Vanessa McMahon

Welcome to Devil's Town (2009), the new international 
award winning masterpiece film by writer/director Vladimir
Paskaljevic. A new addition to sales company Film Planet Entertainment, 
we promise to make sure the world will visit Davolja Varos, Devil's Town, with us.

Vladimir kindly took time out of his busy schedule to answer some
questions for me. Well, we are friends so I would have hunted him down
until he did! lol! :-)

ME: "So, Vlad, can you explain to the world the meaning behind
Devil's Town? It's a real place in Serbia from what I understand.
And what was the inspiration behind making this film?"

VLAD: "One of main characters wanted to fund a movie about DEVIL'S TOWN,
a popular geographical locality in Serbia and a myth. At the same time
it is a metaphor about characters in my film. I was inspired by the life
itself. I am big admirer of Italian Neorealism. The film is done on
authentical settings with actors that knew what I was talking about.
I wanted to make film on Belgrade and Serbia as it is today. Maybe the
topic is too general but I think that it perfectly fitted the form of
mosaic-structured film. Small stories from reality."

ME: "Your film has traveled to festivals around the world. Can you talk
about how this independent Serbian film has been received by
international viewers?"

VLAD: "Well, it depends, but I think that it was generally well accepted
America-wise, considering the fact that it is European film. It won
second prize in Palm Springs and it was invited to many festivals. In
Trieste, Italy it won First Prize, in some other countries some other
prizes."

ME: "Serbia indeed has a significant film industry but it is not well
known to the rest of the world. Can you share with us something about
Serbian film in general, especially in a new Serbia?"

VLAD: "Well, Serbian cinema was very interesting before the civil war.
We had many directors that had success in Cannes, Venice, etc. and that
had World Wide distribution. They were generally films about reality and
comedies about social changes during so called Communism. Now it is
different, the audience and the distribution itself shrunk and you
cannot make money and fund the film unless you get state subsidiary. I
didn't get funds so my producer put his own money knowing that he might
not see it again. But he did it and he is very happy with general
acceptance."

ME: "Well, you are lucky. If your film had failed, he might have taken
you to Devil's Town and left you there! :-) lol! But really, you should
be very proud of yourself as it is a fantastic film and we hope to see
it available worldwide very soon. So, what is your next project? can you
share with the public yet?"

VLAD: "I am working on two very different projects. One is social comedy
about family addicted to TV and idea of being famous. Other is
something that should really be neorealist style story about children of
the street and they should act themselves."

ME: "Im excited about the family obsessed with TV story. That one sounds
like a good dark comedy, another dark reality portraying modern Serbia
from your POV no doubt? :-) Vlad, just one more question as I know you
are super busy. How was the Palic European Film Festival? You were on
the jury!!!"

VLAD: "Well, Palic is the place where I had national premiere with
DEVIL'S TOWN last year and they invited me to be in the juty this year."

ME: "Awesome, Vlad! You rock! Thank you! Cant wait to see your next
projects in film festivals and international cinemas. And leave it to
Film Planet Entertainment to bring Devil's Town to the planet!
haha! Or the planet to Devil's Town! You are a super talent. Encore!
Encore!"

see film trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32rFL9-lLv0 

Interview by, Vanessa McMahon on July 20, 2010

writer/director Vladimir Paskaljevic