I thought I would post the
January press release that goes out to our sponsors...it gives a brief overview on the past few months in Kosovo. In the next few days I will do my best to have some new rough cut clips up and streaming…
January, 2006 -- With our final shoot taking place in a war-torn, disheveled theater in the town of Trepca, "Kosovo" has officially entered into the editing phase of post production. Having spent the last three months filming and living in the Balkans, we have over 80 hours of footage and a compelling story that portrays life in Kosovo through the eyes and lens of a local filmmaker, Luli Hoti. The documentary follows Luli as he battles to make a short film which deals with the reality of the situation in Kosovo. The vision for Luli's story came to him in a dream and it was this dream that inspired Luli to produce his film, despite the insurmountable odds that he was up against.
Having less than two months to go from conception to completion, Luli's schedule was tight; with a release date set for December 17th in the blown up Trepca theater. Due to the other local venues being occupied by the French Military and the UN Police, Luli knew that the war torn theater in Trepca would serve as a symbolic location for his short film. Once Luli had completed his screen play and began discussing his production with local leaders, actors, and business men, the media also became interested in Luli's timely film. As we followed the progression of Luli's project, the pieces seemed to be falling into place. It was as if everyone Luli met, and everyone he talked to, was a link in the chain, all working towards the proliferation of his short film.
In telling the story of Kosovo, rather than dwelling on the incomprehensible tragedies of the war, or getting entangled in the indiscernible politics, it was our desire to make a documentary that focused on the good rather than the bad. Our intention is to draw the viewer into the story in such a way that the audience feels as though they have tasted the life, people, and culture, of a part of the world that would otherwise remain an uncertain headline.
The process of shooting this film was one which was filled with plenty of excitement, as we found ourselves, along with Luli, in the middle of a story which was quickly unfolding before us. There was a sense of destiny, along with a sense of uncertainty, not knowing the outcome of the very story we were filming. Having first shot in Kosovo in November of 1999, this has been a seven year journey - one that has been filled with countless memories and endless hours of footage.
Because most theaters won't show films that are over one hundred and thirty hours long, we will be spending the next several months editing this footage into a ninety-minute documentary that will likely bring some laughs, possibly a few tears, and hopefully some insights into the land and people of Kosovo...
