{"id":50874,"date":"2023-01-16T18:05:42","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T17:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/?p=50874"},"modified":"2023-02-09T14:08:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T13:08:30","slug":"immersed-in-midnight-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/versunken-im-midnight-smoke\/","title":{"rendered":"Immersed in Midnight Smoke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Midnight - midnight. I can't sleep. My thoughts are on the script for a documentary film. Fantastic commissioned work. I need to get rid of my energy and wind down. Havana, here we come<\/em>! But one thing at a time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

06:30, the day begins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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INSERT. Inside, Zizo studio. Early in the morning, dark.<\/strong><\/p><\/h3>

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My working day starts at 06:30 today. It's still dark in Liestal (my studio is here). It's foggy and that's what my thoughts feel like. Today I'm working on a script for a documentary film. Whereby the word script is a misnomer; it's more of a red thread. Much of the film is filmed spontaneously, although of course it is clear what the film is supposed to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I make myself a Turkish coffee and open the balcony door. Fresh, cool air streams in. It feels good and I hope it clears my brain fog. I pick up my notes. A few days earlier, I had a project meeting with the client and we discussed various details. I now need to structure these notes and sketch out an initial guideline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coffee machine beeps. The Turkish coffee is ready. It's hot, black and delicious! I need it now. I read my notes and my first thoughts clear the fog from my brain. It's windy and a cool breeze blows into the studio. The trees by the nearby wall rustle. I step out onto the balcony, a hot cup in my hand. I take a sip and burn my tongue. A perfect start to the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wind is too cold for me, so I go back inside. I sit down at my desk. I start structuring the script on my tablet. I let the coffee cool down a little and the next sip still hurts my tongue. I don't notice that my brain fog has already dissipated and I'm deeply immersed in the film project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.30 p.m. - but that's enough!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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SOFT TRANSITION. Indoors, at home. In the evening. <\/strong><\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13 hours later. It's 7.30 pm. I'm exhausted and hungry. Now it's time to go home and eat. By 11 p.m. I still can't get any rest. It's not often that I tell my wife: \u201eHoney, I'm going back to the studio. I need to think about the project and puff on a cigar.\u201c -\u201eYou're a weirdo, but go ahead,\u2018 she replies. Our cat starts meowing like the devil is after her. She actually wants me to stroke and massage her again, just like an hour earlier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201eWhy don't you take five more minutes for her,\u201c says my wife. I'd rather not contradict her. So I fulfil our cat's wish. Shortly afterwards, I drive to the studio. It's dark outside again, I think as I drive. When I arrive at the studio, I take an H.Upmann Piramides from 2016 out of the humidor. Cut. Fire. So, and now: switch off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Immersed in Midnight Smoke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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SOFT TRANSITION. Inside, Zizo studio. Late in the evening.<\/strong><\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I'm sitting in an armchair, my cigar smouldering. The album Kind Of Blue by Miles Davies (1969) is playing in the background. Incredible genius, that guy. I listen to the music and the room note of the cigar is brilliant; the room smells rich and full. The cigar is very rich in flavour: wood and nut, cocoa and retronasal fantastic roasted aromas of smouldering wood and espresso beans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Immersed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The first songs on the album are of a rather calm nature and it helps me to relax after just a few minutes. I listen to the gifted musicians and Miles Davies' playing. The cigar smoulders perfectly and slowly. The smoke rises and it is as if it moves back and forth to the slow rhythm of the jazz and gracefully evaporates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am completely immersed in the pleasure of the cigar and the music. My thoughts come to rest. I realise that almost halfway through the cigar I wasn't thinking about the film project. Suddenly, a short sequence of music reaches me in complete harmony with the cigar enjoyment; I can't help but think of Havana in Cuba. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Havana<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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DREAM FADE. Outside, Havana, evening sun.<\/strong><\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My studio fades around me and Havana materialises around me; I stand in the evening sun on the Malecon with my wife. We look out to sea, the waves glistening in a golden colour. The vintage cars with the tourists drive past us. People are sitting on the wall and chatting animatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We stroll back towards the Capitol across the Prado. We discover a restaurant on the first floor and have a delicious dinner there. I can't help but think about the very difficult situation the Cuban people are currently in. One thought later, I'm back in the restaurant. By now it's almost dark and my wife and I look out from the restaurant at the Prado. \u201eSo this is where I'll be filming in July 2023,\u201c I think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DREAM FADE END. Inside, ZiZo studio, night.<\/strong><\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I can see the finished film in front of me and it feels good. The film will be about that: Tracing Havana; how the Habanos cigar found its way into the world. The city dissolves around me and I realise that I'm sitting in my studio. About 1.5 hours have passed. My cigar has already reached the final. I drive home satisfied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Immersed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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FADE OUT. TENSION.<\/strong><\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Immersed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This is our cat ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Resources on the topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n