Inspired by the independent films of the 1990s when “it used to be about story, dialogue and good characters,” Andrej Iliev has crafted the short film Shanghai Story.
The film opens with its unnamed male protagonist soaking inspiration from the Shanghai Tower. The poetic monologue quickly turns on its head, when it’s revealed that it’s fuel for his job.
“He writes descriptions of sex toys for a living, but in a really beautiful and profound way because he wants to be a writer,” director-screenwriter Andrej Iliev explains.
“It’s basically a metaphor about how we get the job that’s somewhat related to what we really want to do.”
He meets a mysterious woman (New York, I Love You’s Emilie Ohana) on The Bund and the film captures their night together, akin to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise.
No VPN? Watch the trailer on Youku.
Partially seeded by a European investor, Shanghai Story was shot in a week. Iliev beams about the experience, despite the several rainy days and the over-eager security guards trying to shut the small production down.
With a few mock-trailers to his name like Kaiser (tagline: he kills/they die/fair trade), Iliev praises Shanghai as a visual canvas. “You could make Chinatown or Blade Runner here just by going to different neighborhoods,” he explains.
He hopes other Shanghai filmmakers follow his lead. “Everybody makes commercials, not films, because that’s where the money is,” he says, noting he also works as a D.O.P. for LP Films. “If you really want to do something close to your heart, you have to do it on your own.”
He’s found a co-conspirator in his male lead Drago Lazetich, who also co-organizes the Stay in Character parties where Shanghai Story will debut on June 15.
“No man is an island,” Lazetich says. “Stay in Character is a networking event for actors, directors and other creatives. We want it to be a showcase for upcoming filmmakers who want to show new films they haven’t released yet.”
// Shanghai Story will be screened at the next Stay in Character party. June 15, 7pm-late, free entry. Beergardn, urbn Hotel, 138 1782 7962, lemontreeproduction@gmail.com
// To see Iliev's work, visit aifilms.org
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