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.
... 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.
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.
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.
Oliver Kolker, Hernan Findling and Oren Dobronsky
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.
(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.
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…
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
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
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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! :)
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! :)
