Issa López, first Mexican director nominated for an Emmy

In January, True Detective: Night Land She arrived at Max in the first season of the franchise directed by a woman and it has undoubtedly been one of the best seasons. What she achieved is that, together with the protagonist and Oscar winner, Jodie Foster, Issa Lopez will visit several cities around the world to prove that women are in the best position to do incredible horror things. For three years, Issa wrote the six episodes of the series, set in Alaska, and then directed it. The plot revolves around a series of murders in the state.

The series received 19 nominations for Emmythe prestigious award from the American Television Academy and Issa She was nominated in the categories of Direction and Screenplay for a miniseries or television film, and today she is making history by being the first Mexican director nominated for a Emmy.

At celebrity.land we had the opportunity to talk with the director Issa Lopez to learn more about her new projects, her position on the masculinity that women in the industry face, and more.

What was it like taking the reins of one of HBO’s most important recent series?

Although I loved the first season and I like mystery thrillers about who is the culprit, I hadn’t done anything in that area so it surprised me and excited me a lot. So I developed this story based on all the concerns and all the fanaticism I had as a child for these murder stories. So I did it, they loved it and well, receiving the job was incredible. There was always a bit of disbelief that it was happening and there still is. The 19 nominations that the series had and the fourth most nominated production has been incredible.

What influence did Mexican culture have on your production?
When you are Mexican, you have a specific way and form of telling certain stories, themes that concern us, so instead of making an American series for Americans, I was honest with the stories that move me and that I like. I mean, it is an American series but with a sensitivity and an axis of who I am, with stories of who I am. So it is honesty, the stories that you would like to see on screen and when you do it like that, people will like it too.

What will be in this fifth season of True Detective?
I can say little but it comes from the same axis of honesty and there will be new stories and new characters, it has connections with situations and well, I am totally in charge of it.

What has it been like to work under all the masculinity that undervalues ​​women’s work? How do you deal with all this?
It was very enlightening, because the series is made from an appreciation of a product that is excellent. I made it taking elements from that first season but there is no way to satisfy a fandom that connects with the toxic parts of a narrative and it has happened with several projects, like Star Wars. It is a very specific sector, very masculine and protective of its interests, they do not like you to change the color, or the gender. So having such a furious reaction from that sector is a source of pride and I am doing well.

So all I can say is, “You’re very angry but the ratings are the highest the show has ever had and we have 19 nominations for the Emmys“I’m very sorry but some of your perception is tainted.”

What do you think about women taking up more space in horror? Does it excite you?
There are no limits. Women are excellent storytellers, and especially in Mexico, women are incredible filmmakers because we are naturally storytellers and female characters have access to deep emotions that, when narrated by women, have a connection with the truth of the character and it shows on the screen. So there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are working on it.

How does it feel to be the first Mexican director nominated for an Emmy?
It gives you a rest because you are representing and it is very, very important as a female filmmaker, Mexican, immigrant, to have that window and that certification of the work you have done. If that translates into awards, it is minor, the historic moment has already happened so I am enormously satisfied to represent and long live Mexico.

What projects are coming?
I’m totally focused on the fifth season of True Detective, but getting into that topic, there are three movies coming out, one of which has been waiting for me since the fourth season, but we’re getting excited about the fifth one right away.

The work of Issa Lopez

His first film work Issa Lopez It was with the script of Ladies Night and his debut film came in 2006 with Side Effects, the first Mexican film produced by a major studio that starred the Oscar-nominated Tavira Marina.
Her most awarded film and the one that brought her to international markets was They return, which in English was titled Tigers Are Not Afraid, which is a horror story about the bravery of children in violent contexts.