Alfonso Cuarón on Writing the First Line of a Movie | On Filmmaking

[@baftaguru]

Do you think it is necessary for a director to have previously read the work before choosing to adapt and direct a story?

[@Beraksekebon21]

David fincher is disagree

[@diek_yt]

Not if they have a proper vision for the story since before they've read the source material and they don't want it to get "contaminated". Alfonso himself did not read the original "Children of Men" novel because he already had a vision for the story that was not to be tampered with, and a great movie was produced as a result. Edit: maybe I shouldn't have answered the question so prematurely, since the same thing was mentioned during the interview! Oopsie.

[@avobean]

YES

[@samwallaceart288]

If it’s an adaptation, read everything. Children of Men sounds more like an inspiration; as soon as Alfonso had his idea, he was going to make that film regardless.

[@Skanda1111]

Yes. Research is key! If you're going to change certain parts of the story to match your vision, you should be able to justify why and for that you need to understand the original absolutely. But when you say adapt you always can change things to spice it up. You can read a novel for a week and have the theme running your mind in the background. But for cinema have just 3 hrs Max.

[@ikuep]

He's so good at film making that they made the BAFTA face look like him.

[@annacoribioanna]

It warms my heart seeing a man do movies about women, and in what manner! talk about empathy! ...... from Sandra Bullock in Gravity, from Y Tu Mama Tambien and a woman dealing with Cancer, to a world with no children because well....a woman's womb is important....to Roma!...do you all see that in most of his movies he wants the world to experience what is like to be a woman, her world often mingled in wars, in loneliness... also showcasing the often unseen details of a woman's strength that also helps to keep a world in balance. In the case of "Roma", during and after, both men and women, regardless of nationality can just feel for this human being, as if it was our sister, or someone we know, we cry with her, we feel her loneliness and pain. ....EMPATHY! and any artwork that accomplishes such task means they have created a piece of art that will be remembered through time, those movies are the ones who change the world, sub-consciously or consciously ------ Thank you Cuaron

[@Armando_Lara]

Totally agree, as a philosopher he's more intrigued about human aspects, and as you very accurately mention, specially in women.

[@bolder2009]

He's also the most engaging director I've experienced on set in almost 20 years in the industry. He was very present in a way that I've not experienced before and after working on one of his projects.

[@YolaResa]

Well said.

[@SergioAllIndie]

I imagine that what you're stating might be a part of what he learned from Libo and his mother throughout his upbringing, precisely. It's soothing to know there's also male directors who are constantly intrigued about female characters and honoring their humanity as a whole. Not saying that there's no directors who honor humanity at all, but in some cases their work can easily be interpreted as single-minded, or biased, whereas Cuarón is versatile, curious, determined not to be labeled on a singe genre, nor a single kind of story, or characters. Because he wants to convey humanity, that empathy you're bringing out.

[@ahmeds3139]

Alfonso Charon Is The Legend of Cinema. Hope he wins this year.

[@shravanracharla6771]

They become legends when there is no need to win anything.

[@jasercervantes]

"There is comfort in technique but it can be dangerous" This guy is a genius. WOW!

[@wiredcer]

this is quite common advice in any creative field whether it is painting or writing. Unless you're being sarcastic.

[@MrBeastknows]

@@wiredcer In the creative field, technique and routine are often lauded. Especially when creativity educators teach students. So don't be a douche.

[@Winduct]

You learn more from this guy in 10 minutes that at a film school in 3 years.

[@georgwachberg1242]

did you go to film school?

[@Winduct]

@@georgwachberg1242 Yes.

[@allaboutmusic139]

Which film school?

[@008theone]

Amen

[@givingtree9619]

I mean if you go to film school, you're basically throwing money away

[@maffybelgira]

Always remembered him as the director of Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban

[@jackieminns4030]

One of the earliest lines in Roma is Cleo lying her down beside the little boy when they are outside on the rooftop where they play and she does laundry. and the boy says he's dead and she says. "I like being dead." Is it her journey, (since metaphorically death is a journey of transformation). What do you think it means? Beyond the fact that she is playing with the child.

[@danielyanezgarrido]

I think in spanish she just repeats the same, I am dead too.

[@gabgab439]

@@danielyanezgarrido No, in spanish she says ¨Me gusta estar muerta¨ that in english is ¨I like being dead¨

[@lazyeye1701]

Thats's a very significant line.Cleo lives far away from her own people.She is into this affluent family yet its not her family.This sense of rootlessness affects her deeply.

[@montanadon2558]

I took it as Cleo simply feeling relief in being "dead" for a moment as it gives her a respite from her constant laboring. After she says the line, the camera pans up and you see the other maids on the other roofs in the neighborhood doing the laundry for their employers, all as dogs bark incessantly and car horns blare. Its a noisy, confusing, chaotic environment filled with endless, monotonous work. People talk about "soul-sucking" work, and I'd say Cleo's work is soul sucking indeed. Of course, it is redeemed by her love of the children and their love for her. But the work itself, and the life of servitude she is subjugated to because she is poor, its not hard to see why someone in that position might prefer to be dead, if only for a moment.

[@arctic3032]

Children of Men was a f***ing work of art!

[@nSackStyles]

But it's so depressing

[@jimbeam2299]

@@nSackStyles that's the point but the ending shows there's hope

[@brandonthomson6021]

What is the first reference he makes before Duel and Runaway Train?

[@jaimealansiqueirosruiz21]

I think he meant to say "A Man Escaped" by Robert Bresson

[@brandonthomson6021]

@@jaimealansiqueirosruiz21 Great! Thank you.

[@gorlami9232]

he looks like Sean Connery. Un leyenda del historia cinema

[@AceHardy]

🎬🎥

[@nathaliatertuliano8293]

He's very attractive

[@gabi.padilla]

7:28

[@latroletteeeee]

Is he still talking to Liesel ?

[@MrMarsFargo]

It's inspiring to see a fellow Mexican succeed in this industry. Shame to see such a pushback to that now.

[@danielyanezgarrido]

What do you mean with pushback ?

[@MrMarsFargo]

@@danielyanezgarrido A lot people argue his achievements weren't "valid" due to him being a minority. They feel he didn't deserve his artistic recognition, with films such as Roma being called "minority pandering." They feel because of his status as a minority, hollywood just plucked him right up and he didn't have to work for any of his success. I disagree with ALL of these assessments, as he was not just picked up by Hollywood at all. In fact, he had to endure years of monetary hardship to make such films as "Solo Con Ty Pareja" "A Little Princess" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien," before he was given any large budget or high concept opportunities. All filmmakers of Mexican and Latino origin STILL have to endure that, it's not something that is just handed to them after a single success... as it is for white filmmakers.

[@danielyanezgarrido]

@@MrMarsFargo Ive never heard anything of that....I mean I dont doubt there are people who think like that but I dont think its any significant number of people, so why care ?

[@thecontainerthecontents6889]

1 eye symbolism on the mask in the on screen overlay. occult symbolism showing allegiance to whatever that means, but we see it everywhere. just.... everywhere. it means "i sold out"

[@gabi.padilla]

8:34