I was in Tbilisi (Georgia) recently on a film production training course organised by www.traineastfilm.org Part of the course involved visiting the state’s film studio, which is rather large and well endowed. As my colleagues were shown round the stages and studios I stayed in the corridors and photographed their poster collection — most of which you can see here. On the bus back to the hotel I spoke to an old filmmaker who told me that Georgian film was rather successful under the Soviet Union, and it was known as one of the top producers within the Union. The whole film market was closed to outside films back then and a lot of films were made — in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia in particular. I confirmed this with a Ukranian trainee who said Georgians were particularly appreciated for their comedy. All of this is a bit sad as today the film industry in the former Soviet space is a pale shadow of its former self. Ukraine are getting into making TV spots for western clients (bargain hunting production companies in search of rock bottom costs), what few films Russia produces were halted by the financial crisis and in Georgia there is almost nothing going on. And we in the west didn’t even know that Georgia has a tradition in filmmaking — and if we had maybe we should have done something to support it. America has been pumping lots of money into Georgia and maybe a few bucks thrown at the film industry could have saved it (as well as Hollywood being given some incentives …
This is the submission for my third and final project for a Film Production I course at Boston University’s School of Communications. It was shot using three rolls of Tri-X Reversal film on a Bolex camera. All footage taken was shot over the span of about six hours (Please mind the quality, YouTube isn’t exactly kind to compressed video). The two actors (Philip Dumontet and Erika Vargas) are also Boston locals, and I offer them by complete thanks – they made this short film possible. The film is set to the song “Le Festin” by Camille. Some of you might know the tune from Ratatouille. When I heard it for the first time, I knew I could make a film out of it. Finally, this film is dedicated to my parents, without whom I would never have had the chance to have the opportunity to create this. Film written, directed, and edited by Brian Paterson, BU ’09. Enjoy.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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