Olga
Niekrasova born in Kyiv, Ukraine on the 15 of April 1992. Moved by a
great desire to fulfill my knowledge in foreign language and
literature I entered the Taras Shevchenko National University of
Kyiv, Institute of Philology. In 2015 I graduated from the faculty of
English/Spanish Philology and Translation with an A-class degree.
I
write screenplays, poetry, novels. I have proved my worth through
awards that my projects have received worldwide.
In
the summer of July 2019, I had a lucky chance to participate in the
movie of Woody Allen “Rifkin’s Festival” that was filmed in San
Sebastian, Spain. Having the incredible opportunity to witness “from
inside” how Woody Allen, a professional director, and screenwriter
was working on his movie, gave me an impulse and motivation for
further work as a writer and filmmaker.
Screenwriting
and filmmaking allow me to unleash my imagination and creativity to
deliver the best possible results.
1.
What topic do you discuss in your script? And why?
I
have several projects and currently, I’m working on two new short
screenplays and a feature screenplay. In a few words, I will speak
about some of my projects.
Short
screenplay “Warm
Sea of Memories”
– is a story about the importance of family and the regaining of
losing family bonds, on the rapprochement of the generation gap and
healing power of sweet memories.
The
short screenplay “Night
Highway”
consists of several different stories that raise issues such as war,
death of a child, misunderstandings in a family that lead to family
breakup, the gap between social classes and its consequences, rape.
This screenplay is based on my poem with the same title.
The
short screenplay “Dance”
is
about violence and discrimination that women can face in different
societies all around the world. This screenplay is also based on my
poem with the same title. The uniqueness of this screenplay lies in
the delicate perceptible adornments that accompany each episode.
Feature
Screenplay “I
am as I am, You are as You are” speaks
about difficulties trying to make the book published and how does it
affect the writer, about relationships when indifference and
hypocrisy prevail support and understanding, and about how sudden
gesture of generosity and kindness to the person in despair and need
can unexpectedly change life both for you and the person.
The
pilot serie “Origami”
explores
the topic of adoption and whether any person can adopt and become a
“real” parent not to a biological child or it is an inborn
vocation.
2.
How do people feel after reading your script?
The
main aim when I write my screenplays is to make people reflect on
various issues in our life. I want to direct people to a rethinking
of some lost values or moral factors, to find out some important
missing puzzles in our lives. I intend my screenplays to be a gulp of
fresh breeze.
3.
Do you think that films can change people for the better or the
worse?
The
film is a powerful multilayered tool that contains far more than only
entertainment itself. It can change people for the better and the
worst.
I
think the violence that can be overused and even exaggerated changes
people for the worst unconsciously programs people for cruelty and
brutality whether are physical or psychological. I don’t claim not
to use violence at all, but it should be measured properly, used, and
shown objectively, for instance, to reveal the consequences of war
and other tragical issues or with the educational aim to change
patterns of people’s behavior for the better or to transmit the
message to the world.
Whereas
movies that inspire, motivate, encourage, or are thought-provoking,
that console in taught moments can be a light in darkness.
Movies
can control and lead the whole masses of people, so actually, every
movie available to us matters, its concept and goal can have a
significant effect on people and consequently on societies.
4.
According to 3-act dramaturgy, how would you define your story?
Stimulating,
Inspirational, Creative, Visual, Deep, Thought-Provoking, Intriguing,
Dramatic, Beautiful.
5.
How does the main character develop?
In
my works, there are two options for character development. The
first is when from the very beginning the character is faced with a
certain problem or conflict and gradually through experience, he/she
comes to certain conclusions and changes. This option is dramatic and
includes various emotional jumps and moments. It can be compared to a
roller coaster, but in the end, we see what the hero came to.
The
second option is akin to an open end. When a character also
experiences certain situations and dramas, but at the end, we cannot
unambiguously say what conclusions the character has come to and how
his life will develop in the future. This
version of character development seems interesting to me and rather
stimulating and intriguing. It can be helpful and practical to give
the viewer food for thought.
6.
What actors do you imagine in your project (typologically)?
It
is a tricky question. I’ll refrain from answering it. Everything
depends on the production, budget, country, and other components of
filmmaking. The most important will be the talent of an actor and how
the person feels his/her character.
7.
Why do you think your script should attract a director?
My
screenplays are very visual and it helps to imagine the whole project
to get a proper understanding and future perspective of it. All
mentioned above projects got awards on International Movie Festivals
around the world or became finalists which is an extra attractive
score.
8.
At which festivals did you receive the award?
Short
script "Night
Highway":
Best short screenplay award at Golden Wheat Awards (Istanbul, Turkey)
2021
Feature screenplay "I am as I am, You are as you are": Nominee for the best screenplay (Tokyo, Japan) 2021
Short script “DANCE”: Best Screenplay Award at Global India International Film Festival 2020.
Short Script "Night Highway": Honorable Mention at Prague International Monthly Film Festival (Czech Republic) 2020.
Short Script "Warm Sea of Memories": Best Short Script Award at 1st Monthly Film Festival (Serbia) 2020.
Short Script "Warm Sea of Memories": Finalist at Alemrere Rahmet Ulususlararasi Kisa Film Festivali (Istanbul, Turkey) 2021
Short Script "Warm Sea of Memories": Finalist at Art Film Festival (Macedonia) 2021
Short Screenplay “Dance”: Finalist at Kosice International Monthly Film Festival (Slovakia) 2020.
Short Script "Warm Sea of Memories": Finalist at Kosice International Monthly Film Festival (Slovakia) 2020.
Short script "Dance": Finalist at International Moving Film Festival(Iran) 2020
Pilot
TV Serie “Origami”:
Official Selection at Global India International Film Festival 2020
9.
Which screenwriters are your favorite and why?
I
can say that I’m absolutely fascinated by the works of Wes
Anderson, Guillaume Laurant, Claude Berri, John Hughes, Woody Allen,
and Richard Curtis. The precious features of their works are genius
use of visuality, sublime or intellectual humor, anatomic
psychological preciseness, and the wholeness of characters. What I
appreciate the most in screenplays and movies is exquisite
workmanship that you can see and feel on all possible levels from
technical and photo visual to metaphorical, true-believing, and
engaging.
10.
About which topics are your screenplays?
In
my works, I raise both social topics and personal dramas and
problems. I
try to do it visually and in an original way to achieve the maximum
result and reach the most secret closed doors of human souls.
Of
course, the war in Ukraine in my native country, this immense grief,
and pain, a huge amount of deaths, destruction, brutal violence, and
crippled human destinies will make my future projects more profound.
11.
What motivates you the most to write screenplays?
I
love writing in general. Since
I learned how to write my mother used to ask me to make up a story:
how my day was, what interesting I saw, what impressed me, etc. It
was my duty that finally became the biggest passion and aspiration of
my life.
I
write and experiment with different genres. Screenwriting is
attractive and interesting for me because my thinking is completely
implemented in the structure of screenplay and the project that I
have after finishing my work makes me happy. It’s vital. And of
course, the screenplay is the first and most important step towards
movie production and it’s what my main goal is.
12.
What are your plans for future careers?
I
see myself as a screenwriter, writer, and filmmaker. The writing as a
whole and the movie industry, in particular, is kind of my inner fire
that moves me further and enriches me professionally and personally.
Also, I am currently raising funds for my future short movie “Warm
Sea of Memories”.
© Cannes Film Awards 2020 - 2023