Why Cate Blanchett's 'Disclaimer' was challenging for director Alfonso Cuarón
Five-time Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón recently confessed to having apprehensions while working on his first big-budget streaming series, Disclaimer. The show's unique narrative structure presented a significant challenge for him. During a Visionaries conversation at the Toronto Film Festival, he revealed, "I realized I'd never done something overtly narrative... That was part of the motivation." The show will premiere on Apple TV+ on October 11.
Cuaron's candid confession to Apple Studios about 'Disclaimer'
Cuaron, known for his work in films, admitted to Apple Studios executives that television was a new territory for him. He recalled telling them, "I don't know how to do TV. I think it's too late to learn how to do TV. I'm not interested in learning how to do TV." "I know how to do films [not shows] and I'm not very fast." Despite this initial apprehension, he decided to approach the project as if it were a film.
'Disclaimer' production challenges and unique collaboration
Cuaron's approach to Disclaimer as a film proved challenging due to the fast-paced nature of limited TV series production, which often involves multiple directors. The series, based on Renee Knight's best-selling novel and featuring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Klein, turned into a lengthy shoot. However, Cuaron found solace in his collaboration with longtime cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. He described their work together as "very organic," while reportedly adding that he's inclined toward projects out of his comfort zone.
Blanchett's role in 'Disclaimer' and Cuaron's emphasis on collaboration
In Disclaimer, Blanchett plays Catherine Ravenscroft, a renowned journalist who finds herself the subject of a novel that reveals her deepest secrets. Cuaron praised Blanchett as a crucial collaborator, stating she was deeply involved in every aspect of the process. He also emphasized the importance of honesty among collaborators during his TIFF conversation, reflecting on his early days as a director alongside fellow Mexican filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro G. Inarritu.
