Guys, I have a question. See what you think. It’s something that’s been on my mind for a few years now and I think it will be an interesting topic for all of us to sit down and talk about.
In the past years, I’ve had many chances to act in dramas, dances, plays, etc. and I love writing, reading, and movies. Apart from being good at computers and music, this is one side of me that has developed a lot throughout the years. I’ve always heard about the Genocide, even when I was in different countries, but when I got into Armenian communities, and eventually came back to Armenia to stay this time, during those “Armenian Times”, I began to reflect on everything Armenian, and very heavily on the Genocide. I even got chances to talk about it and introduce it to people who didn’t even know about it. You should’ve seen the looks on their faces. I guess I had my way of capturing people. Anyways, at one point, I begin writing scripts with Armenian themes that would by executed modernly and not in the old fashioned way, especially Sasuntsi Davit which I read in one day. Some kids at school still don’t believe me, , it WAS! a pretty fat book. I could, as I grew up, set up complete movies in my head just from reading or just imagining. I loved it. It seemed like I had my own world, I wouldn’t do anything else at one point.
Anyways, I took up the subject of the Genocide which is a very difficult subject and began writing my own book and script but in a totally different way. My heart ached every time the Genocide came to mind and it sort of became like a life’s pursuit to throw a different light on it. Sounds familiar? Believe it or not, I’m still working on it till now. It may come out, it may not, I don’t really care, but I can’t let go of it.
I’ve seen tons of movies, read tons of articles, but all the movies I’ve seen so far have either briefly touched upon the events of 1915, have been documental films, OR have been Armenian films that I would watch hungrily for the hundredth time although they can't stand next to the movies currently being made. Not all will appreciate them. Armenian movies have always been mature to me, much more mature then Hollywood movies. You learn more in one Armenian movie then you could by watching a hundred Hollywood movies, not that I don’t like them though, their like two different genres. I watched Ararat but it didn’t quench my thirst from both a movie’s perspective or a movie that was supposed shed great light upon our past. It did, to some extent, but it didn’t have the Armenian feel, if you know what I mean. It seemed more like an American tale, if you know what I mean. Many have tried but I’ve realized that only Armenian’s and Armenian directors have been able to give our past what it deserves and from an Armenian point of view.
So, here I am. The script or story I’ve come up with is a long one, not your average 1 – 1:30 hour movie. At least it seems very long. I don’t think one hour is enough to depict the Genocide. By nature, I’m a modern guy but history is one of my bright sides. Throw me in a museum and I might never come out, haha. I designed a plot that I think could really go with the standards of Hollywood. I think one movie in a modern fashion could rock the world. Many countries and people in the world don’t even know we exist. Sometimes my friends didn’t even know my country existed. I was from … nowhere … sometimes. I was already searching the maps for Armenia at one point . What’s been going on right now is basically all documental but not really movies. Ararat, Artuitneri Agaraku, and a few old movies, good or bad, could be called MOVIES but I don’t think any could go with the modern flow. I think what we need to do, not necessarily me, who the hell am I, but Armenians with modern imaginations need to take the Genocide further not as a documental movie, that’s gone too far, but as a powerful blast of fresh air. Look at Troy, look at 300, one of the best examples, look at ANY movie nowadays; we have the power to make what we need. 300 was such a simple tale and they turned it into a daredevil. Now all we need to do is to harness that power. My best hopes right now is Sylvester Stallone who MIGHT make “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” which I am truly looking forward to. I just hope he doesn’t turn it into a Rambo movie or anything hahahaha.
OKAAYYY, my question, finally, sorry for making this so long. It seems every time I write a post it turns into a book. I was wondering, would a movie on the Genocide need to be based completely on true facts? I’ve given the story a modern flow and a story that leaves you clueless until the very last second of the movie which doesn’t revolve around only 1915 but the present, as well. There is fiction though, believable fiction of course but would it be okay to mix that with the Genocide since it’s such a subtle subject? I think the most important thing is to prove that it happened and some fiction won’t turn it upside down. I think it would make it more appealing if done in the proper way, all the same, of course. It’s actually broken into two parts. The second part is based on true facts 95% of the time (in my own way) to end the “saga” with the truth rather then with fiction. It continues from a point where the first left off ending it properly so people don’t say it was all “fiction”. My main question is basically if that’s ok and what you think or how you would perceive a movie like that. A new approach is required. Books were a great ways to entertain people but times have changed. Movies are huge now. Me, and I think all of us, want the Armenian movie industry to blossom. Nice dream, isn’t it? They have more potential then we all think no doubt about it. New times are coming. Here’s to the bright ones.
In the past years, I’ve had many chances to act in dramas, dances, plays, etc. and I love writing, reading, and movies. Apart from being good at computers and music, this is one side of me that has developed a lot throughout the years. I’ve always heard about the Genocide, even when I was in different countries, but when I got into Armenian communities, and eventually came back to Armenia to stay this time, during those “Armenian Times”, I began to reflect on everything Armenian, and very heavily on the Genocide. I even got chances to talk about it and introduce it to people who didn’t even know about it. You should’ve seen the looks on their faces. I guess I had my way of capturing people. Anyways, at one point, I begin writing scripts with Armenian themes that would by executed modernly and not in the old fashioned way, especially Sasuntsi Davit which I read in one day. Some kids at school still don’t believe me, , it WAS! a pretty fat book. I could, as I grew up, set up complete movies in my head just from reading or just imagining. I loved it. It seemed like I had my own world, I wouldn’t do anything else at one point.
Anyways, I took up the subject of the Genocide which is a very difficult subject and began writing my own book and script but in a totally different way. My heart ached every time the Genocide came to mind and it sort of became like a life’s pursuit to throw a different light on it. Sounds familiar? Believe it or not, I’m still working on it till now. It may come out, it may not, I don’t really care, but I can’t let go of it.
I’ve seen tons of movies, read tons of articles, but all the movies I’ve seen so far have either briefly touched upon the events of 1915, have been documental films, OR have been Armenian films that I would watch hungrily for the hundredth time although they can't stand next to the movies currently being made. Not all will appreciate them. Armenian movies have always been mature to me, much more mature then Hollywood movies. You learn more in one Armenian movie then you could by watching a hundred Hollywood movies, not that I don’t like them though, their like two different genres. I watched Ararat but it didn’t quench my thirst from both a movie’s perspective or a movie that was supposed shed great light upon our past. It did, to some extent, but it didn’t have the Armenian feel, if you know what I mean. It seemed more like an American tale, if you know what I mean. Many have tried but I’ve realized that only Armenian’s and Armenian directors have been able to give our past what it deserves and from an Armenian point of view.
So, here I am. The script or story I’ve come up with is a long one, not your average 1 – 1:30 hour movie. At least it seems very long. I don’t think one hour is enough to depict the Genocide. By nature, I’m a modern guy but history is one of my bright sides. Throw me in a museum and I might never come out, haha. I designed a plot that I think could really go with the standards of Hollywood. I think one movie in a modern fashion could rock the world. Many countries and people in the world don’t even know we exist. Sometimes my friends didn’t even know my country existed. I was from … nowhere … sometimes. I was already searching the maps for Armenia at one point . What’s been going on right now is basically all documental but not really movies. Ararat, Artuitneri Agaraku, and a few old movies, good or bad, could be called MOVIES but I don’t think any could go with the modern flow. I think what we need to do, not necessarily me, who the hell am I, but Armenians with modern imaginations need to take the Genocide further not as a documental movie, that’s gone too far, but as a powerful blast of fresh air. Look at Troy, look at 300, one of the best examples, look at ANY movie nowadays; we have the power to make what we need. 300 was such a simple tale and they turned it into a daredevil. Now all we need to do is to harness that power. My best hopes right now is Sylvester Stallone who MIGHT make “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” which I am truly looking forward to. I just hope he doesn’t turn it into a Rambo movie or anything hahahaha.
OKAAYYY, my question, finally, sorry for making this so long. It seems every time I write a post it turns into a book. I was wondering, would a movie on the Genocide need to be based completely on true facts? I’ve given the story a modern flow and a story that leaves you clueless until the very last second of the movie which doesn’t revolve around only 1915 but the present, as well. There is fiction though, believable fiction of course but would it be okay to mix that with the Genocide since it’s such a subtle subject? I think the most important thing is to prove that it happened and some fiction won’t turn it upside down. I think it would make it more appealing if done in the proper way, all the same, of course. It’s actually broken into two parts. The second part is based on true facts 95% of the time (in my own way) to end the “saga” with the truth rather then with fiction. It continues from a point where the first left off ending it properly so people don’t say it was all “fiction”. My main question is basically if that’s ok and what you think or how you would perceive a movie like that. A new approach is required. Books were a great ways to entertain people but times have changed. Movies are huge now. Me, and I think all of us, want the Armenian movie industry to blossom. Nice dream, isn’t it? They have more potential then we all think no doubt about it. New times are coming. Here’s to the bright ones.
Comment