“ WE WILL NOT GO TO THE CINEMA. THE CINEMA WILL COME TO US” | EXPERT OPINION
LEONID MAZOR:“ WE WILL NOT GO TO THE CINEMA. THE CINEMA WILL COME TO US.”
SHORT STORY
In the USA Leonid actively taught video technology and acting, he studied at Memphis State University and became a Bachelor of Arts with a degree in“ Film and television production.” In the US Leonid staged 20 different shows, among them there were comedies and musicals. He became the winner of the“ Emmy” award six times. From 1993 to 2005 he worked as a professor at several schools specializing in television( including the Department of Art at Rhodes College, Academy of Fine Arts in Nashville and County School Shelby). Leonid is the winner of Russian awards“ Golden Eagle 2011” for his TV series“ Doctor Tyrsa”. Now he is implementing his ideas abroad again. He has built fruitful career thanks to his own hard work. Now Mr. Mazor is sharing his experience and opinion with our readers.
We have talked with famous TV-producer Leonid Mazor, who used to work both in the USA and in Ukraine and CIS countries. About main tendencies inTV-series industry. The fact that movie industry is finally becoming serious about TV production is above all. It changes the approach to TV series as a whole. Even famous cinema-men are now making series. No one thinks it is shameful. There are many brilliant examples both abroad and in CIS countries – Martin Scorsese with his“ Vinyl” and“ Boardwalk Empire”, Steven Soderbergh`s“ The Knick” and“ Girlfriend Expierence”, Steven Spielberg with“ Extant”,“ Smash” and“ Red Band Society”, Valeriya Gai Germanika and her series“ Brief Guide To A Happy Life”,“ School”(“ Shkola”).“ Flat” TV picture is now becoming three-dimensional. All characters start talking and feel like normal, ordinary people. We will not go to the cinema. The cinema will come to us. About key differences in TV series production in Ukraine and CIS countries and abroad.
The fundamental difference is in organization of production. The preparatory period takes 2 / 3 of the whole production process. It enables to allow all the things that could be necessary during shooting filming and postproduction. Such an approach discipline. It doesn`t mean to limit the imagination and creative process. Nobody prevents to begin to create behind-the-scenes to be sure that on the scene everything would be perfect. It is necessary to start working with actors much earlier than the shooting begin. One more important thing is that the influence of screenwriter is really huge. And the last moment, but not the list – very high level of professionalism. Abroad professionalism at first point means a set of basic knowledge. But there is almost no place to acquire this knowledge in CIS countries and Ukraine. Some advice for young TV series producers
• You should learn and study as more as you can. It is really very important.
• You should only have strong desire to get education. You`re lucky – you have
Internet, where you could find almost everything.
• These days there are many talented people who are self-educated.
• The other thing – you should find your own Master, someone, who is a moviemaker.
• It won`t be easy for an ambitious person, but this experience worth your while.
• I made a strike, because I had had such teacher. I`ve learnt a lot while standing behind his back during movie making. Well, here is the following structure: 1. To get basic knowledge. 2. To learn more through practice on large production. 3. To be lucky. In our profession His Majesty Luck means a lot. 4. To tell the truth, without my own efforts I would be nobody. About new projects The premiere of the“ Ivanov” full-length film, shot in my script is coming soon. It was co-written with Michael Marfin. In USA I`ve led the public educational channel, also I`m teaching and staging performances. I started serious work with documentary. Now I`m working on screenplay about forgotten for some sake incident“ A Massacre in Memphis”. It is the story about the race riot that shook the nation one year after The Civil War. It is something unusual for me. But as I said, you should try and be brave, without looking to the past. But you shouldn`t forget to analyze what you`ve done.
ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2016 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 23