Spanish actress and director Paz VegaSpanglish, Sex and Lucia, first blood: last blood, office automationNetflix heist drama kaleidoscope), wrote the script and stood behind the camera for her directorial debut RitaThe film had its world premiere during the 77th Locarno Film Festival this summer, and she loves writing and directing, which adds another layer to her creative career. She believes more actors should feel capable of directing.
She made the comments during an interview on Tuesday at the Iberseries & Platino Industria conference and market in Madrid on the theme “Change of roles: Paz Vega and her transition from acting to directing”. She said in a recent article THR In interviews, Billy Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola and Federico Fellini were cited as her role models.
Vega writes, directs and executive produces Rita And also played a small role in it. “In a way, I had the idea of becoming a director when I first went on set,” she told Iberseries on Tuesday. Now, “I’m ready because I have something to say.”
When asked about balancing her roles as an actress and director, Vega described her role as Rita’s mother as a “small” role. By contrast, “the kids were in every scene,” she said, but she knew it would be “very convenient” to have her name in the cast when it came time to sell the movie.
“Seville, summer 1984. Rita and Lolo are brother and sister, aged seven and five respectively, living at the center of a humble working-class family,” reads the film’s plot description. “Rita dreams of going to the beach, but at home, her father’s word is law, forever. For the first time, Rita begins to question why things are the way they are. She also begins to realize that her home is becoming increasingly unsafe, especially It was to her mother.
Vega previously praised her young star Sofía Allepuz for playing Rita in THR interview. On Tuesday, she touted her skills, comparing the now eight-year-old to a sports car. “Sofia has a natural gift. Because she’s a girl who listens. She’s just there. She trusts you,” Vega said. “Luckily, I’ve been able to shoot with her. I’ve been able to shoot with a Ferrari. I mean, she’s like a Ferrari. It’s awesome.
How easy is it to switch between the dual roles of director and actor on set? Vega shared, “I could never take off the director’s hat,” but she also had to work with her character on 22 of the 28 shooting days.
She said it might be too much for her future projects. “Maybe I won’t do it anymore. I won’t be in front of the camera and behind the camera at the same time because I think it’s too demanding,” Vega told Iberseries. “And I think there are some things that really don’t help us achieve that goal.”
With limited shooting time, especially with children, Vega said she often had to think ahead about scenes at home in order to be fully prepared for the next day’s shoot.
Vega on Tuesday encouraged other actors to follow her lead and try their hand at sitting in the director’s chair. “We don’t have to be afraid of actors saying they’re ready to direct,” she explains. “We can make some contributions.” She also said that she enjoys directing other actors and feels that the director can at least ensure that the actors have solid acting skills. “Being on set for so much time…you need to adapt and it does give you important experience. I have an advantage over any new director.
The star also gave an interview to Televisa journalist Omar Reyes on the Iberseries show, providing some behind-the-scenes insights into her acting career. Vega says, “I’ve always questioned directors’ decisions,” some directors have embraced her ideas, or she’s had internal conversations as an actor, concluding, “I’ve always had a director in mind.”
she told before THR She is writing a screenplay for a film set in the Dominican Republic. “This is a very Dominican story,” Vega said. “And I’m not going to play any role.”
Rita
Courtesy of Locarno Film Festival
