Juan Antonio Chavero
Juan Antonio Chavero, a 29-year-old director and screenwriter born in Córdoba, Andalusia, is a filmmaker with numerous short films and several feature films currently in post-production. He recently returned from filming one of his latest movies in the United States (The Noise Nobody Hears). His feature film debut, The Shadow, released in theaters in 2021, screened at over thirty international film festivals and won several awards. He has just finished his feature film, The Art of Walking, which is about to begin its festival run.
6/9/20264 min read
So that the producers have the maximum information about you, who are you?
I am Juan Antonio Chavero, a filmmaker from Córdoba, Spain. I have been working on audiovisual projects for over ten years, mainly as a director, screenwriter and producer (sometimes also as an actor, editor or director of photography) in my city, although I have also worked on projects in cities such as Madrid, Seville, Malaga and even the United States, as is the case with my film "The Noise No One Hears". In 2021, my debut film, The Shadow, premiered in more than thirty Spanish cinemas, after going through more than twenty international festivals and winning several awards and recognitions.
How many years have you been making movies?
Ten years, more or less.
What was your first experience making movies? Did you study at a film school or did you learn on your own?
I studied directing, screenwriting, and film language in Córdoba, and directing actors in Madrid. Obviously, I've always been largely self-taught; that's what you have to do in independent, guerrilla filmmaking, but you learn so much that way. My first experience was with the short film "Huida" (Escape), at my small neighborhood film school, and I remember feeling my entire brain chemistry shift as I realized everything was taking shape and making sense for the first time.
What budget did you have?
The Art of Walking had a very small budget; it was almost always just me and the cast (especially the lead actress, Llanos Padilla) with the camera and little else. Maybe five hundred euros at most.
Is it a self-financed project?
Yeah, totally. Brutal.
Any anecdote that you can tell us about the filming?
I don’t know, it was a very chill and peaceful shooting hahaha. Well, one day we had to reshoot one scene because I made a narrative mistake. Usually, don’t happen nothing like that. There is always a first time I guess, hahaha.
If you had unlimited budget. Which actor and actress would you like to work with?
Itsaso Arana, Cosmo Jarvis, Claire Foy.
Your favorite movie?
Autumn Sonata, by Ingmar Bergman.
Tell us 3 filmmakers that you like.
Ingmar Bergman, Jonás Trueba and Chloé Zhao.
What is the scene that has impacted you the most?
The entire film is connected to strong personal emotions that I've experienced or that are common to me, so every shoot was both healing and impactful. But Lorena's monologue in the third act was definitely a turning point in many ways.
If you could do a remake of a movie, what would it be?
None.
Did you have light designs or did you shoot with the same light as the location? Can you explain the process of working with a cinematographer?
This time, I was the cameraman and director of photography for this film. We filmed entirely using natural light from the locations, so we had to find the right spots very precisely. I think natural light is unmatched.
Did you have any problems when shooting?
It was a beautiful, healing, very peaceful and fun shoot. No problems at all.
And in terms of sound? Neighbors, flushing, cars?
The sound went well except for a few isolated days. We had to do ADR for some scenes, which was made possible thanks to Evilsound Studios. Chaos Summoner's work in audio post-production was also vital. Sound is always just as important as the image.
How was the producer-director relationship?
My production manager is usually Juanje Granja, a great producer who's like a brother to me, and we always work great together. In this case, he came to help out on the days he could, but I was the one leading the production.
And working with actors? Tell us about this process, how do you work with the actors?
The actors and actresses are always the most important thing for me. Everything is relevant in a film, of course, but my primary aim is always to convey a range of emotions and feelings, and I feel I can only achieve that if the cast is right and I give it my all with them. For me, personally, it doesn't matter if the visuals, sound, or story are incredible if the cast isn't right or up to par, and if we haven't worked well together. This time it was very easy; many of us were already friends or became friends during filming and in our lives. I'm very proud of everyone, although obviously, in this case, especially of my dear friend and lead actress, Llanos Padilla, who I think gives a dazzling performance, especially considering it's her first leading role in a film. Her performance, her work as an actress, and our friendship helped me grow, heal, and rediscover myself as the director I never thought I would become. She is a total movie star.
Do you have any other project in progress?
I'm currently finishing filming in Córdoba on the movies A PLACE TO FALL (starring the magnificent Yolanda Álvarez) and THE NOISE NO ONE HEARS (the film we started in the USA, starring the great Llanos Padilla and Gonzalo Cortés). I'm also completing post-production on other film and short film projects, such as 'Chorégraphie du silence' (starring the amazing Ioanna Kyra), and producing very interesting works by emerging talents from my city, like the short film NULL PROPOSITION by the great director and screenwriter Athenea García. All this while distributing our completed projects and those of other people who hire our services. We're also in pre-production for our biggest project to date, a film called THE WHISKEY DANGER. A deep and dramatic revenge story starring Yolanda Álvarez. We're always very productive at Sonata Producciones, hahaha.