November 17, 2014
“For the action shots I would tie myself to a car with mountain climbing equipment, where I was, literally, one inch from the ground at 60 mph.”
Brazilian filmmaker Roberto Studart shot Curvas e Ladeiras, a skateboard adventure about four girls in breathtaking downhill action in the mountain towns of his country.
“I love the Curvas e Ladeiras project,” says Studart, “because it was shot in real underground conditions and the end result is so nice. Brazil is a huge country and we were all over the place. We had to carefully plan our logistics to overcome the really tight budget. The idea was to have four girls, sexy, fun, fearless, travelling around Brazil in search of downhill skate action.”
We Got Very Good Life Insurance
“So we got very good life insurance and picked small towns near mountains, where we could just block the streets ourselves with a team of PAs and no paperwork. At critical spots, we also had ambulances with paramedics on the set. After all, we are crazy, but very responsible.
“We basically worked with two Mark III cameras. For the action shots I would tie myself to a car with mountain climbing equipment, where I was, literally, one inch from the ground at 60 mph, while a professional skateboarder would operate the second camera, riding with the girls.”
I Was So Low…
“I knew I wanted to get as close as I could to the ground, because most of the material I had seen at the time, on this subject, was shot either on GoPros or from car mounts and cranes, and they were never that extreme. There were times I was so low, my hands actually hit the asphalt. But that was key to really show the intensity of our speed and create a vibrant piece of video.”
Storytelling Is Critical
Are there common storytelling threads in the widely diverse culture of Brazil? “This is a very difficult question,” says Studart, “and I’m not sure to be honest. We artists tend to fall in love unexpectedly, instead of thinking rationally, but, I guess, if you avoid boring minds and ‘Best Sellers’ you have a better chance of running into good stories.
“This may sound too romantic, but in Brazil, where films are still run by authors instead of executives, this is it. We fall in love, we raise the money and we shoot it. Of course we need distributors or TV networks to launch our products, but if your material is unique and you’re aggressive enough, you have a good chance of succeeding.
“Brazil is struggling to find its role in the world. Our democracy is just thirty years old. There are crucial social issues that need to be debated. At the same time we are so passionate, sexy, and we have a very good sense of humor, so, somehow, all these aspects are printed on our way of telling stories.”
Affordable Camera Technology
Filmmaker Roberto Studart
“Another thing to add is that video making suddenly became so interesting after the improvement of affordable digital cameras. Now we can basically shoot anything and do it beautifully. It’s just a matter of finding something interesting, pointing our cameras to it and, suddenly, it’s happening. It’s pure creation. That being said, it’s no surprise how we’re blown away when finding amazing content on the web.”
Discovering Together
Studart attended film school in the United States. Did that give him any advantages? “I don’t really believe in ‘film education,’ says Studart. “I believe in meeting interesting people at film schools. That makes a lot of difference. You have to be in good schools to meet these people, to live this environment of experimenting together, discovering together.
“Plus, when you are a student, especially in the U.S., it seems that all the doors just open for you. I remember getting plenty of film stocks for free, color grading, locations, crew, everybody wants to help you with your little short films and that’s the best way to learn.”
Push Your Limits
Downhill Skate Action
“In Brazil we have a totally different scenario. Resources are scarce, and with no money there’s no industry. You really need to push your limits and your creativity to counteract the lack of investments and get your work out there.
“From this December to March 2015 I’ll be shooting an eleven-episode TV series about three surfers who have pioneered paddle surfing in Jaws, Maui, Hawaii. Then I’ll shoot my first feature film based on a Chilean novel, for which I’ve bought the rights. The adapted story takes place in Brazil, though.
Studart believes the future of filmmaking in Brazil will be sunnier. “Investments and federal government support are growing, more schools are popping up, and we’re setting up co-production agreements with important countries. It’s a long process, but I feel we’re getting there.”