In December 2015 on YouTube there was a domestic genre web series “Area of Darkness” is a project-experiment filmmaker Arseny Gonchukova. The experiment, which over the past months has become a noticeable phenomenon. It’s no joke to say, some (in the first season was thirteen, counting the pilot) episodes were more than 170 thousand hits – not every show can boast a similar audience. Meanwhile, restless Gonchukov full of enthusiasm and surprises for the audience in the second season. About this and also about the hardships of filming in Russia, about the horror in short and full meter and many other things we spoke with Arseny.
Hi, Arseny. “Area of darkness” is the second season – we need to understand that the first season was a success?
Welcome! Yes, of course I can say that we successfully completed the first season. It’s not just my opinion, so I think our viewers what’s important. As the web series “Area of darkness” has taken place. A lot of opinions, evaluations are very different, but our channel on YouTube over two million views. And will soon have 10 thousand subscribers. While I can’t name a single domestic art online series, which would have such indicators. Blogs – Yes, the Internet-TV shows no. We see that our series is popular among fans of the genre. Don’t want to praise ourselves, but we’re happy. Not the contentment, which hinders work and good content to work on.
The series “Area of darkness” was shown at six international film festivals (Berlin, Italy, India, Seattle). And it is also a sign of the quality of our work. So the second season to be. We have not yet officially declared, but the movie’s are full.
Which episodes of the first season created the most resonance? Due to that, don’t you think?
A very interesting question. You’ll never guess the reaction of the viewer. Probably, it is possible to estimate the number of visits. This is the first of a series of “This is love”, “Manifold”, “Pervert”, “Zero”. By the way, I can’t say that the list of my favorite episodes is the same. Personally, my pattern is slightly different. For example, my favorite episode is “Princess”, well, first. Like the others, but not “my TOP”.
A stir in the Internet a difficult thing. I think the series is starting to repost and distribute, when her idea of her “gut” touches some very important and deep, and even, I would say, very relevant strings in the soul of the viewer. Something elusive and something that is almost impossible to calculate. We’re not viral videos of the shooting, and the movie, then harder. But “It’s love” – a wild and unusual for the Russian cinema provocation. “Collector” – hot the subject is. “Pervert” is a positive finale, the loving, giving people hope. “Zero” is a deep philosophical series. About this series I often hear that the audience would love to see this theme feature film.
Saw comments where your web series criticized for the fact that in this social sphere is more than horror… but if you needed to hit home an ardent horror fan, whatever releases “Area of darkness” you would advise him to look first?
By the way, great and interesting review. Need to think about it. And we are constantly thinking about it, to be honest… the fact that “Area of darkness” it’s not pure horror, not at all. Rather, I call it, the genre in which we work, sorry, that sounds very pretentious, “intellectual horror”. Is the Western direction of horror films, where the fore not pugalki, but first and foremost the idea, content, some, as they say now “the message”.
I’m very sorry, but the horror in its purest form I personally, as a Director, not very interesting. Just to scare the audience – there are, of course, a great master, but to me personally, to be honest, this is not enough. There’s nothing wrong. It is a personal choice of the Director. But I need background. Social, philosophical, moral, either. Don’t know from social much we have moved away and the second season will move even further, social sphere this is not very interesting, but not in its pure form, still we are talking about characters, about people, in General, still it is less… in addition to the word, I wonder mixing techniques to mix different genres, romance, horror, taking elements of my genre “slasher”, and so on. I want to work at the interface. Might want to find something new. Any creative person should always look for something new.
While on the other hand, I love and watch so-called “pure horror”, so we had some let’s say “care” in its purest genre. It is primarily a series of “Bitch” and a series of “Princess”, well, “Fat”, although there is the social sphere. In short, you can focus on these series. I think fans of horror will be interesting to see these variations.
You take the series is an anthology where each episode tells a different story. In fact, each series – a short horror film or a Thriller. Whether you’re in this for the short films, which remove other Directors, domestic or foreign? Can select from this kind of movie?
Watch as much, although I’ve seen short films when I was that all my life seems to be enough. But watching both Russian and foreign short films. However, something particularly difficult to identify. Work sigareva about zombies and that was advertising, and it’s funny.
While there, I now really like the guys from Belarus, which started shooting the web series “Curse of Skarby”. I liked the first series, I think the guys have a great future. So let’s see…
But do a lot of short films coming out. And by the way, in the future will be a project where the shorts have a special role. Stay tuned. Short films will be a lot and we’ll find a use for them!
We then had a chance to chat with Domogarova Jr., who directed the short film based on a story by Stephen king. You know, he admires you sincerely. I think he would be glad working with you. Did not attend did this idea, to join forces with other talented filmmakers? To be able to make a feature film?..
Oh! I am very happy. Tell him I said hi! May his father will star in the series. By the way! (Laughs). The idea was, of course, but here everything depends on the one hand the ambition, on the other hand, in money. Because the money, when they do not follow the ambitions of the Director. Everyone is looking for himself and every man for himself.
But the idea was. I for example, recently wrote in social networks that we are ready to make a franchise. So, some of the Directors can shoot a short film with his own money under our quality control, we will help him in every way, and money, and tips, and then you can release his film on the channel “Area of darkness”, for example. And he will get good promotion and the media. In General, the proposal is in action. If anything, let the Directors go!
And so we’re delighted to be friends projects. I only, so that we, the people who shoot for the Internet, United in a common front, so we have a lot of partners, sites, the Union goes slowly. And if that, too, welcome to contact us.
Domogarov, by the way, told how much he and his friends were done shooting their movie. There is some big money on 250 thousand for two days of filming… Well, you already understand what I’m getting at, I guess. Can you disclose the budget of one series “Area of darkness”? If there is a kind of trade secret, then at least approximately at the level of “not many more” or “around so much.”
No problem. We’re shooting is so cheap that do not believe the producers. Can’t believe it. And the amount is not a secret, I just it sounded. Full cost of one episode is about 150-ti thousand roubles. But it’s all completely, absolutely, post what is called. But the cost of production of the series, that is, the filming, about 60-80 thousand rubles. This figure is incredibly small. I sometimes wonder myself.
However, to brag there is nothing, and I don’t want. It is hard for us, and my guys are very hard, in General, not a good life we are so cheap to shoot. Well, it turns out qualitatively, this is because all injected, and the team we have clever work. The guys know their stuff.
Had a chance to talk and large producers, to discuss movies in General, horror movies in particular. Recently Vladislav Severtsev running competition scenario applications for the horror and sci-Fi, serious and cool, there are more than 1000 applications were received, they say. Yours among them?
Yes, of course, we communicate, and Vlad too, we met several times. I respect him very much, he is a wonderful man, a great producer and very knowledgeable. One of the most successful producers in the horror crowd, if not the most. Talk about a lot. Problem scenario and problems with the Directors remain in Russia. Horror a difficult genre, so it’s very easy. His competition is also a great idea, I recommended it to all my friends the writers. My no, was not there. Well, I’m Vlad and was sent, without competition. Something he liked. But this is big money, long term prospects. In this case, I do not amuse himself hopes, but just doing their job, your project. And prospects very much. Including in a feature film.
While I neither filmmaker could not answer the question of why we in Russia are so expensive to remove the complete meter. We know that James WAN, the U.S. lifted hits “Insidious” and “Saw” (and drew let not stars, but rather of well-known actors like Danny Glover) and a half or two million dollars at the exchange rate of those years would cost in rubles 45-70 million. We have a rare genre film has a budget of this level, mostly larger. Although the quality of the output it will be thinner. And I can not understand why our filmmakers (let us put aside the topic of “an drank”, not all of us are actually doing it, is really ideological guys) are unable to save given real rental opportunities and the specifics of the genre. Why, for example, to poke into the film weak CGI, if you can do the makeup? Why take the starring actors from Moscow, if they (often) play worse than polyubili of provincial theatres?..
This I mean that you have a lot of experience in this sense: you save money, but doing pretty high-quality content. Can you give some recommendations for large producers? Or, say, secrets – and than it is possible to save?
Yes, the topic you touched on a big and very complex. We can talk about it endlessly. About Russian movies and his sins. And how we get to remove so inexpensive, you can talk for even longer. I did the book want to capture their lectures on the theme bezbyudzhetnoe movie, there is a thought, and we are already doing something. So no interview is not enough. By the way, who cares, those reading my social network, I am there often different life hacks talk. Well, how we do it, write.
Otherwise, how to say, in the industry we have a lot of slackers, also very greedy, love money, a rip-off. Then there’s Facebook one producer screamed over the fact that he copped to shoot an old barn for a lot of money in the tens of thousands. That is, the dude has an old barn in the center of Moscow, he has not a penny invested, and grandmother rowing. We also see this all the time. You know how much it costs to bring a prop gun on the TT site? 15 thousand rubles. Or rope for hanging to secure the bolt in the ceiling. The same. Well, where is the good? It’s for a few hours. Times and Patnaik. For what? For what talents? For what skills? It is not clear. Just used to fight with serials. And so in everything and everywhere and everything. That is the paradox. All work is bad, movies are doing so-so, but money is love, and fight. Such are the miracles.
Going back to the new season of “Area of darkness”. Work is already in full swing? Do you have a ready scenario? Will reveal some secrets and nuances – what can the audience expect?
Work is boiling in all. Ready-made scripts there, and not one. And there is a very good thing. Of the secrets while you can uncover one: New second season will be different. Will be unusual. And will differ from the first. The word really. Although horror, darkness and a lot of deaths – it will remain. This is what we love.
Otherwise, the 20th of may in Moscow we will have a “Cap Area of darkness”, in the club, and there I intend to tell all and show. To talk about future projects, about the second season and about everything else. In General, for the first time will sound a short presentation of our plans. And they are really a lot. And they’re tough, not afraid to boast.
So I’ll keep the intrigue. I will say one thing, everything will be! And viewer please. And 20 th come! Information is on our website.
Finally, let’s try to compile your personal top genre films – mystery, horror, thrillers. Or – heh! – antitop – how about to name the five or ten worst movies you’ve seen over the last N years?
This is the most difficult question of all. Just because I’m bad movies not to watch and not watch. Over the years the movie has developed a real feel. And then you do not want to offend colleagues.
The most unpleasant that I watched, from the latest is “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” is a new masterpiece by Sarik Andreasyan is “28 Panfilov” is a film “Good boy.” These movies caused real nausea. But we end on a bad note.
Here you mention James WAN. That’s something I really love! Here is someone to be everything in the world. And we in the first place.
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