WFTB - PAT

WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS

Synopsis
A magistrate, administrator of an isolated frontier settlement on the border of an unnamed empire, looks forward to an easy retirement until the arrival of colonel Joll, whose task it is to report on the activities of the barbarians and on the security situation on the border. Joll conducts a series of ruthless interrogations. The treatment of the barbarians at his hands and the torture of a young barbarian woman combine to lead the magistrate to a crisis of conscience and a quixotic act of rebellion.

Director’s Statement
When we began to work on the adaptation of J.M. Coetzee’s novel, I thought the story took place in a distant world in remote times. As the filmmaking process evolved, that distant time and place began to feel closer and closer. Now that we are done, the story has somehow morphed into a story about our present age.

Director
Ciro Guerra

Production
Iervolino Entertainment (Andrea Iervolino, Michael Fitzgerald, Monika Bacardi, Olga Segura)

Main Cast
Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Greta Scacchi

Screenplay
J.M. Coetzee

Cinematographer
Chris Menges

Editor
Jacopo Quadri

Production Designer
Domenico Sica, Crispian Sallis

Costume Designer
Carlo Poggioli

Music
Giampiero Ambrosi

I started working in the film industry in August 2015, this is the seventh film I collaborate as BTS UNIT, that is behind the scenes videomaker. I deal with filming, interviews with producers, the director with the actors and the various professionals at the head of the different departments and in a second phase I edit the product. In this case, besides the backstage, I am editing the documentary “WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS, THE MAKING OF”. Considering the names involved, I can say that I was very lucky and priveleged for being hired by IERVOLINO ENTERTAINMENT, this is the fourth film I make with them. It was a magical experience. What happened in two months of filming, mostly in Morocco, and then a week in Frascati near Rome, is something I think was real in a space-time bubble. Everything and I say everything was perfect, everything happened when it had to happen and the people I met, from producers to actors, people from the troupe, the British, the Americans, the Mexicans, the Moroccans, the Mongolians, the Colombians, the Italians were all so professional but above all so kind. I don’t think it always happens like this … As I said it was a magical experience. Everyone’s energy was unforgettable, I saw so much commitment, conviction, passion and dedication. It was a very demanding and tiring job, I felt really tired on rare occasions. Of course all this was possible thanks to other people, so for me it is about gratitude and thanks to these very special people.

THANKS!!!

There are my two bosses, from IERVOLINO ENTERTAINMENT, Danielle Maloni-Production Manager and Edvige De Tommaso-Marketing Manager. Then there’ also Erika Scaramella-Post Production Supervisor and Maria Ruggero-Finance and Control. In different ways they take care of me. Especially Edvige and Danielle who during the film production supports and encourages me. On this particular film, I was a bit intimidated because I was in front of such famous professionals for the first time, some Oscar awards … in short, my first thanks goes to them. Then there is the American producer Michael Fitzgerald and the Mexican producer Olga Segura, they also had a lot of respect for me and above all they gave me great trust. The executive line producer Deborah Dobson Bach was very kind. Then there is of course the director Ciro Guerra and the director of photography Chris Menges. Meeting Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Gana Bayarsaikhan and Robert Pattinson was an honor and the most beautiful and unexpected thing was their availability and kindness with which they treated me, and not just me. They were kind and available with the whole crew … It is really true that behind a great professional there is a great person, at least in this case it was wonderfully true! The fantastic and very nice production designer Crispian Sallis and the art director Domenico Sica, the make-up artist Marta Roggero and the hair hod Armido Pezzato. Of course the costume designer Carlo Poggioli. These are mainly department heads, but their teams have also made possible for me to do a good job, and I will never forget the kindness with which everyone treated me. So in no particular order, I carry all the names of the people who while they worked gave me some of their time to make my work possible, and to be interviewed … THANK YOU !!! A big thanks goes of course to the Moroccan crew, great example of professionalism, kindness and positive energy!

KHAOULA LYANBOUI , 2ND ASSISTANT CAMERA B CAMERA/LOADER
SEBASTIAN BARRACLOUGH , “A” CAMERA OPERATOR /STEADICAM
MOUNA KHAALI , 1st ASSISTANT CAMERA “B” CAMERA
JAIME FLETCHER , RIGGING GAFFER DESK OPERATOR
PAUL SNELL , 1st ASSISTANT CAMERA “A” CAMERA
INTI J. ZAMORA MARTINEZ , ASSIST TO DIRECTOR
FIORENZA CIPOLLONE, EXTRAS COORDINATOR
SALVATORE SALZANO, 1ST ASSIST COSTUMES
ANNICK BILTRESSE, ART DEPT COORDINATOR
PATRIZIA BARBERA, 2ND ASSIST COSTUMES
MARIA CLARA GONZALEZ, CAST COSTUMER
DAVID GALLEGO , “B” CAMERA OPERATOR
OLLY TELLET , 1st ASSISTANT “A” CAMERA
TONI GALINDO, ASSITANT PROPS MASTER
MARCO CORRIDORI, SPFX COORDINATOR
DASH MASON-MALIK, BOOM OPERATOR
GABRIELLI SINATRA, SPFX TECHNICIAN
DOMENICO REORDINO, HEAD PAINTER
JULIAN PHILIPS, CHARGE HAND PROPS
MARCO IDINI, COSTUME SUPERVISOR
FRIEDA BASSO, KEY SET COSTUMER
JAMES GRIMES, PROPERTY MASTER
GLAUCO ISIDORI, ASSIST PAINTER
JOHN FENECH , DATA MANAGER
JOEL PROUST, HORSE MASTER
JONATHAN SPENCER, GAFFER
JAC HOPKINS , KEY GRIP
BEN APPLETON, DIT

Then you know, there is a special group of people, those with whom you have a bond of friendship and confidence in which in those two months you become a person you can rely on in a mutual way. Pascal Vaguesly-Production Executive and Federica Fiaschetti-internship who were with me every day to help me on the set. It was very nice to share this experience with two generous people like them. Stella D’Onofrio-Script Supervisor was a good friend and advisor, she shared with me some of her experience and her work and this was a great help even in the editing phase. Marco Corridori and Gabrielli Sinatra, Claudio Quaglietti, SPFX Foremen, from Rome, was a stimulus for energy and to take a little more courage in certain situations. Kenneth Garside-Armourer, Hassan AAzmou-Driver and Abdelmounem Ennokra-Cableman aka “boom-boom” with whom we shared all the trips by car from Marrakech to the set to an hour’s journey and to Erfoud in the desert. At dawn or at night it was not important, every trip was great laughter and lots of fun. Gary Dodkin-Sound Mixer, who with his colleague Dash-Boom Operator have always given me a space to secure my equipment. Thank you for your kindness. These are also the people with whom I also shared a few moments of relaxation in the off-days, thanks to you. Thank you for your time shared with me, thank you for your love. Thank you! And last but not least, Carlos Sarmiento-Composer. With him we have known each other for several years and when the Production accepted my proposal to involve him in the creation of music for the “Behind the scene” and for the documentary “WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS, THE MAKING OF”, I was very happy to to be able to work together again. Thank you Carlos for your great work! In these photos some beautiful moments spent with all of them. 🙂

On set, on location...

from left to right:

Rupert O’Neil-standby prop, the cinematographer Chris Menges, Sebastian Barraclough- “A” camera operator/steadicam, Jonathan Spencer-gaffer, Jac Hopkins-key grip…

The colors and landscapes of Morocco, what a wonder for the five senses …

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