Interview with Filmmaker Eduardo De La Cerda (MARIANNE)

MARIANNE was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the May 2020 Experimental Film Festival.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Eduardo De La Cerda: Cuando filmas comerciales o peliculas siempre queda la sensacion de haber podido hacer mas y mejores tomas, muchas veces no depende de ti ni de tu crew. Ese sentimiento nos llevo a realizar esta pieza y contar la vivencia de lo que a nosotros como equipo nos maravilla tanto; dive into the Xibalba doors.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

Work on the idea for about 2 hours as the freediving process is always the same. I gave it a simple dramatic structure and applied to a cyclic narrative as well; which begins as it ends. I was with the story board waiting until we had a commercial filming in the Mayan Riviera and take advantage of the fact that the crew would be complete in that beautiful location. We finished the assignment of the commercial and filmed two pieces, Bull Shark and Marianne, which took us at least 4 hours of filming in the Cenote.

The editing process was not very long since everything was very clear from the beginning, as director and editor I often have the complete piece in my head and I only film what I know I am going to use. In fact in the color correction the post-producer believed that we had lost material due to the small amount of data … but no, we did not film more than one card in 8k.

The color correction was relaxed in a couple of days, while the process of making the original music took a little longer, it should be perfect.
I calculate 8 months in all processes.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Team work

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The score process

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was incredible. Many of the opinions I had heard were from friends and collaborators, but hearing opinions from real viewers is indescribable. I was very touched to get into their emotions and take them to that place and be part of it.

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

Carl Zeiss camera and Lenses division LATAM ask me if I would test the Supreme Primes for underwater shots, so I accept the assignment and start to think in Ideas.

Talk to my crew in Mexico and Playa del Carmen and we decided to shoot a mini documentary after filming a commercial… but when we arrived in the Riviera Maya and I showed the Marianne’s storyboard they all responded with a smile, indeed Marianna Tombinni smiled wider.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The all Alien Saga, I just did it yesterday… some times I skip “Resurrection”

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

This is so great platform and the opportunity of many filmmaker around the world to show up.

9. What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

I don’t know if its Halo or The World in your Eyes from Depeche Mode.

10. What is next for you? A new film?

We are waiting for this pandemic to end, there are some film projects and a test for Zeiss that will turn out to be an interesting piece.