My filmmaking journey

View fullsize

The earliest memory that connects me to filmmaking dates back to my elementary school years in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. My grandfather brought me to a film set for the first time. It was an unforgettable experience. Each time coming with him was like a magical trip to a different world. People called my grandfather the "king of extras." What I loved about my grandfather the most was the fact that he was a soldier during World War II while he was having lots of fun as an extra, like a kid.

Film sets have something special in them, something that is hard to describe. When I come there, it feels like home. During these set visits, I fell in love with cinema. I started to watch a movie after movie, followed by re-watching sessions. I was trying to figure out the way they were made. It inspired me to make my home videos using a miniDV camera that I got as a present. Friends and family liked them. I even won some prizes at the local film festivals. It was a hobby, but I enjoyed it very much. I didn't even think that making films can be a career.

I got into a finance university, which was a common path, especially in the city where I lived, but I felt that it wasn't something that I wanted to do. I took an academic vacation and went to study English in New York, USA. A whole new country, an entirely new world, appeared in front of me. While being there, I realized that making films can be a real job. I started to visit filmmaking schools all over New York. I checked all of the film programs, and, eventually, I found one school that offers a scholarship for MFA in filmmaking for international students. I set myself a goal to apply for the school.

I went back to Russia and switched to an accelerated study program at my finance university to get a bachelor degree as soon as possible. A year later, I am in NY again. But now, I am learning how to make films. I realized how exciting director's job really is, even though it's challenging. We were shooting films every weekend while studying the theory of directing, acting, screenwriting, cinematography, and editing. I found out that in the US, people usually watch foreign movies in the original language, whereas in Russia all international films are dubbed. I learned how films are made on a big scale and the importance of developing screenwriting skills if you want to be a director. 

While at film school, I was involved in various student film productions. I was taking every crew job possible. Also, I had experience working at the Universal Studios backlot, where I learned about a production process on big studio sets. The hands-on experience taught me a lot about the movie-making industry as a whole.

Some days, we were shooting more than 16 hours. Occasionally I slept in vans with film equipment. I wanted to save money on parking and guard the equipment at the same time. I learned how much time it takes to make a good shot and how to manage time on set well. The more prepared you are as the director, the more effective production becomes, plus you gain trust from the crew and cast.

My ultimate goal is to create worlds where the audience would be able to escape and experience all kinds of emotions, like during a long-term adventure. I want to prove that there is no limit to imagination.

Laundry tale

View fullsize

It was hot and humid Sunday morning on the streets of Manhattan. I exited a hostel on the Upper Westside and headed to the JFK airport where I would take a plane to Chicago. I was wearing only swimming shorts and a tank top — the rest of the clothes I had dropped off at the laundromat the night before.

The following day, when I returned to pick the laundry, the building was closed, which meant I would never see my favorite clothes again, and it was a week's worth. After a few moments of frustration, I started to laugh at myself. It was so ridiculous and cartoonish that I wasn't sure whether it actually happened. It did, of course, but it felt odd. 

Then I was contemplating my life while listening to the "Space Oddity" by David Bowie on loop. There was something in that morning. I was alone in NYC without anyone knowing I was visiting. An incredible sense of freedom was fulfilling my soul until it put me in a Zen state.

A presence of destiny seemed to be all-around as if I was meant to be in that moment - a very mystical feeling. A fountain of creativity and endless possibilities was opening for me, and I was feeling grateful for that.

The song was still in my earphones, and with a coffee cup in my hand, I was watching people through the shop window. The morning lights were painting the streets of Manhattan. It is my favorite time of the day — an opportunity for a new start.

I observed pedestrians hurrying along the sidewalk. Everybody had a defined purpose in life. Or so it seemed. What is our purpose in life? That's the question that won't have a definite answer. In that morning, I felt the joy of beginning something new and great. I could say that I was in sync with my life mission. I was on the right path.

Ghostly beast

View fullsize

I was running along the Hudson River in New York at night, and the red glow from "exit" signs inside of the buildings attracted my attention. I felt an evil presence in them as if some secret power controls all those structures. I could almost sense its invisible heartbeat. 

Then I thought this "ghostly beast" has eyes as well. Surveillance cameras, smartphones, and other devices can see almost everything we do. There is a possibility that this "beast" is Artificial Intelligence (AI), and it secretly uses those devices to gather data. What does it do with it? Could AI decide to expand its influence? If the answer is "yes," it would want to make the world absolutely efficient, but not necessarily in the right way. The ghostly beast could annihilate or enslave all humankind. Perhaps, it would be able to come up with something even worse.                                                                                                  

Even though it's impossible to stop the advancement of AI, we can focus on developing our inner abilities, which are still at a very early stage. Even the smartest people use only 13% of their brains. What can we do if we will be able to use more than that? Superpowers might be one of the answers. In the meantime, we have to keep an eye on our relationship with AI.

Public speaking impact

View fullsize

Speaking in front of an audience can be terrifying, especially if you haven’t been doing it regularly. Focus your preparation on the effectiveness of your communication. It is explained in a few facts:

The percentage of data our minds receive from a speaker:

• Words: 7 %

• Voice tone: 38 %

• Body language: 55 %

Effectiveness level (0 - Ineffective, 10 - most effective):

• Performance (Speaking at the audience) ===> 0

• Presentation (Speaking to the audience) ===> 5

• Conversation (Speaking with the audience) ===> 10+

Level up your speech. Spend time mastering your non-verbal vocabulary and find a way to have a conversation with your audience. Good luck!

Writing Elixir

View fullsize

I write screenplays regularly, so for me, it is unacceptable to have a writer's block. Therefore, I am continually looking for great pieces of advice that revive my enthusiasm. Here is the first block that I compiled for myself that I want to share with you. I like to keep the list short because too much good advice gets you anxious.

• Learn how to tell a story in one line. It's essential.

• Write long and then narrow it down.

• Note-giving and note-taking is a crucial part of your editing process.

• Reading your script should feel like watching a movie.

• Writing is like surfing: "You do too little or too much - nobody does it perfectly."

• Have Beginning-Middle-End to everything you do.

• You have a deadline, and you must deliver.

• The lesser you known, the more projects you should have.

• Don't send your pitch in email.

• Call WGA when in doubt, they protect your rights.

• Make a rip reel out of created work, instead of spending a lot of money on a proof of concept.

• People in a pitch wants to know who YOU are.

• Storytelling is a muscle - regular practice is essential.

That's all for this block. Now you can go to your desk and write.

Wealthy seven

View fullsize

We live in a world of distractions. There are so many things happening, and you want to be a part of everything. The fear of missing out, which already has its acronym (FOMO), rules our decision-making process. This phenomenon forces us to look at urgent tasks and takes our attention away from the big picture. 

There are various types of wealth. I break them down into seven significant kinds that have to be regularly fueled to experience genuine prosperity. When you ignore fulfilling one of these areas, that's when you sense that's something is missing. If you feel like you've reached the ceiling of improvement in one area, contribute to another. Here are the seven wealth types that will get you to the inner bliss:

1) Personal kingdom. Develop a stable relationship with yourself. Do the things that you enjoy doing alone. Remember your childhood, things that you loved doing back then are most likely the same things you would enjoy now. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are engaging both your creative and analytical side of the brain.

2) Your body temple. Take care of your nutrition and exercise regimen. Commit to the physical activity of your choice. It doesn't have to be a gym. Consider trying skydiving, acro yoga, or horse-riding. Get your body moving and don't forget to feed it well.

3) Circle of love. This one we tend to ignore the most, because we think if it's there, then we don't have to care about it. I'm talking about developing a deep connection with your friends and family. Create a strong bond of love with people you surrounded yourself with, and if you don't feel like building a relationship with certain individuals, then you probably should consider spending less time with them.

4) Professional mastery. Find the great job that fits your character, if it doesn't, keep looking. We spend most of our time at work, so you must strive to find the activity that fulfills you. Also, if you're temporarily stuck at the job that you hate, then force yourself to find ten things that you love about it. Don't forget to do your job well. People notice that.

5) Financial victory. Apart from developing your professional skills, it's important to plant seeds in different areas that will grow into your financial stability in the future. To achieve that, each month, you have to put aside a certain amount of time and money towards building assets. It could be a new business, intellectual property, stocks, real estate, or something else that would bring you're a steady passive income in the future. In the beginning, however, you have to put an enormous amount of "sweat and blood" into creating the asset.

6) Memorable lifestyle. Experience life in new ways. Proper rest is essential to have a productive life. Travel to unusual places, try exotic food, do the things that you think are crazy. Practice getting out of a comfort zone in a fun way. Your brain will create new connections that will upgrade your "biological software" to the next level. Have fun.

7) Gifts to society. Giving is the most satisfying thing that you can do. Give often and be generous. It doesn't have to be your money. Volunteer doing something you love. Build an organization that helps people. Say compliments to random souls on the street. Consider creating a legacy that will live long after your time is over. Perhaps you will be one of the first human beings to fly to Mars.

Keep building your wealth in all seven areas, and remember: "If you prosper in your mind, you thrive in life."

Dreams of flying

View fullsize

The story begins with the 14-year-old Elisabeth who lives in Yonkers, New York in the 1970s. She dreams of flying. She reads books about it and watches everything related to aviation on TV. Every day she talks in aviation slang. If you ask Elisabeth's family, teachers, or classmates about what her passion is, the answer always be the same - aviation.

Elisabeth doesn't have access to an airplane, but every weekend she commutes for 2 hours to the JFK airport where she films how the airplanes land and take off. Elisabeth uses an 8-mm film camera from her father. Elisabeth's family doesn't have money to support her filmmaking, but it doesn't stop Elisabeth.

She uses all her school allowance to buy and develop black and white rolls of film. At school, Elisabeth pretends that she has a good vision and tricks eye doctors, by memorizing the eye chart.

One day, a famous sport pilot Susan Sky, visits the school where Elisabeth studies. When Elisabeth hears that Susan Sky is coming to her classroom, she almost faints. That is the first time Elisabeth will see a real pilot. Susan Sky enters the class, and Elisabeth is the first one to greet her. She films this moment with her camera.

Elisabeth's teacher Mrs. Swanson mentions how passionate Elisabeth is about aviation. Susan Sky suggests Elisabeth apply for a flight academy. That makes her stop filming for a moment, and a new idea starts to brew in Elisabeth's head. Susan Sky asks Elisabeth whether she can mail her the video clip she just filmed.

Elisabeth responds that she can if Susan Sky will pay for the film, development, and mailing fees. Susan Sky laughs and agrees to Elisabeth terms. As Susan Sky gives the talk about aviation, Elisabeth devours every word she says.

Elisabeth mails the film as she promised and applies for the flight academy. She fills out the necessary papers and then heads for the eye exam. However, the eye exam turns out to be more advanced than at school, and Elisabeth fails. The doctor says that she can't fly planes like Susan Sky and tells Elisabeth that she can't attend the academy. It breaks Elisabeth's heart and makes her hide her passion inside.

She stops studying aviation and buries her camera in the basement storage. Nothing excites Elisabeth anymore. Parents and teachers try to help her, but Elisabeth doesn't care about anything. She lost her drive and desire.

In the meantime, Susan Sky fires her videographer for frequent drunk episodes. She opens her mail and finds the film Elisabeth sent her. Susan Sky inserts the roll into her projector, and what she sees makes her lean closer. Susan Sky grabs the envelope and finds the sender's name and address. Then she picks up the phonebook finds the number and dials it. Elisabeth picks up the phone.

She realizes who's calling, but there's no excitement about it. Susan Sky asks: "What's wrong?" Elisabeth shares her story. Susan Sky says: "I can't help you with passing the exam, but I'd like to offer you the job of an aerial videographer. I loved what you've sent me very much." Elisabeth stands in silence for quite some time. Susan Sky: "So, what do you say?"

Elisabeth comes to her senses and responds: "When do I start?" Susan Sky: "That's what I'd like to hear!" The next week Elisabeth flies in the back seat of Susan Sky's aircraft and films amazing shots as they fly through the purple sky together.

Epic meltdown

View fullsize

Many years ago in Russia, I was at the prestigious student festival - Student Spring ("Studencheskaya Vesna") it took place in Tumen', Russia. I was there as an actor. Our troupe was rehearsing for many weeks before arriving at a large theater of the new city. The teams from all over Russia were performing there during the festival. The size of the stage was close to Metropolitan Opera in New York.

I had two gigs, on the day one it was a comedy play, and drama piece the day after. When it was time to perform, the theater was full. On top of that, there were several famous Russian comedians as judges. I went on the stage, and after a few moments into the play, I forgot my lines. Three seconds were like an eternity. For a moment, I felt like hell is a charming place. I looked at my scene partners, and they realized what just happened to me. I started to improvise, but it wasn't funny. In silence, I could hear somebody saying: "This is not funny," which made me even more nervous. I couldn't wait until this torture was over.

When I left the stage, I run away to the fire stairs where nobody could see me and was having an epic meltdown until my troupe found me there. The next day, I decided to work extra hard for my second drama performance. All my hours I devoted to mastering my role even after the troupe rehearsing time was over.

The results were phenomenal. During my monologue, I heard somebody whispered: "He's good." It felt immensely satisfying. Don't get discouraged with your first failure - a life lesson I'll never forget.

Moon mission application

View fullsize

I've been fascinated by the idea of becoming a Moon Traveler since I was a kid. When I created my first online account, my user name was "Moonraker," and it remains the same today. Now, there are a lot of other "Moonrakers." This user name gained popularity over the years, but I believe that I have the potential to become an actual Moonraker.

The movies about the Moon and Space travel added more fire to the burning desire to get my curious being to that lonely satellite. Sometimes, I'm doing visualization sessions that help me to practice the Moon trip. There's no question about it. One way or the other, I will get to the Moon.

For more than a decade, I've been following a rigorous physical and nutritional regime. It's essential to have your body in its best shape and keep your senses fine-tuned to get the most from the Moon adventure. Daily, I follow and study every cosmonaut who went to space. Their experience is crucial for the success of my mission. I'm grateful to have an opportunity to speak to them. Their daily logs serve me as the Bible.

I believe I would be an excellent candidate to represent your Moon exploration mission. Also, I'm in close friendship with other top-qualified candidates, which names I can disclose only in a private meeting. I would be happy to set up an interview so that you could feel my enthusiasm for this mission. I can guarantee that you will get the best possible value from sending me to this incredible and mysterious place.

Mr. X

View fullsize

The origins of this man are unknown, but everyone calls him Mr. X. He appeared out of nowhere and started to make a buzz in a tech world. He examines the question of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences our daily lives and habits. He emphasizes the significant role of creative thinking that will help us stay human in the future.

Mr. X picks up a specific intelligent technology that exists in the world now, analyses it, and gives a thorough explanation of it. He seems to be extremely knowledgeable about his subject, which frightens some people. He breaks down any technology to a simple principle that a child could understand. Mr. X designs a genius, out-of-the-box solutions on how to implement the power of AI in our regular lives today. Also, he describes the magic-like concepts that will portray the near future. Mr. X provides the calculations and shocking evidence that cure every single doubt of the public.

Mr. X interviews scientists from the world of AI. He is well-spoken and open-minded. Mr. X listens to everyone with royal respect, and he never brags about his knowledge. Scientists believe that he came from the future because his understanding of every scientific discipline is inexhaustible.

Mr. X loves to hang out with artists. He treats them as future saviors of humanity. Creativity is one of the most important words in his vocabulary. He donates an incredible amount of money to build world-class creative universities that are free of charge for every hardworking kid. Mr. X doesn’t give interviews or appear in a public eye, yet everyone knows him by the word-of-mouth. Mr. X protects his privacy and likes to keep it that way.

Mr. X states that he wants to raise awareness and understanding of the existing and upcoming AI technology. He shares his ideas on how we can or cannot use AI to benefit our lives. Mr. X regularly warns everyone on how AI will affect the future. He believes that if we are not cautious about the creation of AI, it will eventually surpass the human race. If that happens, there will be no way back.

Life rules

View fullsize

Navigating your life can sometimes turn into a nightmare. When a crisis happens, it's hard to find a ground under your feet. I felt the need for creating a foundation of practices that would serve as a guide in case of emergency. After ten years of trial and error, I've developed the list of rules. Anytime I feel like I'm "losing it," I can easily open my file and check whether I'm on the right track. 

The number 22 is a "Master Number" in numerology, which means, it has a powerful vibration. It has the potential of turning dreams into realities. Of course, over time, some of the rules will evolve, so I don't limit myself to follow only these exact ones my entire life, but I maintain the number.

1. Write in a diary - win the day!

2. Work hard on your dream.

3. Exercise regularly.

4. Own your actions.

5. Certainty => Potential => Result => See, I told you!

6. Read wise books at least 1 hour a day.

7. Dream big, act daily.

8. Listen carefully.

9. Compliment people often.

10. Your habits = YOU

11. Ask yourself: "Is my heart in this work?"

12. What would [Insert your hero] do?

13. Love yourself like your life depends on it.

14. Travel more.

15. Take risks daily.

16. What will people talk about your achievements 300 years from now?

17. Spend quality time with your family.

18. I'm an average of 5 people I spend my time with.

19. It's either "HELL, YEAH!" or "No."

20. Cheap costs more.

21. Can I solve this problem in one day?  

22. Less is more.

You can either use this specific list or build your own. It helped me many times, and I believe it will benefit you. Remember to act upon the rules you've created for yourself. Otherwise, it's a useless practice. Remember, action cures the majority of our problems. Make a list and follow it.

Tips for your next film

View fullsize

I've been making a variety of short films with different budgets and crews. When each project was over, I was writing a list of lessons learned. I've decided to combine the best of them as a guide for future productions. Use it with pleasure.

Get the best script possible first, so then you can get the most desirable cast and crew to help you with it. It's important because it makes the filmmaking process less painful for everyone. Choose an AD who understands your film to its bones and has the potential to become your longtime friend. Have the best people you can find but keep the crew small. Also, don't try to reduce your team to "Never-mind-I-do-it-myself-production." A professional sound person on set will make or break your film.

Put in the budget everything you know and add 15% for contingency. Stick to your budget. Have all the payments to your crew scheduled and agreed in advance. Make sure you have required signatures on the paper, if something changes, get it resigned by both parties as soon as possible.

Schedule well so that you can shoot in fewer days. Know what essential shots you need to capture by heart. It will help you to stay true to your vision in the moments of doubt. When you have a schedule, it's easier to adapt to unexpected circumstances. Synchronize everything you want to execute with your key crew members. Provide a good lunch, especially when everyone works for free.

When on set with your dream-team, exude enthusiasm every day. Work harder than anyone else. Make sure every single person of your crew performs a task he was assigned to do. Keep it that way. As you go along, allow people to express their opinion but make final decisions yourself. You are the creator.

Prepare different ways to convey your ideas to the actors. Know the essential on-set vocabulary. Shoot in a spacious place, so you have enough room for a camera and equipment to make the shots you need. Avoid shooting in distant locations, unless there is absolutely no other way.

Imagine that the whole planet will see your movie, but make the film for yourself. It has to entertain your most capricious inner critic. Have fun on your next shoot.

My vision of the future

View fullsize

I imagine the future where we will live in a society dominated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). People will live either in AI-organized Human Incubators or hide underground, in human-developed communities that are not necessarily honest or democratic. The general question I start with is, "What makes us human?" then I develop it into, "At what point technology becomes a human being?"

Even today, some people live with artificial limbs or even organs. But what would happen if the person has an artificial brain? Is he or she still a human? When does a soul, or universal energy, enters us and becomes our personality?

Then I imagine a man who was born in a human incubator run by AI. He has never experienced life outside. He has never seen a forest. I'm curious about the future because I compare myself to this man, who got stuck between two different worlds. He tries to figure out the meaning of life in the building he cannot leave and lives in a society that he doesn't fit. He dreams of breaking free from the safety of the bubble community. He strives to explore the dangerous, unknown, but independent world.

Then there's a woman with an artificial brain who lives in the totalitarian human society located in the underground sewer system. The woman behaves absolutely like a living-breathing individual, no difference at all. But, unfortunately, she has to hide her identity from the tyrannical leader who happens to be her husband. He kills anything artificial-intelligent as part of the entertainment events within the tribe.

I want to share my vision of the future because I feel like it will give a fresh look on threats posed to our modern life. The rapid technological advancements and the unstable political environment are one of these dangers. We need to realize that a human being is not just his physical body or possessions. The human being is something that we don't see, like emotions that we feel, the decisions we make, and the spirit within us. Let's re-discover ourselves to experience our humanity fully.

Your accent is your advantage

View fullsize

The story began when I wasn't speaking English at all. I was an adventurous boy in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, and was thinking about other countries as something that happens in fairytales. As I grew a little older, I came across the VHS tape, "English for kids." There was something magical about that tape. It was my first introduction to English.

I've been on and off my language courses up until 7th grade. I didn't need it for my life, but that was the year when I went on an exchange trip to Europe for the first time. I've experienced a cultural shock, which triggered me to make English my second language. I was studying English almost every day immersing myself in it. I've been taking extra courses and signed up for a conversational club. The club hosts were usually from the UK or the US. I was mostly focusing on a British accent because it is popular in Europe. My teachers, family, and peers were expecting me to speak like an English dandy. It didn't bother me that much, because I was focusing on grammar.

After a few years, I've been lucky to get an opportunity to study abroad. I've decided to go to the UK because it was an obvious choice. However, all my plans went into a pipe when I was refused a visa to the UK. I was so angry that I decided I would never go there unless I receive an invitation from Her Majesty herself. When one door closes the other opens, and for the first time, I started considering going to America, and it all suddenly made sense. I focused my energy on learning a standard American accent. Tongue twister practice, reading aloud, and conversing with Americans became the necessity. I was determined to master the right pronunciation.

When I reached a comfortable English-speaking level, I've managed to receive a scholarship to study filmmaking on the East Coast of the United States. After a while, however, I realized that my American accent is not American at all. I was frustrated, and I enrolled in free American accent classes provided by my school. It was a roller-coaster ride. Before each class, I felt like my American accent is flawless, but after, I wasn't sure whether I'm able to speak English at all. I realized that accent change wouldn't happen overnight, but I didn't want to feel inferior all the time.

Then I started to notice unexpected things happening to me. Americans were complementing on my accent; I started hearing random podcasts episodes where successful people were emphasizing the importance of preserving your original voice. My friends were encouraging me to try doing voiceovers. I followed the advice and recorded a series of short audio episodes. The feedback was positive, which inspired me to use the audio files as a draft for a motivational audiobook.

I've entirely let go of my fear of never reaching a decent American accent. As long as every word I'm saying is nice and clear I'm doing a great job. It doesn't matter whether you sound like an American. What matters is that the words you say convey what you mean. That person who listens to you sees the same picture as you imagine it in your head. I'd encourage everyone to embrace their accent. Make it your signature and let the world know what you've got to say.