Every idea is different. Interview with Gint Zilbalod, Director of Animation / Article / LSM.LV

The film has been featured in more than 27 international film festivals and won the Best Short Film for High School Award at the Ottawa International Animation Film Festival in North America. Ginta has only made progress in creative work and has also produced other acclaimed films and has just completed his first feature film.

The film "Priorities" was created in 2014, while I was still studying at the Artistic High School Jānis Rozentāls Riga. Do you remember the story of a boy and a dog?

Yes The story was based on a relationship – my relationship with my dog. One day, when the wood was broken, the dog wanted to catch my attention, but I did not pay attention. Then the dog became even more persistent and I realized that I had to be a little happy with him. It will be enough to work.

You started working with very young cinema when you were only eight years old. What were your first animations?

The first animations were very primitive. It was not really a movie. I'm using a computer program that a lot of people have started to draw. I just made little jokes. This is how I started to focus more seriously at the age of 14 or 15 years old.

Have you been introduced to cinema since your childhood?

Yes Dad showed me many movie clbadics in my childhood. Even though I was interested in animation, I still loved feature films.

So why turn to animation films?

Because it was something I could do myself. The films are more complex and have different limits. But I used to inspire them and use the means of expression in my animations, mainly in feature films – a camera in motion, various effects of light.

The film "Priorities" has been presented in over 27 different festivals, which testifies to a great resonance in the foreign environment. Since this was your end-of-studies thesis at the end of high school, did this recognition encourage and motivate you to move on?

Yes With this movie, I started getting to know the world, to participate in festivals. Immediately, a broader view of independent animation as such was seen, because at that time, I knew little about it.

Even now, when making my last film, I am very impressed by the independent animation that I have seen in various festivals.

It was an opportunity to meet people I did not have at the time in Latvia. I have learned a lot about film production, financing and distribution. All this was very important.

You are also the author of many other animation films. Tell us what is the general path between the idea and the end result?

The idea and the story usually continue to grow until the end. There is no such specific scenario. I started modeling and drawing my idea on a computer, and then it continued to grow during my work. When I started to animate, there are also new ideas that I have to present. Everything is very organic. At first, this can not be planned at all. It has happened that in the last days, before the film is ready, I have to rebuild everything, get out of serious scenes and change everything. Every idea is different. For example, this can start with a particular situation. Then decide which image will be shown. Sometimes it starts with the environment. Then I think about how to show a particular landscape and the actions it could take. It's different, but

I try to make every idea so that it is personally important to me.

You do not mark your animations by hand, but you create computer hardware. Why do you choose this approach?

The computer makes it a lot easier. The process evolves and changes organically. I know everything can change for the end result. This gives more freedom. But I draw sketches, draw pictures and different environments. When this is done, I transfer it to a computer program where I create an image and environmental motifs, different objects. Different styles, techniques can be used in 3D animation.

Generally, when you talk about "3D animation", many imagine Hollywood movies or something of the sort. But now everything is developing, people are experimenting and discussing it. I'm also trying to do something that is not General public Hollywood movies, but something more stylized that creates my unique style.

Yes, by watching your other animation films, you can definitely notice that you have your own writing. Did this happen deliberately?

No, it was very unconscious. I have the impression to try again. This writing is probably a constraint because some things are better and others less.

I do not do what I do not do. And what's left is my writing. And I try to develop it.

When I finished this film, it seemed like the next could be improved. I'm trying to repair the mistakes I've made in previous movies in the next. And there are similar signs.

Your movies are characterized by long shots and a moving camera that creates a strong sense of presence. The typical way of formally expressing gaming cinema ….

That's what interests me right now. Also in the next movie, I plan to use these long images and the flowing camera. 3D animation is almost the only technique that can be used to give it a natural look. For example, it would be difficult to make such sequences when making a feature film. Especially because the film contains a dog and water, completely unpredictable elements. 3D animation is therefore a way to create a presence effect. The camera is not smooth, she is shaking. Thus, I wanted to create a spontaneous feeling in the film – as if the operator sometimes missed a movement in progress or sometimes caught an object too early.

How do you link this form to the content?

This is shown in the scenario. If it were filmed or framed differently, the story would also be different at the same time. I'm interested in the space and the way filmmakers use the camera, compose the composition and the rhythm of the movement. There is no dialogue in my films, but one way or another, this story has to be presented and I look at it visually with the camera.

By the way, why do not your movies interact?

It's a lot more complicated. I am interested in telling the story directly visually. Moreover, it does not need to be translated into different languages ​​as the message is much less clear in all cultures. If the actor says nothing, we can say that the main role of the film is the director himself. So, experimentation can reveal a lot of new things.

You are not only a director, but also a screenwriter, producer, artist and operator. Do you like to work individually?

It's just easier for me. When a team appears, everything becomes much more expensive. In addition to paying salaries, you must also look for premises and someone who coordinates the process. In my case, it would slow everything down. If I work alone, I can immediately implement my idea. No need to wait for funding or help from other people. The first films that I wanted to do myself because I went through all the stages of creation – realization, script and everything else. But anyway, of course, I would like to work in a team.

Until now, your movies have been very successful and have been shown in many parts of the world. How do you think it depends?

If the film is taken at the festival, it's a success. It depends on whether festival program officials like it or not. Until now, I am very lucky. I did not think it would go well with this film "Priorities". I put it on the internet, people saw it and said to send it. It was my most famous movie. But it's not that he would feel very safe now.

What are the difficulties that you face as a new director of animation?

It is difficult to attract funds. I would also like to find a team of people who are not only good in their field, but able to fill my style. The scenario is also a problem. When you sit on a white sheet without knowing where to start. But when it happens, everything seems easy. You can even write everything in one evening. If you do the same thing for years, the routine continues. Although you know that he is safe and stable, he can still become tiring.

Do you think it is difficult to find a team in Latvia?

I do not think so. But his industry does not look like France or the United States, where there are a lot of very talented animators. I think it's easy to find like-minded people out there. There are also many talented authors in Latvia, but everyone is used to working alone. However, this does not prevent the search for a team outside Latvia.

How do you evaluate it in this environment?

A lot of things are happening now. New complete films appear. In the last two years, many feature films have been created in Latvia, more than the last 100 years. There are European countries that have not received full animation this year, but we have done it. Of course, we do not have any industry. And it's both good and bad. If such an industry existed, perhaps many new animators would go to work in this industry and do, for example, advertisements. Maybe less than I would have made my own movies, creating something independent.

Since there is no sector in Latvia, what does it mean for you to have been nominated for several categories in "The Great Kristaps" and received the special jury prize?

Personally, that does not mean much to me. It's a ceremony where you get something you're happy at that time, but the next day you go back to work. Everything ends quickly. However, it is important that if someone receives this award, there is hope that people will see the movie. It is important. And after this recognition, it may be easier to get funding later. This is more important than the price itself.

Yes that's it. To get money, you have to do a lot without it.

Of course that's it. But we, in Latvia, are fortunate to have different European funds and ways of creating independent animation. For example, there are no such options in North America or Asia. There, you have to address the industry, advertise and do a lot of things that might not please you. But it's good that we have such support and opportunities.

You have just finished your full movie. How did you arrive at this large format?

I had been thinking about it for some time. I knew I would do it sooner or later, but I did not know what to do. When I finished some shorts, I realized I had to try. Once again, it seemed difficult to get funding for a project of this magnitude. That's why I create it and finance it by parts. It's a great story divided into four smaller parts. There is no dialogue in this film either, and I always try to say everything without words, presenting it visually.

I did the movie for three and a half years. Now I send it to festivals and wait for answers. It's hard to find an audience for such a movie because people are used to children's animation. However, adult animation movies are unfortunately less common. But this film can be watched by children and adults. It's for everyone. Everyone can see and notice something there.

Yes, people are used to children's movies. But to change this flawed image, independent animation must appear on the screens. For the moment, this is only when the movies are included, for example in the festival programs.

Yes you need it But it's hard. And I do not have such tools yet. This should be done gradually. Of course, it would be ideal if many came to watch it. But, I mean, if the film is small budget, I do not need to watch it everywhere in Latvia or around the world. I also have a small audience. If you make a movie [ar domu]to take advantage of all this – it will not please anyone. If I do not have my movie in the cinema, I'll publish it somewhere on the Internet. I think sooner or later the public will come.

The Latvian Academy of Arts has a curriculum where you can learn animation directly. But what should a new director do after graduation? The ambition is, but funding for your ideas is not so easy. However, a person studies for a specific purpose and wants to be realized. However, if it is not possible to obtain funding, you must try to find other ways to earn money, even after your studies.

It's everywhere and it always will be. There are good animation studios in Latvia where you can go to work and gain experience. You can try to make movies during your free time after work.

It seems to me that this opportunity is more than ever. It's not necessary to make a movie right away, to do something small and put it on the internet.

In addition, make ads is not bad. He can learn a lot. But you have to start making movies even if there is no money. In general, I start a movie and I only find finances to finish it. Even if there was no money, I would certainly find a way to finish the movie.

So, the most important thing is to not stop and continue to realize your ideas.

For me, it's more important now than stable work. There is money for a moment and then it is not yet. But it's important for me to do at least what I like.