Francesc Olivares: "Barcelona has a privileged space, you can find different decorations in the same city"

05/26/2017

This month we follow the footsteps of the producer Francesc Olivares. Born in Barcelona in 1982, he studied at the ESCAC, specializing in production. While studying he participated in the series De Moda and in the film Animals ferits.

As head of production, he has worked in the short films Cinèrgia (with Isabel Coixet, Santiago Segura and Paco León) and several advertisements. Among his recent works as production manager we can find the first and second season of the series of TV3's Nit i Dia and the second season of El Crac. This young producer is currently working as a production assistant in the film Amics per sempre, a film that will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

 

- First of all, can you tell us briefly which tasks do you develop as a head of production?

The job of head of production basically consists of making a film with a certain budget, controlling all the departments and helping the full staff. The developed tasks are different in every single film, because you have always to control that filming can develop properly. We must find the proper places to shoot and ask for their permits, control all the shooting's logistics (getting there, transportation...), knowing what are the specific needs of all departments ... 

 

- While you were studying at the ESCAC, you developed various tasks as meritorious in several productions. Can you tell us how did you start in this career?

The first thing I did, I used to be a runner... so I spent the day up and down with the car and the second thing was already a film with Ventura Pons, there I was able to be more time at the set, and I saw a lot more work as a film. 

 

- Your last production in Barcelona is Nit i Dia. Can you tell us how did it work? In which areas of Barcelona was shot?

For Nit i Dia we filmed in several places, because the shooting was very long. In Barcelona we filmed mostly indoors, I was in charge of the second unit and we shot in Pearson Avenue, where we stayed a week, also in the historic building of the University of Barcelona and around the Rambla Prim.

 

- Now you are filming Amics per sempre, which relationship are you having with the Barcelona Film Commission in this case? What do you expect from a Film Commission?

Well, in this case I had much to do. As an assistant I must arrange all filming permits, so the communication with the Barcelona Film Commission is constant. They have been very kind to me, answering all our questions. What do I expect? Well, just that, that they will help us answering all the questions and assisting us with the filming.

 

- Let's talk about filming in Barcelona. How do you think is the situation now?

It depends on the area where you want to shoot. There are neighborhoods where it is very easy to film and getting permits is not complicated. On the contrary, there are more complicated areas, and this is exactly where most people want to shoot.

 

- What has Barcelona as a movie set that do not have other cities?

Barcelona has a privileged situation because you are able to film very different settings, from the beach to the mountains. We have different environments and without changing the city you can appreciate this variety. 

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