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Hollywood's Spirit In Armenia

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  • Hollywood's Spirit In Armenia

    AZG Armenian Daily #019, 04/02/2005

    Cinematography

    HOLLYWOOD'S SPIRIT IN ARMENIA

    New Birth of Hayfilm

    Hayfilm, the first and the biggest cinema studio of the Soviet Armenia,
    was founded in1923. In 1957 it was called Hayfilm, while in 1966,
    it was named after Hamo Beknazarian. Since the very first years it
    became clear that the cinema studio will have a long and fruitful
    creative life. But, as a result of the changes in the course of the
    last 15 years, Hayfilm suffered hardship. Today the studio works in
    unbearable conditions, it has only one camera. It is obvious that
    the studio can't work in such conditions for a long time, one should
    make huge investments to enter the international cinema market and
    should be well-equipped technically. So, it was decided to privatize
    the cinema studio.

    "About a year and a half ago, we began discussions in that direction,
    but we didn't agree on some points and demands with the investors
    (Ara Abrahamian, Gerard Gafestchian) and we stopped the process,"
    Gevorg Gevorgian, head of Hayfilm cinema studio, said. At present,
    Khachik Khachikian, American-Armenian businessman, chairman of Vision
    Quest Pictures company, wants to privatize the studio. He will allocate
    $1,5 million for the privatization of the studio, while the further
    investments will surpass $100 million. According to Mr. Gevorgian,
    by the instruction of RA prime minister, the possession of the studio
    is being calculated. As for the concern that the deal may turn to be
    an unreal one, Mr. Gevorgian assured that "one of the key points of
    the agreement is that all the possession should remain to the state
    until the investments are made." The name and the emblem of the studio
    (the statue of David of Sassoon) will be preserved.

    Representing the plan of the future building of Hayfilm, made by
    an American-Armenian Architect, Mr. Gevorgian described the main
    constructions of the studio. Mr. Gevorgian denied the information that
    the current building of the studio will be totally ruined. "The studio
    will be preserved with its main edifices. The small and unimportant
    constructions may be destroyed," he said.

    The construction of the cine-city will have two stages. The first
    one includes the total renovation of the whole studio, construction
    of squares, creation of artificial lakes and fountains, construction
    of 12 gigantic pavilions (each of them is a double one, i.e. there
    will be 24 pavilions in total), the establishment of a cinema-school,
    where the students of our cinema and art institutes will study. The
    investor will secure equipment that keeps in line with the European
    criteria. The cinema production section, as well as the artificial
    city will be constructed in the territory of Hayfilm. Investments
    amounting to $112 million are envisaged for this stage. The films of
    the studio will be rerecorded in the digital format. An international
    film festival is envisaged to be held in Hayfilm.

    They envisage building a hotel complex in the second stage. This
    hotel complex will be no entertainment center but will receive the
    cinema figures from foreign countries. $100 million is envisaged for
    this stage. In fact, the investments will surpass the expectations.

    In one word, a real miracle is going to take place in the course of
    the coming five years.

    The new Hayfilm will have 2500-3000 employees instead of the 300 that
    are currently working at the studio. This will solve the issue of
    the unemployment and the minimal salary of the employees will amount
    to $100.

    Simultaneously with the reconstruction works, many films will be shot
    at Hayfilm. The studio envisages to shoot 5-6 début films, 4 feature
    films and 4 cartoons will be produced by Hayfilm in 2005. The studio
    will represent Edgar Baghdasarian's "Mariam" and Vigen Chaldranian's
    "Agatangeghos" films in at Cannes Film Festival. In case they manage,
    they will send a film to the US Film Academy to be nominated, as well.

    Mr. Gevorgian stated that AMD 250 million are allocated for the studio
    from the state budget annually.

    Let's wish success to the authors of this great initiative and let's
    hope that one day we will again be proud of the miracle the Armenian
    cinema creates.

    By Gohar Gevorgian

    --Boundary_(ID_egX9SHSgHgOpyCN4jj92qQ)--

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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