Tatu Blomqvist, text and picture
Tytti Pohjola, translation
Antti Murtonen (filming) has been a familiar face in indie circles for over a decade
An ordinary apartment in Hervanta, southern Tampere, has turned into a studio. There are dozens of filming lights suspended from the living room ceiling. In the walk-in closet, there are tall shelvings holding film props. The number of costumes and weapons is astonishing.
One of the most notable production companies producing indie film - film made by amateur film makers - is Trash-video in Tampere. Trash-video has produced films since 1995 without outside funding and proven along the way that independent, cost-efficient film making is, in fact, possible.
Antti Murtonen and Ville Lähde from Trash-video say they never believed they would get financial support for their productions. That’s why they decided they would take matters into their own hands.
- In indie productions we get to be our own bosses, Murtonen and Lähde say.
Indie film has been greatly affected by the development of camera and production technology and the reduced cost of film making equipment. Lower costs now enable the use of quality equipment in amateur film productions: content and quality are no longer mutually exclusive.
Members of Trash-video have been familiar faces in film circles for over a decade. In their opinion, while there are several proficient and internationally known film makers in Finland, creative film making needs to increase tenfold from its present amount.
- In an ideal situation, someone gets a great idea, which is then made into a film, says Trash-video member Matti Kuusniemi.
The current situation, according to Kuusniemi, is contrary to that ideal, as many films are without an original point of view. Bold and startling productions are few and far apart.
- It seems there’s plenty of money for making films of dead Finns, Arto Paasonen adds.
Kuusniemi also finds it problematic that the same group of actors keep starring in all the large film productions.
Part one of Juhlajätkät series, produced by Trash-video will be screened at the Trash movie festival on Saturday March 10th at Yo-talo. Rated: R.
Juhlajätkät (also in English)
www.juhlajatkat.tv
Trash Video Online (in English and in Finnish)
www.trashvideo.org
Updated 10 March 2007 19:00
