Interview with Bruno Oliveira - Production Director of TIMELESS LOVE
To mark the start of the new SP Televisão production, TIMELESS LOVE, we will introduce you, throughout the month of February, some of the faces that work daily for the final result, from the authors, producers and directors, to the actors and technical crew.
Bruno was born with the dream of being a soccer player, but life finessed him and he ended up entering the world of entertainment. Meanwhile, 20 years have passed in the audiovisual area, during which he has managed several successful projects, such as DANCIN'DAYS, WINTER SUN, MORE THAN LOVE, WILD LAND and STAR HILL.
Was audiovisual production always a professional goal, or did it grow throughout your experience in this area?
Actually no, my dream as a child was to be a soccer player, but I ended up graduating in Marketing and Advertising. Soon after finishing my degree, in 2000, an opportunity in production arose immediately, precisely for a SIC project, the telenovela Ganância. Since then I've had several roles in this area, I started as a production assistant, then as an assistant director, I became a planner and head of production, until I took on the role of production director at SP Televisão, in 2011/2012, for some projects.
How long does the production of a telenovela take, on average, and what are the main stages?
On average it can take between 10 to 15 months, depending on the number of episodes of each project. There are three fundamental stages. The first, pre-production, which lasts three months, is the decisive period for the start of the project. It is during this phase that crews are hired, actors are chosen and hired, the product is defined in conceptual terms, and the set design is defined. The second phase, the recording phase, which lasts six to nine months, is the daily challenge of fulfilling plans with the objective of having the episodes ready for broadcast, always with the commitment of making a project of and with quality. The third and final phase, post-production, although included throughout the entire process, still continues for at least about three months after the end of recording. It is where our editors ensure that the final product meets the timings and quality required, and where details are perfected that are only possible in editing.
What challenges has the telenovela TIMELESS LOVE provided?
In this project I would point out two major challenges, the first being the fact that we created, in studio and from scratch, a street so detailed, in terms of materials and lighting, that the viewer at home when he sees it believes that it is a real street. It was a good challenge, of which we are very proud of the result and the commitment that all the elements involved imposed in the implementation of the street, from the scenography, to our decorator and the props team. The second challenge, and this one outside, common to several projects, is the fact that we have to record in winter. Especially this winter, which has been so harsh in terms of rainfall, and which leads us to have greater flexibility and to work in such a way that these difficulties do not "jump" to the screen. But, in fact, we have all the conditions to overcome the various challenges we face, since we have a very solid team and cast, composed of true professionals, confident and dedicated, to bring to the viewer what we do best, which is to tell good stories.