lifestyle SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014 ‘Thirst’ director talks first time directing Latin America thrillers graduate of the University of San Francisco though there is a story, but it’s more about sensation. necessity to throw up sensations that I had been hid- like ironic comedies, so it’s the first time I’ve done this Quito, Ecuadorian director Joe Houlberg makes The atmosphere I think is very carnal and savage. Like ing inside of me, to hydrate my essence and to see genre. But I really liked it. I will be doing comedies Athe jump from directing short films and pro- the main character, that is blind, it isn’t shown. The again. I think I was blinding myself when I was work- and thrillers all my life. Even though they are really ducing to directing a feature of his own with “Thirst,” movie was filmed so that it doesn’t show you things, it ing and working, I was not looking at what was going different, it’s like the two things I really like the most. or “Sed” in his native tongue. The film follows Sara, a blinds the viewer. It blinds you and it communicates on with me. blind 23-year-old, as she, her cousin and each of their more through the silence and the sound and through Ecuador isn’t particularly known for its genre boyfriends encounter something strange and unset- the images more than the words. You’ve directed short films and produced films, thrillers. Was there something about that genre tling in a visit to a country house. Houlberg talked Since I started doing movies or short films, I’ve had but this is your first feature film as a director. What being unexplored in the culture that made you about his inspiration for the film, which screened in a fascination with different ways of communicating. was your biggest challenge as a first-time director? want to make this movie? rough cut at Ventana Sur’s Blood Window, and the In all my other projects, they all have this idea of com- I think all of it. I didn’t have the experience of I don’t think I actually thought about that when I struggles of being a first-time director and making a municating not through words but through other doing something so long and directing for so many was making the movie. It’s true that if you look at movie with virtually no money. ways. For example, in the first short film I did, “Beueu,” days and directing characters in that way. Producing most Ecuadorian movies, you won’t see thrillers. when the characters talked it was more with sounds was also a challenge because we did this movie Maybe there’s one movie that you can call a thriller, What was your inspiration for the film? than with words. It’s really different from this movie, almost with no budget. We are all very young people but most of the movies here in Ecuador and I think in I actually couldn’t tell until two years after I filmed but it’s the idea of communicating in other ways. The and had the feeling of needing to make a movie, so most of Latin America are social issue films. Social sto- the movie. When I started writing the movie it was same with my new short, and I think the movie has a for many of us it was our first film. We had almost no ries about poverty and criminals. just like on impulse. I had been working for a few lot of that, mostly because of the main character who budget but I think those limitations made us more years on other projects and learning from other direc- is a blind girl. creative and I like that. If I have all the budget that I What’s next for you? tors, assistant directing and producing as well. And I The story is about the fragility of the human mind. need maybe I don’t have to be so creative at solving On one side I’m finishing this movie. The cut is had this idea and I started writing it, and it was really I really think that our human brain is really fragile problems. That was one of the things, the challenge almost finished, basically the final cut, but I’m work- fast, actually. I wrote the script and I had a few reviews once we are out of our normal social situations, so was to be really creative in solving problems and in ing on the sound design. The color correction is zero of the script, and I was working for a production com- that’s what I tried doing with the characters. I put situations of time and money and everything. I think right now, so I have to work on that. That’s one side. I pany on commercials, and I had the chance to use them in a different situation and once that happens I that was the biggest challenge. have a new script, a first draft. So that will take a few their camera. So I said this is a great opportunity, and I think humans start showing their most primitive years still. In January, I’m shooting a new short film called some friends. It was a very small crew. And we instincts. We can become animals instead of social What other psychological thrillers did you look that won a prize for here. In Ecuador, we have this shot the movie, and it’s actually really different from people, I think. to for inspiration or influences on your own film? thing called the Consejo Nacional de Cine (CNC) that the original script. After two years, I filmed the movie Sara, the main character, you see her when she’s a A lot of movies that inspired me. I’m a big fan of is a government fund for cultural projects, and there and I was editing-it was then when I really started little girl and in the present she’s a 25 year old girl, Kubrick. One of the movies that’s a great inspiration is are many categories, and one of those is short films. understanding where it came from. and she’s psychologically blinded because she saw “The Shining,” of course. I watched a lot of Hitchcock. You have screenwriting, production; actually this “Thirst” is a psychological thriller. More than a sto- something that she wasn’t supposed to. So she’s There’s this one that I like a lot, it’s not one of the most movie, “Thirst,” won a post-production prize. And I ry, it’s a movie about sensations, perceptions and blind, but not because she’s had an accident or some- known of his movies, “Frenzy.” That was a great inspi- won a prize for shooting this short film. So in January atmosphere. Its intention is to get inside your gut. My thing. In the movie, I try to interpret this like a psycho- ration as well. It was weird for me because if you look I’m shooting this short film. Those are the three things intention is not for the viewer to think of a story, even logical blindness. Personally, I think “Thirst” is the at my short films and my past works, most of them are I am working on now. — Reuters Aston Martin to provide hero car in a 12th James Bond movie

ames Bond has no plans to give Exposure up the keys to an Aston Martin And the director gave Aston Janytime soon. In what’s Martin considerable exposure as the become the longest relationship DB10 was unveiled during a press between an automaker and a film event on the 007 stage at Pinewood franchise, Aston Martin will serve as Studios on Thursday. 007’s preferred vehicle of choice in The event was especially notable “Spectre,” the 24th film in the spy for Aston Martin given that the series. DB10 was introduced before Daniel The Sam Mendes-directed film Craig and the rest of the “Spectre” will mark the 12th time Bond has cast, which includes Christoph driven an Aston Martin in the fran- Waltz, Dave Bautista, Monica chise throughout the company’s 50- Bellucci, Andrew Scott, Lea Seydoux, year relationship with the films. Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris, Ben The British sports car maker on Whishaw and Rory Kinnear. Thursday unveiled the DB10 that The DB5 was the first Aston will appear in “Spectre” when the Martin to appear in a Bond film, movie rolls into theaters on Nov. 6, starting with 1964’s “Goldfinger.” 2015. What’s unique about the vehi- Other films feature its newer cle is that Aston Martin’s design and Vanquish, Vantage Volante, DBS and engineering teams worked closely DB9 sports cars. with EON Prods, which produces “We’ve used different cars from the Bond films and Mendes, to time to time, but we always do In this Dec. 4, 2014 picture the winner of the Miss Intercontinental 2014 beauty con- design the DB10 specifically for come back to Aston Martin,” produc- test, Wang Patraporn, from Thailand, center, is framed by second placed Kris Tiffany “Spectre.” Only ten DB10s will be er Michael Wilson said in an inter- Janson of the Philippines, left, and third placed Jeslie Mergal from Cuba, right, in built, according to Aston Martin. In view while promoting “Skyfall.” That Magdeburg, eastern Germany. — AP the past, the Bond series has fea- includes a short stint where BMW tured cars that moviegoers could provided gadget-packed cars and Review then purchase at dealerships, with motorcycles in three films starring the films helping promote the ven- Pierce Brosnan. erable brand throughout the years. Bond author Ian Fleming had his Aston Martin isn’t known for having suave spy drive a convertible ‘The Physician’ a sizable marketing budget, given Bentley in many of the books that or those who miss the substance and ect should be celebrated, making it easy to that it doesn’t sell a large number of were adapted for the bigscreen. But scope of films like “Lawrence of Arabia” overlook a certain corniness that comes cars each year. One reason is price: the Aston Martin has appeared in 11 Fand “The Man Who Would Be King,” with territory. The 2014 DB9 costss $183,700. of the 23 released Bond films, more Philipp Stoelzl’s “The Physician” restores We meet Rob as a child, helpless to cure Instead, it’s sought out high-pro- than any other car. Bond drives a one’s faith in the medium-if not necessarily the mysterious condition that ails his moth- file appearances in films as a way to DB5 in six of them. Roger Moore is one’s faith in faith. A hearty historical epic er-and resentful of the local priest who boost its profile. And film produc- the only actor to play 007 without that pits intellectual progress against the warns that any attempt to interfere with tions like the Bond series are only driving an Aston Martin in the role, stifling influence of world religions, this God’s will is tantamount to “witchcraft.” Rob happy to have a high-end halo car though he appeared in seven of the absorbing adaptation of Noah Gordon’s has been born with a unique gift, though to associate its characters with- films. His Bond was mostly seen international bestseller-better known most would probably consider it a curse, especially if they’re being custom- driving a Lotus Esprit. abroad, where the film has earned more which allows him to detect grave illness built for their film. Bond’s various Aston Martins also than 3.5 million admissions, airing on merely by touching another. But at a time Aston Martin sold 3,800 units in appear in the “Agent Under Fire,” German television in its full four-hour form- when medicine is mistaken for black magic, 2012, and 4,200 in 2011. “Skyfall,” “From Russia With Love,” “Nightfire” tells of a lowly English urchin who travels there is little he can do for those he diag- which prominently featured the In this file picture Italian actress Monica Bellucci arrives for the screen- and “Everything or Nothing” halfway around the globe to study under noses ... and so his mother is allowed to die, DB5 from “Goldfinger,” was released ing of the movie “Ne Te Retourne Pas” (Don’t Look Back) presented out videogames. Persian thinker Ibn Sina. leaving Rob an orphan. The young lad in 2012, becoming the franchise’s of competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2009. The DB10 may not be the only Though never widely embraced in the attaches himself to Barber (Stellan Skarsgard, Italian star Monica Bellucci will star alongside Britain’s Daniel Craig in States, Gordon’s immersive 1986 novel looking fittingly haggard), a traveling saw- highest-grossing sequel, earning vehicle Craig’s Bond drives in $1.1 billion at the worldwide box the new James Bond film “Spectre”, the producers said at the historic “Spectre’s” action sequences. introduced world readers to medieval hero bones whose methods are nothing short of Pinewood Studios. — AFP Rob Cole, a Christian lad so committed to barbaric: He sees no cause to cure when he office. Aston Martin sees “Spectre” He may also race a Fiat 500 advancing the sorry state of 11th-century can amputate, and routinely ignores science, as a way to promote the direction 007, it seems doubly fitting that the wheel of an Aston Martin.” through the streets of Rome, where medicine that he disguised himself as since showmanship clearly does more to it’s going with its future lineup of today we unveiled this wonderful The return of Aston Martin in some of the film will be shot. Other Jewish (going so far as to perform his own impress the crowd gathered round his rick- vehicles, led by the company’s chief new sports car created especially another Mendes Bond doesn’t locations for “Spectre” include circumcision) and schlepped across the ety cart-cum-operating room. Growing up creative officer, Marek Reichman. for James Bond,” said Andy Palmer, come as much of a surprise, given Mexico City, Tangier, Morocco and desert, battling sandstorms, superstition fast, Rob (played from this moment forward Naturally, it’s already started to CEO of Aston Martin. “To be part- the presence of the car in “Skyfall.” the Austrian Alps. “Spectre” will be and plagues in an effort to illuminate the by Tom Payne) gleans what he can from promote its tie-in with “Spectre” on nering once again with EON “The DB5 was part of my boy- Craig’s fourth film as Bond, following Dark Ages. At a time when adaptations of Barber’s methods, dodging testy townspeo- social - media channels. Productions is great news for this hood, my generation’s boyhood,” “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” anything other than Bible stories and ple and distrustful monks at every stop “In the same year that we cele- company and for everyone around said Mendes while promoting and “Skyfall.” He has driven an Aston comicbooks seem rare, such a robust proj- along their route. —Reuters brate our 50-year relationship with the world that loves to see Bond at “Skyfall.” Martin in all of them. — Reuters Mystery clings to Berlin Cold War snooping station erched atop a wooded Berlin hill, an der crossing that is now cluttered with fast- Western security. “It was like assembling a puz- hundreds of steps in the main tower to get a the town of Potsdam to the southwest. In 1996, abandoned Cold War listening post food stalls and souvenir vendors. zle, so you had to like puzzles,” he said, as he magnificent 360-degree view of the historic real estate investors proposed turning the Pwhere NATO once eavesdropped on their The past comes in layers at Teufelsberg-liter- led tourists through the site. Visitors can climb landscape, with central Berlin to the east and place into a five-star hotel and loft apartments, communist foes is a reminder of Germany’s ally. The hill itself was created out of some 26 but they ran into financial trouble and today tumultuous past. million cubic metres of rubble left from the the only traces of the project are an unwanted Today tourists flock to the conspicuous his- World War II bombing of Berlin, a mound rising showroom flat. The complex fell into disrepair torical relic, known as Teufelsberg, or Devil’s 115 metres (377 feet) above the Grunewald for- and in 2006 the area was classified as a nature Mountain, complete with its three white radar est. Before that, the site had been chosen by reserve, complicating any possible future domes resembling giant golf balls. Adolf Hitler in 1937 as the location of a future building plans. Three years ago, the investment But 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall- university town which, along with the city’s group which still owns Teufelsberg took on a the ultimate Cold War icon, but which has now Olympic stadium, would have marked the manager to supervise the site and run paid largely vanished-debate is underway over western entrance to “Germania”, his imagined, guided tours. In parallel, a group has been set whether the ex-field station should be pre- grandiose capital of the “Thousand Year Reich”. up to look into Teufelsberg becoming a memo- served as a memorial. “The place has some- rial, as well as a venue for artistic and cultural thing mysterious about it and its history fasci- ‘Hear Brezhnev clean his teeth’ events. So far, however, there has been no nates,” said Chris MacLarren, who worked at Every year about 10,000 people visit the agreement about what to do with it. the site for the US Army between 1973 and Teufelsberg listening post, which was built in Another possible scenario is for the city of 1975. Every Sunday he returns as a tour guide 1963 by the US and Britain to eavesdrop on Berlin to buy the site-a move which, according to the now derelict and graffiti-covered build- East Germany and areas beyond. to media reports, has the support of the ings, which were abandoned a year after the Most tourists are from the former West incoming mayor Michael Mueller, even if the Wall came down in 1989. Germany but many others come from abroad, asking price could prove a challenge for the In the early years, squatters inhabited the said MacLarren, whose guided tour reveals fas- indebted city. Teufelsberg may no longer be deserted site and DJs played at all-night dance cinating snippets of Cold War era signals intelli- secret, but its future remains a mystery. A parties. These days, thousands visit for a more gence. “We used to say that you could hear source within the investor group said an atmospheric reminder of Berlin’s 28-year histo- (Soviet leader Leonid) Brezhnev cleaning his Picture taken on May 8, 2011 shows cloth hanging from a radar tower at a former US National answer may come in mid-2015, but, in keeping ry as a divided city than they’ll find at teeth,” he chuckled, describing his work back Security Agency (NSA)-run listening station on top of the Teufelsberg (German for Devil’s with the listening post’s old ways, the source Checkpoint Charlie, the famous East-West bor- then as “tedious and boring” but “essential” for Mountain) in western Berlin’s Gruenewald forest during a guided tour of the facility. — AFP refused to divulge anything else. — AFP