Friday, February 15th, 2008

Producer / Filmmaker Academy Award Nominee Anja Daelemans TANGHI ARGENTINI

Where did you get the idea or inspiration for the film’s story?
The script was sent to myself and to my director Guido Thys.  The script writer Geert Verbanck, had an internet date and fell totally in love with her and are now married together.
So, that’s where he came up with the “internet” piece.  The tango part came when he saw an advertisement for tango lessons and saw the Japanese film SHALL WE DANCE?  He then sat down and put the story together based on these two inspirations and got it to me and to Guido.

Were any of the actors trained in the tango prior to making the film?
Once we had the actors lined up, we asked them to take tango lessons.  We found them teachers from the El Rumbo dance school and they took lessons for 3 months.

What filmmakers inspire or influence you and your work?
It’s difficult.  I love all the romantic movies ever made and I am a fan of Jacques Tati films and James Bond movies.  I am fascinated by Hitchcock, Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, and Alejandro González Iñárritu.

What made you want to become a filmmaker?
I wanted to become a cook.  But my parents would not allow me.  They told me to find a real job - and they sent me to film school.  How’s that for a real job?

What are your upcoming projects?
I am currently working on two short films, one feature film and have a couple of scripts in development.  I am also prepping to shoot a documentary about painters who have yet to be discovered.

Make sure to catch all of the Academy Award nominated short films on the BIG screen, where they belong!  They are now playing at the Landmark and Laemmle theatres.  Stay tuned for a FilmRadar Field Trip announcement shortly!