RWS Saint Petersburg Studio Head Speaks at State Duma

Leading film directors and producers and State Duma deputies discussed the current situation of the film industry. “We are losing human resources! How can we discuss prospects of the Russian cinema if soon there is no one to make it? And nowhere to do it,” Dmitri Meskhiev, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Cinematographers’ Union and RWS St. Petersburg Studio head said in his speech. “Where, using what equipment and how are we going to make great movies? There are several studios where we can shoot battle scenes without constructing special set decorations. Everybody admits that film studios are in dire need of reconstruction but it requires a vast amount of money. The measures though have to be taken now, attracting business and establishing public-private and other forms of partnerships,” Mr. Meskhiev pointed out reminding that he being a large private studio head is well acquainted with the problem.

According to experts, Russian films’ market share is 25%. The rest, 75%, are foreign productions with good quality graphics, images, light and sound our audience has got used to. As Chairman of the Russian Union of Cinematographers Nikita Mikhalkov said, the level of the domestic filmmaking is terribly low. “Russian film directing in general lacks depth. Now directors, not actors, should be screen-tested to determine whether they should be given permission to film,” Mr. Mikhalkov said while making his speech.

Another acute problem is disappearance of mid-level skilled workers. “Without lighting technicians, electricians, assistant operators and assistant directors all our initiatives are absolutely useless,” Mr. Mikhalkov explained.

Among other subjects discussed there were artistic value assessment of modern films (Stanislav Govorukhin talked about it in his speech), film distribution problems and necessity of introducing e-tickets, piracy control and improvement of cinematography state support measures.