We Got This Covered: Going back to the beginning, because of how you set up the documentary style delivery, we know how the film is going to end in the first few minutes. How were you able to keep intensity and tensions high, even though the ending was inevitable?
Sebastián Cordero: I think the fact that you know where things are going doesn’t take away the suspense of how things are going to happen. To use that very simple example, and there are people who both love and hate this film, but you look at Titanic years ago, where you know how things are going to end, and that doesn’t take away from the two hours of suspense. You’re still hoping the ship might not sink even though you know the story. [Laughs]
I think in a strange way it keeps you hooked more, to know that there will be a tragic ending. Even though you don’t know the details and you’re hoping someone will survive, there’s a big reveal towards the end where you realize the one person who might have survived is still on the ship, but I think there was a lot of elements to play with structurally that just enhanced the suspense and tension. The thing is, the last act of the film there’s a gradual increase in tension as you realize it’s going to be harder, or practically impossible, to leave the moon of Europa alive, or to even transmit any information back to earth. That’s a source of great tension. We’re keeping everything within a certain realism of the elements that are there that could happen. I think we keep a strong anchor with the science the whole time, and yet it’s the type of structure that you ultimately see coming but without it making things less interesting.
We Got This Covered: I won’t make you explain all the themes again, because you’ve already hit on some, but out of the mentioning of self-sacrifice, human will, curiosity, discovery, and so on, what’s the big message you want people to walk away with?
Sebastián Cordero: I think the theme of the movie ultimately is a simple theme, but it’s something we can all connect with, which is as human beings, we are pretty small while looking at the big picture. When we look at the immensity of the universe, or the things that can be discovered, or how far we can go, sometimes it’s about sacrificing what’s biggest to you, which is your life on Earth – leaving your family and leaving everything behind to embark on a mission. I’ve always found that absolutely fascinating, whether it’s space exploration or someone going to Antarctica for the first time, it implies so much sacrifice and we wonder why someone would be so willing to do that. There’s something in the possibility of what can be reached that goes beyond our own sacrifices. That’s one of the things that makes men and women so special – that ability to reach for something that they might not even live to see the full results of. We might not even. Yet it’s what drives us.
Talking to some of the scientists behind the real exploration of Europa, one of the questions we had for them was “It’s possible some of the things you’re theorizing about, you’re not going to see or prove in your lifetime. Does that taint what you’re doing at all?” They don’t even think about it. They’re like “No, it’s almost like we’re a piece of the puzzle, of a bigger puzzle.”
I drew a lot of inspiration from another film, a great documentary about space exploration called For All Mankind by Al Reinert, who did this amazing piece about the Apollo missions, and there’s one of the astronauts who says they’re a small piece in some machinery that they don’t even understand how it works – but they know how their part works. If they do their part right, they know they’re a crucial element in reaching something huge, and that’s enough. That gives a lot of meaning to their lives.
This film deals with that concept. It can go into a lot more elements, but we personally chose not to, to make it about this, not to go into people falling apart under pressure or choosing to defend themselves. No. It’s literally about discovery, pushing as far as you can go, and being willing enough to sacrifice everything for that discovery. That’s the one trait you need for human being.
We Got This Covered: Alright, time to put you in the spotlight – would you go on a mission like this given the opportunity?
Sebastián Cordero: Oh wow, that’s the big question, isn’t it? I get asked that a lot. I think there’s a reason I’m a filmmaker though, and not an astronaut – even though as a kid that would have been the greatest thing. But the more you research about what that sacrifice would mean, there’s a lot I would love to be a part of, but I don’t know if I could take all the sacrifices myself. I don’t know if I could abandon my family not knowing if I’m going to come back or go through a horrible death.
We Got This Covered: So since you’ve now dipped your toe into the Sci-Fi genre, are there any other genres you’d like to test out next?
Sebastián Cordero: I’ve been thinking for a while about a certain take on the end of the world, whether it’s within the realm of zombies or something like that, but a very realistic perspective on it. See how far you can push that. I would also be very curious to play with horror, dealing with our very primal fears, psychological fears that aren’t as prevalent in reality, only our own psyche. I don’t know, there’s a lot of genres to explore.
I think the biggest challenge would probably be a comedy, I don’t see myself doing that soon, but at some point it would be interesting to see where that could go. That’s really the hardest one.
We Got This Covered: So where are you going to go next? What’s on the horizon for you?
Sebastián Cordero: I have a project already in the works back in Ecuador, which I’ve been developing before Europa Report even came about. Hopefully I’ll be able to shoot that soon, but I’m also starting to get some interesting offers here, and I don’t know what will happen first. My career will be a mixture of doing things back in Latin America grounded in the realities there, but I also love the idea of working here and doing some more ambitious projects that could be very interesting, achieving things I don’t think I could back in Ecuador. Hopefully I’ll be able to go back and forth.
Thanks so much to Sebastián Cordero for taking the time for this in-depth discussion, and be sure to catch Europa Report when it’s released August 2nd, or right now on any Video On Demand platform!
