Shootings for the film “Story of An Earthquake” were launched in Moscow a couple of days ago. The producer of the film is Director of Mars Media Company Ruben Dishdishian, who provided details about the film in an interview posted on kinopoisk.ru, according to Panorama.am.
The events develop in the city of Gyumri, which was the most devastated by the earthquake that hit Armenia on December 7, 1988. According to Dishdishian, the earthquake in Leninakan was one of the last events in the history of the USSR that consolidated the entire Soviet nation. The producer was a part of those events. He and his friends left for Leninakan on the day following the earthquake and helped rescuers with the hope of finding people alive under the ruins. “We hadn’t planned on making a film about anything associated with Armenia, but we hadn’t thought about the earthquake of 1988. When the Brothers Andreasyan visited us with a script in their hands, we understood that this was a great film because it was devoted to the tragedy that took place in Armenia and that we could produce a great film that interests the public at large,” said Dishdishian.
The creators of the film are also thinking about shooting a documentary devoted to the events of 1988. The film mainly presents the consequences of the disaster-a city in ruins, the pain and sorrow of people, lost relatives and a rescue operation.
The film stars Konstantin Lavronenko, Maria Mironova and Artyom Bistrov. It took six months to select the Armenian actors.
“We had decided that the Armenian heroes had to be played by Armenians,” Dishdishian said.
The film will also star Victor Stepanyan, Tatevik Hovakimyan, Mikayel Poghosyan, Hrant Tokhatyan and Sos Janibekyan.
Shootings in Moscow are taking place near an abandoned factory.
In November, the shootings will take place in Gyumri. The Ministry of Culture of Armenia and the Film Fund have allocated $100,000 for the film. After watching the film, the creators will decide whether they will present it at a festival or not. The final version of the film will be ready in August 2016 and will go on the big screen on the days leading up to December 7th.
“I think the film can be sold and be presented at a festival, meaning we will focus on all the festivals between the months of August and December. We would also like to have Armenia present the film for an Oscar,” the film’s producer said.
