"Diagnosis is not the end but the beginning of practice."
(Martin H.Fischer)
Here is a chance to check this out!
Btw, if you've seen similar posts about tango addiction please post links to the website
Symphoms of a Tango Addict... (article)
TANGO DANCERS - the Documentary Project |
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"Diagnosis is not the end but the beginning of practice." So you think you are not addicted to tango? :)
Here is a chance to check this out! Btw, if you've seen similar posts about tango addiction please post links to the website Symphoms of a Tango Addict... (article) Interview © Tatiana Balashova ... It's been over a year since I've heard from Oliver Kolker (one of my favorite tango instructors and dancers) that he started working on a feature project with Argentine tango. There was not much detail at that time available yet however my curiosity was already up high and it's exciting to get to know now that the movie "Glorias del Tango" will soon meet its audience. Filmmakers say that the film is born 3 times: once in the writer's head, then on the movie set, and later on the editing table. I'd add as well that the film's journey starts a new important turn when it's being released. Distribution is a huge part of the pre- and post-production and often filmmakers have to think about the ways to distribute the film way before the film is being shot even. For an outsider (an average viewer) making movies might look glamorous and fun. Those who are connected with filmmaking or have ever been on the set probably know that it's enormous work of a crew of 10-1000+ people and like a huge spaceship which one has to take care about and monitor every small thing. We would like to thank you Oliver for taking time during these busy days to answer the questions for the TDBlog! There is one more big step to make the movie a success, please, dear TDBlog readers, enjoy the interview and feel free to read more information on the links in the interview. Let's welcome a new film with Argentine tango into the world. Q1: First of all, Oliver, tell us, please, how it all started. Have you been connected to cinema and filmmaking before? How did you get the idea of the film? Well I studied drama in Argentina for many years, since 1995. I’ve done several commercials, TV and Print (MARTINI/BACCARDI) among them. After that MARTINI commercial I was able to buy my first car! Jajajajajaja. Since then I’ve done acted in three movies, two in which I’ve played the leading role and the third one I played a cowboy. Great experience. I attended film school for in 2001, but I left because the way they taught didn’t stimulate me. LogLine: Ezequiel Kaufman, an enthusiastic psychiatrist, in BsAs struggles to resolve the mystery of a patient's unique disorder: Fermin only speaks in tango lyrics; the treatment will take both on a healing journey of friendship, love, and forgiveness. The idea for “ Glorias del Tango” came when I was in NYC in 2005. The Tango Nuevo movement was just starting to become a big thing. For me, having leaved in Argentina for practically my whole life, this new movement was a surprise, since I had never heard the term Tango Nuevo. For me Tango was only one thing. Then I realized by working and living in NYC and traveling around the US, that a lot of people loved to dance, they movement, the playful possibilities of combining different elements that Tango had to offer such as, Sacadas, Ganchos, Lapices, Volcadas, Enroques etc… but also many DID NOT connect with the music, in fact I heard a couple of times people saying “I can’t stand Tango Music, but I love the dance." Many people enjoyed dancing Tango steps to other music; dancing to Janis Joplin, The Beatles, you name it. Was this wrong? Not at all, but in the beginning I have to admit I was a little shocked but I also understood that people weren’t disrespecting the dance at all, they simply did not connect with its music. Their roots where different. So instead of writing a blog about it, I thought: Tango is such a deep and vast art form, a popular expression that has independently basically developed in four branches; MUSIC, DANCE, SINGING and POETRY, we can even speak in Tango lyrics! and that was it. We have to understand that tango talks about, Love, Friendship, Parents, Jail, Jobs, Romance, Betrayal, Food, Advice etc… life itself. Q2: Was it hard to find a crew or you already knew who u want to work with?.. Can you tell us a little bit about the leading actors. Yes, and NO. Hernan Findling my co-producer has been in Argentinean movie business the same amount of time I’ve been involved in Tango almost 16 years. I was shooting a movie for the US market in Argentina and he was the director. I approached him and pitch my idea. I said I was writing a script and he told me: "When you finish, you must register your work, the I’ll read it and if I like it I’ll produce it". So that was that. I offered for him to Co-Direct it with me. He took care of everything, finding the crew, getting the permits, doing the paperwork. He also helped with getting financing for the project from, INCAA, the National Institute that finances movie projects in Argentina. To access this grant you must compete and submit your work to be approved by a committee. The funny thing is that at the first submission I was rejected. This was in 2010, so I had to re write and finally I was approved in July 2012 after my friend Lynn helped me re write it. (note by TDB: see more information about the actors in the teaser video and on the websites in the end of the interview!) Q3: Is the script yours? Did have study how to write screenplays or just went with intuition? 100% of the script is mine. The whole thing stems from my imagination. This was so difficult. I had the idea in my mind but I didn’t know how to write a script. The first thing I did was study script writing. For almost 7 months, I read and read and read everything I could get my hands on. I had graduated with a Business Administration degree, but after having read all these books on script writing, I thought, “Why had I wasted my university years studying business”. Everything I was reading concerning movies and script writing was so much fun and easier to understand. All those hours of TV that I watched when I was a kid (my parents used to be mad at me for this) made so much sense. So I wrote the first scene and showed to Silvina (Valz) and she said: I LOVE IT, KEEP GOING… So that was it. They key thing also was that I did not pressure myself at all, if I felt like writing I did, and sometimes I spent three months without writing. I could afford to do this because writing was not my prime source of income. Silvina was a big help in my being able to accomplish my goals. Some of the scenes were actually written by Silvina. When the script was rejected the first time, I went to a script doctor who helped me rewrite some scenes. Q4: When the production was started and what kind of funding it was? We had 3 weeks of Pre Production, 5 weeks of Production (SHOOTING) and we will have between 2 and 3 months of Post Production. Today we are still at the post production stage. Funds came from INCAA and from private investors. Oren Dobronsky is one of the investors in this project and his help, vision and trust has been huge. We are in the middle of a Kickstarter Campaign in order to raise some extra cash to help with the post production and the Argentine theatrical release . So far we are doing amazingly well. Our goal is $50,000 and so far we have raised around $45,500 and we still have 5 days to go. The international Tango community has been a TREMENDOUS help . It’s amazing how much love and support they have shown us. Q5: Which language will the film, Spanish? The movie is shot entirely in SPANISH, our plan is to subtitle the movie in as many languages as possible, English, French, German, Russian, Turkish, etc… Q6: What is the message of the film? What would you and your colleagues like viewers to take away? That is great question, I did not write the story to send a message or a statement. Basically I wanted to to take the Tango Art form to another level by telling a story of Drama and Romance within the elements of Tango. Q7: Will tango dancers be surprised somehow when watching the movie? :) I can’t wait to see Silvina Valz in the film for example. You know, that special feeling when you see someone you know on TV or in the movie :). We’ ll have to wait and see. You have to understand we’re aiming at NON Tango people to enjoy the film. Q8: What is your distribution plan in brief, how people will be able to see the movie? Will it be submitted to the festivals first? Yes. We are in talks with major distributors in Argentina and so far we have been invited to participate in the prestigious Mar del Plata Film Festival, which is the only Class “A” Festival in Latin America. We believe film festivals are key to distributing the movie. Sundance is a big goal in our distribution plan; not easy but not Impossible. Q9: I know that you have an "all or nothing" crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for "Glorias del Tango", which means only in the case the goal is reached or surpassed you can have access to that funding. Where people can find more information about the film, the campaign and maybe behind the scenes materials? (There are a few days left and I hope more people will contribute to the project to be part of it and enjoy watching the movie soon!) O.: the links are the following: KICKSTARTER crowdfunding campaign – Glorias del Tango Q10: When you worked hard on the project, did you still have energy for dancing and teaching?
Yes of course I go dancing 3 times a week. I am not teaching right now. T: Ok, thank you! Good luck with the project! I am proud to be among the backers! :) Can't wait to see the movie and hope it will have a great success at the festivals and among tango and non-tango people. 2013 © Tango Dancers Blog ------------------------------------------------------------------- Note / September 2th, 2013 - Thanks to the support of many contributors including tango dancers, the crowdfunding campaign for the project "Glorias Del Tango" has successfully reached their goal in time! Which proves the power of filmmakers and those who love them and the movies! :) THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! Look forward to watching the film! :) It's hard to dance tango without proper shoes. What kind of shoes will suit you it depends on many factors: type of feet, personal taste, dance floors you dance and practice on, price, accessibility and location...
There are a few popular brands which most people have tried and many have come to come. Comme il Faut is for sure one of them. Enjoy this nice short documentary from Cool Hunting. "Mosaic of Impressions" Interview & translation © Tatiana Balashova Today I am glad to talk to a talented photographer from Russia - Alexander Zabara. Q 1: When was the first time you tried taking pictures and what inspired you? What was your first camera? When I was a child I did not take any pictures, got my first still camera after I came back from the army. It happened by chance and the story (“destiny”) of that camera was kind of complex. It was a cult camera Lomo-CA, it had a long history of being passed from hands to hands and I can only guess what it had seen before it got into my hands. I took a lot of pictures on it and it is still on my desk. The first subjects of inspiration were the city and nature. Actually, those two themes I’ve been shooting all my life. As far as tango photography goes, I came to that reflecting on the city as a live organism. Also, it was the tango-project which pushed me towards my new project “Free Forest” which I’ve been working on during last years. Q 2: Did you have any training in photography or mostly learned through practice? What helped you to develop your photographic style and how can you define it? It was way later after I had got my first photo camera when I decided to take up photography more seriously. After finishing art school and working in design area I took a professional course at the Moscow Academy of Photography. That education gave me a strong motivation in creativity. Of course, it’s not just through education but rather through trial-and-error learning that you can develop a vision, find subjects, plots and the way material can be presented. Practice forms you as an artist... As far as my own photography style goes, I find it a bit strange to talk about that, especially keeping in mind that I am shooting so diverse projects. My tango-project was just one of them. I do what I do. If someone is eager to give it a name, I don’t mind. Q 3: Who are your favorite photographers? (in general and also the ones who take pictures of dance and tango?) Are there any other artists that influenced your vision? There are three photographers who each at their own time influenced how I see the world: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alex Webb and Gueorgui Pinkhassov. Also some particular paintings, especially by French impressionists and William Turner had a big impact on me. Creative works of those who take pictures with tango did not really influence me. Q 4: What are your favorite genres in photography? I’ve been always fond of and have respected what Magnum Photos photographers are doing, especially their genre and reportage photography. As for me I value much more what you can see and find rather than what you can make-up and design in photography. Q 5: What do you think about contemporary photography? (Reportage, portrait, fashion, commercial…) Well, what IS contemporary photography? It’s what all photographers on earth are doing in the present time… Who would dare to comment on and evaluate such a variety? … Can’t say that I am keeping a close eye on current trends in photography. Naturally, I follow the news, and come across some pictures from time to time. The place, where photography is now, where we have instagram, social networks, that lightness of taking a “snap”, actually results in depreciation of photography as such. Contemporary means of communication give photography a role of meaningless paillettes which fly down through the garbage chute. And such tendency is seen in many works shown at miscellaneous competitions, presented at exhibitions of contemporary photography. Photo images of many renowned artists, including those who take prizes, are often very emasculated (“over-refined”) works, which have only consuming everything emptiness behind their effective façade. I don’t think that there are worse photography works or authors, I’ve seen that in many talented photo works that emerging photographers are doing and many renowned masters. However if you ask me about the tendency – it’s like that. That’s why to me personally it does not matter much how exactly the picture was taken, in which genre, whether it’s effective (impressive) in its look or not, how it was edited. What is important to me first of all is what it represents, what stands BEHIND the photo image and photographer. Q 6: Do you like working in projects or prefer shoot by shoot (a variety of genres)? Sometime I take one shot after another and feel that there is something uniting them, then through years of work they get assembled into a common picture like a mosaic. At other times I have a particular vision on a notion or event, and in that case I am looking for a visual language trying to take pictures in various genres. - you have some great non-tango reportage pictures, for example the militia people on the Red Square and others… Did you do them spontaneously or was it an assignment / part of some project? The pictures you mentioned, as well as tango photography, and other projects devoted to hip-hop culture and rock dance – all those series are like pieces of mosaic to me. They gradually help me build the picture of the city, the way I feel it. Q 7: Do you ever take part in photo competitions? What is your attitude towards competitions? Yes, when I studied photography I took part in competitions a couple of times. That helped me to realize their uselessness and I stopped applying. I am not competing with anyone and I am not a swimmer or runner. Photo competitions is for me as absurd as tango competitions. Q 8: Can you tell a bit more about the impressionistic series which you made? (the one you have on the English version of your website). This project is the most important and most personal to me. I’ve been working on it for 6 years already. It started spontaneously, there were a few shots which kind of appeared as answers to the questions I asked to the world around. I am just taking part in creating those images and very glad to feel that relation, connection. I bring those images from various parts of the world – Portugal, Carelia, from Altai mountains and Nepal, from Brittany and Crimea, and many many others. The world is much bigger than what we can see. All the world’s harmony is in each of us, in each tree and each stone. I am happy that working on those images helps me not only feel all that but even also share with others. - There was one other video clip with a psychodelic feel “The Bulgarian Voices Angelite – Wave”, can you tell something about this slide show? This video clip was part of the monochrome series “Gwenn ha Du”. It differs a lot from other forest images and was mostly shot in Celtic places in Brittany. The clip is fully painted, it is not photography. Hundreds of pictures were painted and assembled into a video. This project is personal and not done on request. Not sure if musicians are aware of that video or not, I did spoke to one of the musicians of “Huun-Huur-Tu” and he did not mind me doing it. That series was a very difficult project for me, the idea had been growing inside me for a long time and later after I created the photo series, I felt something still remained untold. So I added this video to the project. That composition for me is an audio reincarnation of what I felt in those places. Q 9: A while ago on your website I’ve seen a few experimental pictures done by your daughter. Can you tell us a few words about those images? These pictures look the way they were painted actually, no editing in photoshop was involved. I put my daughter at desk and gave her a plane table (she was 8 years old at that time), put some music and suggested that she can paint something. She was dragging the brush around spontaneously and I would change the music and save the result discreetly. We repeated that experience a few times however as soon as spontaneity was gone these images disappeared and ordinary children’s pictures appeared – grass, butterflies, horses. For me personally it was an important confirmation that the way I chose for my personal spontaneous projects was the right direction. Q 10: What do you think can help a beginner photographer to develop and find his/her personal style? Don’t know really, I’ve never tried to develop my style. I think that if a photographer has something to say and if he/she is trying to speak with images honestly without copying others – that can be his/her own unique style. Q 11: What equipment are you using (if you don’t mind sharing that information) and what are your favorite lenses? Do you prefer working with natural light or enjoy using studio / on-location lighting as well? Depending on the project I use different lighting. I used to use Canon DSLRs for taking pictures with tango (have changed a few cameras throughout years), wide angle lenses, always working with available light. For street dance shoots direct flash light always comes in handy. Free forest project was shot with a variety of lenses including monocle and pinhole ones. During the last years, I have been shooting on mirrorless cameras by Fujifilm gradually letting go of DSLRs when doing urban photography. Q 12: Is photography your main occupation or do you specialize in something else as well? Apart from working as a professional photographer, I teach at the Moscow Academy of Photography where used to study myself. My course is devoted to digital manipulation (editing) of photo images, and for the last 9 years it has helped photographers learn how to edit photo shoots efficiently, arrange and optimize the workflow. Q 13: What are you doing in free time? Any hobbies? I try to spend time in the nature, I am fond of mountain and forest tracking. I read, listen to the music, go to the lectures on history of culture and art. However, photography is still my main hobby. Q 14: - When did Argentine tango came into your life? How long have you been dancing tango and what inspired you to try it? When was the first time you realized that this dance can be something special for you (started enjoying tango :)? I discovered tango in 2004 thanks to a friend of mine, also a photographer, who used to dance tango. I once saw a few couples circling around the embankment of Moscow river under the sunset light, and fell in love with that dance at first sight. Tango strongly influenced my life. It turned it around, opened new horizons and allowed to understand a lot about myself, people and the world around. I took a lot of classes, went to milongas and for two years dropped photography completely – tango was absolutely everything for me at that time. Then I tried to render the expressiveness of that dance in pictures, looking for various solutions to reflect what I feel in the dance. - Are you still dancing tango? Lately I’ve rarely been to milongas, and if I do go, I prefer taking pictures. Q 15: Is (was) it hard to combine taking pictures at tango events and dancing? How do you usually balance work and leisure? At some point I realized that it’s better to devote yourself to one thing. My inner photographer usually wins over the dancer in me. Q 16: What was the most unforgettable tango you experienced and where was it? It’s too personal to speak about it :). Q 17: What would you recommend aspiring photographers? Listen to yourself and look at the world around. Q 18: Is there any photographer you would like to learn from (intern with)? People who I would like to learn from are not photographers. Q 19: What are your favorite pictures of your own work? The one that is not taken yet. Q 20: your plans for 2013?... If you could work on any project anywhere you want, what would it be? As the famous saying reads – “a true way to make God laugh is to tell him about your plans”. If I could work on that project now, I would go where I was a month ago – the mountains of Nepal. Blitz questions: - favorite tango music: valses :) - tango DJs: Felix Picherna - non-tango music: celtic music, word music, mantras - color? 255/255/255 - what is your favorite flower? My daughter :) - favorite dish / food - seafood - which animal would you like to be if you were an animal in your next life? I am hoping that in my next life I will stay a human being [Symbol] - what dance would you dance if not tango? - Uprock! - what is your favorite film? - 2001: A Space Odyssey - what Russian films would you recommend watching? “Stalker” by Andrei Tarkovsky - book you recommend to read: Wassily Kandinsky “Concerning the Spiritual in Art” - what place would you choose for a romantic trip? Sintra, Portugal - what place would you live if you could live anywhere? Anywhere - favorite non-tango place in Moscow which you would show your friend (except your home)? Gorky Park - if you had a chance to bring time back what would you do differently in your life? If I changed something I would not be who I am. - Who would you like to say “thank you” to? To all human beings - Your motto: Do what must and come what may - Anything else you would like to say to the TangoDancers Blog’s readers? Be happy, dear everyone! Thank you! By chance just found these "Conversations on Tango" by the "Delicate Strength" blog, recorded at the Tango Element Baltimore 2011. Sebastian Arce & Mariana Montes, Mariano Chicho Frumboli & Juana Sepulveda, Aoniken Quiroga & Alejandra Mantinan, Martin Maldonado & Maurizio Ghella, Lucas Molina Gazcon & Cecilia Piccini are sharing (1) what attracts them in the person they ask to dance, what is tango, (2) what makes a good dance, (3) who inspires their tango, (4) what other art besides tango inspires them, as well as they will answer a few "rapid fire" questions (5-10) in Part 3 video. Enjoy! A charming TV issue in Russian by the Dancing Planet devoted to Buenos Aires, Argentina and tango. Author and host: Alexander Pukhov. (Russian TV "Moya Planeta") *** Wish they had English subtitles! It's really fun to watch. There is probably no person in tango who have danced for 1+ years and haven't heard of Graciela Gonzalez and her legendary followers' technique workhop. Also known as "La Negra", a woman of great charisma and power, Graciela is a self-made person who continues to inspire tangueras and tangueros with her sensual gracious dancing all around the world. Today we would like to share a few links with interviews and an article about Graciela. (Feel free to add your recommendations in the comments!) Interview in Spanish: http://www.santango.com/el-lenguaje-del-abrazo/ Russian version (big thanks to everyone who help translating the interview!) https://www.facebook.com/tkomarda/posts/10200504987320811 Article from "El Firulete" "The original women’s technique class" (by Valorie Hart) http://elfirulete.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/3031/ Another interview in English: http://www.tangopulse.net/graciela-gonzalez While new interviews & articles are being prepared here are some inspirations for you to unleash creative energy and imagination - paint your tree in lossom :)! *** TIP: if you don't have a blossoming tree around, you can paint from a picture (browse flickr or google images for the most inspiring one! *** SEND US your pictures!! we'd be happy to publish them! - through a draw 1 chosen artist will get a gift! :) *** Experiment with various media! *** Here we go! |
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