This year the young journalist, actor and broadcaster Carlos Eduardo Maristany debuts as a director of a video clip. His latest audiovisual, made along songwriter Yoyo Ibarra, to promote the theme I Kiss You is listed at number 12 in the charts according to data released this August 26th at the Lucas Awards facebook group.
What is said about this video both in social networks? (it is about to become one of the most commented 500 clips this week in the world. According to youtube inside it ranks in the 487 position). According to Maristany you can say that there is a school of Cuban video clip: “Although I have taken many specialized courses I learned in the school of independent filmmakers that to me is the most important thing in Cuba.
“I directed my first video clip in the month of November 2012. I am already in my fourth. I had a hard start. I waited almost a year and a half because it is very difficult to break the ice in a country where there is so much young talent waiting for a chance, “Maristany says.
In your case you went from journalism to work as an independent filmmaker: What are the main challenges you have faced?
“As a young filmmaker I have a great concern about my future. About two years ago I left official state work and supposedly in that time I have not worked or have saved money for retirement even though I have generated culture and contributed to the development of society. My case is not unique.
“It is hard to understand how independent filmmakers are even not recognized by the institutions when that movement has helped to strengthen the audiovisual and Cuban musical culture, to reflect values, strengthen our identity and even give voice to silenced elements as otherness.
“The Cuban audiovisual filmmakers are unprotected by social security. We do not have a legal personality that allows us to access, in an honest way, equipment to improve our resources, to manage logistics, to build a production.
“Progress has been made at the government level in this regard but we have been waiting for a solution for a long time. It is also known by the cultural authorities “.
Is it profitable to do today a video clip in Cuba? In your opinion, young people try to insert themselves into that market by an economic factor?
“As in all walks of life there will always be who respects himself and has own creative interests and intellectual honesty that allows him to grow as artists making as minor concessions as possible and who wants to live the easy life. Although, making a video clip in Cuba is not easy.
“Those last one, we in the guild call them visual art prostitutes or those who will do anything for a little money. They are false filmmakers whose service is a musician to record with a camera, put any background in post without having the slightest idea of what a video clip is.
“Everyone puts a price on his work and I see nothing wrong with that. I’m in a position that I want my name to stand out as a filmmaker and opportunities do not abound. But I’m not interested into prioritizing profit. I just aspire to do something which I can be satisfied with. “
In your last two works you tried to stay away from platitudes?
“One is discovering aesthetics gradually. I’ve always been an enemy of the ordinary in the creative sense. For me each plane has to be there for a particular reason. A video clip should enrich the song to have life as an independent artwork.
“My first two clips were made in haste but I had to seize the opportunity I had. I do not regret what I did because it allowed me to move forward.
“The video for the Klimax group (third from Maristany) satisfied me enough. With this video I could compete in two international salsa festivals, something important for a Cuban filmmaker. It’s the closest to my ideal because it is located at a midpoint between the artistic and the commercial.
“I proposed to the musicians to use stereotyped elements exploited by the visual arts of recent times but with a satirical sense.
“I included a quote to the Matrix, an important benchmark in the science fiction movies of the contemporary times, a classic American filmmaking.
The video clip of the song I kiss you that directed with songwriter Yoyo Ibarra is marked by design and visual references. In my opinion is a more finished work.
“As a designer Yoyo Ibarra is a recent graduate of the Institute of Design and raised a very strong visual concept from the beginning of this clip.
“The Yoyo personal logo is based on a very famous Salvador Dali design inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s lips. In such logo he recreates red, white and black colors.
“We built a red cabinet shaped like a kiss. Along that, in the text Yoyo says: ‘If you get as Betty Boop, I kiss you’.
Yoyo and Paula Rodriguez Massola
“Betty Boop is a cartoon character that appeared in American Talkartoon series, produced by Max Fleischer (Fleischer Studios) and released by Paramount Pictures in 1926.
“So we decided to characterize an actress like the doll and dress her in red because when the anime was colored years after her dress was of that color.
“Everyone liked the video, both those who are concerned about aesthetics and those who only see the music. I’m very happy with that. “
What do you expect with the upcoming nominations to the Lucas awards?
“One should not work based on the awards but, of course, every young man dreams of achieving a Lucas award, the main reference in the video clip and the Cuban audiovisual. It is the top for those who aspire to do something transcendental.
“I am interested in being professionally legit not commercial. For me it is very important that my videos are broadcasted on television (The Lucas) because that’s my highest regards. Much of my education I owe it to that space almost never miss. “
