Following, filmmaker Camila Gonzatto talks about the creative process of WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? and the experience of working with Philip Glass, among other related themes.
1) What were your references for making the film?
The most immediate references to the project were Limite, by Mario Peixoto, and Nelson Freire, by João Moreira Salles. I also saw the documentary Certas Dúvidas de William Kentridge ("Certain Doubts of William Kentridge"), produced by Associação Cultural Videobrasil.
One of the basic aspects of the project was research. Besides reading many interviews with Philip Glass found on the Internet, I read a book with writings about him and saw the documentary Looking Glass. Entering the world of the person you are going to work with is fundamental. In this researching phase I also had many conversations with Jaílton Moreira, my visual arts teacher, and a conversation with the musician Fernando Mattos.
2) How can your short-film be defined? How was it structured?
The idea of the production was to make a "visual essay". I followed that line, trying to find and create images that could work as metaphors of the sonority and, in a way, the structure of Philip Glass's music. The interview also followed that direction. It was conducted on the way of understanding what the artist think of his own music and the act of making it.
3) How was working with Philip Glass?
When Philip Glass got here, all the crew was ready to go. He was very kind, even playing some music when I requested, Metamorphosis 1, which was used as soundtrack for the video. Besides that, he showed disposition to walk several times to the stage and answer the questions. In a general way, I can say that getting to know him was an experience full of learning.
4) In terms of general content, what can be deepened/discussed by the film's audience?
The film shows us a point of view about music, of an artist that had an incredible contribution to music nowadays. I believe that, from him, many more ways can be discussed.
5) Any production curiosity or personal comment to add? Was anything different from what was initially planned?
Besides working with HD (video), I chose to work with super 8 (film). The idea was to get a different texture for the same images, a bit like Glass's music, that works with repetition, but the repetition is never the same, it always have something different.