The Owls (Οι Κουκουβάγιες)
The eldest son of a working-class family will do everything to keep his family afloat.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Natalia Bougadellis
Watch The Owls (Οι Κουκουβάγιες) on YouTube
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
You know, there's no clear answer to this question. I developed the script for one of my undergraduate classes, and I was particularly taken by the theme. I want to work on queer narratives, and I am fascinated by my home country, Greece, and by what it has been going through in the last decade. People find truly unique and inspirational ways to deal with the tough climate, and this factor, along with the fact that I prefer to approach my subjects as raw and intense primal matter, led me to create The Owls.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Whether you are interested in new developments in Greek cinema or you are interested in queer stories, whether you were personally affected by the fiscal crisis or you are one of the lucky ones, whether you or your loved ones have experienced domestic abuse and societal rejection, The Owls will speak to you. I think we are visualizing a story that is worth sharing. In addition to that, our cast, which includes Yiannis Kokiasmenos - an actor whom I first saw at "Strella", my favorite film and Manos Protopappas - a young talent who made his debut with this film - is brilliant, and they were all truly willing to open up and explore this subject along with the audience.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The social and the personal are unbreakably interconnected, in all of our lives. The same principle applies to the private and the universal, in the sense that the ideas, beliefs and morals of a time or of a specific group of people might influence other lives in powerful, and even dangerous ways. The Owls explore domestic violence a lot, and there's no doubt that violence in the home is symptomatic of the greater ailments of society, for example. Being gay is a deeply personal identity trait, but in the context of the film it becomes an issue that affects the family, both in the sense that they all essentially rely on the protagonist's queerness to survive, and yet they completely fail to accept it. You can rarely find themes where the personal doesn't overlap with the universal. We are all connected.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The script has been workshopped through 8 drafts and it has been translated from English to Greek. Of course when workshopped with the actors it was reshaped and finally it was put together again in editing. I even had to cut a scene that was in the script and we had shot because during editing I understood that it had no real reason to be there and it did not add anything to the story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
As any film, it has received positive and negative feedback. Some of it has been very constructive and I will consider all these ideas as I am preparing for my next projects, but it's a thin balance when you are trying to speak your own voice and at the same time incorporate external ideas and elements. The film has been doing very well in its festival run, however, and it has been received by the public with a lot of enthusiasm and support.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It is always interesting and helpful to hear other people's feedback. Everyone's interpretation of art varies greatly, so it is fascinating to hear different views and opinions. What interests me the most, however, is to develop a common voice for my collaborators and me, so that we can bring our visions to life. I stand with what I believe in, and I hope to turn that into cinematic truth.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think that wearemovingstories.com is a great platform to showcase films. I was very pleased when I received your invitation to be featured on here.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
It would be nice to get some distribution and press. I would love to have someone write a short review for the film, and to consider our audience's feedback. Also I am open to meeting anyone really that would be interested in collaborating in the future.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
"The Owls'" aspiration is shedding a light onto the brutal everyday reality of a Greek working-class family in the time of the socio-economic crisis. As human beings, in times of hardship, we may find ourselves in a position where we close our eyes to reality, in an attempt to avoid accepting or dealing with things. We often choose to overlook what's important and what really matters, hoping that by doing so we can shield ourselves from change. Really, we hope that reality will not fail to affect our lives.
However, what happens when the lack of resources threatens the very core of our beliefs and everything we think we know about the world collapses before our very eyes? Do we keep pretending, or do we face reality directly? Even beyond that, do we dare to change and transform, or we remain stable and unchanged? Homophobia is a very powerful enemy for the LGBTQ community in Greece, and by working with queer narratives I aspire to make human connections and to show solidarity.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Nudity, homosexuality, and prostitution just to name a few. Even though our society had progressed regarding issues like this, some people still consider them a taboo.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently co-directing and shooting a new webseries in New York called Spring Street that was created by David Beck. It was featured on Huffington Post and Indiewire, among other media platforms, and I am really excited to start filming. We have a great cast and creative team behind this, and it is an exciting challenge for me! (http://kck.st/2atKerg)
I am also in the development for a new short film that will be shot in my home village in Greece this coming summer. I am excited to be working with a talented writer, Letícia Bianco whom I met during my studies at NYU.
You can follow me on my social media to get updates on my future work:
Twitter: @nataliebou
Instagram: nataliabougadellis
Interview: August 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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The Owls (Οι Κουκουβάγιες)
The eldest son of a working-class family will do everything to keep his family afloat.
Length: 10 minutes and 12 seconds
Director: Natalia Bougadellis
Producer: Natalia Bougadellis, Morris Gormezano
Writer: Natalia Bougadellis
About the writer, director and producer:
Natalia Bougadellis is a young Director and Cinematographer from Athens, Greece. Natalia is invested in queer film narratives and to the promotion of gender equality in film, and she has received several distinctions and awards for her work. She has served as one of the Co-directors of Fusion Film Festival, a festival that promotes women in film and is part of the Sundance Initiative for Women. Natalia has also worked on numerous short films as a Director of Photography in Dublin, Athens, Abu Dhabi, and New York.
Key cast: Yannis Kokiasmenos , Manos Protopapas
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Funders: Indiegogo
Where can I watch it in the next month? It will screen in my hometown Athens, Greece as part of the festival Psarokokalo.