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Joined: 07-JUN-06
Last Online: SEP 25 2006 10:13PM
- Film: SHADES OF DAY
- Film: NANCY'S GAME
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Film Maker's Blog
Aug 12, 2006 03:19AM
FOR MORE INFO AND TO WATCH THE TRAILER PLEASE VISIT: www.vmpfilms.com www.shadesofday.com
Film Production Blog "Shades_Of_Day"
Shades Of Day
Aug 12, 2006 02:21AM
PRESS RELEASE
VM Productions Brings Feodor Dostoevsky
into Hollywood 2006, in "Shades of Day"
VM-Productions makes Fyodor Dostoevsky available to new generations by transforming his novella White Nights into a suspenseful Hollywood fable, in the movie Shades of Day.
Los Angeles, CA
VM-Productions is happy to announce the completion of the first part of a Dostoevsky-LA trilogy. By transferring Dostoevsky’s classic novella White Nights into modern day Los Angeles in the movie Shades of Day, the creators have made the prophecies of the great writer available to new generations. Once completed, the project will constitute a unique achievement.
Shades of Day, directed by award-winning filmmaker Vitaly Sumin, and beautifully shot on Kodak film stock by award-winning cinematographer Gus Blaudziunas is a contemporary, suspenseful Hollywood fable that crosses and re-crosses the thin line that separates tragedy from comedy. The film introduces us to the enchanting Linda, (Camilla Bergstrom) whose life is centered around a planned reunion with her former lover Paul (Brian Paul Stuart). Her plans change in remarkable ways as she encounters a cast of extraordinary characters, including a new lover, Steven (Alexander Smith) and a movie producer Gary (remarkable Philippe Bergeron), pursued (and eventually murdered)by the Mafia. The film ends with a dramatic showdown between Linda, Steven and Paul, which leads to an unforeseen conclusion and, out of chaos, a new beginning.
Advanced looks by selected critics have already established “Shades of Day” as a film to see: “The film has a magical look….”, “Camilla Bergstrom as Linda is a real find”, “Stunning visuals!..” (for more reviews please go to www.shadesofday.com/critics.htm)
The movie is at once sad, funny, suspenseful and intriguing, and it is sure to capture the hearts and souls of audiences as well.
“We are really excited about the possibilities of making Dostoevsky available to new generations ”, says Vitaly Sumin. “It’s an old aspiration that goes back to the time when my friend, the great actor Klaus Kinski, was still with us. The dream of his life was to play the part of Count Leo in The Idiot, based on Dostoevsky’s novel.“
-So does Dostoevsky really have something to say to the people of today? “He certainly does,” - exclaims Vitaly Sumin, and he calls the writer “one of the prophets of post-modernism, because his tales predict the major cataclysms of our time.” He continues: “-Philosopher and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini claimed that cinema after the Second World War has replaced literature in its ‘discovery of the world’. From this point of view, Dostoevsky’s novels represent a collection of myths that provide invaluable material for a fresh reading/discovery of our world.”
Cinematographical adaptations of Dostoevsky’s novella White Nights have been made in the past, notably Luchino Visconti’s 1957 version with Marcello Mastroianni and Maria Shell. It was an award winning entry in the 1957 Venice Film Festival. But, as Vitaly Sumin notes: “-Our trilogy is the first attempt to translate Dostoevsky’s works into a contemporary American setting. We really do believe in this project, and its potential to appeal to a modern, movie-going audience”
To view the film’s trailer online, please go to: www.shadesofday.com/trailer.htm
In addition to Shades of Day, the planned Dostoevsky-LA Project will also include Idiot L.A. (a contemporary international thriller) and Crime and Punishment LA (the retelling of this classic story takes place during the L.A. riots of 1993.) Academy Award winning actor Cliff Robertson (Spiderman) has already expressed a great interest in VM Productions’ projects. For more info regarding Cliff’s appreciation please visit www.vmpfilms.com/loveg.htm
In addition to “Love Game” (www.vmpfilms.com/loveg.htm ), Vitaly Sumin and VM-Productions are preparing another movie, tentatively titled Shades of Blood. It’s a certain continuation of Shades of Day’s story, and it presents a really unusual twist to the vampire genre: Kill Bill meets ET, meets Interview with the Vampire, meets Memento.
ABOUT VITALY SUMIN
After receiving an MS degree in Oceanography, VITALY SUMIN produced ocean-related documentaries (Jacques Cousteau style) which eventually led him to abandon his scientific career and to get a BA degree in Film Directing. He subsequently worked as a co-writer and producer on numerous productions. Sumin further studied at The Sorbonne in Paris under a study grant. His script Idiot, a contemporary international thriller based on Dostoevsky’s novel, received a development grant from The Warner Bros. Fund. Sumin’s award-winning short film From Womb To Tomb, which he wrote, directed, edited and produced, made a world tour of important festivals. Shades Of Day represents Sumin’s feature directorial debut. To read an interview with Vitaly Sumin by Lisa Pinckard, please go to:
http://www.vmpfilms.com/smile.htm
ABOUT VM-PRODUCTIONS
VM-Productions is developing and producing quality films based on original stories and masterpieces of the world literature dealing with a variety of contemporary issues often neglected by mainstream cinema (both by the studios and the 'independents'.) VM Productions produces some of its movies under the sponsorship of the prestigious, 37 year old, non-profit organization New Playwrights Foundation (NPF)of California, focusing on the support of highly original local writers and filmmakers.
For more information about Shades of Day and VM-Productions’ other projects, please visit:
www.shadesofday.com
www.vmpfilms.com
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