JUST TALKING 18/11
Radu Jude (The Happiest Girl in the World), Dimitris Karakasis ( Presence B’), Ilias Vafeiadis, musician (Presence B’), Rachel Rosen, San Francisco Film Festival Program Director, Ioanna Papageorgiou, film critic and journalist
The scenario represented in images, the importance of cinema today and the difficulties encountered in producing films were the topics discussed at the 50th TIFF Just Talking session on Wednesday November 18 at the Old Pump Station.
The participants were Dimitris Karakasis, (Presence B’), Radu Jude (The Happiest Girl in the World), Ilias Vafeiadis who composed the music for Presence B’, Rachel Rosen, San Francisco Film Festival Program Director, and Ioanna Papageorgiou, film critic and journalist. A screening of parts of these two films heralded the talk.
Dimitris Karakasis explained: “I wanted to write a scenario with suspense, something I find is generally missing in Greek films, but also to clearly show the characters’ roles. If you have a good scenario and good actors I believe you can make a good film even if you don’t have the means to improve the image.” Filmmaker Radu Jude mentioned the importance of transferring the scenario onto the big screen: “I have read scenarios I have found incredibly boring and yet on the screen the end result was fabulous; of course, the contrary can also happen”, he said.
Rachel Rosen talked about the elements that stand out in good films: “It is difficult to classify a series of criteria for every film. Personally I like films to stick to their genre, a comedy to be a comedy. And I certainly don’t like it when the actors go too far in their efforts to impersonate their characters. On the contrary, I prefer quiet performances that touch the soul.”
Ioanna Papageorgiou replied that she has no criteria or prejudices for a good or a bad film: “I want the film to say something, to make me feel it. I don’t mind telling you that I quite like watching what are known as ‘hybrid’ films that borrow elements from various cinema genres, and I also like good blockbusters.” She went on to say: “Cinema as an art plays a role in the education and culture of the public and this I think is important today.”
Radu Jude talked about some of the difficulties he has to face: “Sometimes I feel ashamed of my work, especially when I compare it to what other people are doing to really help those in need, and here I am worrying about my scenario. This happens to me mainly when I work in advertising, a sort of luxury that reflects the evolvement of our society.” To which Rachel Rosen said: “I don’t need to pollute the sea or steal to survive. Though I do sometimes disappoint some film directors when I reject their films but that is my job.”
Finally the discussion turned to the difficulties in production. Dimitris Karakasis said that he shoots in digital form for lack of funds and the cost of film and added: “I saved money for about one year to pay for the production. I only paid the technicians, the indispensable ones; but the actors, though professional, worked for free. Of course I had to wait for them, I couldn’t press them.” Ilias Vafeiadis explained that live music even in a small budget film is a luxury that can cost three times the price of the entire film. Radu Jude mentioned how difficult it is to find sponsors or state funding: “I use awards money, my producer does his best to obtain state sponsorship, and of course I also pay from my own pocket. This process however is tiresome, but I think that it is always difficult and the funding system in Rumania is corrupted and favours doubtful projects”, he ended.
