18.
09.
2017.
Department
Direction
Direction
“Tower, A Bright Day”, the film by Jagoda Szelc, a Lodz Film School direction student, will be screened as part of Main Competition of Polish Film Festival in Gdynia! How did it happen…?
LET’S LOOK AT THE FACTS
/Jagoda Szelc is our student in Lodz Film school. She makes films. Short ones. And those films win prizes. In her mind forms a film “Tower, A Bright Day”/
When did this happen? How did you pass this idea on others? Your producer, artistic supervisor, your film crew. How did it happen that it worked?
It happened because I worked with people made of iron, who were determined and bold. Outstanding artists and technicians. I literally can not imagine a better team to work with. I believe that being a director is, first and foremost, ability to surround oneself with people with talent. And second thing is to persuade those people to entrust that talent to you. However every film has it’s genetic code, that shows how it should be made. And this film needed to be made with courage. And that meant on the level of most important aspects, and also on the level of smallest, tiny ones. That was the Kōan that was assigned to us. Even if fate did not seem to favor us, it did this to give us something better in the future. Now I can clearly say that this whole year of working on “Tower, A Bright Day” was the most difficult and at the same time the best year of my life. Life is generally the art of becoming yourself. And today I know more about myself than ever.
/The author of the script of “Tower, A Bright day”, a directing student starts shots of her first FULL-LENGTH FILM DEBUT/
The first sound of clapperboard – the first step on ones own artistic road. Euphoria? Joyful start? Or rather a difficult encounter with reality. How do you recall those days?
The first clap and complete slap to the face and problems. And later like in Hitchcock's films- the tension rises. You are aware that we almost burned down a house? So… cool head. A clenched fist. And plenty of jokes. Our most favorite joke was “The storm is coming.. some kind of Typhoon” So we answered “Stop whining”. Absurd amount of difficult situations happened to us, the only answer was either cry or laugh. So we laughed. No one cried. I admire all of them. Very much.
I believe that those 5 weeks were the best time of my life. I felt that I belonged there. I felt I didn't lie. I felt that people knew I’m not telling lies. I felt that people fell that I’m not winding someone up. Nobody can take this away from me. I could work together with such an extraordinary artist as Przemek Brynkiewicz. I believe him to be an incredibly modest man, who is the most talented of us all.
I remember that many people advised me how this should be done. Many people warned me and told me what I should be. And I knew I would do it my way. Because then I can control it. I was right. And anyone who is honest is right.
/Jagoda Szelc finds out that her film was qualified to the Main Competition of Festival in Gdynia/
There are seventeen films, and among them debuts, but also films from famous directors like Agnieszka Holland and as you know - this is the most important film festival, and EVERYONE from the so called film business is present. Is it an privilege for you? Or another examination?
It is a great honour for me. And it is great joy. Everyone who worked with me in the team...yes yes, because I dislike the term crew, they contacted each other and were overtaken with joy. I’m very stressed. I’m very afraid, and also I very dislike to socialize. There is a kind of prophecy about me, which says that one day I will have a yurt somewhere in Bieszczady and will scream to the postman - “Leave it by the fence and go away”. Maybe I should apologize for my behavior in advance. I can be clumsy in situations like this and very distant.
19th of September. The Director of “Tower, A Bright day” Jagoda Szelc. is expected to be present on the Large Stage of Musical Theater in Gdynia, to announce her film.
The screening during the competition and at the same time a film Premiere. What do you think about the point in your career that you are now. What do you think about the people that will come to see your film? What should the film “Tower, A Bright Day” give people, or maybe quite the opposite – what to take, what to fight for/with?
Well you see, I don’t want to tell people what to think. I very much like the art that can’t be controlled. In which the reception is completely individual – hermeneutics – in this sense it is more of a skill than method, the ability and not the theory. A situation where I’m not in the role of Pantocrator- Artist. Because you see, I come from ASP (Academy of Fine Arts) and I use this as an excuse and explanation for what I do. I believe that the best thing in my short films was that people didn’t know what to do with interpretation and said: “I don’t understand it, but I think it is...” And of course they then talked most interesting things about the film and – themselves. Because the truth is, anyone talking even about someone else, in reality talks about himself, Isn’t it so?
Do I need to take anything? I generally don’t need anything. I’m curious. But I generally have very few needs in life. I made a film just as I wanted. I would like to do something like this in the future. Just like I want it.
The film “Tower, Bright day” is, to say it officially – a full-fledged debut, is it anything else?
Yes, this film saved me, but that’s too personal...But also it isn’t. Because the beautiful thing in films is that they are not there. They don’t exist. And I have such a dream that they will bury me without a trunk, without a suitcase.
Interview with Jagoda Szelc by Jolanta Kolano
“Tower, A Bright Day” film has been produced by the INDEKS Film Studio at the Lodz Film School! Prof. Mariusz Grzegorzek, the Rector of the Lodz Film School, is the artistic supervisor of Jagoda Szelc's debut film. Producer of the film: Marcin Malatyński. The director of photography, Przemysław Brynkiewicz, is our School's cinematography graduate. Art direction: Natalia Giza. Co-producers: Lodz Film School, Centrala, Dreamsound, Heliograf, EBH. The film project is co-financed by Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej. (Polish Film Art Institute). This film is in Main Competition of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
SEE THE TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/232822472
FILM’S PAGE ON FB: FB: https://www.facebook.com/wieza.jasny.dzien
THE SCHEDULE FOR SCREENINGS DURING THE FESTIVAL IN GDYNIA: http://www.filmschool.lodz.pl/news/1196,wieza-jasny-dzien-w-konkursie-festiwalu-w-gdyni.html
Photo of Jagoda Szelec by Sonia Szóstak
/Jagoda Szelc is our student in Lodz Film school. She makes films. Short ones. And those films win prizes. In her mind forms a film “Tower, A Bright Day”/
When did this happen? How did you pass this idea on others? Your producer, artistic supervisor, your film crew. How did it happen that it worked?
It happened because I worked with people made of iron, who were determined and bold. Outstanding artists and technicians. I literally can not imagine a better team to work with. I believe that being a director is, first and foremost, ability to surround oneself with people with talent. And second thing is to persuade those people to entrust that talent to you. However every film has it’s genetic code, that shows how it should be made. And this film needed to be made with courage. And that meant on the level of most important aspects, and also on the level of smallest, tiny ones. That was the Kōan that was assigned to us. Even if fate did not seem to favor us, it did this to give us something better in the future. Now I can clearly say that this whole year of working on “Tower, A Bright Day” was the most difficult and at the same time the best year of my life. Life is generally the art of becoming yourself. And today I know more about myself than ever.
/The author of the script of “Tower, A Bright day”, a directing student starts shots of her first FULL-LENGTH FILM DEBUT/
The first sound of clapperboard – the first step on ones own artistic road. Euphoria? Joyful start? Or rather a difficult encounter with reality. How do you recall those days?
The first clap and complete slap to the face and problems. And later like in Hitchcock's films- the tension rises. You are aware that we almost burned down a house? So… cool head. A clenched fist. And plenty of jokes. Our most favorite joke was “The storm is coming.. some kind of Typhoon” So we answered “Stop whining”. Absurd amount of difficult situations happened to us, the only answer was either cry or laugh. So we laughed. No one cried. I admire all of them. Very much.
I believe that those 5 weeks were the best time of my life. I felt that I belonged there. I felt I didn't lie. I felt that people knew I’m not telling lies. I felt that people fell that I’m not winding someone up. Nobody can take this away from me. I could work together with such an extraordinary artist as Przemek Brynkiewicz. I believe him to be an incredibly modest man, who is the most talented of us all.
I remember that many people advised me how this should be done. Many people warned me and told me what I should be. And I knew I would do it my way. Because then I can control it. I was right. And anyone who is honest is right.
/Jagoda Szelc finds out that her film was qualified to the Main Competition of Festival in Gdynia/
There are seventeen films, and among them debuts, but also films from famous directors like Agnieszka Holland and as you know - this is the most important film festival, and EVERYONE from the so called film business is present. Is it an privilege for you? Or another examination?
It is a great honour for me. And it is great joy. Everyone who worked with me in the team...yes yes, because I dislike the term crew, they contacted each other and were overtaken with joy. I’m very stressed. I’m very afraid, and also I very dislike to socialize. There is a kind of prophecy about me, which says that one day I will have a yurt somewhere in Bieszczady and will scream to the postman - “Leave it by the fence and go away”. Maybe I should apologize for my behavior in advance. I can be clumsy in situations like this and very distant.
19th of September. The Director of “Tower, A Bright day” Jagoda Szelc. is expected to be present on the Large Stage of Musical Theater in Gdynia, to announce her film.
The screening during the competition and at the same time a film Premiere. What do you think about the point in your career that you are now. What do you think about the people that will come to see your film? What should the film “Tower, A Bright Day” give people, or maybe quite the opposite – what to take, what to fight for/with?
Well you see, I don’t want to tell people what to think. I very much like the art that can’t be controlled. In which the reception is completely individual – hermeneutics – in this sense it is more of a skill than method, the ability and not the theory. A situation where I’m not in the role of Pantocrator- Artist. Because you see, I come from ASP (Academy of Fine Arts) and I use this as an excuse and explanation for what I do. I believe that the best thing in my short films was that people didn’t know what to do with interpretation and said: “I don’t understand it, but I think it is...” And of course they then talked most interesting things about the film and – themselves. Because the truth is, anyone talking even about someone else, in reality talks about himself, Isn’t it so?
Do I need to take anything? I generally don’t need anything. I’m curious. But I generally have very few needs in life. I made a film just as I wanted. I would like to do something like this in the future. Just like I want it.
The film “Tower, Bright day” is, to say it officially – a full-fledged debut, is it anything else?
Yes, this film saved me, but that’s too personal...But also it isn’t. Because the beautiful thing in films is that they are not there. They don’t exist. And I have such a dream that they will bury me without a trunk, without a suitcase.
Interview with Jagoda Szelc by Jolanta Kolano
“Tower, A Bright Day” film has been produced by the INDEKS Film Studio at the Lodz Film School! Prof. Mariusz Grzegorzek, the Rector of the Lodz Film School, is the artistic supervisor of Jagoda Szelc's debut film. Producer of the film: Marcin Malatyński. The director of photography, Przemysław Brynkiewicz, is our School's cinematography graduate. Art direction: Natalia Giza. Co-producers: Lodz Film School, Centrala, Dreamsound, Heliograf, EBH. The film project is co-financed by Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej. (Polish Film Art Institute). This film is in Main Competition of the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.
SEE THE TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/232822472
FILM’S PAGE ON FB: FB: https://www.facebook.com/wieza.jasny.dzien
THE SCHEDULE FOR SCREENINGS DURING THE FESTIVAL IN GDYNIA: http://www.filmschool.lodz.pl/news/1196,wieza-jasny-dzien-w-konkursie-festiwalu-w-gdyni.html
Photo of Jagoda Szelec by Sonia Szóstak