I fired some questions at Svyatosalv earlier on last week. Here's the synopsis for SYNDROME. Read on for our full interview.
Main hero is in crisis. He has just lost his job in Moscow, his wife plays him false and what is more - his leg is broken. While he decides to return to a province, a strange envelope arrives. There are big money, a key to a cloakroom and a suggestion to play a game in it. After killing his wife he'll get real money. In a cloakroom there are a gun and further instructions. But after agonizing doubts he starts the game.
Hi, tell me a little bit about your background. What got you into filmmaking, and who do you draw your inspiration from?
Hi! Well, from I have been a fan of film since childhood, coming up with stories, acting them out and filming them seemed to be the best thing in the world. So, it was not a hard decision when I had to choose my way. The films of Spielberg, James Cameron and Paul Verhoeven had always inspired me most. It was them who taught me all about film.
Where did you get the idea for your ReelShow winning film?
It was just an idea from the question. "What if somebody asks you to kill somebody you know, for money? Great sum of money. How will you react?" Isn't it interesting - why people are eager to betray each other, how cruel they may be?
Tell me about the casting process and pre-production? How did you assemble your crew?
It was a low-budget film, so everyone was working just for the fun of it. Most of of the crew consisted of my old friends, and we had all worked together before that. The main hero was a guy I've saw in someone's else short film. It's very important to assemble a good crew and I succeeded in it. What is more - we all had a great time.
What did you shoot the film on, and with which particular equipment?
At first I wanted to shoot it on a serious equipment, like RED camera, but we could not afford it. So, all of the film was shoot on Sony Z1 (HDV format). We arrived at a conclusion, that it's not what you do to shoot your film, it's how it is done.
How long was your shoot?
It was about 8 days each consisting of 12-15 hours. We were shooting, sleeping, shooting without any breaks. It was great!
Where was it shot, and were there any issues with locations?
The film was shot in a suburb of Moscow, in an ordinary flat and office - all is real. We had no money for set decorations. The most complicated scenes were those that were shit in a flat. There were too many people in a small room, so it was hard to work with lights. We were taping clear sound and there were difficulties with this too. But we overcame all that.
What was the editing process like?
For me it was the hardest part. I wanted the film to be like a locomotive - slow in the beginning, with long frames and faster with crazy dynamics in the end. At the end of the film, our main hero is running home and a train is moving parallel to him. I tried to make the train and the hero alike. Rising of tempo till the very end of the story was my main idea.
What did you edit the film on?
All of the was film edited on Premiere Pro 2.0
How are you finding things since winning the ReelShow competition, and how do you find the new site?
I'm deeply happy and hope that it's only a beginning.
What's your ambition? What aspect of the industry do you aspire to be involved in?
Actually, it would be great to shoot something for a big screen. Because of some circumstances it is complicated in Russia. Lack of schooling, financing and so on. But I'm determined and hardworking.
What's next for you? What are you working on at the moment?
We're looking at making a feature length film, and by the way we are looking for monetary funds.
Who is your favourite filmmaker?
Well, I can't name the one. But there are several, whose stleI like the most: Christopher Nolan, Coen brothers, Steven Soderbergh, Alfonso Cuarón, Ridley Scott.
Finally, what's the last film that you saw and the best film that you have seen in 2009?
I've seen Inglourious Basterds and District 9. Through this year I liked:
District 9, Grand Torino, Revolutionary Road.
Thank you very much.
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