Executive director of Baku Media Center (BMC), honored cultural worker Orman Aliyev gave an interview to Telegraf.com.
Publika.az presents that interview:
– Baku Media Center has been operating for 10 years. First, we would like to inform you about the activities of the Center.
– Our goal as Baku Media Center was to form a professional institution and train the Azerbaijani audiovisual market with high-quality equipment and technical equipment, as well as professional local experts who know this field well in terms of personnel potential.
Now, considering the path we have taken over the last 10 years, we can proudly say that we have reached our goal. Specialists of BMC have taken a very worthy and successful place among their colleagues in Europe, Turkey and other countries. In addition, we have a great role in the development of the advertising market in Azerbaijan. I can say with certainty that we are not behind other countries in terms of television broadcasting or the production of commercials. For example, we have carried out television broadcasts for “Eurosport”, “BBC Sport” and many reputable sports channels. Each of these has its own television standard and protocol rules. To meet their requirements, we had to have not only technical equipment, but also professional experts. And we cope with this responsible work with our professional team.
For several years now, we have been broadcasting the shooting World Cup and many sports competitions held in Azerbaijan. It is a very specific television broadcast format. There are very few directors in the world who specialize in this field. Today, I can proudly say that our specialists specialize in the field of shooting, broadcasting and high-quality video content of several sports. They are invited to many countries of the world as specialists. The International Sports Shooting Federation has sent an invitation to our specialists.
As you know, the Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris this year. Specialists of the Baku Media Center were also invited to Paris. The contract has already been concluded. Several important live broadcasts of the Olympic shooting sport will be carried out by our staff. In general, we have extensive experience in international sports competitions. For example, we broadcast the international tournament organized by the International Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation in July 2019 in Neom, Saudi Arabia, where more than 25 athletes from Europe, Asia and Africa competed. The shooting was carried out under special conditions.
Filming was done from the sea and using drones, where the temperature was over 50 degrees, and we broadcast the tournament via satellite. Besides, I can show you the 13th European Youth Olympic Festival “Tbilisi-2015”, where we used a telescopic crane for the first time in the Caucasus.
The Festival, which took place in the capital of Georgia, went down in history as the first project that our professional filming team realized outside the borders of the country. The filming of the BMX World Championship was also performed by our specialists at a high level. Finally, I can show the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final, the moment when the attention of football fans, not only in Europe, but all over the world, turned to Baku, was professionally executed by our signal broadcasting of the second most prestigious club tournament of the continent.
We filmed and broadcast the highlights of the final game of the continental competition in accordance with the standards of UEFA and FIFA. We are proud of this experience. Because at this time, we showed the world not only BMC, but most importantly the skills of Azerbaijani specialists and the potential of our country.
– Do you train professionals yourself as Baku Media Center?
– I graduated from the University of Culture and Arts with the specialty of television directing. But in the second year, I realized that I need higher education and experience, and in parallel I should work on television.
Before the Baku Media Center started its activities, I worked my way from assistant director and director to the position of artistic director on television. If you want to get a good education or gain experience in this field, it is more appropriate to work on the set, TV channels, and film studios. I know most of the people working in this field. There are not many experts. We already know who is capable of what, what is their potential.
Undoubtedly, we invited many experts and learned while filming and implementing projects. In addition, we send our experts to many trainings, technical trainings, festivals and fairs. I myself try to participate in such events every year.
Baku Media Center is a member of the European Broadcasting Union. They turn to us when they have questions about broadcasting and coverage of international events in the region. Even when events are held in Armenia, our colleagues who do not know the relationship between our countries send questions to us first. Because our technical potential is highly appreciated by international experts.
– As we know, Baku Media Center is currently shooting a number of films. Images shared on social media from the set of the film “Himayadar” about the life of the well-known philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, whose project manager and chief producer is Baku Media Center President Arzu Aliyeva, were met with great interest. Is the shooting of the film over?
– Yes, as you mentioned, a feature film is being made about Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. Filming is over. I can say with absolute certainty that “Himaedar” is the biggest artistic-historical film project in the history of Azerbaijani cinema. The film consists of eight episodes, in other words, eight hours of material. More than 1600 people were involved in this project. It is a large film production area.
The film’s crew gained such experience with the project that I think it will be reflected in their other work. Both a great experience and in terms of professionalism. It is because of these positive factors that I believe that the cinematographic process should never stop. Also, historical films do not leave many art forms to be forgotten. There are many such details in the film.
I believe that the film dedicated to Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev will be a great example of future Azerbaijani film history. Just as “Arshin Mal Alan” and other films of ours made a sound to the world, I am sure that this film will also gain the sympathy of local and foreign audiences. I don’t want to talk too much about the movie beforehand. But I think that every Azerbaijani will be proud of that film.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the entire creative team of the film. In particular, the director of the film, Zaur Gasimli, revealed all his professional knowledge and skills for the production of a high-quality and interesting film. I also personally thank him.
Now, after looking at the fully filmed material, I can confidently say that our team has coped with the task assigned to us.
– When will the presentation take place?
– We have been working on this project for more than three years, the shooting of the film, including script writing, production and production work, location and scenery preparation and other works, was more than 130 days in nine months. The last shooting of the film took place on January 31. Filming was done mainly in Baku, Absheron and Gabala. The date of presentation is not yet known. Necessary information about this will be given to the press.
– Did you encounter any difficulties during the shooting of the film?
– Perhaps the film “The Guardian” was one of the most difficult projects in my professional career. I can easily say that. However, I am very proud that this film was made.
– Do you mean from a moral point of view or not?..
– Undoubtedly, there were also moral issues. The most important thing was that we had to make a film worthy of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev.
As you know, he was one of the richest people of his time. We had to show his material wealth as well as his inner and spiritual wealth. When we started the project, there was a pandemic, then the 44-day Patriotic War… The film coincided with these significant periods of our history. Even before the shooting of the film, we hesitated: should we start or not?! Because it was a very responsible project.
Our biggest difficulty was related to experts and actors. Imagine that 8 episodes of the film had to be shot in 9 months to a year. There was not enough human resources for this. We also found very good actors with this film. The biggest burden also fell on the ART-Decoration Department, decorations and costumes were prepared, they studied that historical period closely.
For example, let me tell you about a very small detail, how seriously we approached this detail about the film. For the film, it was necessary to prepare 500-600 pairs of shoes used in ancient times. We could not find a specialist in this profession. By chance, we learned that there is an old man who sews shoes in Sheki.
We sent some experts there, and the man asked curiously if anyone needed the boots now. He taught our specialists how to make shoes.
– What were the main recommendations of Ms. Arzu Aliyeva to the film crew regarding the film?
– Ms. Arzu Aliyeva has her own very delicate taste. Over the years, this taste has shaped us even more. This is a direction for us. We are constantly working to meet that standard.
The script and idea of the film were determined based on the recommendations of Ms. Arzu. We want this historical film to be in accordance with the rules of the time, both in terms of facts and clothing. Mrs. Arzu attaches special importance to this factor.
Ms. Arzu visited the film set several times. Even a group of producers and directors from Hollywood came to Azerbaijan. They were also on the set and after seeing our work, they were surprised in the best sense of the word.
First of all, the question of how to show Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev came up. How should the film be? Technique, budget and so on were all in place. But what kind of idea should people who watch “The Guardian” be faced with, what kind of impact should they have? What should be the message of the film? We had to find the answer to these questions for ourselves. Because the worthy son of Azerbaijan, Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, had a very colorful life and experienced a different fate.
– There is also a point about the sad life of his child…
– Yes, there are many stories about Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. For example, one of them was Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev closing a restaurant in Europe for Azerbaijanis. It is said that Haji sprayed French perfume on his horses. If we show an Azerbaijani philanthropist to the world with this film, in what direction should we present him? This was our goal and our biggest challenge.
I believe that a very successful script was written based on Ms. Arzu’s assignments. The strongest part of the film is its script. Undoubtedly, many of those narratives will be reflected in the film. Because the movie is a massive movie. The taste and outlook of the audience watching the movie is also different.
We have tried to convey a message to all sections in the film. But our biggest success is that one hundred years ago in Azerbaijan, a Muslim country on the border with Iran, one of the richest people in the world, a philanthropist, had the idea of creating a girls’ school, and later it shows what role these girls play in the society and family of Azerbaijan.
We made the events more about people. At the same time, we tried to show Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev as a person in the film, what kind of person he was in real life, what difficulties he experienced, etc. His relatives and supporters were killed, his family was threatened, but he did not give up his opinion. He was one of the richest people of his time and achieved his goal. He has done a lot of work for the society. Her idea of a girls’ school and the struggle in this field is one of the main plot lines of the film.
This film will be interesting not only for the Azerbaijani audience, but also for the foreign audience. We want the film to be watched in Europe and America. That’s exactly how the script is set up. The script and plot of the film should be such that we are interested in this material and want to watch it. I believe that the success of our film will be in this.
– At the end of last year, “Hadrut, you are free!” you presented the documentary film. How did the audience react to the film?
– “Hadrut, you are free!” at the Nizami Cinema Center two months ago. the presentation ceremony of the film took place. It is a 40-minute documentary. The film has about 230,000 views on our social media account, no advertising was used. This was the best reaction to the film.
The film is also shown on TV channels. At the same time, there are many requests for it to be shown at certain events, and we are happy to provide it. In other words, the interest in the film is very high. In addition, “Shusha, you are free!” from this series. his film has almost one million views on YouTube. It is also a documentary film on a historical subject with a large viewership.
– So, will there be a continuation of the films about Garababagh?
– As you know, Baku Media Center is a commercial institution. We want to be remembered not only for advertising and television broadcasts, but also for documentaries and feature films. Because these remain in history.
Undoubtedly, today Azerbaijan is experiencing such a history that will be an example for our future generations. While filming the military parade in Hadrut, we did our best to create an ideal image. Because this is a historical material. There will be many references to this material in due course.
“Hadrut, you are free!” the success of the film is that it does not feature actors, but special forces and our soldiers who participated in the liberation of Hadrut, our real heroes. We want to continue this streak. We will document footage of our other operations as well. We are also planning to make a feature film.
“Shusha, you are free!” The footage in the film was shot immediately after Shusha was released. Those chronicles will be used in time.
“Shusha, you are free!” film by the Ministry of Culture and “Salnamefilm”, “Hadrut, you are free!” the film was shot with the organizational support of the Ministry of Culture and “Azerbaijanfilm”.
– You made a documentary about the “Karabakh” football club called “30 seasons away”. We would like you to tell us about the film.
– Together with the Ministry of Culture and “Azerbaijanfilm”, we show the history of the “Karabakh” football club and the perspective of looking at the war from this direction. The film presents the past and present members of the football club, the path of the club and so on.
In the film, we went to several European countries to interview foreign fans of the football club. We have interviewed one of the fans of the “Garabagh” football club in Italy and a journalist who wrote a book about it, as well as local fans of the club. The film shows the historical traces left by the Karabakh war on the fate of the football club, the Imarat Stadium located in the city of Aghdam.
Our football club has been without a stadium for more than 30 years. After the war, we went to Imarat Stadium and filmed the emotions of the club members. There are very impressive shots in the film. We based the documentary “30 seasons away” on the history of the football club.
The shooting of the film has already ended and it consists of four series. The presentation will take place after February. It should be a very interesting movie.
– You shot the historical-documentary film “Biz” about the realities of the Second Karabakh war, which you were the author and director of. Are you planning to make a new movie about our heroism?
– I am the author of more than 40 short and full-length documentaries. I worked on “Leader” TV channel. We created “Jarchifilm” on public television during the years of Ismayil Omarov’s leadership. We have made many films. Like every Azerbaijani, I wanted to do my best during the Patriotic War. As Baku Media Center, we actively participated in the media war and prepared many videos, plots, and reports.
I wanted to collect the feelings of the Azerbaijani people in the film. Thus, we collected material and created a historical-documentary film called “We” with our heroes. We have a new idea for this year. We are planning to make a feature film called “Debt”.
It is true that prestigious events are planned in our country this year. There are many projects in which our specialists will be involved.
– In 2018, the feature-documentary film “The Last Meeting” about the Azerbaijan People’s Republic was presented. As you know, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the 140th anniversary of Mammad Amin Rasulzade. Are you planning to make another film in this series?
– I cannot reveal much about our plans. But right now we are making a documentary about minesweepers. Part of the shooting of the film has taken place. The film will reflect the real lifestyles of women who search for mines and their feelings while searching for mines.
The documentary film “Eternal Mission” and the feature-documentary film “The Last Meeting” are screen productions dedicated to the years of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I think that these films are also a bright part of the history of Azerbaijani documentary films. In general, you know that these topics were not addressed much. But Ms. Arzu Aliyeva wanted us to shed light on these important historical moments and make films on this topic.
– The screening of the film created a lot of noise…
– Yes, after the screening of the film, they extended its time in cinemas by a week. Many people even watched the movie sitting on the stairs. It also gave us great pride and inspired us to make new films.
– We want to know your attitude to the subject as a professional expert. In the list of the 96th Oscar award ceremony, the film about the so-called Armenian genocide was circulated in the press as “One step away from Oscar…”. Armenians turn to prestigious international festivals with their films about the so-called Armenian genocide. What do you think we should do in this area?
– You see the attitude of the world to this issue, they are jealous of the truths of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, they cannot digest our victory. In this regard, the Armenian diaspora, Armenian propagandists and the lobby resort to provocation. I think that since it is a political issue, the films made by Armenians on this topic will again be featured in festivals in the coming years.
But today, if an Azerbaijani director makes a film about the realities of Karabakh and submits it to an internationally prestigious festival, it will be difficult for him to succeed. There is a political and biased view here.
In general, the field of cinema has become a political instrument in recent years. This is no secret. In many leading countries of the world there is no free cinema, it is managed in different directions. We know which films are included in the festivals and which topics they focus on. But this does not mean that we should approach the subject weakly or not be active in bringing out films made in this field.
As you know, the Cinema Agency has been established and we have expectations from it. That institution should establish relations with many international organizations in the future. At the same time, it is necessary to turn this area into more business. Azerbaijani cinema has always been dependent on the state. International and commercial expectations are not much considered in many of the state-dependent films. That is, let the state give money, I will shoot the film and present it to the state. This is not business and the development of this area.
If we want to develop this field, attract the opinion of international experts to this field, we need to build the business side better. For example, when “The Fast and the Furious” movie “Forsaj-9” (The Fast and the Furious) was shot in Georgia, we realized the part about Baku, and we are the local company with the first contract with “Universal” of Georgia.
For the development of this field, first of all, it is necessary to give importance to independent cinema. In fact, the film should not be made by the state, there is no such situation anywhere in the world. More independent institutions should deal with this and a business environment should be created in this area. There are many ways and systems for this.
As you know, Georgia abolished film taxes for foreign projects. At the same time, it can cover some part of the budget of the films. We must reduce our dependence on the state. Yes, the state can support. Because the field of cinema is still the strongest direction of culture for education and propaganda of patriotism. There is also the issue of budget.
Currently, Azerbaijan’s film budget is not high. Cinema is an industry that requires a good budget. Of course, the budget should not always be important. The film should also be a good earner. It is necessary to turn cinema into a business and use the approach of professionals. There are good specialists for this.
– Brother Turkey’s film industry has developed a lot. Can there be any cooperation between Turkey and BMC?
– Currently, not only we, many of our colleagues are working on various projects with Turkish producers and directors. I believe that our relations will develop further over time.
Turkey has a very strong potential in this field. The factor influencing this development is that they were able to turn cinema into a business and attract many international organizations to it. Currently, Turkey ranks first in the world in the field of TV series. As far as I know, they earned 700 million dollars from the sale of movies and TV series last year. We are also a very talented people and we can repeat similar successes.
– Thank you for the interesting interview.
– It is reciprocal. I also thank you for your interesting questions.
#shocking #film #famous #Azerbaijani #perfumed #horse #group #Hollywood..