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THE
MOVIE
Based on a true story, Svetlana’s Journey was my directorial debut. The
movie is about stolen innocence. The story is a gruesome look into the life of
a 13 yr. old Bulgarian girl sold into prostitution by her adopted parents. She
was tortured, manipulated, and abused by the “pimp couple” that kept
her.
Svetlana became an empty shell, used 15 times a day by various gentleman buyers.
Her dignity, dreams, and hopes to live were all stripped from her. Faced with
the knowledge that she was sold to this family for many years, she did the unthinkable
to release herself from the dark forces that entered her life.
In 2003, I was hired by the Sci-Fi channel to take part as an actor in a film
called Raptor Island. The movie was shooting in Sofia, Bulgaria and this was my
first time ever traveling to Eastern Europe. My time in Bulgaria was well spent
and I met great friends, learned great things about the Bulgarian Culture and
tradition, and found a missing piece of myself.
I was invited to take part in a fundraiser the organization face To face was having
to spread awareness about the crime of sex trafficking and benefit an orphanage
in the village of Razliv. At this event I was flabbergasted by the crime of sex
trafficking and wanted to be active in doing something about it. I chose to use
my last two weeks to travel throughout the country, with representatives from
face to face, visiting with children from various orphanages.
This is when I received my first true training and learning experiences about
the effect of human trafficking on the psyche of a human being. I met amazing
children who were robbed of their ability to trust others. I saw in them an undeniable
strength, which perplexed me after the horrifying experiences they faced.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, I felt that there was more to do to help but didn’t
really know what. One night at work I found my inspiration when I was forced to
question the lifestyle choices we choose here in America and the lifestyle choices
people are forced into because of economic, social, and political corruption in
other societies. In that instant I saw the face of Svetlana and many of the other
girls I encountered and started envisioning what it must’ve been like to
be them.
Her experience moved me so much that I wrote the screenplay that same night and
two weeks later I was on a plane with two hundred dollars and a dream, heading
back to Bulgaria. Once I told representatives of my desire, to shoot Svetlana’s
Journey, and use it as a tool to educate society about how traffickers operate,
they were gun-ho and ready to jump on board.
Our biggest obstacle, like always was money. In this instance it took us six months
to raise financing. The Bulgarian Cell phone provider, M-tel, sponsored the budget
of the film along with Topform Studio’s in Bulgaria donating services and
equipment.
For me as a director, my mission was to create a project that delivered a strong,
distressing, message through honest, fast paced action and genuine portrayals
of real experiences.
The entire process leading up to the production and its premiere was a wonderful
experience for me, though stressful to say the least. I was the only American
on set and only 1 of 5 English speakers on set. This was definitely a major task
that made my first directing experience way more challenging. But, in a matter
of six months, I tried to learn as much Bulgarian as possible. I hired a teacher
and learned as many words as I could, the bad ones first of course.
Being able to communicate my thoughts really solidified the great working relationship
between myself and everyone involved in the film. I did though keep my English
speaking Bulgarians very close by.
Though we worked long hours within our short production time period, we managed
to stay fully energized through laughter, hard work, and our belief that we were
doing something great to help others.
I am very thankful to my actors, who trusted me as a director regardless of it
being my first time. They understood, what I believe to be true, and that is actors
make great directors. As a fellow actor, I knew how to express to my actors ideas
and emotions that would help them deliver the story.
As a director, I learned quickly not to tell people what I want but tell them
what I think because everything is perception in this business and I want my actors
to feel free to express theirs. My actors had the freedom to be as creative as
they wanted, making it easier for me to see the range of emotions they could provide,
so I knew what tune down or up.
In regards to my crew, I thoroughly believe that I had one of the most talented
Directors of Photography I have ever worked with. Tony Barkarsky, did a great
job with my personal vision. I truly thought that d.o.p’s world run away
from the idea of the film once I showed them my 94 page storyboards, (mind you
the script is 22 pages), or the 40 page shot list breakdown that I created. But
Tony, just like me, believes in preparation, and we were able to see eye to eye
visually how to capture the emotions and darkness of the film. Thus, when shooting
became stressful, due to availability of actors, finances, and what have you,
we managed to keep our cool and command a great crew.
As for post-production, it happened in a matter of 6 weeks. I worked strictly
with the production company Top Form Studios that also was a producer of the film.
Everyone here worked with me and really shared and understood my vision. Once
again, films operate better when there is agreement and understanding creatively
before the shoot.
Regarding post, I worked very closely with all departments to try and achieve
the mood of the movie. I am most proud of the music that we created for Svetlana’s
Journey. I thought I would have had a hard time finding people who would be able
to create, the same sounds, and melodies that were in my head in my head, but
through a lot of playing around in the music studio, the composer, Kaloyan, and
myself were able to find the right sounds and music to match and enhance to mood
of the film.
Everyone at the studio believed in this project and I feel that is because we
all cared about this young girl and the others just like her.
At the premiere of the film in Sofia, Bulgaria we had members of parliament, various
social ministries, media, local Non Government Organizations, and family and friends.
The screening was packed for standing room only. I stayed in Bulgaria for seven
months after the film was complete and traveled with face to face, screening it
for various orphanages and schools fulfilling my initial desire, to spread awareness
using the film.
The benefit of this movie has been not only remarkable for everyone involved in
it, but for everyone who has seen it. For this, I am not only happy as a writer/
director but I am most happy, as a human.
To date Svetlana’s Journey has screened in Bulgaria on Nova Television in
2005. It is being used as an awareness tool in various countries around the world
and in the U.S.A, by museums, law enforcements agencies, non-government organizations,
and universities.
For more information about Svetlana’s Journey the movie please visit:
http://www.facetoface.bg
http://www.svetlanasjourney.com
http://www.michaelcorydavis.com
* The film was shot in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria
* 6 Day shoot – Single Camera- using Sony HD technology
* The film is subtitled in English
* 40 minutes long
* Sponsored by M-Tel |
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