Interview with film director Arantxa Ibarra
Welcome Ms Ibarra we are very excited to have you today and discuss about your work. Who is Arantxa Ibarra and how did the passion for start ?
Arantxa Ibarra discovered her love for writing and storytelling at a very young age, this consequently led her to later find her passion in filmmaking. She was born and raised in Mexico City, later moving to New York City to pursue her career as a writer/director. She has worked on several areas of production as a Producer for short films including Preet (2021), Cowboys (2022) and The Resident (set to release late 2023). She has also worked as a First Assistant Director for short films including Chandra (2022), Bygone Spring (set to release late 2023) and music videos "Rien Ne Change" and "Long Beach".
Can you tell us about your previous work ?
The Juror was my thesis and first short film, so there’s not much previous work, but for fun small projects in which I was able to collaborate with fellow artists and friends. Now, I have had the opportunity to work as part of production in several short films and music videos, working mostly in the production department as a producer, assistant coordinator and 1st AD. This year I was also able to direct two short films, one of which I also wrote. Both are currently in the early stages of post production and set to release this fall.
CONVERSATION ABOUT: The Juror
What inspired this short courthouse drama ? Does your film contain elements of a psychological thriller ?
Other than as a courtroom drama I see The Juror as more of a psychological film, one that deals with desire, idealization and extreme social isolation, all of which are massively intensified by putting an already vulnerable individual into an environment so confined and uncomfortable becomes a matter of when, rather than if, he will break. Human psychology has always been of interest to me. Someone’s psychological breaking point, how and what leads a person to get there as well as how that snap manifests in a person’s mind has always intrigued me. My curiosity mixed with a recent post pandemic world led me to explore isolation, eventual obsession, and how the brain would/had to react to protect an individual whose severe social anxiety had already proved to be almost debilitating.
How much did the shooting of this film last ? Did any shenanigans occured behind the scenes ?
We shot the film in two separate shooting blocks based on our two locations. We shot our first location, a hotel, first, which lasted four days. The first location proved to be intense while at the same time creating the perfect atmosphere for us to make this movie. We were all staying at the same hotel we were shooting at. Days felt jumbled up and mixed up all together since we did not leave the same premises we were shooting at. In a way we ended up accidently putting ourselves in Sigmunds shoes since while he dealt with isolation due to being sequestered in a hotel for jury duty, we were also bound to these same premises during production (in much less intense way of course). This is why it felt so natural for us to tell his story, and to experience it along with him.
The passion and care everyone involved showed for this project was truly more than I could’ve ever asked for as a first time director. Through this experience, the long days, the last second problem solving, the ideas and collaboration, all while spending days on end with no one but each other, the characters and the story, made it for bonds and beautiful friendships to be found. It truly was the most amazing and creatively fulfilling experience of my life. It was through this experience making my first film, that my passion for directing was made absolutely and undeniably clear to me.
Does the scenario have an importance to you on a personal level ?
The specific scenario depicted in the film has no real connection to me, it's actually so out of my reach that I believe is what got me interested in it in the first place. I do, however, have dealt with anxiety all my life. Later in 2020 I, as the rest of the world, had to learn to live a life of absolute confinement and isolation which proved to be hard to withstand mentally. Having that in mind I decided to explore what an already troubled and mentally fragile individual would experience when put into such a restrictive environment which at the same time requires so much of his mental energy putting in question so many aspects about human behavior as well as morality and giving him the power to rule a verdict that would decide whether or not a man will go free. This idea alone was so interesting to me, I had to explore ir further, and thats how Sigmund was born, a character that seemingly has little to no connection to me, yet I have come to find some similarities can be drawn in the way we think, him in an intensified extremist way compared.
How was the atmosphere selected ?
The atmosphere for this film was meant to be unsettling, since Sigmund comes in an already unsettled individual, only to be pushed further and further to the edge by the circumstances he faces. It was always important to me to find and create an environment which would feel uncomfortable to merely watch, and having someone with whom the audience could empathize, yet at the same time question and disagree with. It was very clear to me that this film was not necessarily dark in a conventional sense, but in an almost unnoticeable unsettling way, one you cant truly point out what it is, but know there’s something, as if putting the audience into his mental state, which isn’t necessarily the greatest place to be.
What is the target audience of your project?
I believe this film will appeal to a large amount of people, touching on various subjects that tend to spark interest out o,f perhaps morbid curiosity, or even a sense of empathy or connection which a character so transparently fragile.This film will resonate with the audience, since it explores loneliness as well as the familiar struggle we've all faced by self isolating in 2020 due to the pandemic. Depicting such themes in film is now more important than ever, breaking down solitude in isolation, as well as the feeling of loneliness even in the face of a crowd, such as a jury.
What is the message the audience should convey leaving the screening of your film?
I believe the ending of the film to be in a way very open to interpretations, though a clear outcome is portrayed. I like that kind of ending myself, the one you leave the theater wondering about, the kind that you’ll discuss with the friend sitting next to you only to find her interpretation to be absolutely opposite to what you experienced, as if you didnt watch the same movie at all.
There is so much to be brought up about morality and the power that is given to people to judge good vs bad in a subjective way, because could it ever be objective, kind of way.
The film takes everyday thoughts and questions of empathy, morals and power to an extreme. Its mundane mental battles sprinkled with severe isolation, extreme circumstances and great power given to an mentally unstable individual. I would also like this film to spark conversations about mental illness, how different it can look from individual to individual as well as maybe encourage some more understanding and empathy to everyone around us, you never know what someone might be dealing with and you wouldn't want to add to the fire of someones internal struggle, so I guess in a way I also want this dark psychological courtroom drama to inspire people to be kind.
Any upcoming projects in the near future ?
Yes! I was very lucky this year to be able to collaborate with the most amazing people, some of whom also work on The Juror, such as Mariana Urrego Producer , John Valle (DP), Jack Landon (Sound), Ethan Hoffman (AC) and Jayesh Jaidka (Editor) in various projects one of which I wrote and directed titled “For Him” a non-dialogue short film that deals with subjects of addiction, parenthood and the power of unconditional love, currently in post production.
This spring I was also able to collaborate with my sister for the first time co-producing and directing a film she wrote and starred in called “Earl”. We just finalized production for this film a couple of weeks ago and is now in the early stages of post production.
That was the interview with our beloved creator Arantxa Ibarra. Our community is rising everyday, new talented filmakers and screenwriters get onboard. Be sure to check the rest of our interviews and why not schedule one for yourself to promote your work. To publish an interview simply submit on the INTERVIEW OF YOUR FILM category on our Filmfreeway page.
