Black Maria Film Festival - Rabbit Blood
Just an ordinary day at an old mysterious Turkish country house where its residents have an extraordinary way of brewing tea.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Yagmur Altan
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Well, I started this film when I was living in US and wanted to tell a story that relates to my own culture and sounds interesting enough to American audience at the same time. I was always fascinated by how Turkish literature has too many idioms and phrases, so literalizing one and presenting it with my favorite film genre, dark-comedy, seemed like a good start.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The way I see, Rabbit Blood is a tender expression of Turkish society with a funny twist at the end.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I tried to avoid including my own personal experiences to Rabbit Blood and to tell a fiction as it is. So, I might say there is no direct collision between personal and universal themes in this film. The theme of the story is more cultural than universal, it explains the hierarchy and the diversity of the Turkish society of Ottoman times; and my goal was to make it as perceptible as possible to all audience in the world.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Although this is my first short film, I know many other directors as well and one thing I've seen so far is that; somehow almost everyone makes changes to the script/story as they go into production. I also had the same experience. The script was much longer and had some more action shots, however as I went along, I felt a quarter of the script doesn't serve the purpose of the story, so I took them away. Once in production, the film started to build its own meaning and all I had to do was to shape it and keep it in line. Even at the final editing stage, I did not strictly follow my own storyboard, which I'm happy with not insisting on anything during and post-production.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I've got some interesting feedback. Many people thought the film was a critique to the political situations in Turkey of today. On the other hand, I've been also told that the story is too specific for Turkish culture and there is a high chance that its nuances would be lost on international audience.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
No, the feedback was pretty much as I expected. This was my first film and I could see its strengths and weaknesses and what I needed to improve even at its first screening. However it is not good to waste time on a film for too long, you need to move on and reflect those new knowledge, experience and feedback on a new project.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To present my statement to the audience that watched the film and wanted to learn more about it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I believe producers and journalists are the ones that Rabbit Blood would benefit from at this time.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like it to express how society gives way to superiority and does not question.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I like how art can be interpreted in many different ways by different people. So, in my opinion basing the film on a key question narrows the creative thinking of the audience as well.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you. It was a lovely conversation.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently I am working on my 2nd animated short film. Still at early production stages, I believe it will be completed in early 2019. The story is not anything related to Turkish culture this time, however I would like to expand combining animation and dark-comedy with a more bitter story-telling.
Interview: December 2017
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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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Rabbit Blood
Just an ordinary day at an old mysterious Turkish country house where its residents have an extraordinary way of brewing tea.
Length: 04:36
Director: Yagmur Altan
Producer: Yagmur Altan
Writer: Yagmur Altan
About the writer, director and producer: Yagmur Altan is an animator and independent filmmaker currently working and living in London, UK.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Producers, Journalists
Social media handles: Yagmur Altan
Facebook: facebook.com/rabbitblood/
Made in association with: SVA MFA Computer Arts
Where will the film screen in the next month?: The film is almost done with its festival circuit run and will be available online to watch for free in coming weeks.