- Was there a particular event or time that you recognized that filmmaking is your way of telling stories?
I have loved movies since childhood. I filmed fun clips with my parents’ vhs-camera together with my friends & then edited shots without knowing such word like “editing”-)
- Do you think it is essential to go to a film institute in order to become a successful filmmaker?
Nowadays I believe that film institutes are important because of art atmosphere & in case of making new friends who became industry professionals. But the main idea is to go & make a movie no matter what.
- Is it harder to get started or to keep going? What was the particular thing that you had to conquer to do either?
Starting is harder. For me for sure. Sometimes it seems everything is getting against you. But if you believe in idea, in yourself you must continue no matter what. I know what I’m talking about – I was making no-budget music video for 3 years!!
- What was the most important lesson you had to learn that has had a positive effect on your film? How did that lesson happen?
You need a crew to make a movie. Even a short one. You can ask a friend of yours to do some help just to be able to concentrate on important things only you can solve or create.
- What were the production realities from casting through editing that you had to accommodate? How did you navigate those compromises or surprises and still end up with a cohesive film?
A lot of problems with every step! One of the most complicated part was finding location. We spent a lot of time searching web and scouting. Thanks Rob and his family for letting us shooting inside their big house that perfectly matched our idea. We also had a situation with the actress who had canceled her participation a week before shooting day. So I needed to find another one as fast as possible. Fortunately we found great replacement! It was very hard to match everybody’s schedules because all of the crew members were very busy. The same problem was on the post-production period. When everything completed together it seemed like a fantastic-)
- What was the hardest artistic choice you made in the making of a film, at any stage in production?
Every small step is a hard choice & every decision is pain. Can’t point special one.
- You are a collaborator. How have you discovered members of your team and how do you keep the relationship with them strong?
I was lucky to find and make friendship with Robert Sarukhanyan – a cinematographer – who helped me to build the team & shot my two shorts. With some of crew members I shot commercials. For example, we made music video with Rob or we created tv-show with Sasha Antonova – our production designer.
- What do audiences want? And is it the filmmaker’s role to worry about that?
Every filmmaker should make its own choice: try to please the abstract audience or try to find a place in art & unique voice. Thinking about audience is what commercials do. Not art.
- What role have film festivals played in your life so far? Why are they necessary? How do you get the most out of them?
I think film festivals can increase views of your movie & help you make new friends and industry professionals. But maybe the most important thing is that it can increase belief in yourself as a filmmaker.
- Do you believe that a filmmaker should be original and fresh or he/she should stick to classic but safe cinema style?
A filmmaker should be whatever he/she wants to be. Unique voice is what really important.
