Discovering Paula: The Inspiration Behind the Film
When asked how he first encountered Paula and what inspired him to make this film, Iván shared:
"I met Paula through another marine biologist whose work I admire for his approach to conservation. He told me about this young biologist who was very enthusiastic about marine birds and especially about shearwater birds. I learnt Paula was going to conduct the first count of these birds in the Atlantic islands of Galicia, some of them in remote locations. Someone as passionate about her work as Paula is always a good character for a film and the scenery couldn’t be better either, so I decided to contact Lyfta with the idea for the film."
Facing Challenges: The Highs and Lows of Production
The journey of making Bird Counting was fraught with challenges, particularly the unpredictable weather and physical demands of the remote islands. Iván recounted some of these experiences:
"The research took place in remote, uninhabited islands and it was not easy to get there. We needed help from local fishermen who knew the area well. Even though the shooting was done in the summer, the Atlantic coast of Galicia is known for being very rough any time of the year. We experienced serious difficulties on one of the trips to the island as the sea got rougher and the boat was clearly too small for this type of weather. We really thought we were going to sink - and we were miles away from the coast! It was a very scary situation. Even with all that, the trip was worth it since the same night was the first one I heard the sound of shearwaters on the cliffs coming back to their nests and it was just amazing."
The Message: What Iván Hopes Viewers Take Away
Iván’s dedication to marine bird conservation shines through in his work. He hopes the film will resonate deeply with viewers:
"I would like people to understand the role and fragility of marine birds as well as their importance and the need to preserve their natural environment. I hope viewers get to feel just a bit of what I felt for these complex and beautiful creatures while making the film."
A Glimpse into Iván’s Filmmaking Style
For aspiring filmmakers and curious viewers, Iván also shared insights into his documentary style and approach:"I pay a lot of attention to the research side of filmmaking. By studying my subject I feel I can make a better observational film, which is my style. I think I can better translate what I want to say if I myself understand it as much as possible. In this film I met with Paula quite a few times before shooting and went with her to the island twice before I took my camera with me. I find sometimes having the camera with you is a barrier more than an opportunity to catch something. I prefer to let things happen and maybe miss some bits if that allows me to observe the subject and their environment better."
