Exclusive Interview: Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD - We Talk THE HOBBIT And THE GREAT GATSBY Too!
I recently had the the opportunity and pleasure to speak with Steve Schklair, 3D Producer on STALINGRAD (catch up on our coverage of the movie here) and CEO of our friends at 3ality Technica. The movie was directed by the much in demand Russian filmmaker Fedor Bondarchuk and is the entry from Russia for the upcoming Academy Awards, Best Foreign Language Oscar.
Steve and I talk about the movie at length (the whole interview is just over 30 minutes) including segments on the director, the 3ality Technica equipment and services, the magnificent sets, Russian crews, the film's esthetics, budget, box office, some of the history involved, Fedor Bondarchuk and his cinematographer, etc.
We also touch upon THE GREAT GATSBY and THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG as 3ality Techica was instrumental in the making of those 3D movies, as well as what's next for Steve and 3ality.
After a record breaking launch in Russia and the Ukraine, STALINGRAD is now enjoying huge box office returns in China. To date the movie has earned $65.7 million with more results due from China.
Here's the interview; enjoy:
Here's the storyline for STALINGRAD:
Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin and directed by Fedor Bondarchuk, STALINGRAD is set in 1942, when invading German troops were in control of the Volga River. A group of Soviet soldiers finds a young woman trapped behind enemy lines and works to protect her. Thomas Kretschmann and Yanina Studilina star.
The Battle of Stalingrad (August 23, 1942–February 2, 1943) was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in the southwestern Soviet Union. Marked by constant close-quarters combat and lack of regard for military and civilian casualties, it is among the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. The heavy losses inflicted on the German army make it arguably the most strategically decisive battle of the whole war. Afterwards, the German forces never regained the initiative in war in the East.
If you haven't seen the trailer yet (And I highly recommend you do), check it out here.
Definitely check out this movie if you have the opportunity and I'll have more information about distribution soon for western audiences.
