Backtracking - the Manuel Morao shoot (mid-April 2015)

We shot a very interesting interview with Manuel Morao in mid-April for Flamenco:  the Land Is Still Fertile (Flamenco:  la tierra está viva).  Who, you may ask, is Manuel Morao?

Manuel Morao

First of all because of his importance as a guitarist.  He is one of the finest flamenco guitarists alive today, except that he no longer plays the guitar,, due to a serious injury.  Although he no longer plays, his recordings from the time when he was playing - he accompanied an incredible number of the finest singers - are among the best.  He is featured on almost every major CD produced in Jerez in the years in which he was able to play.

Manuel Morao (left) with co-director Antonio de la Malena

In addition, he trained many, many younger guitarists including Diego del Morao, a guitarist who is much in demand, as well as the late highly lauded and beloved guitarist, Moraito, who recently succumbed to cancer.  In general, Manuel Morao is considered to have founded his own school, his own style, of flamenco guitar playing.

Camera operators in consultation:  Roberto Aguilar & yours truly

Just as importantly, he is arguably the most influential and successful of the people who brought flamenco out of the community and cafés and onto the world stage.  Major productions he produced played on Broadway.  For years in Jerez, he presented weekly flamenco performances that garnered an audience literally of thousands.  One of his companies produced CDs and DVDs that were among the first flamenco media productions to sell to a world-wide audience.

Crew (camera & sound) with Manuel Morao and
Antonio de a Malena in the antique shop.

Manuel Morao is a very important man in the development of flamenco.

And he is a true believer in traditional flamenco.

We consider him one of the most important consultants to our project.  We videotaped a seven hour interview with him, filming in three separate locations:  the Plaza de Toros (bullfight ring) where he presented weekly flamenco shows, the street in front of his media production company, and inside an antique shop owned by his friend.

Yours truly, as co-director.

_________________
Until very recently, Eve A.Ma was in Spain, working on a documentary about flamenco that she is co-directing with Antonio de la Malena.  We have just completed its trailer, which you can see HERE.  Ma has just returned to California where she is once again immersing herself in work - editing, designing, conceptualizing, writing funding proposals, and working on publicity.