Director Alba Gil during the filming of El Secreto del Río
Alba Gil, a Mexican-Canadian filmmaker, is the director of two successful projects. Her Netflix series, El Secreto del Río, is currently gaining popularity, while her Amazon Studios film, El Diario,” has achieved significant success in Mexico.
Gil comments that she had previously worked with Netflix’s “great team,” led by Paco Ramos when she directed seven of the eight episodes of “Triada,” the series starring Maite Perroni. “So, for ‘El secreto del río,’ it was wonderful to reunite with them. We already had a strong foundation of trust and open communication. And with Perro Azul as a producer, we had the perfect team to bring this story to life.”
She says she has always had “positive experiences and open dialogue with executives from all the platforms” she has worked with. She recently collaborated with another streamer, Amazon Prime, on the film El Diario,” and with ViX on a series slated for release next year. “It’s important to be at the service of the story.”
Gil noted that when she received the invitation from Ernesto Contreras (El Secreto del Río) to join his directing team, she didn’t hesitate. She knew it would be a special project. “I’ve admired his work for many years, so it was a great honor. When I read the scripts, I knew I wanted to be part of this unique story. Its themes are both timely and necessary, and it had the potential for a captivating, fresh, and distinctive narrative.”
“I found it incredibly innovative and courageous to explore friendship in such a heartwarming and inclusive way, not from a societal perspective but from the genuine connection between two individuals, the purity of that bond, and its profound impact on life. Additionally, the scripts tackle difficult and sensitive topics with absolute honesty and extensive research. I was thrilled by the opportunity to create a new benchmark in Mexican storytelling. This series doesn’t imitate anything,” she said.
Regarding the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, she said, ‘It’s part of a profound Mexico, rarely depicted authentically and respectfully on screen. It’s a beautiful place with a strong and unique energy, and knowing that this was the setting captivated me even more.”
She believes she brought a unique perspective to the series’ creative team, complementing the vision they were developing.
El Secreto del Río
“The female gaze is often simplistically understood as maternal or limited to emotional experiences. However, I believe the female presence behind the screen is much broader. As a director, I prioritize collaboration, active listening, observation, and co-creation. We engaged in extensive discussions with the actors before and during filming, exploring various nuances and subtleties with curiosity and rigor. Having worked extensively with children in diverse settings, including schools, cultural centers, and psychiatric hospitals, I have a strong foundation in mindfulness and a deep understanding of childhood psychology and emotional processes. This sensitivity has significantly contributed to the development of the characters, their relationships, and the overall tone of the story,” she commented.
Gil mentioned that one of the primary challenges of directing El Secreto del Río was filming in various locations across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a region unfamiliar with film production. “The relentless heat, humidity, and strong winds posed significant challenges for the technical and creative teams. Many locations were remote and difficult to access, complicating the production process. It was crucial to meticulously prepare each scene. I dedicated myself to sketching numerous scenes, creating shot lists, and conducting extensive visual and thematic research to inspire the team and ensure a clear narrative vision for the episodes.”
She noted that the production design, led by Diego López, involved extensive research and months of on-site exploration. “All scenes are inspired by the colors, environments, and objects of the Isthmus. For example, the scene where Solange places the glow on Manuel’s head, and he confesses his desire to be a Muxe, was inspired by a mirror I saw in a house during our location scouting and the iconic use of the glow in the region.”
The underwater scenes were directed by Ernesto Contreras and Alex Zuno.
“I can only say that I know a significant effort was made to keep everything as practical as possible and minimize the use of CGI,” she says.
El Secreto del Río is an original story written by Alberto Barrera. Filming took place over 12 to 14 weeks. Perro Azul handled production, with Juan Uruchurtu, Diego Rabasa, and Ernesto Contreras serving as producers.
The directors were Ernesto Contreras (also the showrunner for episodes 1, 2, 5, and 8), Gil (episodes 3 and 4), and Alejandro Zuno (episodes 6 and 7). The director of photography was César Gutiérrez Miranda, the production designer was Diego López, and the costume designer was Laura García de la Mora.
Gil is currently in Vancouver, filming the second season of the American-Canadian series Sight Unseen. “As a Canadian fluent in English, I have the opportunity to work on both Mexican and American projects. I’ve also been hired to write and direct a feature-length script for an international studio, and I’m currently working on a personal documentary project,” she concluded.
