Interview with 'Lodos' producer Munire Armstrong

Photo: 

Still from Lodos (2009)

Munire Armstrong is an independent film producer from Turkey who recently moved to Toronto to join her husband’s family. We were delighted to meet with her over coffee to learn about her recently completed film Lodos, her insights on life in Toronto, as well as the realities of developing film projects during this economic downturn.

Lodos (the Wind), is produced by Munire’s Yeni Nesil Film company and was written and directed by long time collaborator Didem Erayda. The film was a recipient of the Turkish Cultural Ministry Cinema fund in 2007 and was selected for the Sarajevo Film Festival's CineLink program and Thessaloniki Film Festival, Balkan Fund and Crossroads section.

Munire gives us an overview of Lodos, which completed post-production in 2008.

“A man, who is beating his girlfriend in an empty park, is attacked by a woman. This woman and the girl run away thinking that the man is dead. The girl's sister joins them and they drive to meet their father in his summerhouse. This unexpected crime, which took them to this road, becomes a road to each other and to themselves. They realize on this road that their lives are about running away, disappearance, coincidence, insanity, failures and dreams - and most important of all a deep anxiety. Lodos, which is a strong Mediterranean wind, will follow them all the way,” Munire explains.

“We shot Lodos last winter, so it’s been almost a year now. We didn’t have enough money for post-production. It took quite a long time for us to find post-production funding. We found partners and co-producers from Wales who we met in one of the festivals.” The film is now seeking distribution overseas.

“The film was finished in December and now we are trying to get distribution in Turkey, which has proven difficult. Right now specially, since it is in Turkish.”

Munire explains how, despite all the challenges and difficulties they encountered, they succeeded in making the film in the first place.

“Networking is very important in this business, First of all you have to have a good project and then you have to know a lot of people, even to get your film into a festival.” Having produced and directed a number of short films, including Corpse in the Bathroom, Snow White, The Gift, Toy Factory and The Visit, Munire soon realized the difficulties of creating a full-length feature film.

“It is the first full-length movie for the director and I. We had so many problems that I do not know where to start. It was discouraging but we did not give up."

Regarding her working relationship with director Didem Erayda, Munire explains how their involvement in the short films has benefited their teamwork on Lodos. “We work very well together because we've worked together for a long time; this was our fourth project together.”

The travails and the successes experienced in filming Lodos have not slowed Munire or Didem Erayda any as the duo is currently developing another film which has required Munire to work across continents between Toronto, Turkey and the UK. “We started last spring and it is in the development stage and we’re currently looking for funding. I was hoping to find Canadian producers to work with,” Munire says. She still hopes to find local collaborators to help realize the new project.

Munire explains how she made the transition to move production from her seemingly unrelated previous career.” I started a little bit late in movies, I am an engineer, “she says. “I worked in engineering for 11 years and worked in Nortel Turkey but then I decided to go into the movie business since that was my dream.”

Munire’s background in management, engineering and organization came in handy.
“I like producing, that is where my strength lies. I was a manager in engineering and had to coordinate projects, it was very similar. The tools are different but you still coordinate projects.”

Munire’s advice to would-be filmmakers, especially those interested in the production aspect is to start their careers early.

“I see the disadvantages of starting late. It is a slave business so you have to start a as a slave, as an intern and when you are older, people don’t want to give you those kinds of jobs. I don’t mind making tea for other people, I don’t mind answering the telephones as it is a way to learn the job but people feel uncomfortable having me do that. That’s the way people are, I guess.”

As for her insight into the local film industry, Munire was pleasantly surprised by the warmness and openness she has been shown.

About the people in the industry she has met in Canada, Munire has this to say, “I like the attitude of people and I like their approach. It is very different than it is in Turkey where movie people don’t like newcomers in the business. It is a very small group and they like to keep it that way. Maybe because the resources are so scarce, so they don’t want to share the resources with too many people.”

“Before I came to Toronto, I had no industry contacts. Canadian filmmakers are very friendly too, I find. I just called a few people whose names I found over the Internet or through festivals and I was able to meet most of them. People, in general, want to help but we came at a very bad time because of the economy.”

The economy has affected the film industry in many ways, from project funding all the way to education. “I was going to attend this course that Television Toronto was sponsoring but it got canceled because it didn’t get funding,” she recalls.

Regarding the types of films that inspire and entertain her, Munire tells us, “There are so many films that I like it wouldn’t be fair to choose favourites. I do like Taxi Driver, Cinema Paradiso, a Canadian film I like is Atom Egoyan’s Sweet Hereafter, I love that film.”

Munire also has a fondness for Pedro Almodovar’s films and Wong Kar Wai’s early work as well as the subtleties and long, expressive shots that one sees in many Iranian films. “They offer very rich and visually appealing imagery.”

To learn more:
Lodos Online (Lodos official website)
Yeni Nesil Film (Production company)
Lodos (2009) (Lodos at IMDb)