Bio
Carolina de San Martin is a reality contestant on the filmmaking reality show On The Lot.
Carolina's On The Lot Q&A:
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Santander, Spain
Occupation: Commercial Director
Age: 36
Why am I here?
What better place to be?
Why aspire to making films?
Image, particularly moving image, is powerful. I am driven by the challenge to create an experience, inspire emotion, and display beauty.
A quick tour of my life:
I was born in santander, spain, and moved to the us when I was nine years old.
I grew up traveling between new york city and santander. in 1993, I graduated from the rhode island school of design (risd) with a bfa in photography. thereafter, a commercial director in nyc hired me as a creative assistant and provided me with my first opportunity to dp. as my passion for cinematography grew, I became arriflex certified and assisted world-renowned dp's while working at the international film and television workshops in maine.
In 1997, I started shooting and directing commercial projects of my own as a freelance director. while living in nyc, I was director of photography on an emmy award-winning documentary and shot several acclaimed short films.
In 2005, I signed with sherry rousso and associates. a year later, I relocated to la and joined the society of operating cameramen with the hope of operating for a notable dp on a large scale production. instead, my commercial career took off.
I signed with bi-coastal washington square films as a commercial director while continuing to pursue my objective of shooting and directing feature films.
Describe yourself in one sentence
A passionate spaniard, a fearless new yorker
First movie/tv series you ever saw?
Heidi, the cartoon series (spain)
Favourite line from a movie?
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. - casablanca
What made you want to be a filmmaker?
Film is a magical medium that allows you to share unique visual observations with others. as a visual director, I often try to find a poetic balance between realism and fantasy, constantly driven to elicit an emotional response.
When you make a film what do you want the audience to leave with?
An awakening of the senses
When I'm behind the camera
I am most content.
What do you think it will be like working with other directors?
Since I dp for other directors, working with them will feel natural.
Movie that best encapsulates who you are?
Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind
While on the lot you have a week to make a film every week. what's the biggest challenge?
required readings while sleep deprived
When you get the power, how will you use it?
I view power as empowerment. it will provide me the freedom to choose projects that I am inspired to create. the films will, in turn, move others.
What's more important talent or ego?
Talent-flush away the ego.
Carolina's Faves:
FILMS
BLADE RUNNER, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, SCHINDLER'S LIST.
DIRECTORS
MICHEL GONDRY, RIDLEY SCOTT, STEVEN SPIELBERG, JULIE TAYMOR, SPIKE JONZE, ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU, ANG LEE, BERNARDO BERTOLUCCI.
PRODUCERS
KATHLEEN KENEDY, FRANK MARSHALL
WRITERS
CHARLIE KAUFFMAN, STEVEN ZAILLIAN, PAUL HAGGIS
ACTORS
ANTHONY HOPKINS, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ERIC BANA
COMPOSER
ENNIO MORRICONE, LISA GERRARD, PHILIP GLASS
DP
JOHN SEALE, RODRIGO PRIETO, VITTORIO STORARO, ROGER DEAKINS, JOHN TOLL, JANUSZ KAMINSKI