Felipe Matilla Alonso
Spanish film maker
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Interview: 10 questions
1 Tell me something about your life and the educational background
I was born and have always lived in Zamora, Spain. After finishing at school I began working as a civil servant in my town. Watching films and TV series led me to dream about having a camera with which to make may own films.
Years later I decided to study law but soon I thought that was not what I wanted to study and left University. I used to watch lots of films and collect lots of books on cinema. When video cameras came out I felt making movies would be much easier than never and after buying camera, lamps, microphones and computer I started making my own films. At first I worked with my friends as actors and later I began working with some professional ones.
2. When, how and why started you filming?
I started making simple films when I was 14 y.o. My parents bought me a Super-8 camera and I struggled to gather my reluctant brothers as actors. I began filming because I love telling stories and see how the audience responds so that I can feel myself nearer all of them.
3. What kind of subjects have your films?
I am not sure of having preferences for any specific kind of subjects but what I like is trying to grow some emotion in the public about contents they feel identified with. I would really like the public to scream, cry or smile because they have lived what I wanted to say.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
I am a methodical person and work by steps. When I have achieved one step y walk on the next. This is the process I follow from the writing of the script until the last computer key in postproduction is pushed.
5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
The whole process is digital. I shoot on a digital 3 CCD camera. The sound is recorded with microphones plugged in the same camera. In postproduction I use NLE and composition software.
6. What are the chances of new media for the genre film/video in general and you personally?
Making a film has never been as affordable as it is at the moment thanks to the new media. Now not only the great majors can tell stories but anyone with a computer, a videocamera and great hopes.
7. How do you finance your films?
I do it myself. Thanks to the new media that is possible today for me.
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team? if you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
I use to work together with some assistants but I usually do almost everything. I like doing everything but I think that as our hopes get more and more serious a team becomes a must.
9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?
All the people who have made movies before me.
10 What are your future plans or dreams as a film/video maker?
I am planning to write and shoot a feature film.