“ If you have ever read‘ Sherlock Holmes’ or seen‘ CSI,’ they are all influenced by Poe. Maybe Poe didn’ t invent horror, but he took it to a whole new level.”
conjunction with the films. Students around the world have seen them and they were even shown at a German film festival.
It takes about six months to complete a film from start to finish, and fundraising is the longest part of the process. Then Ciechanowski and his team start booking actors and renting equipment. The films are about 20 minutes long, so it only takes two or three days to shoot them.
“ It’ s the shortest but most intense part,” according to Ciechanowski. Afterward, he edits the film and a composer adds music. Each time, the crew has become more efficient and the quality of the final product has improved, he adds.
“ Filmmaking is a craft, and like any craft, you are never done learning,” he says.“ The journey is the destination.”
Ciechanowski plans to adapt an entire catalogue of Poe’ s works, including“ The Black Cat” and“ The Pit and the Pendulum.” He hopes more teachers, especially at local schools, will use his films in the classroom:“ We encourage schools to reach out to us.”
Ciechanowski graduated from Robert Morris University and decided to pursue a career as a film editor after working at the school’ s television station. He also operates the Jumbotron camera during Pittsburgh Penguins games. It’ s a great place to work, especially since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, Ciechanowski notes. He likes to focus the camera on fans with lots of energy or who have painted their faces.“ You look for crazy people,” he laughs.“ That always works.”
He advises aspiring filmmakers to persevere and take pride when they finish a movie, even if it isn’ t a huge hit.
“ The narrative you get is that, if you make a film, it has to be a blockbuster or you’ re unsuccessful,” Ciechanowski says.“ I don’ t think that’ s the case. Making a film is like running a marathon. You might not come in first place, but running a marathon is a hard enough achievement that most people can’ t do it.”
For more information, go to poefilms. com. n
Carlynton-Montour | Spring 2017 | icmags. com 13