The presence of the moon affects all under its glow. The film explores the lunar cycle and the energies invoked by its radiance.

Interview with Director Yulia Ruditskaya

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

As an artist, I often work late and get a lot of inspiration on the full moon nights. It has always been a special time for me when the creative energy is pouring and I cannot quite explain why. Also, at the time I started working on this project I felt the urge to make something dark and magical while working on cute and “commercial” looking animations, and this story seemed to be a great opportunity.

And once I saw this film on my “inner screen” I could not stop until I finished animating the last frame. I wanted others to be able to see it.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you like mysteries and want to take a journey into a dark but full of imagination world, you should watch this film. If you cannot sleep well on full moon nights, this film is for you.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This is universal as well as a very personal film. It tells an archetypal myth of the Moon cycle as one layer of the story and has many personal details hidden on the other layers. I wanted to make the film not just as a fairy tale, but something that is strongly related to and connected with our everyday life. When I was drawing the storyboard for the film, there were many floods in Belarus. I saw a photo on the local news website with a village woman walking through the flooded street with her skirts tucked in, carrying heavy buckets. It inspired one of the scenes in the film.

And there are many details like that, both intentional and subconscious throughout the film. I tried to make this fairytale feel real so I included a lot of everyday life details while developing the visuals of the film I observed in Belarusian countryside.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film is based on, or to be more precise inspired by a very short tale “The Witcher” by Alexey Tolstoy which tells a rather simple laconic story, and leaves a lot behind the scenes or untold. I found that very inspiring, as I could create my own story and the world looking beyond the original one of Tolstoy’s. It was challenging to interpret it into visual animation language. Many aspects, characters’ motivations and details of the story have changed and evolved for the film. One of them is the transformation of the monster character. He is not as evil as Tolstoy’s Witcher but rather a curious, childish and egoistic at the beginning, and pretty vulnerable creature too. And then he evolves into that destructive demon, that can’t get enough of the power.

Also, my favorite character – the drunken Tailor. Tolstoy only hints about him in one sentence as an accidental witness to the tragedy. I developed his line, showing that due to his drunk “altered” state of mind he actually could see the demon and was the only one to realize what’s going on.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback I received was very positive, and I was really inspired as an artist to see that the film resonated with people from so many different cultural and geographical backgrounds. The film has been well received in the US, as well as in Asia, and in Europe, and South America. It shows how universal the story is.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

What surprised me as some people see this film as an animation for adults only while the others consider it to be a film for kids. I think the film has different layers in it, and both kids and adults can watch their own, or all of them. I was surprised to see how well kids reacted to the film, despite its “dark” visuals.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I’d like more people to discover the film and its creators. The festival screenings and further information can be found on www.andthemoonstandsstill.com

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

All of the above a welcome. I’m looking for distribution opportunities for the film after it finishes the festival circuit as well as for possible collaborations with producers and creatives alike for future animation projects.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Well, on the one hand, I wanted to show how easy it is to break something, to destroy peace and a normal way of life, and how hard and sometimes, even impossible it is to restore it back…

On the other hand, I just want the audience to know what’s really is going on when the moon wanes and grows. Not what science tells us but the real deal.

So that next time there is a major lunar standstill they are prepared and ready.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Where did the cat go? And what was the tailor drinking?

Would you like to add anything else?

Thank you for the interest in my film.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’m in the development stage of my new project at the moment, it will be an animated short.

Interview: August 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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And The Moon Stands Still

The presence of the moon affects all under its glow. The film explores the lunar cycle and the energies invoked by its radiance.

Length: 11 min

Director: Yulia Ruditskaya

Producer: David Lindner Leporda

Writer: Yulia Ruditskaya, Helen Simon, David Lindner Leporda, Katharina Koster

About the writer, director, and producer:

Director, Writer, Animator, Art Director: Yulia Ruditskaya

Born in Minsk, Belarus. Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Graduated from the Department of Design at Belarusian State University (Minsk) and School of Animated Film “SHAR” (Moscow). Since 2003, Yulia has worked as а director, animator, illustrator and motion designer for independent projects for brands, musicians, and non-profit clients with her focus in the animated short film.

Producer: David Lindner Leporda

David Lindner Leporda specializes in producing sophisticated narrative and documentary films. His projects have received invitations to over 600 festivals and were awarded over 100 awards.

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): all of them

Social media handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andthemoonstandsstill/

Twitter:@mizuka_mizuka

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuliamizuka/

Other: http://andthemoonstandsstill.com/

Made in association with: Filmallee GmbH

Where can I see it in the next month?

Full screenings list at http://andthemoonstandsstill.com/