Abismo
Directed by Pablo Diconca
Director(s) of Photography Glauco Bermudez
Choreographer Catherine Gaudet
Dancers Caroline Gravel, Dany Desjardins
Composer Alejandro Pinnejas
Drifting on a raft, a man and a woman choose the only possible escape.
Interview with Director Pablo Diconca
Describe, in as many or as few words as you see fit, the genesis of or inspiration behind Abismo?
Abismo” (“Abyss”) is a short dance film inspired by a dance piece (Je suis un autre), I saw in Montreal a few years ago. I was seduced by the choreography and approached Catherine Gaudet, the choreographer, to see if she was interested in making part of the piece into a film.
How long did Abismo take to film? How long was post-production?
We shot Abismo in two days. The post production took three weeks working full time on the editing, music composition, sound design, color correction, mix, graphics, etc.
What are some insights into the experience of filming in water?
Filming in the lake was a very delicate job. We prepared it very carefully with Glauco Bermudez, my DOP, choosing the right places to set the camera, the grip, to work safely but very close to the dancers.
If this is your first dance for film production, what are a few things you learned about making a dance for film that surprised you? If this is not your first dance for film production, what are a few things that you are continually trying to refine or learn as you have sought to work thru this medium of dance and film together?
Abismo is my 15th dance film. I started creating dance films when I graduate from the University in the Contemporary Dance Program. I feel through the years I have refined the dialogue between the camera and the dancers, finding new ways to compose for the frame and to choose the right situations where the dance will take place, to create deeper levels of symbolism.
What is interesting or intriguing to you about dance for film vs. dance for stage? Or, if you are coming from a film background and working with dance is more of a new medium for you, what drew you to wanting to capture and work with dance?
I use to choreograph for the stage. I am more seduced to create dance films because of the visibility my work can reach, but also because these films are objects of art which will remain and will keep touching people, worldwide.
Are there any projects, dance film or otherwise, that you are working on currently that you would like to share with our audience?
I have a dance film project, a feature fiction project and a documentary one, the three of them in development and looking for financial sources.