As a seasoned gamer with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I can wholeheartedly appreciate Alfonso Cuarón’s daring approach to push beyond his comfort zone with the ambitious project, “Disclaimer.” Having grown accustomed to the meticulous crafting of films like Gravity and Roma, it’s refreshing to see a director of such caliber tackle television storytelling, albeit with some initial apprehensions.
Five-time Oscar recipient Alfonso Cuarón expresses a preference for movie scripts that challenge him beyond his usual bounds.
A significant hurdle approached Cuaron as he embarked on his first big-budget streaming series, titled “Disclaimer“, and its distinctive television format. In other words, the task at hand was to create a show for television.
Cuarón admitted he had never attempted anything particularly storytelling-focused before. He confessed that part of his inspiration for this project was a lack of knowledge in this area, specifically when it comes to TV production.” [Moderated by Scott Feinberg, executive editor of awards at The Hollywood Reporter]
He even told Apple Studios execs that TV was way out of his comfort zone. “I said, guys, I don’t know how to do TV. I think it’s too late to learn how to do TV. I’m not interested about learning how to do TV. I do films and if [I do] this, I will approach it as a film,” Cuarón recalled.
Despite typically being produced swiftly due to their limited episodes and having multiple directors, “Disclaimer,” a series starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Klein, based on Renée Knight’s best-selling novel, proved to be an extended filming process, unfolding across seven chapters.
During the initial discussions about the project, Alfonso Cuarón openly acknowledged that he was skilled in filmmaking but not particularly swift. Fortunately for him, Cuarón collaborated with his long-term cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, who is also a seasoned professional in the Mexican film industry.
In their partnership, we constantly trade ideas, a process that deeply engages me in his lighting design and him in my directorial duties. It’s quite natural and fluid, as he put it. The narrative Disclaimer follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett), an esteemed journalist who has earned her reputation by exposing the wrongdoings and indiscretions of others.
However, when she gets a novel from an anonymous author, she’s shocked to discover that she is the central character, revealing her deepest, darkest secrets. As Catherine frantically tries to identify the writer, she must grapple with her past, or risk losing not only her life but also her relationship with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee).
Cuaron highly valued Blanchett as a crucial partner in the project. He stated that she was deeply immersed in every aspect of the process, from revisions to the script to casting decisions. In fact, he discussed various possibilities with her and wouldn’t pursue options she seemed unsure about.
And it’s that honesty among collaborators that Cuarón stressed during his TIFF conversation on Sunday, as he recalled his early days as a director alongside fellow Mexican filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, as they came to be nicknamed together the Three Amigos.
Collaboration and open dialogue about feelings towards their projects during the initial creative phases were crucial for success.
Our relationship is built on mutual love, trust, and unfiltered truthfulness. Discussing ideas and sharing movies together isn’t always a walk in the park, but I find it challenging because I understand the potential difficulties,” Cuaron expressed.
Occasionally, it becomes evident that either of us is paying attention, but by the end, it seems the other person is upset and I have a sense that they didn’t grasp anything,” he continued.
However, by the following day, Cuarón is expected to understand the situation, and the discussion will continue. It’s worth noting that his seven-part psychological thriller, titled “Disclaimer,” will make its Canadian debut in Toronto on Monday evening.
The Toronto Film Festival continues through Sept. 15.
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2024-09-09 00:24