Lust time the topic about coproduction in film producing is heard very often. At the same time there is no many examples of mutual interest in cinematographic. Wright now – about one of the projects between Italian film co. “Bartleby Film” in cooperation with Ukrainian “Fresh Production” co. It is named – Easy.

Italian director & script writer Andrea Maniani & his business partner Kiara Barbo, had got an invitation from Fresh production co. & came into Ukraine. They a re interested in Ukraine sites.

Fresh production directors Julia Chernyavska & Oleg Shcherbyna got to know Andre & Kiara  in 2010 in MFI training (Mediterranean film institute). They were working at film script “Killers love” together with Zaza Buadze. At there own turn, Andre & Kiara were working at Film “Easy”.

This year, in February, on Berlin film festival, Fresh Production introduced Ukrainian-Georgian-German project “Ursus” (one of the chosen lust year on the open film projects competition of the Ukrainian State Agency of filming). They met again & discussed the changes.

They became interesting because film script “Easy” from the beginning concerned to Serbia & Kosovo. Now Ukraine could possibly be involved to the project, by reason of leaving the project by the potential Serbian & Kosovo investors.

To change Balkans to Ukraine appear easy, like change a Lego detail.

Judge yourself: the story is about forty years old Italian under depression, forma handsome man & successful pilot “Formul-3”. Hi is in the lower depth of the despair, has no potency to suicide, has to obey his brother, the only person, bearing him. His duty now to bring dead brothers coffin from Italy to Ukraine.

…Italians came to Ukraine for evaluation the change.To my mind it make sense,taking into account the cinematographic experience in Italian-Ukrainian relations. Lets remember  Francesco Rosi film “The Truce” (the main role John Turturro), shooting was in 1996 in Carpathians,  or Giuseppe Tornatore film “The legend of the Pianist” (main role Tim Rott). The shooting was in 1997 in Odessa. In Kiev  – “The Evilenko”, directed by David Greko (Malkolm Mcdawell in the main role).

Except the business questions (producing, taxes, budgeting), were also searching the appropriate locations.

According to screen, the main hero has to drive from Italy to Slovenia, then to Hungary & at the end -  to Ukraine with a final destination in Carpathian village near Verhovina.

It is improbable, but three expeditions in a week each of them took place, for the searching for surroundings project “The Brothers”, directed by Victoria Trophimenko, produced by  Igor Savichenko – “Prontofilm” co. For “The Easy” film all places were chosen in four days: Beregovo in trance-Carpathian, Tyachev in trance-Carpathian & Verhovinskii district.

Of cause “The Brothers” is a stage complicated drama. The nature is taking a sole role. Nobody says, that conditional named rode- movie “The Balkans Advantures”  & a shade of Kusturitsa has to ignore entourage?  Accept, that reliance of the project is on comic situational moments with grim humor elements. “ I better see this comedy with traditional Italian humor in the spirit of the old films of Roberto Beninia or the French Lui de Fines” – said Oleg Shcherbina. One way or another, there wouldn’t be Gipsysism.

The main role is given to famous Italian actor Giuseppe Battiston 44 years old. Seven years ago he was playing in Benini film “The Tiger & a snow”. Who did not remember Battiston, could find him in Ukrainian cinema, film “Whom I want more”. Under his belt – about fifty roles in films, 20 years playing in theater. He worked with Ornella Mutti, Alexio Bone, Bruno Gans, Katherine Murino, Micky Manoilovich & Valeria Golino.

Time comes for Ukrainians, after cooperation with Italians, Germans & Serbs. Actors & crew for the film “The Easy” will be from Ukraine. A small budget – about two million dollars- excepting the possibility to invite an expensive movie stars, but making easier the finance search. In a present time it is difficult thing.  Europe is releasing more then 1200 films in a year, in spine of crisis. In this situation, the “elaboration” started by Katherine Kopylova in Ukraine a head of the State Agency in the filming questions – is very much intime. According to Oleg Shcherbina, the film script will be rewriting in a few weeks. When the project will be finally formed, the film director, the survey squad, the details for locating & production demands   will be determined. The future investors would cover 50 % of budget. Acquisition is planning in the summer in 2013. They will start in Venice.

Yaroslav Pidgora-Gvyazdovskiy, «Mirror of week. Ukraine» 22, on June, 15, 2012

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