Diverse Stories and a Life Devoted to the Art of Cinema
To delve into the depths of the cinematic world through the eyes of a director is to understand both the essence of art and what passion truly entails. In this interview, we embark on a journey spanning from the past to the present with a prominent figure in Turkish cinema
- HOW DID YOU START IN CINEMA?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: I deliberately and consciously entered into cinema. Making feature films wasn't quite feasible during our youth. Unfortunately, in the late '80s when Yeşilçam was declining and becoming enslaved to pornography, we didn't have the opportunity to make feature films in that area. We had the potential, but the environment wasn't conducive. We had to transition to documentaries out of necessity, and that's how we started.
- WE HAD HEARD THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY MADE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT TUNCEL KURTİZ. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: I came to Turkey in 1993 with the intention of making a feature film. I approached Tuncel Kurtiz with a leading role offer and decided to abandon that project to make a documentary about him. In 1994, almost the entire cinema community attended the premiere of this documentary; it's an unforgettable memory.
- WHİCH OF YOUR FILMS DO YOU CONSIDER THE BEST?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: Asking which film I like the most is like asking a mother which child she loves more. Each film has its own unique qualities. For instance, 'Hazan Mevsimi' is the first Turkish cinema film set in fairs.
- YOU ARE CURRENTLY SHOOTING A FILM AT BE PLATO. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS FILM?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: The film we shot at Be Plato is titled 'Enstantane'. It's a very harsh story set in a prison and focused on two women. It was truly enjoyable to shoot within the facilities of Be Plato.
- ON SET, WHOSE ROLE DO YOU THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT IN A PROJECT, THE SCREENWRITER'S, THE DIRECTOR'S, OR THE ACTOR'S?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: Of course, it's the director's role. Although cinema is made with a large number of people, it is a one-person job, and all other elements assist him.
- WHAT KIND OF DIRECTOR ARE YOU ON SET?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: To ensure that some jobs are properly executed in a short time, there must be order and discipline. Therefore, I may sometimes create a slightly severe perception on the set.
- SHOULD IMPROVISATION BE PART OF IT?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: Of course, it should be. Actors can interpret dialogues better with their own style of speech.
- WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH NURİ BİLGE CEYLAN?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: We are very old friends; we are somehow involved in all of his projects, just as he is involved in all of my projects from the very beginning.
- IT IS SAID THAT SOME FILMS HAVE SPECIFICALLY THANKED YOU. WHAT WERE YOUR ROLES IN THESE FILMS?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: Generally, I am involved in Nuri's films from the beginning, so their thanks make me happy.
- DO YOU HAVE ANY INDISPENSABLES ON SET?
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: The hierarchical perception is the one thing I dislike most on sets. We don't have hierarchy; everything is horizontal.
- THANK YOU FOR THE INTERVIEW.
MEHMET ERYILMAZ: You're welcome, and thank you as well.
In the director's own words, cinema is above all an art, requiring a lifetime of passion and effort dedicated to this art. His perspective on the cinematic world reveals that it's not just a profession but a way of life. We thank him for this candid conversation and wish him success on his cinematic journey.
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