Eastern Euro Hollywood

[peacetraveler22]

Great films are like great songs. They transport us to another place or time, and evoke emotion. We become so closely connected to the characters and plot that we're sometimes moved to tears, anger, fear, or hysterical laughter. I remember visiting my relatives in California as a teenager and taking a tour of Universal Studios Hollywood. There I saw the famous "Psycho" house in which Norman Bates hid his decaying mother, but my favorite part of the tour was the clock tower from the movie "Back to the Future." I'm certain you all know this film series, which is one of my favorites of all time. Hop into a time machine and experience life during a different era - sure why not! It's every adventurer's dream scenario. To which place and time would I travel? Undecided! Yet films also can be dangerous as they often project stereotypes about ethnicities, cultures and places. If a foreigner's perception of America is based solely on Hollywood films, then they would be sadly mistaken about the realities of life in my country. The same can be said about Hollywood's portrayal of Russia and Russians.

During my autumn journey through Eastern Europe, I had the opportunity to visit two film studios. The first, pictured here, is a modern and futuristic studio located in Poland. I immediately braced for an alien invasion when I saw the outside.

1. The inside isn't much different. You're immediately greeted by a monster sculpture. The studio was founded by a Polish entrepreneur who also created the first privately owned Polish radio station. The name of the studio is "Alvernia."



2. Same twisting style of staircases throughout the entire complex. Everything is immaculately clean, shiny and in excellent condition. The studio opened in the last decade, with major productions only coming out in the past few years.



3. The studio itself resembles a spaceship in all aspects. Doorways and walkways look like entrances to the mothership.



4. Cheerful and beautiful tour guide, who spoke excellent English. All doors are opened via fingerprint verification.



5. The studio has Dolby Premier Studio Certification, and prides itself on sound quality. Many musical and orchestral performances are recorded here.



6. Fancy dressing rooms, complete with hair and make-up stations.



7. Huge,open warehouse type room in which any type of movie set could be built. Films from the Czech Republic, India and Romania have been filmed at the studio. Alvernia received primary funding from an innovation initiative of the European Union, and has since received additional funding and awards from Polish agencies. It is located between Katowice and Krakow.



8. Screening room for film edits and viewings. Massive and high tech sound boards here. You can feel the roar of Dolby surround sound as your seat vibrates from sound emissions. Copyright credit for this photo to macos. I've never heard of any Polish films, or viewed one. How about you?



9. I have to say the same for Latvian films. I've never once seen a movie from this country, and the studio we visited here is more traditional, with no glamorous or modern touches. Now let's take a look at Cinevilla, a film lot located in Tukums, Latvia. We had no tour guide here, but according to online research the lot was created for the 2007 feature film "Defenders of Riga." Maybe some of you have seen it? Many colorful things here, including these strange pencils.



10. Hanging tires. Reminds me of a complicated obstacle course for athletic training. Something the great American film hero and boxer "Rocky Balboa" would run through.



11. Defenders of Riga was a war time drama. A lot of old, vintage military and medical equipment parked on the film lot.



12.


13. A post-Apocalyptic village?



14. On another part of the lot, the opposite scene. This could be any charming, quaint European village in which lovers go on an afternoon stroll. Cinevilla is good for the imagination. You can create all kinds of plots and characters in your mind based on the different landscapes.



15. House on the hill. A great place to film the most thrilling moment of a horror or suspense film.



16. Hidden metro entrance to escape the killer! :)) One of my favorite creepy movies is "Silence of the Lambs," which chronicles the story of a FBI agent chasing the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Several films in the series, but the first is the best.



17. Church, hotel, or mansion? Cute trolley in the scene also.



18. Shipwrecked and nowhere to go. Have you seen the film "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, where he plays a FedEx executive on a plane ride? He becomes stranded on a remote island after the plane crashes. His only companion and friend on the island is a soccer ball, which he decorates with a face made from his bloody palm print. Great film and portrayal of human endurance. This canoe would have come in handy for him. Hanks is one of America's most brilliant actors, playing both comedic and dramatic roles very well.



19. What happened to the person in these clothes?



20. A railroad runs through one of the imaginary towns.



21. A fenced in kid's park which seems completely out of place. Here, a playground and small ship named "Enriko" litter the ground. Maybe a children's show was filmed here at some point.



22. I almost felt like I was back in sunny California. Eastern Europe's version of Mickey Mouse?



23. Recipe for a successful film is painted on this truck! In America, we also call movies "flicks." Example: "Have you seen that action flick?" Common slang phrase. The last question on the truck made me laugh. I echo the sentiment. Who the f*ck is Maris Grigalis??



24. The rails and train stations have played an integral role in legendary films. This is my favorite part of the lot. An old, inoperable locomotive, train platform and clock. The setting for numerous scenes throughout cinematic history.

A film must be intriguing and entertaining from the very beginning to capture and keep my attention. My sister and father will sit and watch an entire movie from beginning to end, no matter how horrible it is. For me, there is a small window for the filmmaker to somehow move me, make me think, or humor me. Otherwise, I give up and switch it off.

By the way, remember this scene from Back to the Future? In the DeLorean time machine, Marty McFly and Doc are traveling to the future -October 21, 2015! Hard to believe this date is almost upon us!

Amazing how the years pass so quickly, yet I remember this scene as though I viewed it yesterday. A testament to great film making.

What's your favorite movie?

P.S.: This post is dedicated to my reader rider3099, an avid film watcher and occasional movie critic on her blog.

Comments

Хитрый совет

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

You need to post more pictures of Alexander and more flattering texts about hes beauty and attractiveness;) So, he will invite you to travel with him more often.
I love the flick "Back to the Future" also. Lea Thompson is one of my favorite actresses, but not so favorite as Judy Holliday
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063615/
This is masterpiece flick, unknown outside Russia. I'd like to see a flick in this genre flicked in the US, but i don't know anything like that.

[gatanegra15.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! :) the pencils are so cute! :)

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

Wow! :) Thank you very much, Shannon!
I like to watch movies as much as I like to read books. 4 years ago we have been to Los Angeles and spent the whole day an the Universal Studio. Oh, it was such a pleasure! Like inside a fairy-tale :)

[me-frai.livejournal.com]

Very interesting post, I prefer latvian film studio) my favourite are films of Cohen brothers and films of Emir Kusturica

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

All these spaceship-like constructions look quite silly when are made from today's real-world materials...
The same, trying to replicate Stalin-era classic buildings but with blue windows and plastic frames also look silly.
The form and the material should be in consonance.

Surely, I adore "Back to the Future" series but in general, as I probably told you before, I think that Americans do not understand what the spirit of future is.
In all American movies people of past, present, and future are psychologically and socially the same average Americans. Only technology changes.
Very primitive I think it is :)

For the real spirit of Future I recommend these movies:

en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Moscow-Cassiopeia (and it's sequel!)
en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_%28film%29 (original version)
en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Guest_from_the_Future

I know that the last one is watched by Russian children in America so even there they have a chance to grow as good people with proper values :)))

[nguryev.livejournal.com]

The polish movies and directors are one of the best in the world movies. Roman Polanski, you probably know he worked a lot in USA and France also there are Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Hoffman etc. Polish movies are much better than American ( to tell the truth everything is better than American movies except probably some Indian movies or something like that). and I would put them bit higher than some French movies.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sure, I know Roman Polanski, primarily because of his connection to the Manson murders but I've seen "Rosemary's Baby." I agree, most American movies are horrible and they are produced in such mass quantities. However, there is sometimes a gem in all the nonsense.

Re: Хитрый совет

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

He's usually traveling on press tours, and when he's going on an independent trip he now takes his girlfriend. So, I'm out of luck! :) You knew this slang word "flick" before I brought it to your attention? Thanks for the Soviet movie suggestion. I will see if I can find it with English subtitles.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks, the purpose of the pencils is unclear. Perhaps it was decoration for the entrance of an art shop in some film scene.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's amazing to see the movie sets at Universal Studios because parts of them look so fake. However, on the movie screen they look magnificent and totally believable. Hollywood magic. :))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It seems most readers didn't find the post interesting based on the lack of response, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) The best Coen brothers films, in my opinion, are "The Big Lebowski' and "Fargo."

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

"Americans don't understand what the future is." :))) And how do you envision the future? I will try to find the films you referenced with English subtitles so I can put your comment in context and understand the complex mind of futuristic Russians. :)

[nguryev.livejournal.com]

You're right. American Sci-fi movies are the best.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

First of all, the society should become not competitive but cooperative.
Next, the primary area of interest for people will be not accumulating wealth but curiosity, science, self-development, and help to other civilizations and cultures.

Basically, these movies show different people, good people, people you can trust,

Re: Хитрый совет

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

You can find the subtitles separately, they are free.
It's hard to surprise me with slang, because i would rather impress you by barbarous еnglish if you heard my speech:)

Re: Хитрый совет

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You write English very well, and I'm sure your spoken form is fine. I've noticed that many Russians are hesitant to speak English for fear of making a mistake, yet they fail to recognize that Americans are communicating with foreign immigrants on a daily basis in our homeland. Some sadly with very poor English skills. So, we're adept at understanding even horrible English, and are accustomed to a wide variety of dialects and accents. Don't be afraid to speak English if you ever make your way to America. And I hope you do some day!!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Unless all men are eliminated from the earth, society will never be non-competitive. Males typically are ego driven and competitive. Women are more selfless, of course there are always exceptions to the general rule. The futuristic people you describe in your statement are currently roaming the earth - those who value curiosity and self-development over wealth and superficial things, but they're in the minority. I can't envision any future where money will not rule the world, and this personality type will become the majority. Sad reality.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I see they have just announced the cast for the next Star Wars movie, and many of the original actors will appear (Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford), but 'm not sure this series is really "sci-fi."

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Well you not need to eliminate competition completely.
There is still sport for those who like it, and, of course, academic and scientific achievements.
There are a lot of ways to show yourself as an outstanding and popular person.

The only idea that should be eliminated completely is competition for resources when somebody thinks that he can build his life at the expense of others.

In fact, a lot depends on prevalent education and upbringing.
Many people can be this or that, depending of what is considered normal in the society.
For example, in the US many want to be not worse than their neighbours, also have all these fashionable things or otherwise you are sort of out of society.
But in Soviet Union surprisingly many people sincerely thought that it's just shameful to be selfish, have no interest in culture, etc.
That's because they were educated in this (higher) way from the very early age.

For example, still, after 20+ years, inhabitants of former Eastern Germany value equality more than people from Western Germany.
That's because Western Germans do not have that experience, they think that the only way of life is theirs or otherwise it's GULAG.
Eastern Germans, now able to live Western life, still remember that different taste where people were declared to be brothers and in many ways they actually were.

[k-netalie.livejournal.com]

I believe that cinematography as any other art dosen't have nationality. there are tons of great movies made in by the Americans.
p.s.: what would i give for a job on a film set))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What about great films by Russians? What do you recommend to watch? Yes, it seems very glamorous to work on a movie set, but in reality it is probably long hours and labor intensive. Still, better than sitting behind a desk. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

So Nobel prizes which celebrate scientific and literary achievements, etc. are an okay form of competition? Btw, if you could hop into a time machine where would you go? What year and place?

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

No idea... maybe to the time of Atlantis (if it existed) :))

[skvorets1989.livejournal.com]

I've learnt English by watching movies. Of course I haven't learnt it completely yet but major contribution of what I did learn relates to movies.

I have a lot of favorites I'll name just a few of them.

"Little miss Sunshine" - I watched and rewatched final scene 5 thouthand million of billions times give or take. Very powerfull ending.

"Dark knight" - the Joker by Heath Ledger is just amazing. I've read that he isolated himself from the world for month to train his voice to sound like it sounded in the movie. Very talented actor. Died too soon.

"How to train your dragon" - best 3d movie ever. "Avatar" - is a political propagandist crap not a movie.

"Oceans" - is the best documentary ever. The director of the film himself presented it in Russia. He gave a speech which was called "What is the ocean?" and then he was approachable for questions. I barely spoke any English back then but still dared to come to him and to ask "what was the Ocean after all?". He started to tell me something then quickly understood I didn't follow him so he just said "The answer is in your heart".

"Resident evil" - is a best horror movie but only a first one in a series. Everything that came after that was a joke and parody on itself.

"Mr. Nobody" is the best art house movie although I don't really like the genre.

"Lost" is the best among TV shows. I will rewatch it my entire life. "Friends" is also a very good show but "Lost" is better.

As I've said I have been learning English by those and other movies. And I strongly belive that is the best way to start learning English. And books are the best way to continue.

P.S. I hope you don't mind big comments :)

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

Cool and interesting place, Shannon!
Thank you for the word "flick". I didn't know that. How often Americans use it?

The one of my favorite movie is "Приключение Шерлока Холмса и Доктора Ватсона / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson"!