As a cinephile with a penchant for daring and thought-provoking films, Radu Jude’s work has been nothing short of captivating to me. The fact that he is not just a Romanian auteur but also hails from Transylvania, the land of legends, adds an enchanting layer to his story.
Radu Jude, a creative and thought-provoking filmmaker from Romania who’s known for films like “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World” and “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn”, mentioned during a masterclass at the Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro industry event on Friday, that he is working on a Dracula movie. He stated, “As I am Romanian, with roots in Transylvania, it’s high time for us to produce our own Dracula film since it’s been Hollywood that has dominated this narrative for over a thousand times.”
Previously, Jude had suggested that the title of the movie would be “Dracula Park” due to his desire for it to have a touch of an amusement park feel. A Cinando entry about the film states, “Make Dracula great again!” and in the fall, the filmmaker told Mubi’s Notebook, “It’s not exactly Dracula, but it’s similar.”
The director discussed his upcoming project when queried about his next movie. “There are quite a few,” he answered, explaining that he prefers working on various projects due to the vulnerability he felt in the past while waiting for a film’s release before moving onto another one. “I found it too heavy,” Jude stated. “I am currently making a Dracula movie and an independent film, among others, as well as a small French production,” he added humorously, admitting that he often agrees to everything.
During the bustling masterclass, Jude offered numerous ideas and perspectives, with Hugo Emmerzael, a film critic and programmer based in Amsterdam, overseeing the event.
The filmmaker who received a special jury prize at Locarno76 for “Do Not Expect Too Much” and won the Golden Bear for best film at the virtual 2021 Berlin International Film Festival for “Bad Luck Banging” is set to showcase two new projects at Locarno77: “Sleep #2” and “Opt ilustrate din lumea ideală” (or “Eight Postcards From Utopia”). Known for his rebellious, independent, and free-spirited approach to filmmaking, Jude is a significant figure in the cinema world with extensive experience in navigating the delicate balance between commerce and creativity. His masterclass will delve into his personal experiences, offer insights on the current state of the industry, and engage the audience in discussions about how they can maintain their freedom and happiness while pursuing their passion: filmmaking.
Upon entering the bustling room, Jude received a lively greeting that echoed with laughter, applause, and cheers. Even his comment about not getting accepted into the national film school prompted more chuckles from the crowd.
Apart from mentioning that he made his directorial debut on Romanian commercials at 26, he casually remarked that people considered him too old for the industry due to the prevalence of exceptionally young creatives in the country’s production scene back then.
In addition, Jude shared with the crowd that he had been content to aid others in productions during his early years, inspired by the fact that Federico Fellini was an assistant to Roberto Rossellini. At that time, his goal was to excel as a skilled craftsman, but now, he expressed casually, such concern no longer matters to him, causing more laughter among the audience.
He admitted that he hasn’t come up with his own concepts when questioned about the similarities between his recent movies and others’ ideas. “I don’t possess my unique cinematic style,” he explained, “instead, I am eager to explore and diversify cinema in every way I can, ranging from documentaries to essays and beyond.” He confessed, “It’s a sort of insatiable hunger or greed that drives me.”
Sharing his current priorities and passions, Jude mentioned: “I’m keen on focusing on the here and now” and writing essays about the lifestyle in Romania.
Though known for his daring projects, Jude shared in the Locarno Pro masterclass that he might decline a lucrative offer. Reflecting on the decision to abandon advertising years ago, he stated he conducted a simple assessment. “If I produce a film each year or every year and a half, I can sustain myself, which isn’t as financially rewarding as commercials, but it’s still fulfilling,” he clarified. Initially, he believed he could revert to advertising or television work if necessary, but on Friday, he humorously added, “I’m not sure they would take me back.”
However, Jude often expressed himself in this manner: “Should someone provide me with a subpar script along with an ample budget and instruct me to perform, I will comply.”
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2024-08-09 20:24