Silvano Perozic - INTERVIEW

Who's your biggest fan?

My mother, audience, offcourse, people who like my paintings, music or short films, women, and friends. 

What brings you inspiration the most?

I’ve been a professional painter for a long time, and a musician too, I had to be inspired, and I must be. If I am not inspired enough, I must start with a sketch working on unimportant parts, no matter if is a painting or film or music, and after some time, inspiration comes.

Which actor or director would you like to work with? 

With lot of them 

Have you ever seen a film that was better than the book?

I saw some fantastic book adaptations, for example, Shakespeare’s "The Tempest " 

What's the movie that taught you the most?

There are a lot of films that I like and taught me much,  "Red"-Krzysztof Kieslovski,"Apocalypse Now" - director's cut,Stanley Kubrick whose every film is completely different as genre one from each other "Mulholland Drive ", some Sergio Leones films are very spectacular cinematic, classic as "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", Bernardo Bertolucci, Michael Cimino,Orson Welles….

About your artistic career, have you ever had the desire to quit everything?

No, as I am older, I like and want to work more and more and more accurately with more details, sense, etc, want to stay honestly behind my art.

On set what excites you the most?

Depending on the film, I am an author of the music for my films too, film montage is mostly my preferred part.

For my awarded experimental short film "Q1", your festival awarded me too for that film, I made all graphics on the most basic Windows paint program only, Windows paint is not the right tool for making films, but I did it and won awards for the Best inspirational film, the Best experimental film and Best sound design award at several film festivals.

There was no classical set, just me, the mouse, and the computer, at the second stage musical instruments.

And what scares you the most?

Time, I have so many projects that are waiting to be finished, unfinished feature short films, unfinished animated films, a few music videos, a lot of sketches, a lot of unfinished paintings, and a lot of unfinished and not mixed and well or satisfactory recorded music. 

What's your next project?

A short film about coincidences if coincidence exists in a causative consequential way, if everything is not predestinated as some theories point out, some theories as String theory said that everything is conected,other theories said that  the whole space, cosmos is just chaos, with no sense or conection anywhere .That’s why Art is good for.

You can steal the career of an artist you really admire, who do you choose?

I have my own way, my life, I’ve been a professional painter for a long time, a musician, even professional Dj  , and a composer as well. I could say that I know something about cinema, film and making films, I had, and I have reached artistic life.

Offcourse, it would be a real pleasure to play live 3rd guitar with the Rolling Stones, act the second role in some well-known film director movie or even carry cameras or cables on his set, I like learning.

An actor/director/screen player is made of....

Love for that what he is doing, patience, desire, nerves, courage to experiment, an open mind to accelerate and accept rationally new ideas and caused situations, fanatic sometimes, half of the day to have in mind what he is working .

For you Cinema is....

For me personally, Cinema, in short, is paintings, music, and literature together - symbiosis or product of the above-mentioned parts,  greatest symphony  sometimes .

Do you think Black and white movies have a powerful impact?

Yes, as a black and white television, similar as black and white photography, "Citizen Kane", "The Third Man", "The Thin Red Line ", Hitchcock, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and even "Gone with the Wind " was originally made in black and white, there are many fabulous fantastic excellent black and white movies. Paintings mostly start from a black and white pencil sketch.

Have you ever dreamed of winning an Oscar?

No, never. 

Do you think you're gonna win it?

Who knows, everything is possible. 

Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…

Tim Burton’s Big Fish and Tarsem Singh’s The Fall- these two films made me rethink narrativity, reality and representation. Yes, what if my life is nothing but a story (or stories)! 

What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

Definitely there are different kinds of schools and all do not operate in the same way. In fact the same school does not remain the same for eternity, there are different ideological eras down the history. What interests me most is the fact that schools of creative practices assimilate young minds from different parts. They become a hub for fresh thoughts. If one considers this fact, the question of a particular school being good or bad turns to be secondary. The schools provide a common space for brainstorming, continuous exchange of dialogues and networking for the future which are more significant than the pedagogical teaching and learning.   

Have you ever hated your ambition?

In fact, almost always (with a smile)!

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?

Yes, fully agree. But to add on: some ‘sicknesses’ are good for humankind ! 

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?

Something big. Larger than life. 

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?

Chaplin (without a second thought). 

About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…

No comment on biggest dream. Worst nightmare- having my digital project file deleted after a  tremendous amount of effort being put into the project. 

How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?

I believe in John Berger’s Ways of Seeing. It was aptly said: “Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak.” I was a student of Art History and it made me realize that a rich visual culture was and is inevitably a prevalent element of human civilization. 

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker?

It is communication. Speaking the simplest language in the most understandable way. But I know, it is difficult. 

A big producer give you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?

Possibly Modern Times by Chaplin. Modern Times was after modernism and industrialization, this time it would be set in the post globalization era, or possibly after the emergence of AI. 

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

I receive energy from people surrounding me. I am fortunate enough to have come across people with a considerable amount of zest and support. For example, writer and director Susan Lim, with whom I am working with in the recent years, offers an ambience full of compassion and sustenance. The motivation comes from within the collective.    

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script".  Do you agree with him? 

What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

Yes, the script is the backbone. The script is not only the starting point as many people consider, it is also the point where you come back at the end. 

Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative?

Whether we do agree or not, melancholy or a little mental depression sometimes gives us some insights and insists to engage with some creative works. But I personally try to adopt a more methodical approach where the creative work comes up like a project.  

What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker?

The wish is no different from what Spanish poet Federico García Lorca wished for. I write and I do my art for love, for the love of people. 

What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?

It's true that film schools often teach students conventional techniques, but the point is to know how to use these. In filmmaking, I know the importance of obeying rules and breaking rules — does this sound contradictory? Actually not. Most people are always thinking about how to break the rules and create something unique, but they often don’t know the importance of the rules. I believe that we can skillfully play around with the rules only under the premise of clear control of the rules.

Have you ever hated your ambition?

I love my ambition as it drives me forward. We all know that the process of creation can be excruciatingly painful, but we still willingly immerse ourselves in it so that we can experience the joy of the birth of a film.

Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?

This statement is not only applicable to filmmakers. Anyone who is passionate about their profession may seem pathological to others. But if one is willing to pursue it, then what's wrong with that?

Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?

In my opinion, no one can define cinema. Is it dizzying visuals and sounds? Is it a touching story or performance that brings people to tears? If anything, each person's cinema is a medium that reflects their own thoughts and philosophies. For example, to me, the value of individual existence is paramount; it transcends material possessions and societal success. No amount of wealth or fame can alleviate the spiritual loneliness and existential confusion that many people experience. In my cinema, I hope to show these.

Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?

Godard is my favorite director. So I appreciate unconventional filming techniques and narrative style. However, I also value the logic of the story and the believability of character development. I believe in "auteurism," a term from the French New Wave that refers to individuals who control multiple aspects of collaborative work. The French New Wave has greatly influenced my approach to filmmaking, as I view art as a means of self-expression.