Chucho Valdés "sings" to La Habana

October 23, 2019

With the film Esteban, young Jonal Cosculluela achieved a dream, after having worked as a sound technician, editor and other specialties in television. Following that film I held this dialogue with the filmmaker.

-What did it mean to you to have the certainty that Chucho Valdés would make the music?

"Wow!, I'm the type of person who is always dreaming, I think I connect very little with reality, I love it when I have some idea and I start to tell it, and I notice that others are getting emotional or becoming infected with what I'm telling them and I can tell when they stop being mere listeners and begin to be part of the journey I propose.

I remember a phrase from Latin American ideals: one person's dream is only a dream, when it belongs to several it begins to be a reality. Maritza, although she is also a dreamer, is more grounded and whenever there is a real possibility of one of my crazy ideas she doesn't rest until she achieves it. With Chucho it was like that. I dreamed it and I asked for it. She made it a reality. He connected with the story and decided to accompany us on this journey".

-Maritza Ceballo is the producer, wife, lover and friend of this audiovisual man. With her I "conspired" to obtain answers about the video clip that has shaken social networks:

Whose idea was the clip, Chucho's or yours?

"It's an idea that grows together and to which more people are added. Our mutual friend Ivan Barreto was the driving force behind this video, when he called upon Maritza and me to make proposals and work from the audiovisual perspective for the 500th Anniversary of Havana.

What better tribute to our city than a song composed and performed for her by the hand of Chucho Valdés, with whom we already share bonds of friendship? He accepted immediately, not only to make the music but to come record the video and everything was done in record time. Lorena Salcedo, called upon Silvio Rodríguez's Ojalá studios for the recording and Orestes Águila and that's how the song Habana 500 was recorded and in two days of filming the audiovisual was made".

-What equipment did you work with?

"Once I heard the song, I felt great fear of repeating myself with what was being done and with what I had already done with Chucho himself. Coincidences exist and I came across Gabriel Dávalos's traveling exhibition and the way he recontextualizes ballet in new spaces, it seemed to me that it could work. He not only accepted, but joined the project with great enthusiasm, also contributing lots of ideas.

In the visual aspect, it's a sui generis project because I worked with two photographers: Alejandro Callejas was in charge of the photography of the clip as he had to bring Gabriel's photos to the video. In the production Maritza, who assumes all stages of the process from its conception to the final copy. Maykel Martinez in art direction, Yudit Dominguez in assistant direction, Luis Najmias Jr. in editing, in addition to Nancy Ángulo in color grading and Remachestudio in visual effects who had much of the process and had an important weight in the clip.

The support of the National Ballet was fundamental. Having the leading figures for filming, the preparation, their schedules, their performances and there the willingness and collaboration of Viengsay, Anette, Sadaise, Grettel and Dani played an important role, in addition to the entire corps de ballet and other leading dancers who even in the rain remained steadfast with us.

I have to thank Ocilia, Mauricio, Ivette and for fear of not mentioning some I prefer to thank the Ballet in general for its unconditional support.

The fact that this video would pay tribute to Alicia in some way was always implicit and that is why we chose among the locations the sculpture of Alicia at the Gran Teatro de La Habana. The fatal coincidence of her physical disappearance with the premiere of the audiovisual, may serve to pay tribute to her now in a direct way".

-Is this your second clip? Why always with Chucho?

"It's my second clip and Chucho again for thousands of reasons: he's very easy to work with, he's very professional, he doesn't fear risks and a very important one, is that I'm a fanatic of Chucho Valdés and his music, as well as so much good Cuban music that exists.

We are already preparing my third clip, Today My Havana, the one I grew up with. By pure coincidence I found out that Xiomara Laugart didn't have a clip either with this song or with any other and that's it, let's get to work and for our Havana which certainly deserves a few masses, boleros and habaneras. Soon Today My Havana will see the light. Also produced by Cinesoft and for the half-century of our city.

- Do you tell me about your film project?

We are preparing Brindis, a feature film inspired by the famous violinist Claudio José Domingo Brindis de Salas. And I say inspired because although we take elements from reality, we let our imagination fly and recreate a beautiful story. I share the screenplay with Alberto Luberta and Cinesoft joins this ambitious enterprise. It will have the production of Maritza. And yes, music again... I'm a frustrated musician..hahaha

And with Chucho Valdés again, he will be in charge of making the music for this film with which he has already expressed being excited and wants to start now!...hahaha.

By: Paquita Armas Fonseca