Derya Durmasz: It´s very difficult for young film makers to make a film
Written by Eva Csölleová, Vítek Formánek
Turkish cinematography is not the one we would know very much about so we jumped at a chance to talk to the top Turkish actress and director Derya Durmasz at the Zlín film festival. It was really an eyes opening talk.
Turkish cinematography had many waves notably in 60´s and 80´s which had big effect on quality and production of the movies.How do you view situation now?
In last 8 years I see specially independent film growing strongly.Growing in quality and contents and it´s booming again.Films went to many international festivals and won some big awards, getting lots of international attention from media industry.So the independent cinema in that sence is doing quite well althought the financial situation is of course not ideal.The people on independent scene are very productive and mainstream cinema is also growing but I am not sure if they are all successfull in box office.The number of films is growing and those which are made quickly are eliminated.These mainstream films are reaching the point where the quality of contents and technique is good and so it the box office success.
In late 80´s and early 90´s there was big censorship in your cinematography which halted and banned some good films.What was the censorship about-was it political or religious issue and was it done by state employed body or some film institute like in USA in 50´s?Do you still have censorship now?
Mostly the censorship was based on political ground and when some censorship comes, it is mostly some government stand.In last years we sadly were witnesses of censorship and self censorship.Last year for example during Golden Orange festival which is one of the biggest international festivals in Turkey a documentary about Gaza protests was made and it was in the competition.It rapidly turned into the situation where this film wasn´t s shown because organizers put kind of self censorship on them and got limiting themselves and became afraid that if they don´t, government will do.You know, if you are afraid of producing yourself, limiting yourself from certain action- that is self censorship.And the result of this incident was, that me and my two colleagues decided not to participate in that festival with our short documentary film.Some of the films decided altogether not to take part in the competition and many film makers pulled their films back and it was very unfotunate situation.And also this year during the big International festival in Istanbul, there was a documentary film about Turkish girl living in the mountains and that ended up not being shown.Festival declared that they got communicatiomn with Ministry of culture and were told that they don´t want this documentary being shown but then Ministry declared „ it´s not our issue, it´s just a matter of technical problems since films that go into commercial arena must be registered and must have an age limit imposed on them“.You know people decide who can watch it and you pay lots of money to get these registration documents.The film makers protested that there was not such rule before and everybody pulled back their films.So yes, in kind of indirectly way we still have censorship in our country.
In early 70´s Turkey produced about 250 films a year which is a lot and we believe that quantity got over quality.What kind of films are mainly made in Turkey these days?
Yes, in those days it was very very fast and very low quality, poor contents entertaining block busters that were only made to keep making money.In last couple of years about 80-90 films per year were made in Turkey and again we talk about both independent and mainstream side.Bigger number is being made but some of them are surely of poor quality because we never manage to see them.But now compare to that 70´s is completely different situation because there are also very good films of all kind.There is a lot of co-production and there are also few films which has main foreign stars from Europe.
Is it possible that someone would make serious film about muslims and religious problems that are in your country and around or this is strictly banned and controlled?
I think none said in writing that noone can make such film but if that film gets government subsidy is one question and I would doubt that such film would reach the cinemas.That is a big question.
Where is the center of film idnustry in Turkey, do you have any big studios where all is filmed?What is normal budget for film and how is it funded-by state, TV or some funds or grants?
Again there are two different cases.Mainstream films which are aimed at box office and independent films which are focused on festivals.They also of course would like to reach the box office but the owner of cinema saloons and ditributors are becoming like a monopol. There are two main distributors and cinema saloons are turning into shopping malls where there are 8-9 big cinemas which are owned by one or two big companies and there are big Hollywood productions or big Turkish mainstream productions.And if these films are showed here, there are no cinemas left to show the independent films.In a bigger picture it causes problems for funding the independent picture cos possible sponsors say“ Oh, they are not going into cinemas“.They don´t let indepenent film into cinema saloons.It´s like vicious circle.On one end there is a subsidy from Ministry of culture for about 20 films a year and I think the biggest money from government ministry were like 350 000 euros and it can be as low as 100 000 euros.I am a member of actors society for copyrights.Problem we have here is that copyright system is not working.No directors, scriptwriters or actors get any royalties, only musicians do.It is in the law but it doesn´t work.When you sign the contract as an actor, you give a signature to clause that you give away the rights.
We made agreement with our colleagues say in Spain and another countries which resulted in, for the first time ever,our actors were paid if our films were showed in Spain.No people get any royalties for their work in Turkey.I played in one of the biggest hits in Turkey about 5 years ago.I was paid well, good conditions but it was showed again and again on different channels through years and I got nothing from it.One part of the copyright is private copying when you, me or anybody can copy film by any means.In every country, persentage of tax from device used for coyping films goes back to government means, go back to collecting society and then to the industry.Since the copyright system is not working, the government subsidy is paid by those taxes which means that government gives us money which are ours anyway.Those funds are used mainly for independent films while box office films are funded by big studios.
Your film UZAK was awarded in Cannes in 2003.What was so different on it that it went to this prestigeous festival.Are your films made only in Turkish and are not for sale abroad or you also have English version and try to sell them outside but they are not so much wanted?
Director of that film Nuri Bilge Ceylan made many other films that were awarded Palm d´Or and he won in Cannes again this year.France is the cradle of the film and I think someone noticed the quality of his films so invited him to festival.When he won he was invited again.Our films were shown not only in Cannes but also in Berlinale so of course we have subtitles so they reach big international audience.
To make a living do you have to work in film, theatre and TV like here in Czech Republic or it doesn´t work that way?
It is similiar in Turkey.I am an actress and director and for me to make money I have to make TV series.I could also make money if I act in peak mainstream films.But since it´s not as big as in Hollywood, one film doesn´t bring you a living for a year.Dubbing was also something that made us actors earning good money, but it´s going down now.It also worked in TV serie when some people had good look but couldn´t act so you ended up dubbing them which may sound funny...Turkish actors dubbing Turkish actor.
What is the situation for independent film in Turkey, any platform for film makers?
Its is very difficult for young filmmakers to make their film if they want to.It is difficult for feature film but for short film it is bit easier.But independent film which ends up being good, usually applies to government funds.Films goes to film festivals and if they win an award they get a chance to get international distributor, which is the chance for them to have their film sold to TV.But one good thing is that some Turkish distributors started an insenstive called BASKA Cinema and they made a deal with one of those main cinemas that at least one saloon will be showing independent filmAnd they keep monthly programmes of independent films which secure interest in the cinemas.