5 Questions with Alena Shevchenko
1) What have you been up to since we last spoke in February?
To be honest, nothing. Isolations makes me stop for a while and just think about life. But it’s useful too. Because to go further, sometimes you need to stop and look around.
2) What’s the backstory here - what was the initial idea and how did it evolve from there?
Well, imagine, I’m an emerging commercial director from Moscow, Russia, who has never made a narrative film before. I’d accidentally found the writer - Lisa Astakhova, who lives In Los Angeles, and after reading one of her scripts I decided to message her, saying I’d like to make a short together. After a long Skype call, Lisa writes a script and I instantly fall in love with it. ‘This is it!’ - I told her.
This script is based on the personal story of Lisa and it was so close to me too, because I was under the crises of long term relationship. The filmed helped to understand more my relationships and later overcome the break up. And most important one, when you're staying alone, you need to know exactly who you're staying with.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And on the flipside, what came the easiest?
At first, I wanted to make this film in Moscow. But after we had a Skype Call, I felt I need to go to LA to film it together. So, I am on a plane to LA, making my very first trip to the United States, flying to make a movie with someone I’ve never met before and we still didn’t have actors. It sounded like crazy plan and only luck could help us. So, this idea was the biggest challenge!
The easiest thing to me was cleaning the windows in the Lisa’s apartment where we shooted, because we need very clean windows for the scene. And it was very fun!
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
It’s Sweden Film «Simple Simon», it’s very kind story about a younger brother with Aspergers syndrome helps his older brother to find a girlfriend. Very honest and funny story. I like it because the main character tries to understand the life with the help of psychic, but the life is more complicated and lows often don’t work as they should.
5) What’s next for you?
I am working on a new story about a young girl who studies in a military school for boys and girls. She tries to overcome the bulling at this school.
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http://vimeo.com/alenshev