Film Annex Creative Director, Eren Gulfidan, interviews Latvian filmmaker, Karlis Vitols.
E.G. When and how did you start making films?
K.V. I started making films in school with some friends on 16mm when I realized that cinema is the most "active" art form. But during the production of my first 16mm film, I got into a bunch of arguments with all the crew members (friends) and after that incident, I decided to spend my energy only on animation. There is no LIVE SHOOTING in animation and a lot of time to figure out which creative step should be taken next.
E.G. What were you doing prior to making films?
K.V. I wasn’t doing anything special, but sometimes a BIG idea comes to you, and there is no way to escape from it! So the only way to get free of it is to make a film. But, the worst thing is that after some time you might realize that not ALL work is good.... and this is probably the reason to make another film, which will be the last and the best one.
E.G. Can you tell us a little bit about your latest or ongoing project?
K.V. I am working on an animation film about a Japanese Samurai against the "Latvian Culture War" in Japan. It’s a "sci-fi " film about the conflict between two cultures, and I hope to upload pilot soon.
E.G. What do you think about the future of film distribution and the new media?
K.V. I am a big fan of the new media and see that all the social networks and electronic communication techniques are evolving, and the future of it is only coming. At the same time, I am a little bit afraid of all these things, because they are "damaging" direct LIVE COMMUNICATION between people. If LIVE contact gets erased by the new media, there will be no need for cinema at all, because there won’t be any UNITED PROBLEMS for creating art. However, at this stage, I think it is great being able to communicate on the web.
Watch films by Karlis Vitols here.
