we were going to shoot them, the weather changed radically. Those kind of challenges.
The Screening Log: Can you talk a bit about what it was like for you to work with the great actresses that are Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger. Are those two actresses you always wanted to work with?
Guillermo: Yes, of course. Who would not want to work with these actresses? They are two completely different people. One thing I learned as a director is that there is not a certain method to direct actors. Every actor needs different approaches. Charlize is an extremely intelligent woman, a very very intelligent woman. She has a lot of energy and good humor. She’s a very humble woman. For example, at lunch, she made the line with the crew with her tray. She was there with everyone, chatting with everyone. She didn’t want anything brought to her trailer. Kim is also a very humble person. She is very shy and very private. She’s more to herself, and very quiet, but also very professional and very committed to the film. So they had very different styles.
The Screening Log: How did you shoot this film? Did you shoot the individual stories in their entirety first? How did that work?
Guillermo: No, we shot it as the logistics of production allowed us to shoot. In terms of logistics, it was very challenging because we used completely different locations for the different stories. You shoot according to where you can move all the crew. Also, the locations were very remote. I even sacrificed shooting days in order to have specific locations. I think it was worth it. I shot in Portland and Albuquerque, and I shot in a location that is 400 kilometers away from Albuquerque, and I shot 200 kilometers away from Portland.
The Screening Log: How long was the entire shoot?
Guillermo: Forty days. Very tight schedule.
The Screening Log: I can imagine.
Guillermo: Very tight. Have you directed something?
The Screening Log: Not yet, I’m just getting started right now.
Guillermo: Man, we were running like rockets. Since I didn’t have time to prep, we were shooting Monday to Friday, and then we left, and we took several planes to Portland to scout locations, and then we headed back to shooting. We arrived at four in the morning and at five we were on the set.
The Screening Log: That sounds intense.
Guillermo: It was very intense, man. I can tell you. But a lot of fun.
The Screening Log: Are there any particular moments or scenes in the movie you like the best? Or moments you thought turned out so much better than you expected?
Guillermo: For example, I like the scene where Charlize is on the edge of the sea. I visually like it very much. The scene of the two kids in the parents’ bedroom. How Kim reveals herself. I also like the final montage a lot.
The Screening Log: Any scenes you would go back and change?
Guillermo: Yes, the one I had to change because of the change in weather. I wrote it completely different, and I was expecting a rainy day. Otherwise, I am very happy with the film. I’m really proud of it. I am also happy about the response of the audience. People are really into the film.
The Screening Log: If somebody who read what the film is about but hasn’t seen it yet would come up to you and ask you why he or she should see the film, what would respond?
Guillermo: It’s a movie about love, but not the love in the Valentine’s Day kind of card. It’s about love and all its contradictions, it’s about love that can hurt, love that can heal, love that can link together people and love that can push people apart. It’s an exploration of love.
The Screening Log: One question I always like to ask: as someone who’s just about to start learning film, I’m interested to know: what major advice or tips would you give young filmmakers who don’t have a solid budget but have an idea for one or more film projects and would like to dive deeper into this field?
Guillermo: First of all, don’t wait for an opportunity. Create it. Many people are often just waiting for an opportunity. This is a business of seducing people. You have to seduce people and convince them you’re project is important. I once had a student in one university who convinced all his classmates to invest money for him to direct a short film. Your job is to convince people that what you are doing is important.
The Screening Log: Even without a budget?
Guillermo: There is money out there to make films. I know people willing to invest money. There are many ways to get money. There are funds and tax rebates. The worst thing is to sit down and wait for the opportunity. So you want to become a director?
The Screening Log: Yes, I am attending a film school now and we get to create five projects over the course of one year, but the most challenging thing for me is to write, develop my ideas and stick them into a screenplay.
Guillermo: I can tell you, after being director, writer and producer, writing is the most difficult part. Because you are doing something out of the blue. When you are directing you have something to interpret at least.
The Screening Log: Yes, there are days where I just sit there thinking, and nothing is coming.
Guillermo: But that’s writing. Writing is not typing, writing is thinking. So don’t worry. Sit there eight hours a day; that would be my advice. Don’t worry if nothing comes out; you are writing.
The Screening Log: I will keep that in mind. Thank you very much, and good luck with the film’s release.
Guillermo: Thank you my friend.