Guadalajara has become a cinematographic destination, the same series and movies arrive to film in its streets. At the moment The film “No thanks, I don’t smoke anymore” (CM Films, 2023), the first film by the young filmmaker Diego Toussaint, which features performances by Esmeralda Soto, Ximena Ayala, Isabella Castillón and Alexia Alexander, is being filmed. who give life to the characters of “a different story” that addresses the existential crisis of the current generation of young people in this country.
In these terms, he recounts in an interview with THE REPORTER producer Ian Martin, from the local production company CM Films, that the film is the third feature film by the young company that “has always had the vision of supporting young talent from Guadalajara, and that is why our team of developers -producers, writers and directors- saw the birth of this project by Diego Toussaint, who worked on the script for a long time with the co-writer, Gabriela Paciel”.
with the private initiative
The producer points out, “that all the investment in our projects comes from the private initiative; We do not seek tax incentives or government support. Our idea is to generate competition and get out of that scheme; there are many investors in this city who are afraid to finance cinema, because it is a complicated industry. Our job is to take that leap and give them confidence so that they can invest in projects and promote culture”.
One of these alliances is with the “sister company” Guanamor Music, Martin points out, “which already has a strong presence in the music field; in addition to allies in Mexico City, such as FD (who rent us equipment), Ámsterdam Comunicaciones (which links us with platforms) and some media outlets”.
Try and failure
This path followed by CM Films, says the producer, has not been easy, “rather one of trial and error, due to the difficulties of the industry in the country and those of private investment; However, we have learned a lot and I think we are on the right path. In this film, precisely, everything has gone very well and we are opening a gap”.
On the other hand, “Guadalajara is also a city with a lot of potential in terms of locations; Obviously, we do not distance ourselves from the Filming Commission -today it Films in Jalisco- because it is a very strong ally, although we have not requested funds of any kind, they regulate the paperwork and this type of support is required, especially in tapes like this that we make, with outdoor scenes”.
A jealous industry
As a “zealous” industry, this production has proven to the company, Martin states, “that we must offer tools so that everyone can grow; the year is starting and there are several filming in progress in Guadalajara, and this indicates that there is a lack of personnel in the city for the industry, for two reasons: lack of talent and centralization (many from here go to CDMX or the United States, and that affects local productions)”.
In the producer’s opinion, CM Films is “a signal and a watershed, because we have captured the attention of those who work in the industry, which is a very small bubble that is difficult to access; even inside it produces disappointment due to financial issues, there is not much regulation and lack of investment, in addition to how difficult it is to access government funds. It’s sad to see so many jump ship; we want to change that, to create more jobs and for this to truly be an industry”.
Convinced that this is “our year”, CM Films aims to release at least one film this year; in addition, They hope to conclude this filming on April 15 and that “No thanks, I no longer smoke” is a film that offers “new faces, different stories and different distribution strategies”, says Martin, “nothing is planned yet in terms of the exhibition.”
The producer Ian Martin, in the company of the film’s director, Diego Toussaint. THE INFORMER/R. Solis
creative freedom
Now, the director and screenwriter Diego Toussaint tells this publishing house that it was in 2019 when this story occurred to him, based on experiencing -at a family level- the “different worlds” that coexist in the city, and the way Jim Jarmush thought of “going from world to world, with a character, showing the contrasts between different people, where we can witness the life of urban poets, artists, radical activists or influencers”.
And it was during the pandemic, in 2020, that the young filmmaker she found her character (Nuria), “a young woman who is lost, has one day to collect the rent money, is overwhelmed by returning to her parents, tries to quit smoking, leaves the university and loses her job; She’s from a generation that literally doesn’t know what she wants, and my idea was to show that no social group really knows. Also, I want the film to be a hug for those who feel that way, because I think we’ve all experienced a season like this. We are all Nuria, but she is lost, she doesn’t know what to do and she has to find out on her own”.
In this way, Toussaint is happy working with CM Films, “which really supports the vision of the story, gives creative freedom and has allowed me to play with frames and scenes; That’s why I feel comfortable, it’s not something usual. This film gives me the opportunity to show my love for cinema, and the society of Guadalajara, to write a story of this type”.
Take note
Movie: “No thanks, I don’t smoke anymore” (2023).
Producer company: CM Films (Guadalajara).
Director: Diego Toussaint.
Script: Diego Toussaint and Gabriela Paciel.
Producer: Ian Martin.
List: Esmeralda Soto, Ximena Ayala, Isabella Castillón and Alexia Alexander.
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