Consulted by Spanish president José Maria Aznar, there are few more powerful people in the Spanish film industry than Cartel's Pedro Pérez, president of Spain's FAPAE producers' body. Jonathan Holland takes five with the powerbroker in San Sebastián
Pedro Pérez, president of Spanish producers' umbrella body FAPAE, is unconditionally in favour of Tele 5's recently-announced involvement in film production. 'Cinema needs TV's participation, in every country,' he says. 'At the moment, all the talk is about cable, digital and satellite, but soon people are going to be interested in the product. What registration plate is it going to carry? Will it be Spanish? European?'
The aim, he says, is to create a pluralistic audiovisual climate in which the spectator is free, says to Pérez, head of indie production house, CARTEL. 'We will always be on the side of TV companies who put their weight behind Spanish film production,' he says. 'And this decision will give Tele 5 lasting rights in the industry in the form of a catalogue.' Asked whether Tele 5's involvement in the sector will affect its relationship with Antena 3 TV, Pérez says that Antena 3 ought to respond positively: 'Antena 3 never wanted a monopoly,' he says.
'The most important thing is always that the film industry in Spain receives the appropriate backing.'
Though Pérez admits that Spain has been late to arrive on the co-production scene, he believes it has a particularly strong card to play in the form of introducing Latin American cinema into the European market. He denies, however, that there is any confrontation with the US cinema industry in this fevered search for pan-European productions. 'What we are looking for is a peaceful co-existence between quality US productions and Spanish product. We have always said that with a market share of 25%, the Spanish cinema industry could live with the US industry.' The present quota is around 10%.
What Pérez would like to see is an end to the situation in which US imports, which have not even premiered at home are being shown in Spain. He is quick to point out that this is not an ideological battle against American culture, preferring to describe it as 'a commercial battle - in which almost any strategy is acceptable - with ideological repercussions.'
Since GATT, FAPAE has lent its unconditional support to the idea of Spanish co-productions with France. Spanish and French production heads are due to meet this week in San Sebastián with the idea of increasing co-production and will hold a press conference on 25 September, with German participation also. The discussions, Pérez says, are certain to lead to a significant increase in European co-productions.
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