Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Me (But Were Afraid to Ask)...

...Greg Smalley Has Asked Me Yet For 366 Weird Movies:

Photo by Susana Ortega

366: You’ve announced a new project, Gallino, which you describe as a”pornophilosophical film.”  What can you tell our readers about the movie?

Atanes: It is a step forward in my rise to weirdness.Gallino is related to my last movie Maximum Shame in many of its subjects. There are different actors and characters, other aesthetics and other conflicts, but in fact it is like a next part, a complement to Maximum Shame. Both are like a “double feature.” Gallino goes deep into parallel realities, meta-narrative and blurred borders between the pornographic and and the non-pornographic.  Why do we consider one thing pornographic and not another, exactly?  Why some things are visible/presentable and other things are not?  So, Gallino is an strange trip along the cracks, halfway between dream and wakelfulness, porn and no porn, skin and flesh, story and essay.  The plot is hard to explain, but in short I can say it is about a group of people who use pornography —in a very particular sense— for seeing beyond everyday life.  For tearing away the Veil of Isis.

366: One of the weird things about your previous film Maximum Shame is that it uses the iconography of the fetish world, with the Queen dressed in leather bondage gear and the slave harnessed in some bizarre restraints, but there is no actual sex in it.  The closest we come is a foot massage.  Can we expect the same approach to the erotic in Gallino, or will it be more explicitly sexual?
(...)

Read the interview on 366 Weird Movies

Carlos Atanes website: www.carlosatanes.com

Marta Timón, productora de "Gallino"

Don Alfonso Merelo, ínclito catalizador cultural —quizá suene un poco cacofónica pero es, creo, una definición bastante precisa—, adalid de la ciencia-ficción en España, estrella invitada en "PROXIMA" y presentador del programa radiofónico de UniRadio La Séptima Tentación, ha entrevistado hoy vía telefónica a Marta Timón, productora de "Gallino, the Chicken System" (y de otras muchas películas mías). A Marta, dotada de muchos talentos, algunos innatos y otros conquistados con tesón, también se le da bien contestar preguntas. Asunto nada baladí y si no que me lo pregunten a mí, que cada vez que me entrevistan en la radio parezco un tonto de baba. No es en absoluto su caso y recomiendo la escucha del fragmento (comienza en el minuto 28) haciendo click en este link:

http://radio1.uhu.es/media/2011-10-24_tentacion24_10_11.mp3

Carlos Atanes website: www.carlosatanes.com

366 Weird Movies reviews "PROXIMA", the Last Sci-Fi Movie

"Attached to anything else, the tagline “The Last Science Fiction Movie” might sound hubristic.  But it’s absolutely appropriate to PROXIMA, an apocalyptic love letter to sci-fi and its fans.  Atanes puts his obsession with the genre front and center, and the film is dotted with casual references to Blade Runner, Star Wars, and Jean-Luc Picard.  Perhaps the most telling such reference is “Felix Cadecq,” the name of the Kilgore Trout-like author (Solàs) whose revelations set Tony’s adventure in motion —and a Spanish homonym for “Philip K. Dick,” whose pet themes form the backbone of PROXIMA‘s mind-bending world. But Atanes, as liberally as he may borow from the sci-fi canon, never settles for pure pastiche..." —Read the whole review at 366 Weird Movies

More info about Carlos Atanes at

www.carlosatanes.com

Atanes te quiere.

¿Estás en Madrid y todo te parece un rollo? ¿Eres un ser humano inquieto e intelectualmente exigente y no sabes qué hacer con tu vida? ¿Sientes la pegadiza impresión de que hay otros mundos, pero que están en éste, agazapados? No sufras más, te propongo un plan que te librará de tus apuros existenciales: un Fin de Semana Atánico. Es como irse a un balneario pero un poco más esotérico y bastante más barato. El tiempo te lo administras tú pero conviene acotar la experiencia entre el jueves y el domingo. Para vivirlo con la plenitud que se merece hay que experimentar diferentes etapas, no necesariamente por este orden:

1- Te apuntas a FilmIn y ves, por un precio ridículo, dos largometrajes atánicos: FAQ y PRÓXIMA. Eso te pondrá en situación. Lamento que Maximum Shame aún no esté a disposición del público... pero tampoco quieras darte un atracón de buenas a primeras.

2- Te pasas por la Sala AZarte, en el céntrico barrio de Chueca, a las 21:00h. y asistes a una representación de La Cobra en la Cesta de Mimbre. Cuando termine aplaudes si lo consideras justo. Si no quieres hacerlo por mí hazlo por los actores, que se lo merecen.

3- A la salida te pides una copa en el Veintidós, el bar de la esquina que tiene las paredes pintadas de rojo, y esperas a que llegue (pero me avisas antes, que si no a lo mejor me largo a rodar cualquier cosa por ahí). Podrás tener una conversación breve pero interesantísima conmigo sobre cualquier tema de tu interés, ya sea el uso del gran angular en la cinematografía de Rocco Siffredi, dudas que te asalten sobre los evangelios sinópticos o las virtudes del libre comercio, entre muchos otros. Como colofón inolvidable, al acabar te puedo firmar un autógrafo en una servilleta.

Las dos primeras personas que se apunten a esta excitante inmersión en la atanidad serán premiadas con sendas invitaciones para ver La Cobra en la Cesta de Mimbre (repito, de jueves a domingo de esta semana).

¡A correr!

Carlos Atanes website: www.carlosatanes.com

Hall of Fame: Paloma Povedano / Almasäla

Singer Paloma Povedano, Almasäla, from Spain, has taken this double picture for my Hall of Fame. Some years ago Paloma played a character in my movie "FAQ: frequently Asked Questions" and we become good friends. But her main contribution to art is for music since she's a great singer and composer. So, she firstly was the Ojos de Brujo singer and later she form her own techno-flamenco band, Almasäla. You can join her songs here.

More info about Carlos Atanes movies at www.carlosatanes.com

"STEPHEN HAWKING AND ME"

What does Stephen Hawking have in common with me? Today —9 August 2010— at least one thing: we agree that mankind must colonize space without delay. The alternative is extinction.

For Stephen Hawking colonization is the solution to a disaster: war, overpopulation,resource depletion. For me the solution is not only a posible catastrophe —I'm more concerned about solar storms than, e. g., overpopulation, fallacious problem that resolves itself—. It is above all a necessity. The disaster would be not colonizing, not expanding, not following the first natural commandment of all living species: to grow and multiply. That's why I wholeheartedly support the investment of material and human effort on space projects. So I think the criticism of that effort is myopic, shortsighted and foolish.
I was thinking about it when I wrote the script of PROXIMA in the end of 2005. In my sci-fi movie the nearest star to the Sun —Proxima Centauri— is a gate to the human expansion in space. A small group of people knows and uses it. The main character, Tony, dreams of being part of the vanguard of pioneers and contact with their leader, a man called The Messenger. To the imperative of colonizing space PROXIMA adds another factor, the rush. Hawking is concerned about the possible existence of hostile extraterrestrial civilizations. Their mere existence, even friendly, does bother me. Why..? In one sequence The Messenger tells Tony why:

I do not know if Mr. Hawking has been PROXIMA. I doubt it. Perhaps I’ll send a copy to Cambridge. But I am pleased to share the same yearning for human expansionism.
Carlos Atanes
Madrid, August, 2010


******* Go to PROXIMA *******

Hall of Fame: Antonio Albella

Actor Antonio Albella (he worked in my shortfilm “Scream Queen”), from Spain, has seen “PROXIMA” and has honoured me with this image.

SCIENCE FICTION IS DEAD

More info about "PROXIMA" at http://www.carlosatanes.com/proxima_dickian_scifi_movie.html

Hall of Fame: Eleanor James

English actress and Scream Queen Eleanor James has seen “CODEX ATANICUS” and “PROXIMA” and has taken this beautiful picture for my Hall of Fame. I knew her through Myspace and I thought she was perfect for playing The Queen of Catalan Love in my movie "Maximum Shame". And, of course, I was right and she done a perfect work. Please, visit her website and keep yourself up-to-date about her rising career.

More info about Carlos Atanes films at www.carlosatanes.com

Hall of Fame: Bianca Barnett

Actress Bianca Barnett, from USA, has seen “CODEX ATANICUS” and “PROXIMA”.

Pulpmovies reviews “PROXIMA”

Paul Pritchard reviews “PROXIMA” for Pulpmovies: ”There are some films that are so full of concepts, that are packed with reality-bending twists that the sheer rush of ideas and the enthusiasm of the filmmaking is enough, on its own, to hold your attention for the whole of the film. Not only is Proxima is just such a film, but it’s also a very good piece of cinema in its own right. (…)” Read the whole review HERE.

More info about Carlos Atanes movies at

www.carlosatanes.com

B Movie Man reviews “PROXIMA”

Nic Brown reviews “PROXIMA” for B Movie Man: ”What is Science Fiction? If you ask the “Sy Fy” channel it could be anything from Star Trek to professional wrestling. If you ask die hard fans of the genre you get various answers; it is fantasy, it is fiction based on science, it is our imaginations of the future. Writer/director Carlos Atanes has his own unique view in his science fiction film PROXIMA (…)” Read the whole review HERE.

More info about Carlos Atanes movies at

www.carlosatanes.com

Extraordinary Movie & Video Guide reviews “CODEX ATANICUS”

“Carlos Atanes seems to be an uncompromising director, who doesn’t take the easy way out. That is the big part (along with the bunch of great actors and actresses) of extraordinary feel that gushes from Atanes’ intriguing low-budget or no-budget films. Even the grainy image of video camera fits perfectly into the bizarre imagery. There are no holds barred, so you have been warned (…)“

(From EMVG)

More info about Carlos Atanes films at

www.carlosatanes.com

Hall of Fame: Erika Smith

Actress Erika Smith, from USA, has seen Carlos Atanes’ movie “PROXIMA”.

More info about Carlos Atanes movies at www.carlosatanes.com

Hall of Fame: Zimón Avellaneda

Filmmaker Zimón Avellaneda, from Mexico, supports Carlos Atanes’ movie PROXIMA.

Hall of Fame: Ana Mayo

Actress Ana Mayo, from Spain, supports Carlos Atanes’ movie (PROXIMA) and book (“Los Trabajos del Director“).

More info about Carlos Atanes at www.carlosatanes.com

Human being…

A film this intelligent is rare, and sadly such intelligence is even more rare in modern SciFi films.
(David Carter, Film Fanaddict com)

Hall of Fame: Carlos Alberto Alonso

Filmmaker Carlos Alberto Alonso, from Spain, has enjoyed “PROXIMA” DVD.

“Made in PROXIMA”

“Made in PROXIMA“

(Are you a blogger?… Embed this video! / ¿Tienes un blog?… ¡Incrusta este vídeo!)

(Are you a reviewer?… Review it! / ¿Haces críticas?… ¡Críticalo!)

Made in PROXIMA is an amusing 52 min. documentary by independent filmmaker Carlos Atanes about how an intrepid film team, among all kind of vicissitudes and shortage, shooted PROXIMA (2007), his second Sci-Fi movie.

With (in order of appearance):
Oriol Aubets
Marta Timon
Manuel Masera
Xavier Tort
Karen Owens
Carlos Atanes
Hans Richter
Manuel Solas
Joan Frank Charansonnet
Arantxa Peña
…and many more.

More info about Carlos Atanes movies at

www.carlosatanes.com

Descubre el universo atánico

TE DAMOS LA OPORTUNIDAD DE DESCUBRIR
EL UNIVERSO “ATÁNICO”

Pasión Por el Cine regala tres packs del director Carlos Atanes. Cada lote incluye dos DVD firmados por su autor: el largometraje “PROXIMA” (con el documental “Made in PROXIMA”) y el cortometraje “Scream Queen“. Para participal sólo hay que responder a dos preguntas.

Interesados clicar AQUÍ.