TV Times

TV Times

Serbian film expert urges the establishment of a film school in Sri Lanka
By Susitha R. Fernando
Impressed with the country's beauty and unlimited resources for location and manpower, the development of creative talent that could be conducive to the film industry, Serbian film expert Prof. Dragan Milinkovic Fimon, who visited the country recently commented.

‘Sri Lanka has talent and potential and untapped resources and what is urgently needed is a film school’ TV Times found Prof. Fimon both realistic and courageous in his expression as he aired his views on world cinema.
What made you to come to Sri Lanka?

Viewing Sudatha Mahadivulwewa's 'Sudu Kalu Saha Alu' which represented the life style of the people I was impressed when Sudath invited me to visit him, I came willingly and I'm not disappointed.

What do you think about Sri Lanka now that you have visited the country?
I have seen some of the old films produced in Sri Lanka but of the present generation of films only a few. But I realized that some of the young directors in today's Sri Lankan cinema are the best representatives of modern expression in cinematic language.

Some of the old movies I saw didn't convince me of the authentic Sri Lanka. They were quite different from the life style of the people in this charming island. So they didn't represent the pulse of Sri Lanka. They reminded me of South Indian cinema. But in the new generation cinema the application and use of high tech innovation are the latest assets for creative film making.
What did you observe about Sri Lankan cinema?

I see many talents in young people. Probably you have big potential there. May be it's the correct moment to start to think about a film school. In many countries the subject of film education starts in the primary schools. And I don't know how your government thinks about mass communication and film education as a subject in the school curriculum. But it should be considered an important subject as it is a powerful medium to generate awareness.
What is the most important asset Sri Lanka has to offer the world of filmmakers?

Well, its location, Really location. I feel that some kind of importance may be given to promote Sri Lanka as a good destination for film locations for international crews coming to Asia. Philippine islands was a popular destination for international filmmakers. Now it could be Sri Lanka. I have been around the country and I think you have got almost all the necessary locations, forests, beaches, landscapes and all the varying climates within reach of few miles away. This aspect should catch the eyes of relevant government officials as there will be employment as well as economic benefit for the county as a whole.

What should be targeted to attract the international filmmakers?
More importantly, you need to train your own people to assist outsiders who come here for filming. You need to have professionals to offer services. I'm referring mainly to the technical crew behind the screen i.e. assistants, editors, cameramen. There are more than 200 different professionals in the film industry. This could be connected with the tourist activity. I hope the government or the Ministry of Tourism gets involved in this project and show an interest where there is high potential for gain both monetary and aesthetically.

What principles do you follow in filmmaking? Do you target, entertainment or education? Many people take to cinema as entertainment. If you take Hollywood you will understand this. But for many others film is a kind of art. There is the involvement of creativity. Creativity takes place basically for artistic impression. And my first film was made with a composition of all possible art and knowledge and information and technical possibilities. How does one make a good composition of all these elements? How to project the theme of the film? Which actors and actresses to choose from?

How to complete shooting in a period of four to five weeks? Once you start shooting on the location every minute is money. You have to be very efficient not to lose a lot of money and not to waste energy and to develop the aesthetic sense at the same time. It is not an easy task. That is why filmmakers are very specific, peculiar and demanding people. Sometimes they are not very polite even to journalists (laughs).

Do you think Hollywood cinema is the criteria for world cinema?
Hollywood cinema can be divided into two; the old and the new. The old one is classical, where, with big time directors and world famous actors the films were classics. But the new Hollywood cinema is only for collecting profit. For me the present cinema has not much importance. I don't watch any of them. In fact even the Oscar awarded films has not much importance to me.
But in my opinion some good films are made in countries like yours. There is a kind of innocence, originality, real life situations. What I like in the countries like yours is that film activity is not so contaminated by politics. It's still independent. If you are not against the government of course (giggles). But you have freedom to treat it in your own way.

Why do you say that there is politics in cinema?
Well isn't, there, practically? In many western films. I'm not talking of cinematography which cannot be covered by politics. Have you seen any important American film without the American flag? With its anthem? Without the sentence 'God Save America'? That is the same with English films, that is the same with American films. Sometimes even day-to-day politics are involved in cinema.

You can't avoid them. Filmmakers are under constant threat. However there are some artistic directors who can overcome these obstacles. Some films promote not nationality but racism. If one says that his nation is better than mine, problems start over there. Its better to maintain harmony of live and let live through cinema and cinema is a best tool or medium for that.
What about films like Fahrenheit 9/11 which were highly critical of the American government and its policies?

I do not have too much faith in these. They could be very misleading. These people like to showcase a democratic American president where freedom of speech is guaranteed but they are not democratic. What they want to promote is the American way of life to others also. Vietnam was the subject of many hundreds of films. But in five years time it will be Iraq. They don't learn lessons from history.

Leaving Prof. Fimon with the echo of his words " I wish that this is not going to be my last visit to Sri Lanka" I realised that Mother Lanka had captured another admirer with her beautiful ambience and friendly people.

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