Please make sure you come back. About "Object"
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POLSKI
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02. 03. 2015.
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The makers of the Sundance award winning film, "Object", Paulina Skibińska (script, direction), Katarzyna Boniecka (editing) and Katarzyna Szczerba (sound, production) speak about their film.

‘I know the world of underwater lifeguards very well. My father was a diver. When I met Grzesiek, the protagonist in my film, I had a feeling that the film might help him. I got the impression that all these rescuers need recognition that what they do is important, because it is.’ said Paulina Skibińska, the film’s director, (Lodz Film School screenwriting graduate and currently a PhD student).

Preparation film took two years. Also the rescuers themselves collected materials. Cinematography student, Jakub Stolecki was in charge of photography on land, whereas the rescuers took underwater shots. Although they are not professionals, with their two-year experience they can call themselves cameramen and Sundance award winners.’ commented the director. As for the choice of Jakub, I was sure about it straightaway. I didn’t know him, I just saw one of his student films and I knew he was going to be the cameraman for the film Object.

In film without dialogue or music, all sounds play an important role. They were recorded on the set by Kasia Szczerba, who spoke about her work. ‘I had a huge amount of natural sounds recorded and filed, such as sounds of water, ice, the breathing of the rescuers. The soundtrack of the film does not contain a single artificially added sound.

The film crew who worked under the artistic supervision of Jacek Bławut, participated in dozens of action – both search and rescue. The filmmakers decided to focus on the latter. ‘In search actions, there is a certainty that the body, the search object, is a dead person. At this stage there is no chance of finding somebody alive. It is a more peaceful task but carries a great emotional load. On land, the family members of a lost person are waiting.’ said Kasia Boniecka, an editing student and the editor of the film.

"Object" was made in very difficult conditions. The rescuers had to take shifts not longer than 45 minutes each, otherwise their equipment would freeze just like our film equipment on top. In such low temperatures you cannot be certain that the rescue team equipment will function perfectly. I did not give them any director’s ideas about how to act. It was not possible. I watched them work in extremely dangerous conditions. It was like balancing on the edge of life and death. When they set out I would only say please make sure you come back.’ said Paulina Skibińska.

This week the film "Object" will be screened at the True False Film Festival in the USA and Tampere Film Festival in Finland. When the festival distribution is over, the film will be available online at the New York Times website. The decision to distribute online is a result of an arrangement between the film-makers and the NYT during the Sundance Festival. Also at this independent cinema festival, some international producers expressed their interest in the future projects of the "Object" film-makers.
The film was made within the The First Documentary program at the Munk Studio.

photos: Adrian Jaszczak
stills from the film "Object"