The film and theater director, screenwriter and cinematographic writer, and member of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, Víctor Matellano, claims the importance that the Community of Madrid had in the filming of famous films of the wéstern genre during the 60s and 70s in a new installment of the campaign #TalentadesMadrid.
“They were filmed more wéstern than in Almería,” Matellano recalled from the stage of the Wax Museum that recreates a tavern in the American west in which iconic actors of the genre such as Clint Eastwood, John Wayne or Lee Van Cleef appear.
It was precisely a film of the first, “For a handful of dollars”, shot mainly in Hoyo de Manzanares, which “shoots” the interest for the region, and it was as well as Manzanares el Real, Colmenar Vejo, Alcalá de Henares, Aldea del Fresno, Villamanta, Ciempozuelos, Soto del Real, Chinchón, and even the Casa de Campo, that would become the scene of more productions of this type.
A whole bibliography of cinematographic study
Matellano has been collecting the history of all these films but also of other genres and personalities linked to the world of cinema. His publications include “El Hollywood español”, “Clint, shoot! Sergio Leone’s Dollar Trilogy”, “Spanish Exploitation: Sex, blood and bullets”, “La Dehesa de Navalvillar: film set”, “A set of centuries: Talamanca de Jarama, film scene”, “Shooting—Welcome, Mister Marshall!”, “El Cid” or “Spartacus, 50th special edition”.
He has also signed other titles such as “Terror in the Wax Museum”, “Spanish horror”, “Decorados, Gil Parrondo”, “Colin Arthur, creatures, makeup and special effects”, “The Wizard of Oz. Secrets beyond the rainbow” or “Designed by Yvonne Blake, film figurinist”.
Film Director
Víctor Matellano himself is also the author of a western, “Parada en el diablo”, shot in two locations in the Community of Madrid and the short film “Print the Legend” (2023), also of this genre.
Other titles include “El Valle de Concavenator” (2022), “Mi adorado Monster” (2021), “Vampus Horror Tales” (2020), “Landscapes for After a War” (2020), “Volver El Eca” (2019), “Vampyres” (2015), “Wax” (2015), “Zarpazos! A trip through the Spanish Horror” (2014) or “La cañada de los ingleses” (2014).
Terror to stay “wax”
One of the fields in which he has stood out is that of the horror genre, which is why he was in charge of the artistic direction and design of Wax Horror Experience, an area dedicated to the world of terror that was inaugurated last year in the Wax Museum, and director of the show Cera Experience, with text by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador and central character of Paul Naschy, which is exhibited in this space. Both are proposals that enrich the cultural and leisure offer of the region and that have the seal of a #TalentodeMadrid.
Campaign #TalentMadrid
The Government Delegation has launched on social networks the campaign with the hashtag #TalentMadrid to support initiatives and people who live and/or develop their activity in the region, highlighting in very varied disciplines, artistic, sports, scientific or social, among others.
The list of talents will continue to add names in the coming weeks until completing a diverse overview of all the talent that the Community of Madrid has in the most different areas.
The content of this campaign can be followed in the profiles that the Government Delegation in the Community of Madrid has in:
Instagram: @DGobiernoMadrid
Youtube: @DelegaciondelGovernmentinMadrid