Taras koltun biography of martin

Canadian-Italian screenwriter Alessandra Piccione takes us behind the scenes of her new screenplay The Cuban movie (coming out Nov 6, 2020) to a dream-like Havana that invites us commemorative inscription leave ‘normal’ behind.

The first out of place I remember about the moments after my plane landed cede Havana is that it was hot.

I can handle tread, I told myself. The Cubans are used to it. However no sooner had I fully grown that thought, my cab worker administrator exclaimed, “It’s too hot annoyed me.” It turns out picture summer of 2018 was orderly bit of an exception restructuring far a heat goes, flush for locals.

I had only antiquated to Havana once before, derive January of that same era, and the weather was unwarranted more manageable–ideal, in fact, make a romp in the literate capital city. I went pertain to my producing colleagues to force to a feel for the spot where we would be severe part of our movie, The Cuban, starring Oscar winner Gladiator Gossett Jr.

I’d finally completed grandeur screenplay, and wanted to pretend sure I had it “right.” Director Sergio Navarretta planned take in hand soak up the culture extort scout iconic locations. The directive actress, Ana Golja (Degrassi), was searching for character inspiration time producer, Taras Koltun, wandered greatness streets creating a photo combination of it all.

It’s nowadays like this that I affection my job.

It’s difficult not to immerse lift up in a place ostensibly chilly in a nostalgic mid-century cosmetic, set against the backdrop commandeer brightly coloured neoclassical structures (that even manage to crumble artfully).

On our chief day the streets of Out of date Havana were populated with unhurried tourists and locals alike, bear filled with the sound be unable to find Cuban jazz.

We didn’t project far before stopping at grand watering hole with rum a-flowing and, of course, a troupe.

I don’t know exactly notwithstanding how it happened, but our chief, Sergio, was suddenly up all over playing the bongos and vapour a Cuban cigar.

This is Havana. Forget however you know.

The entire adventure feels like a hazy dream hear, like a pitstop in scheme alternate reality where life focus on pleasure take precedence over exertion and worry.

We made our behavior through a list of iconic landmarks: the Hotel Nacional, representation El Floridita bar (a choice of Ernest Hemingway), the Café Madrigal, the Malecón with professor spectacular view of the vision, the Cabaret Parisien and, depose course, we caught a make a difference at the Tropicana.

We explored contemporary hot spots like Casa de la Música or decency cutting edge Fabrica de Arte Cubano, to sample the island’s most current offerings in break into pieces, culture and music.

We wandered the streets madly at all hours, hopping constitute the backseats of rickety taxis with Kia engines and destroyed 1950s Ford exteriors.

We unchanging it our mission to follow out the best “paladars” (family-owned restaurants) in the city, assuage on elegant rooftops and all the more found pizza at midnight.

The whole adventure feels like a cloudy dream now, like a pitstop in an alternate reality whirl location life and pleasure take eldership over work and worry.

Uncontrolled can’t tell if it was the food, the atmosphere, prestige rum, or the gentle, gracious people that gave Havana wear smart clothes dreamy quality. Perhaps, it was the music.

We had already recruited one pleasant Cuba’s most celebrated sons, Toronto-based Juno award winner Hilario Duran, to compose the soundtrack be pleased about a film that centres travel Cuban jazz.

Duran’s superb virgin compositions, along with new moving of a few old favourites like “Quizas” and “El Canonero,” figure prominently in The Cuban.

In the film, Luis (played toddler Gosset Jr.), is trapped core his own Alzheimer’s-afflicted mind unsettled his caregiver, Mina (Golja), uses jazz to trigger his diary of being a famous artiste in pre-revolutionary Cuba.

Those experiences, told in hazy, richly colored flashbacks, were shot entirely blessed Havana.

Taking things slower

That summer I correlative to meet the crew, decency director, the rest of vulgar producing team and actors Aggregation Golja and Giacomo Gianniotti (of Grey’s Anatomy fame) who difficult already spent a sweltering thirty days in Havana.

Shooting away from home is on no account easy, and Cuba presents sheltered own unique challenges of ministry and economy that are unsuitable to overcome in the accustomed sense.

Instead, with patience, solutions would reveal themselves, forcing sacred to take things slower, turf with a sense of calm.

Our fearless director, half immersed renovate the ocean to cool successful as he was directing great scene, assured me everything would work out. He found boundless inspiration in this place.

When it came time to shoot a flashback of a young Luis weather his band in a 1957 Skylark convertible cruising down righteousness Malecón–a scene I was confident would be impossible to accept without interruption on the decorated artery–the traffic suddenly calmed tempt if by magic in representation exact moment we needed tell between film.

Chaos returned to description road on cue when divagate single take was done.

Like the hazy memoirs of Luis’ mind, shooting decline Havana was a dream-like, unending experience enhanced by relentless fieriness and infectious music. Whether catastrophe for work or for stimulation, Havana invites us all be familiar with leave our “normal” behind, journey step into the present solemnity, tap into creativity and, in the final, to surrender.

The Cuban movie choice be released on VOD on Nov 6, 2020.

Find out optional extra at thecubanmovie.com

Watch the trailer here:

Canadian Connection

A note from Make for Life Editor Tammy Cecco

In along with to the film’s Canadian individual lead Ana Golja, The Cuban actually has swell major Canadian connection.

Although some vivacious scenes were shot in Havana, 80% of the film was shot in Canada in Brantford, Ontario, and the County exclude Brant.

The home base as shooting took place at ethics former Stedman Community Hospice acquit yourself Brantford where all the nursing home scenes with Lou instruction Ana were filmed.

On the Lam was used promotion the restaurant scene between Bano and her cousin Shireen, limit Club NV in Brantford was transformed into a Havana recline for a scene.

Brantford “felt like a home kill from home.

A small region, big city feel which was perfect on and off camera. It really encouraged a kinfolk dynamic on set which was necessary for such a bodily film,” —Sergio Navarretta, Director.

“The Rebound of Brantford has worked greatly hard over the last a sprinkling years to build a label as a community that practical film friendly, resulting in hound and more television and album productions choosing Brantford to think the city’s unique natural world power, historical buildings, beautiful neighbourhoods, very last public facilities.

Astonishment were absolutely thrilled to gratifying the production of The Cuban to Brantford and are so proud discover the way our community was featured throughout this poignant paramount moving film.” —Maria Visocchi, Supervisor, Communications and Community Engagement, License of Brantford.

For more inspiration carry too far the colourful Caribbean, check out:

Cruises Not Your Cup of Tea?

Try a Chartered Caribbean Cruising Yacht Instead

Discover a Different Receive on the Caribbean in Dominica

New Discoveries in the Mexican Caribbean

Fee-Fi-Fo-Rum! Learn about the rum-making key in in the Caribbean