Lapa is the setting of transition sequence for Rio Eu Te Amo

One of Rio de Janeiro s iconic locations couldn t be left out of Rio Eu Te Amo. On Wednesday, 10/30, world-famous Lapa was the setting for one of several of the film s transition sequences, helmed by director Vicente Amorim. These small segments, played by actor Cl udia Abreu and Michel Melamed, bring unity to the 10 shorts that make up the feature, the third one in the Cities of Love franchise that since 2006 has been releasing love letters to some of the world s greatest cities. The first shorts for Rio Eu Te Amo were shot in August. The last phase of production began in mid-October and the film should wrap by December.

The transition sequences link stories as diverse as the one about the friendship born during a mountain climb (in Stephan Elliot s short, filmed during the first phase of production) or as the troubles of a foreigner trying to use a public phone while a boy waits for a call from Jesus (in Lebanese Nadine Labaki s short, yet to be filmed). We ve had a plan since the start that has served as our sort of guide , says director Vicente Amorim, who, along with screenwriter Fellipe Barbosa, puts together the transition pieces as new scripts for the shorts are handed. The characters played by Cl udia and Michel who meet again in this (Lapa) scene somehow lead the feature, along with the leads in the shorts, from start to finish. But for that to happen we are making these scenes somehow interchangeable. I mean, they are not locked into a fixed chronology .

Filming on 10/30 began around 9 pm and went on through the early morning hours. The small slope of Rua Evaristo da Veiga, next to the Arches, was crowded with crew members and their top-of-the-line equipment, which included a crane. In the scene they were shooting, Cl udia Abreu s character slowly comes down the slope, walking by friends who drink and talk while sitting outside a bar. Capturing the eclecticism that characterizes Lapa, a group of street dancers materializes, moving and singing, and is quickly joined by drummers from the Acad micos da Rocinha samba school. Throughout all this, Michel Melamed s characters only has eyes for Cl udia.

We have an idea of who the characters are, but there s not a story per se. We have moments. What I know about my character is that she is a carioca woman with a son and an ex-husband (Melamed s character), whom she meets again (in Lapa). But the story is not important, what matters is this carioca everyday life that links the episodes , explains Cl udia Abreu.

We hope that, with these transitions, in the end the picture will have a cohesiveness, a unity. Being 100% carioca, I tried to express my love for the people here and especially for the possibilities of encounters that the city creates , says screenwriter Fellipe Barbosa. The creator of the Cities of Love franchise, French producer Emmanuel Benbihy, was on the set and said he was fascinated by the short but beautiful sequence being filmed in the hottest spot of Rio s nightlife. Tonight is a gorgeous night and we re seeing the result of our work. So many wonderful things are coming together to make this a beautiful experience. We have amazing directors, including the transitions director, so it s being great and we are positive that we will have an unified film that will please everyone .

Besides Vicente Amorim, Rio Eu Te Amo is being directed by Carlos Saldanha (Rio), Im Sang-Soo (A Empregada), Stephan Elliott (Priscila, Queen of the Desert), Paolo Sorrentino (Le conseguenze dellamore), Guilhermo Arriaga (The Burning Plain), Fernando Meirelles (City of God), Jos Padilha (Elite Squad), Andrucha Waddington (Casa de Areia), Nadine Labaki (Where do We Go Now?) and an international helmer, yet to be announced. The film is scheduled for a 2014 release.

LINK:	http://www.riofilmcommission.rj.gov.br/news/lapa-is-the-setting-of-tra...
	See more stories from riofilm

More from Rio Film Commission