Jorge Gutierrez is the director of the wildly popular film “The Book of Life.” Since he was a young boy he would borrow his father’s video cameras to make his own movies. Now as a father himself, Jorge looks to work with his son once he gets a bit older on making their own cartoons.
Gutierrez worked with producer Guillermo del Toro on “The Book of Life.” The film follows the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, “The Book of Life” encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.
The film stars Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Danny Trejo, Ron Perlman, Christian Applegate, Ice Cube, Diego Luna, Ana de la Reguera.
I had the great pleasure of talking with Jorge Gutierrez about the film and fatherhood as well. By reading the interview you will see how much love and thought Jorge put into this film. If you are looking for a family friendly and entertaining movie I would strongly suggest that you pick up “The Book of Life.” Click here to purchase the film.
Art Eddy: You have a very successful and Emmy winning cartoon series called “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera.” What did you take from what you learned from that series for when you created the fantastic film “The Book of Life?”
Jorge Gutierrez: My goal has always been to showcase my culture. Honestly I haven’t seen that much of it on the screen so I made it my mission to do that. At the same time I really want to be happy with it, but I don’t want to make it just for Mexicans or Latinos. I wanted to make it for everybody.
I always say that there are a lot of restaurants out there. If you keep on going to the same restaurants you are going to get tired of that food. There is always going to be side streets with really good Mexican places. Come on over. We will cook the greatest dishes you have never tasted. So that has kind of been my goal.
AE: These days some parents try to be selective on what films they let their kids watch. Did you consciously think about while making the film?
JG: Oh absolutely. I am a father and I have a five year old. I adore animated movies. My favorite movies are the ones that I loved as a kid and I could watch as an adult and get all the subtext and all the layers of the heartfelt stories underneath.
To me it is like mythology. The best stories are the ones that resonate with a family on all levels. People who watched “The Book of Life” told me that as a parent this is telling me that I had to trust my kid, let go and embrace what he wants to do. Kids have said this is a great movie because they feel that it is about them and their generation making a mark for themselves.
It was something that we designed from the beginning. We were making sure that this film works for everyone. The way the world works these days is that there is so much cynical content out there. Smarminess seems to be so popular. I think that there is a beauty and innocence to kids. So what we tried to say with our movie was that the most rebellious thing that you can do these days, the most punk rock thing out there is to be earnest and to be heartfelt. A pure heart is bulletproof. It cannot be hurt by anyone. That is sort of the message of the movie.
A
E: You had selected a great list of actors for the film. What was the casting process like?
JG: I really wanted to have a real healthy mix of actors not only from Mexico, but from every race and every culture. It was to let the audience know that yes this movie takes place in Mexico, but it is for everyone. Just like “Kung Fu Panda” not everyone is Asian descent.
From the beginning I threw my list out there thinking no one would let me have these guys. Ron Perlman was sort of a given with Guillermo (del Toro), but I had no idea that Ice Cube was going to say yes. He had never done an animated movie. So when I pitched to him he looked at me like am I in the right meeting? Is this really what you want me to do? (Both laugh.) He fell in love with it.
It was the same thing with Channing Tatum. I said whoever our hero is up against has to be this super hunky and most amazing guy out there that no one can compete with. So I said I love Channing Tatum, let’s try and get him. He fell in love with the film and jumped in. It was pretty remarkable how all these guys just went all in. Zoe Saladana, the same thing. I was maybe three sentences into my pitch and she interrupted me and said enough, I’m in. I love this world. (Both laugh.) It was a dream cast.
AE: Now if all of the casting goes that smoothly for your future films right?
JG: Everyone told me that this is not how it usually works by the way, so don’t think that this is normal.
AE: I remember seeing the trailer to the film in the theater. I would say that the visual effects made the movie stand out which made the audience including myself want to see this film. Was it your intention to focus on the visual effects to help make this film stand out from the rest?
JG: Oh yeah. I love animated movies. I think especially the way the world works now is that you only get to make a first impression once. I always joke that when we showed our trailer that you had to feel like someone threw you into a Mexican party. Everyone kissed you in the face and made you eat the most delicious food. Then they kicked you out. Then you wanted to go back in there. That was sort of the plan.
AE: One of your co-founders here at Life of Dad, David Guest has a great column on our site called “Film School for Dads.” He looks to inspire other dads out there to create fun home movies with their kids. What would you tell other parents out there to make movies to help strengthen their kid’s imagination?
JG: Growing up my dad had video cameras. I kind of had to borrow them without him knowing. (Both laugh.) It made it very dangerous for me to do it. So I would encourage parents, especially dads to work with their kids. Work together. I think that is where the magic can happen.
I definitely think that we live in an era now where it is a lot easier to shoot stuff, edit it, and put it online. You can share it with the whole family. My son is five so he is still a little young for this. I can’t wait until he is a little older so we can start making little cartoons together.
AE: Switching to fatherhood now, how do you balance work and family?
JG: The biggest thing that I have to tell him is that your dad is very lucky. Making movies is a really hard job. If you want to do this no one is just going to hand it to you. You are going to have to work really, really, really hard. Making this movie was really difficult. I didn’t get to see my family for long periods of time. It definitely took its toll on me because I really missed them.
Thanks to social media and Skype I got interact with them a bunch. It was a very difficult experience. Our producer Guillermo Del Toro has two daughters. He told me by far that it is the hardest part of filmmaking. You are going to be separated from your family. For me they are the source of my inspiration, my source of joy. It was hard. Now that the film is done and I got to see the movie with my son at the premiere. It made it all worth it. I am not sure that he is excited for me to make another film right away. So let’s wait a few years.
AE: What are some of the traits that your son gets from you?
JG: Well I thrive on people telling me that you can’t do this. You can’t make a movie about this. For anytime when someone says no that is a step for me to say yes. My son unfortunately has that rebel spirit in him. (Both laugh) I am paying for it. My father used to say to me that one day someone will come to collect for everything that you have done. I can now say the collector is here.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads out there?
JG: The biggest advice that was given to me by my father and I pass it on is you have to live for the moment and enjoy everything. Time flies in parenthood. It just flies. I still can’t believe that he is five. I feel like he was just born last year. So enjoy those moments.
I always say for every awkward, awful thing like a dirty diapers flying to the wall there are a thousand amazing moments. So the ratio is pretty good.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie you guys like to watch together?
JG: We actually love watching “The Nightmare Before Christmas” together. There is something about that movie. I loved that movie ever since it came out. I was so happy that my son loves it too.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing and dance to as a family?
JG: The Biz Markie song that is in “The Book of Life.” He heard it from “Yo, Gabba, Gabba” growing up. I heard it when I was in high school. So it is our song.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
JG: I am obsessed with movies. I would love to just go have breakfast then go watch a movie. Have lunch, watch a movie. Have dinner, watch a movie for like a month. That would be the happiest vacation for me.
AE: Was there a film that sparked your interest to get into the film industry?
JG: “Pinocchio.” I saw “Pinocchio” when I was a little kid in the movie theater. It shook me to the core. I said I don’t know what magicians made this, but I want to learn how to make this. It is the reason that “The Book of Life” characters are wooden puppets.
AE: Who would you love to work with on your next project?
JG: There are so many amazing actors out there. Honestly I had such a fantastic experience with Channing Tatum that I would love to work with him again.
Follow Jorge Gutierrez on Twitter @mexopolis