Editor

Ian Rummer

What was the most challenging part of working on this project?

The biggest challenge was conveying the passion and artistry while accurately portraying the brutal nature of  this ritual. Both critics and aficionados have attempted to analyze the appeal of the spanish bullfight and most agree that there is a primal emotional connection involved, regardless of whether they are for or against it. It was clear that the audience must feel this connection rather than being told what the feeling is. To accomplish this, it was imperative that "El Fandi" capture the sympathy of the audience in order to legitimize consideration of such a controversial subject.

Did editing imagery of bullfighting present any particular problems?

A - Most of the bullfight action was covered by one camera, which meant a limited amount of angles and focal lengths. This came into play when condensing the corridas (the Spanish word for "bullfight") into scenes. I made an effort to stay with the action and minimize cutaways as much as possible. Yet, it was important that the audience not perceive an altered passage of time in the heat of the moment. I averted many jarring situations by cutting in mid-action. It was also a challenge to properly weight the violent nature of the bullfight. I tried to ensure that the violence itself was not the focus without sparing the audience uncomfortable details. Refining the look of the film in the color grading process also presented some interesting situations. The corridas start at 5 PM, the magic hour when the light starts to change dramatically. As a result, continuity was an issue. There were also many scenes with shadow and harsh light, where I had to maintain detail and create balanced contrast without crushing the blacks or clipping the highlights.

How was this project similar to and different from others that you've worked on?

I am very pleased that this film is an epic cinematic experience. This is uncommon for documentaries, which usually benefit from forgiveness by the audience for production and/or content constraints or shortcomings. While these occurrences are often unavoidable in the making of a documentary and therefore accepted, they also minimize the magic. David Fandila's quest for greatness, the cornerstone of this film, is a classic story that is an emotional experience for the audience. High production value keeps the story in the audience's gut. The fact that the journey is real takes it to the next level.

Which element(s) of the film do you think work the best?

There is a lot of bullfighting in this film as you might expect. Without a purpose beyond the obvious, it would get tired quickly. Each bullfight in the film has a specific reason for its placement and structure ranging from artistic appreciation to explanation of the bullfight itself to advancing the story. Furthermore, each has a style of its own.

Had you ever seen a bullfight before working on the film?

No.

Did you have any notions about bullfighting before you began?

I was aware of the cultural significance as well as the humanitarian controversy surrounding the subject, but didn't feel that I had enough information to form an opinion.

Has working on this film enabled you to form an opinion on the subject that you didn't have before?

I am certainly more informed and I better understand both the staunch defense and persecution of its existence. However, I neither support nor condemn it. Ultimately, it is up to the people of Spain and their government to decide the fate of spanish bullfight.

Would you go to see a live bullfight now?

Yes. I would. Both critics and aficionados claim that there is nothing like seeing one in person.