Broken Circle
A PHILOSOPHICAL FANTASY HISTORY DRAMA
Cinematic Rendition of a Fictional Ancient Greek Tragedy
In Ancient Greece, in the time of Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus and Achilles, shortly before the Trojan War, events are reversed and the order of things changes. Young Electra while is in an existential quest for truth, she's being trapped in the crack of time.
Interview with Demetrios (aka Dimitrios) Katis
1. What is the story behind your film?
B R O K E N C I R C L E is A PHILOSOPHICAL FANTASY HISTORY DRAMA, A Cinematic Rendition of a Fictional Ancient Greek Tragedy In Ancient Greece, in the time of Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus and Achilles, shortly before the Trojan War, events are reversed and the order of things changes. Young Electra while is in an existential quest for truth, she's being trapped in the crack of time. "Thousands of years ago, in this world, οn this primeval land, Joy was seduced by deceptive Time, which set a relentless trap for her. Nevertheless, those years then were carefree, with the Unknown being the dominant player. Nature was in harmony with man or at least man thought so. The young daughter with an unconditional love for life and with so many questions about the mysteries that surround it, was erotically immersed into a noetic search for existential truth, guided by the questioning of concepts, against the establishment of time. Τhis paradoxical version of the daughter's path we will recount through this strange story. It was a time when the Kingdoms were alternated by ambitious Nobles, cruel Kings and Plunderers and where borders were undefined. This is a story that no one knows if it really happened or if it was a dream within a dream… this story is an upgraded version of the reality of this universe or of another..."
2. What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
Τhe constant sense of the perpetual upheaval of things, the beauty of our temporary but at the same time multidimensional world, the universal love of people and other living beings. Τhe anguish of man for survival in the unknown, and the anxiety of self-definition, the purity of the love of gods, beasts, and men, everything in this world can be done regardless of time and will. Αll these preceding, are illustrated by our simple story, which the broken circle reverses its course and makes it an offshoot of another world and time. Simply put, each viewer can give their own interpretation of the course of events according to their own filters. Love, hate, revenge, pain, war, futility, romance, purity, kindness, greed, deceit, and everything else defines us as weak people and strong solvers in times of crisis.
3. Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
I suppose both..It depends on the type of vibrations that a script writer and/or a director produce while a film is being watched by the viewers. The inner world of a creator can be evaluated differently by each individual. Sometimes it doesn't matter what exactly a movie creator wants or needs to give to the audience, on the contrary, it is the individual viewer who translates the story in his/her mind and heart according to his/her needs and filters which all of those based on his/her own experience, knowledge, and type of personality. Sometimes the viewer may give further explanation than the one it was primarily and initially in film creator's mind. Films may change people to better or worse as well..also films may not change people to better or worse at all.. there are so many factors that can act strangely and differently,..after all, most of the time it is just entertainment..as for the rest of the time, let me remind you that in greek language the term for actor is "ethopoios" which means that the person who acts, he/she creates 'ethos' (morals).
4. How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
My film was shot during the pandemic. We had a special permission issued by the government for film shooting so we could travel around the country "escaping" that way the lockdown. Cast and crew all vaccinated and wearing masks, at least behind the scenes. It's so quiet at the time, less people in the streets and other locations so we had in a way the sense of a sort of freedom without irrelevant people watching us. At the same time though there was another sense as well resembled to some post apocalyptic scene of a movie. Anyhow we did really enjoy it.
5. What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
As you know BROKEN CIRCLE is an absolute independent full length feature film which means we had pros and cons as well.. The creation style had to be adjusted according the needs of the story and of course the available technical means and equipment.. As a former post production facility owner I used my own available equipment. 'Broken Circle' is a fictional fantasy drama, a slow burn philosophical history project containing sci-fi scenes as well. All of the above contributed to a certain creation style that had to be strictly followed in order to depict the story in the most appropriate way. Music & Photography played the most important role giving that way the impression of an 'audio painting' on screen. I am a professional composer who writes and directs as well. Undoubtedly this combination of expertises can contribute to a different creation style used in production.
6. How did you select the actors for your project?
Mostly selected young artists, seniors or recent drama school graduates, blended with established artists from the Greek National Opera along with stage & TV series actors as well. They all had to have the sparkle of contributing to this effort in order to promote altogether a cultural project based on Hellenism and the western civilazation through out the world. I remember that some of their faces it was like they sprang out right out from the ancient times..
7. Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
It's unique, a philosophical drama, an ancient Greek tragedy on screen, a sci-fi enigma, historical fantasy, romantic and cruel, full of unexpected twists. Wonderful orchestral music and magical Greek scenery, based on Homer's world oldest epic poem, Iliad, but all looks like all happened, in a parallel universe.
8. At which festival has your film been screened?
Dozens of festivals all across the world, from Australia and Asia, to Europe and North America, collecting that way dozens of Awards, Nominations, & Official Selections, and we're really honored. This journey of our film to the international film festivals started in spring of 2022 and would be continued until the end of 2023 or spring 2024. We look forward to winning even more awards from around the world and to meeting new good people, viewers and experts to share with, this unique story of ours.
9. How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
Most of the them, they loved it, even those, who didn't really understand the meaning, they were impressed as well, by the uniqueness of thematology, the scenery, photography, music, and the literary writing of the script.
10. If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
Maybe I would delay the filming half a year at least, in order to arrange a stronger funding income to support our effort, but you know, as we say.. "make hay while the sun shines".
11. Which movies are your favorites and why?
Aw! There are plenty ones, for example:
John Milius' 'CONAN the Barbarian' based on Robert E. Howard's creation. Wonderful photography & scenery, a magnificent James Earl Jones, and of course the majestic music of late Greek-American Basil Poledouris.
Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey', a philosophical sci-fi masterpiece.
Sergio Leone's 'The Good The Bad and The Ugly', groundbreaking direction and music, innovative creation style, and the one and only Eli Wallace.
And sooo many others..
12. What topics do you like to address in your stories?
existential questions, philosophical quests, romantic eroticism, constant twists, metaphysical mystery, scientific dead ends, historical and fictional epics, fantasy otherworldly creations, multidimensional existences, ancient Greek mythology and history.
13. What is your motivation in making films?
It is the need to create a parallel reality or any other reality that under certain circumstances could evolve into a new reality, with the heroes acquiring new characteristics. Αll this, of course, through a cinematic lens that poetically resembles the eye of a god..Alternative interpretations of life, potential answers to existential questions. The main motivation is to create, to create dreams and ideas wiith vivid images of different and various moods and contrasts. Primarily as a composer, I think musically about the upcoming cinematic image that I am designing in my mind. And who knows, this may be an innovation or originality in the way of a creation style as already answered previously..
14. Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
There are some creators of extra quality that I can feel their work as much as possibly ,I am able to, of course. Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, American David Lynch, John Milius, John McTiernan, British Christopher Nolan, German Marcus Nispel, and several more others.
15. What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
Τhere are two possible scenarios, both of which are period films, set in the 19th century.
DEMETRIOS KATIS (aka Dimitrios) is a Greek-American, Multi-Award Winning Composer of Epic Orchestral/Symphonic Scores & Founder / composer / guitarist / lyricist at EXORISTOI (best selling Southern European Epic Metal Band, EMI Platinum). Professional Journalist, member of the Athens union (ESHEA) and member of the IFJ (international federation of journalists in Brussels). Award-Winning Film Director & Writer.
Learn more about Demetrios and his work:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR BROKEN CIRCLE
(Broken Circle & Demetrios Katis) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.broken-circle.net
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EPICSCORES
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenKatis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimitrios_katis/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18277968/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
UK - AMAZON Prime Video https://www.amazon.co.uk/Broken-Circle.../dp/B0B6KQL4ZX
Cinematic Rendition of a Fictional Ancient Greek Tragedy
In Ancient Greece, in the time of Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus and Achilles, shortly before the Trojan War, events are reversed and the order of things changes. Young Electra while is in an existential quest for truth, she's being trapped in the crack of time.
Interview with Demetrios (aka Dimitrios) Katis
1. What is the story behind your film?
B R O K E N C I R C L E is A PHILOSOPHICAL FANTASY HISTORY DRAMA, A Cinematic Rendition of a Fictional Ancient Greek Tragedy In Ancient Greece, in the time of Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus and Achilles, shortly before the Trojan War, events are reversed and the order of things changes. Young Electra while is in an existential quest for truth, she's being trapped in the crack of time. "Thousands of years ago, in this world, οn this primeval land, Joy was seduced by deceptive Time, which set a relentless trap for her. Nevertheless, those years then were carefree, with the Unknown being the dominant player. Nature was in harmony with man or at least man thought so. The young daughter with an unconditional love for life and with so many questions about the mysteries that surround it, was erotically immersed into a noetic search for existential truth, guided by the questioning of concepts, against the establishment of time. Τhis paradoxical version of the daughter's path we will recount through this strange story. It was a time when the Kingdoms were alternated by ambitious Nobles, cruel Kings and Plunderers and where borders were undefined. This is a story that no one knows if it really happened or if it was a dream within a dream… this story is an upgraded version of the reality of this universe or of another..."
2. What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
Τhe constant sense of the perpetual upheaval of things, the beauty of our temporary but at the same time multidimensional world, the universal love of people and other living beings. Τhe anguish of man for survival in the unknown, and the anxiety of self-definition, the purity of the love of gods, beasts, and men, everything in this world can be done regardless of time and will. Αll these preceding, are illustrated by our simple story, which the broken circle reverses its course and makes it an offshoot of another world and time. Simply put, each viewer can give their own interpretation of the course of events according to their own filters. Love, hate, revenge, pain, war, futility, romance, purity, kindness, greed, deceit, and everything else defines us as weak people and strong solvers in times of crisis.
3. Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
I suppose both..It depends on the type of vibrations that a script writer and/or a director produce while a film is being watched by the viewers. The inner world of a creator can be evaluated differently by each individual. Sometimes it doesn't matter what exactly a movie creator wants or needs to give to the audience, on the contrary, it is the individual viewer who translates the story in his/her mind and heart according to his/her needs and filters which all of those based on his/her own experience, knowledge, and type of personality. Sometimes the viewer may give further explanation than the one it was primarily and initially in film creator's mind. Films may change people to better or worse as well..also films may not change people to better or worse at all.. there are so many factors that can act strangely and differently,..after all, most of the time it is just entertainment..as for the rest of the time, let me remind you that in greek language the term for actor is "ethopoios" which means that the person who acts, he/she creates 'ethos' (morals).
4. How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
My film was shot during the pandemic. We had a special permission issued by the government for film shooting so we could travel around the country "escaping" that way the lockdown. Cast and crew all vaccinated and wearing masks, at least behind the scenes. It's so quiet at the time, less people in the streets and other locations so we had in a way the sense of a sort of freedom without irrelevant people watching us. At the same time though there was another sense as well resembled to some post apocalyptic scene of a movie. Anyhow we did really enjoy it.
5. What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
As you know BROKEN CIRCLE is an absolute independent full length feature film which means we had pros and cons as well.. The creation style had to be adjusted according the needs of the story and of course the available technical means and equipment.. As a former post production facility owner I used my own available equipment. 'Broken Circle' is a fictional fantasy drama, a slow burn philosophical history project containing sci-fi scenes as well. All of the above contributed to a certain creation style that had to be strictly followed in order to depict the story in the most appropriate way. Music & Photography played the most important role giving that way the impression of an 'audio painting' on screen. I am a professional composer who writes and directs as well. Undoubtedly this combination of expertises can contribute to a different creation style used in production.
6. How did you select the actors for your project?
Mostly selected young artists, seniors or recent drama school graduates, blended with established artists from the Greek National Opera along with stage & TV series actors as well. They all had to have the sparkle of contributing to this effort in order to promote altogether a cultural project based on Hellenism and the western civilazation through out the world. I remember that some of their faces it was like they sprang out right out from the ancient times..
7. Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
It's unique, a philosophical drama, an ancient Greek tragedy on screen, a sci-fi enigma, historical fantasy, romantic and cruel, full of unexpected twists. Wonderful orchestral music and magical Greek scenery, based on Homer's world oldest epic poem, Iliad, but all looks like all happened, in a parallel universe.
8. At which festival has your film been screened?
Dozens of festivals all across the world, from Australia and Asia, to Europe and North America, collecting that way dozens of Awards, Nominations, & Official Selections, and we're really honored. This journey of our film to the international film festivals started in spring of 2022 and would be continued until the end of 2023 or spring 2024. We look forward to winning even more awards from around the world and to meeting new good people, viewers and experts to share with, this unique story of ours.
9. How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
Most of the them, they loved it, even those, who didn't really understand the meaning, they were impressed as well, by the uniqueness of thematology, the scenery, photography, music, and the literary writing of the script.
10. If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
Maybe I would delay the filming half a year at least, in order to arrange a stronger funding income to support our effort, but you know, as we say.. "make hay while the sun shines".
11. Which movies are your favorites and why?
Aw! There are plenty ones, for example:
John Milius' 'CONAN the Barbarian' based on Robert E. Howard's creation. Wonderful photography & scenery, a magnificent James Earl Jones, and of course the majestic music of late Greek-American Basil Poledouris.
Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey', a philosophical sci-fi masterpiece.
Sergio Leone's 'The Good The Bad and The Ugly', groundbreaking direction and music, innovative creation style, and the one and only Eli Wallace.
And sooo many others..
12. What topics do you like to address in your stories?
existential questions, philosophical quests, romantic eroticism, constant twists, metaphysical mystery, scientific dead ends, historical and fictional epics, fantasy otherworldly creations, multidimensional existences, ancient Greek mythology and history.
13. What is your motivation in making films?
It is the need to create a parallel reality or any other reality that under certain circumstances could evolve into a new reality, with the heroes acquiring new characteristics. Αll this, of course, through a cinematic lens that poetically resembles the eye of a god..Alternative interpretations of life, potential answers to existential questions. The main motivation is to create, to create dreams and ideas wiith vivid images of different and various moods and contrasts. Primarily as a composer, I think musically about the upcoming cinematic image that I am designing in my mind. And who knows, this may be an innovation or originality in the way of a creation style as already answered previously..
14. Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
There are some creators of extra quality that I can feel their work as much as possibly ,I am able to, of course. Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, American David Lynch, John Milius, John McTiernan, British Christopher Nolan, German Marcus Nispel, and several more others.
15. What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
Τhere are two possible scenarios, both of which are period films, set in the 19th century.
DEMETRIOS KATIS (aka Dimitrios) is a Greek-American, Multi-Award Winning Composer of Epic Orchestral/Symphonic Scores & Founder / composer / guitarist / lyricist at EXORISTOI (best selling Southern European Epic Metal Band, EMI Platinum). Professional Journalist, member of the Athens union (ESHEA) and member of the IFJ (international federation of journalists in Brussels). Award-Winning Film Director & Writer.
Learn more about Demetrios and his work:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR BROKEN CIRCLE
(Broken Circle & Demetrios Katis) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.broken-circle.net
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EPICSCORES
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrokenKatis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimitrios_katis/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18277968/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
UK - AMAZON Prime Video https://www.amazon.co.uk/Broken-Circle.../dp/B0B6KQL4ZX