Dear readers!
We are glad to present you our interlocutor – Andrey Iskanova, versatily presented film director, the photographer, the artist and the writer from Khabarovsk, the representative of independent art of "underground". Unfortunately, its full-length tapes "Nails" and «Visions of horrors» did not leave on licence DVD in Russia ("Nails" have been let out only on VHS, and now are a curiosity), however have been published in the USA in director's, нецензурированной versions. Not having received a due recognition in Russia, works Исканова in the USA are considered as "masterpieces of the Russian independent cinema».
So, we start our conversation.
- Andrey, first of all we wished to thank you that you have agreed to give interview to our blog. Tell, please, about itself – that has induced you, the professional photographer, to work on a cinema field?
I
became the photographer only because always dreamt to do films. And during old kind time I began that did photofilms. That is the films consisting of consecutive series of production pictures.
Not that cheap dust named "photofilms" or "photonovels" which we can sometimes see on pages of magazines. Anything similar. All became better. With use of the difficult combined shootings (during that far time computers still seemed science fiction), it is a lot of effects, make-up, it is a lot of tricks, suits, actors, scenery etc.
In general, all became on conscience, without easy decisions. Therefore, even now all it looks at very high level. Therefore I think of translating these photofilms in a film mode, to sound and let out on DVD.
Work of the photographer (if you concern it with soul and creatively instead of as to serving of a labour duty) is capable to learn you to all practical bases which will be useful to you for creation of films. The person who understands nothing an art composition and does not see anything a beautiful still-life in creation or a portrait, does not own colour and light, on my deepest belief to make a high-grade film is not capable. Work with people also is very important both for the photographer, and for the founder of films. You should feel people, avoid (whenever possible) sharp corners and try to transform shootings into easy, pleasant process. Because shootings it always model or actor work and frequently rather heavy. To learn you to work with people: actors and models, work of the photographer also will help.
- Your first full-length picture "Nails" and the tape subsequent to it of "Vision of horrors» are a film cycle part «ГаллюЦиНогеНнН». Your plans concerning its continuation – whether will be still films of this cycle?
Everything, how much I remember, have been planned six or seven films for this serial. We have made two of this cycle and have decided to wait for possible improvement of a situation with financing of our projects. After all till now all my films are created on my own money. In 2003 "Nails" were only one of two or three films in Russia which have been drawn out not on money from the State budget …
I essentially am not going to ask money from domestic structures, let more dexterous and successful people in this plan are engaged in it. On me it is better to make an independent cheap film, than to run with the stretched hand behind various establishments and sponsors in Russia. At least it is humiliating.
The situation when I have come on reception to the director of one large regional television channel is still too fresh in memory and has suggested to cease to twist piracy copies of the American films and to render technical (even not financial) help in creation of the first Russian serial of horrors.
Why horrors? — The director has asked me.
Because in the technical plan it least затратный for you the genre, - has answered I. – practically it is necessary nothing for a horror, except ability of the director and several actors. And I all it is ready to incur. But certainly, it not the cheapest genre. Certainly, is and is even cheaper. A porno, for example.
I would make a porno is better, – the director has confidently answered.
And on it it was possible to consider conversation finished …
Whether there will be still films in this cycle? Will be, I am assured, and even already is. Alexander Shevchenko (known to the spectator on a role of the hired killer in "Nails" and the constant composer of my films) has just finished the short debut «Homunkulus» and will soon continue work on the animation version of the вампирского the novel "Remote places" which has been published several years ago in Ukraine.
One of my future projects «Angel dust» also will be made as a serial part «ГаллюЦиНогеНнН». But as it is fast it it will be financed by an American side while it is not known.
But already now, Дебби Рочон, known American the horror-icon, shows interest to participation in this project.
I would be glad to unite in the films of many remarkable American and European actors with which I maintain very warm, friendly relations. For example, actress Manush which outstanding work in «knife Philosophy» is difficult for underestimating.
I also plan to make continuation of a film "Nails" which uses very steady popularity. To tell the truth, today at us even more than the extremely interesting plots, than five-six years ago when we only planned this serial. Very probably, that in expectation of financing of larger projects, I will make some short-footage films for «ГаллюЦиНогеНнН». And the spectator can sometime get collection boxing-set with all films of a serial.
- Whence you take ideas for your tapes, in particular «knife Philosophies»?
It is impossible to take good ideas whence-nibud. They exist besides us and sometimes visit our imagination on an exclusive will of a foresight.
The world in general is full of ideas, but the few guess it. «Knife philosophy» it not fiction, and strongly forgotten fact from Second World War history. Namely preparations of Japan for possible war. So it has turned out, that I live in that city near to which existed notorious Unit 731. And so has coincided, that I was indirectly familiar with one of key eyewitnesses of these events, the former military translator and the graduate of Harbin medical university Anatoly Protasov.
Therefore, when I have more close familiarised with all accessible facts, I have there and then understood, that it is unique chance to make the most truthful and exact film about experiences over people in the end of the Second World War.
Certainly, style of "knife Philosophy» it not style of "Nails". It is ultra-realism and documentary research. To lower fiction level in this film, I there was a number of restrictions which all founders of historical or biographic pictures, as a rule, neglect. This time I wished to make not a surrealistic film, not a film of horrors, and a drama. For history Unit 731 is one of the most drama and tragical histories known to mankind. Certainly, there are not less tragical histories. For example, Stalin camp where the account to victims went on millions (if no more). Unit 731, with its three thousand killed «personal enemies of the emperor» for ten years of existence of group - such could not even dream. Well and certainly, German camp of death as which today some already consider as fiction and a fairy tale for children. Probably, will pass hundred or two hundred years and Unit 731, and Stalin camp, and death camp will be everywhere and are strongly forgotten, having passed in the category of myths. But today, I still have chance to tell to the spectator the facts about those events. And instead of removing invented history from a life of our contemporaries, I have preferred to make a severe historical drama half-and-half with documentary фактологическим the story.
- In your films it is a lot of violence. Whether you consider violence as the inevitable companion of mankind? How you estimate modern films of horrors – «пыточные» naturalistic pictures of type Hostel 1-2, film serial Saw etc., erecting violence in the absolute?
All history of development of mankind is a continuous chain of violence.
«The century is better for the historian, the for the contemporary is more sad». Actually without violence scenes children's fairy tales do not manage even. Simply it there is much less physiologic. So opinion that the majority of people chooses pure, light, kind, at least error. The facts speak about the return. For example, first part Hostel has easily surpassed in sales on DVD such expensive film as «Chronicles Нарнии», and has quickly become the absolute champion on sales.
But if you ask me I was shocked much more with a scene of murder of a lion from «Chronicles Нарнии», than all scenes of tortures from «Hostel». And business not in how it is realistic or the fact of tortures or murder is refined severely shown. And that the lion has been presented by the present, live hero (though it and was, certainly, digital). To such hero you empathize necessarily, though it and not the person, and a lion. And heroes «Hostel» it is easily recognised heroes of a film of horrors.
That is all difference in psychological trust. The digital lion from a fairy tale looks more live and human (and consequently also more touching), than live people from a modern film of horrors.
Spectators who see and appreciate only blood in films, do not see anything. Because blood at cinema, is simply red liquid. It cannot introduce anything drama, personal in a film. Therefore, if to the hero you empathize, it first of all a merit of the director and actors.
I do not wish to tell, that «Hostel» a bad film. At all is not present. Simply this film operates with violence scenes first of all from the decorative point of view.
The first Saw, by the way speaking, was poor on scenes of violence from the graphic party of a question. The violence in the first film was faster psychological, than surgical. In the further films of a serial this balance has been strongly simplified, besides in favour of the decorative party of films of horrors.
Whether erects this film and serial Saw violence in the absolute? It is difficult to tell unequivocally. Because it is films for enough mass audience. And if it is films popular in the wide spectator hardly they it is indeed boundless are severe. So брутальные it is necessary to search for films first of all in андерграундном a cinema because there authors have where большей and even practically boundless freedom of an embodiment of the ideas.
- Whether there is a hope all the same to see the Russian DVD-releases of your films or we are compelled to be content with what they left in the USA? By the way, when the American release of "knife Philosophy» is expected?
This question followed set to the Russian distributors. Followed ask these children, whether in a course they of what in general occurs in independent cinema in our country (and no less than all over the world), what is issued and with success is on sale abroad? And in general, followed about much ask these people because there is such impression, that in the majority, these snobs from the film industry people illiterate in set of questions.
Why, for example, at the American legal owner my films are in one catalogue together with films of Floor Моррисси, Тоба Хупера, Hershella Gordona Lewis and Уэса Крейвена, and in Russia licence distributors obstinately consider their unworthy release on the DVD-carrier?
«The knife philosophy», for example, will be soon shown on a film festival in Cape Town (republic of South Africa). Whether So it is time to Russia to catch up and overtake at least Africa? When last year a roller and two musical clips «knife Philosophies» have been shown at Petersburg festival which the Brawler spent «a film», the people, to put it mildly, have lost gift of speech from amazement. But here any business offers concerning hire or release in Russia for some reason has not followed. There is such impression, that the people in Russia are the most inert people in the world. He is interested in films and art, but only to what that of a certain limit. As a rule, further verbal demagogy do not go neither so-called distributors, nor so-called horrors-fans whom it is a lot of in a Runet. The first are glad to publish any dung if only it is made in the West, and the second amaze with the illiteracy in horror and cinema questions in general and strenuously support domestic pirates.
And the release of "knife Philosophy» in the USA is expected in the end of a year. Approximately in December or January.
- Whether was at you problems with release нецензурированных versions of your tapes in the USA? After all strict enough rating system created by Association of film manufacturers of America (MPAA) with which activity many American directors are rather dissatisfied there operates.
Such problems yet was not, but "Nails" and «Visions of suffering» were not films about violence, it were surrealistic films, films-dreams. All shown there was conditional enough. Therefore in respect of sales on DVD in the USA and Canada special problems with it were not. Though, if for example, the cover of any film of horrors looks too severe from the point of view of MPAA force to change and cover DVD.
Another matter, «knife Philosophy». Without exaggeration it is ONE OF the MOST SEVERE FILMS EVER MADE. Contrary to already developed opinion, we never named its MOST SEVERE (though very probably, that it indeed) because this point of view is enough дискуссионна. After all many perceive violence at cinema very much differently.
I think, that somebody in MPAA will suffice a stroke when they will see «knife Philosophy».
- Whether it would be desirable you to have a rest sometimes from psychologically difficult films and to remove unpretentious, but qualitative «мейнстримный» a film of horrors? It is assured, that at you it should turn out well.
It would be desirable, but one desire here a little. The set of different factors that to me have charged such project Should coincide.
Actually, I can work in any genre. I never go in cycles on something one. Different genres are interesting to me. I dream to make a comedy, a fairy tale or a documentary film about a life of animals. Why is not present?
I would not like to be reputed as the person who is capable to shoot only films about the changed conditions of consciousness and death. Though the death also was an unconditional theme in my two last films: «knife Philosophy» and «A glimpse of hell».
But how often our desires coincide with our possibilities?
- We know you as the representative of the independent cinema "underground" gravitating to surrealistic horrors of human reason. What directors or films have made on your creativity the greatest impact?
It is difficult to list everything, but the cores it: Дарио Ардженто (Inferno, Phenomena) to which films I especially many am obliged, Лучио Фульчи which focused attention on severe romanticism as anybody to it (Massacre time), Richard Stenli (Hardware), which itself was the successor of visual style Ардженто, Andrey Tarkovsky ("Solaris" whom I have looked for the first time in the beginning of 80-s' on the big screen).
- Your relation to a genre of horrors in Russia? Whether there are preconditions for its development in our country, and if yes, what?
It does not develop. It here simply is absent. Why that the soil in Russia редкостно is infertile for genre films. My personal opinion that after a communistic mode here still for a long time will grow nothing, at least, in the necessary direction. That appears on a surface, it, as a rule, a product of someone's enclosed money and someone's ambitions. That is ugly enough child. But there were also exceptions.
There was, for example, very good film «Упырь» with Serebryakov. Which words, but the extremely successful alloy of the western film myths about vampires and domestic realities were not a film of horrors literally. This individual example has been immediately cut from ruling film structures. And even till now it is not published on DVD! Absolutely незаслуженно the forgotten film.
Since then anything close (not considering, certainly, «Night patrol» which for not clear reason for me almost all classify as a horror) on quality in Russia it has not been made.
- What do you think of fashionable now in the West to a wave of films of horrors of category PG-13? Whether is it, in your opinion, profanation of all genre as a whole?
Film of horrors for family viewing it not a film of horrors. It is faster an awful film.
The aspiration to avoid sharp corners in mass cinema reaches paranoid phobias. It is impossible to please all. It is unreasonable to try to make a film both for pregnant mothers and for пирсингованных неформалов.
Certainly, all it becomes from desire to earn as much as possible money small blood.
But the plush horror is initially deadborn product.
And we should thank Ales Рота for it дилогию “Hostel” because its huge cash gathering can guide investors at correct thoughts and relieve us from morally castrated and to nobody of the necessary remakes «Омена», sequals «Resident Evil» and other consumer goods.
- Your opinion on remakes of films of horrors popular in due time. Whether they are necessary? Whether you began to do a remake if to you such offer has arrived?
As has told in due time Удо Кир: «Why do remakes only good films? Why do not do remakes of bad films?».
Really, take an unsuccessful film, but with an interesting plot and make it anew. Something probably, really will turn out outstanding.
If to me the offer has arrived to make a remake, I would make it. All these beautiful phrases, that I, say, have sent producers where far away with such offers, we will leave for theorists from horrors-forums. A reality and opinions of horrors-fans absolutely different things.
It is work and if I do not make it it someone all the same will make another. So is better I will make a remake of any film and I will make it so qualitatively and interestingly, as soon as probably. So that it was not a shame to me with the work. Always it is possible to make new perusal of classics, other question, that the classics can not require at all it. But it is solved by producers and if they make the decision on a remake of any film, it will be made a copy in any case. We only need to hope, that this work will entrust really talented person.
- What do you think of David Lynch's known for the not ordinary and phantasmagoric perception of world around pictures?
My films compare many to Lynch's early films. I personally consider, that between «knife Philosophy» and «the Person an elephant» is much in common at emotional, stylistic level.
Others believe, that «Visions of suffering» it is the Russian version «Eraserhead». It is difficult to me to judge it. At least, I never spent any parallels, but much echoes of creativity of Lynch in my works see.
Lynch does films-dreams both does not hesitate, and is not afraid of it. This already in itself a rarity presently.
I often use subconscious images. Symbols and own dreams, including dreadful dreams as a material for the films. Same uses and Дарио Ардженто. I think, everyone who will scoop inspiration in own subconsciousness, it will be a little similar to heroes of films of Lynch.
- Whether the genre «джиалло» is pleasant to you - after all in it such recognised masters, how Марио Бава, Лучио Фульчи, Дарио Ардженто worked?
To tell, that it is pleasant to me, means not to tell anything. I am enamoured in «джиалло»! And I dream to make «джиалло» a-film. I even tried to carry out such project in this summer, but circumstances have developed not quite favorably. I have a consent of excellent European actors which are ready to work together with me over «джиалло». There is a plot. There are people which will make a unique soundtrack in traditions classical «джиалло» films. I wished to remove it in Europe, but eventually why nobody is interested to make «джиалло a la рюсс»?
If it is read by interested persons, support this idea, and I can make such project for very small money.
- We understand, what a question enough uneasy, but nevertheless – your "five" of favourite films (it is not obligatory horrors)?
It is difficult to tell. Where it would be easier to me to name 500 favourite films, than only five.
But here they some from many:
Inferno
Hardware
Cypher
Late night shopping
Killing time
- What your creative plans for the near future and for prospect?
Advance. I have spent too much time for «knife Philosophy». In total it has been removed more than 60 hours of a material from which in a film remains only 4. But film creation has taken away four years, on a year in each hour of a film.
Now I should make up for the missed. I wish to make «Angel dust», I wish to make a sequel of "Nails", I wish to continue a serial «ГаллюЦиНогеНнН». Probably, that to me will suggest to make another's project under another's scenario. At least, to me have already sent the scenario. But as it is fast from the project has put will pass to concrete process of manufacture while to speak early. There was a hope to make a film sequel «Society». I think, Bryan Juzny's original film saw many.
I have read the scenario of a sequal and quite could undertake this work after end of "knife Philosophy». But not so long ago has expired term on the rights to an original film, and continuation any more will not be.
So, at present I am intended to make some short horrors-films for a serial «ГаллюЦиНогеНнН». Also has already begun work on the scenario of the first of them, which working name «The tourist».
Many thanks, Andrey, that you have found time for our blog. Sincerely we hope, that our interesting and useful cooperation will receive the development and further. All to you of successes in your creative activity!
Practically right after occurrences in Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodrigesa and Guy Ritchi's world cinema, created a new direction at cinema which is characterised by mixture of a black comedy, bloody and frank violence and witty dialogues on гране фола together with magnificent clockwork music, began to breed as the mushrooms of a film simulating works of these masters.
