REEL DE ORO

Watta Fernández was in his last year studying architecture when he decided to change career because of his great passion for filmmaking. He enrolled at the Argentinian National School of Cinematography in 2005 and before he majored, he produced several short films and documentaries that were acknowledged in different festivals.

He began using a camera thanks to his father, who was an amateur photographer. “He always bought picture cameras. I remember he used a slide projector to make print copies. One day he arrived home with a Super-8 camera. In that moment it looked like a weapon, the trigger, the viewfinder. I can recall I filmed some things with it, I remember the sound it made, I also remeber running behind my brother around a wooden boat in my aunt’s beach house just with that camera in my hands” he said.

He began working as advertising Director’s Assistant in 2006 where he cooperated with many national and international directors. Advertising overtook him and very soon he was directing spots. He won his first award in 2009, the golden Pencil -one of the most important awards in Argentina- for the spot Daltónico. In 2010 he filmed one of his most iconic spots: Argentinos for T&C Sports. This piece was acknowledged as the best commercial of the World Cup in Ibero America, winning two gold Ojos, the platinum Pencil, a gold Diente, a gold Ola in Brazil and gold in the NY festival.

“I’m a storyteller, I love telling stories with images, with gestures, transmitting things. I believe I put a little of myself in each shot I film, and this is at the end one of the ways showing the world who you are” he said. “I love directing actors. I’m very careful with the image, the esthetic is crucial for me, and I know details can make a difference in a piece, but the acting -whether it’s humor or emotion- is my strength”.

Among his most recent clients are Coca- Cola, Cerveza Quilmes, Danone, Entel, TyC Sports and Sony.

If he had to preserve only three world movies, he would pick those that reminds him of his childhood: Blow out of Brian De Palma, The thing of John Carpenter, and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. “There has been a long time since I haven’t seen something I love, but going back to my childhood, Brian De Palma has always been the director that enchanted me. I’m also a Hitchcock fan, he was able to grab my eyelashes and get me into a film without blinking, that always fascinated me. Today I enjoy the work of Christopher Nolan” he added.

Fernández continues filming commercials mainly in Chile and Argentina, but also keeps his international relationships. He is part of the Whiskey production house team since the beginning of the year. “This is a consolidated company, having many offices enables wider job opportunities. Until now they have been keen in promoting my work and let us hope that soon there will be results” he said.

In many occasions he has filmed for the Hispanic market, always with great experiences. “We’ve always have great results filming in the U.S. or in South America. Agencies are usually very dedicated and know what they want, this is very good because the goal is clear. When we receive this market scripts the clients’ goals are well chewed up.”

Fernández is still thinking about retiring in some moment to play the bandoneon and do ice-sculpting. He has written two feature films and he hopes both become true soon. “Right now my plan is to film and keep having fun doing spots, I enjoy it a lot and I believe I’m at a point in which I have just the right experience to have fun while working and achieve each time better results” he concluded.

Production Company:
Whiskey Co, USA
Contact: {Jean Sharony;jean@whiskeyfilms.com}
T +1-305-924-5010

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