Mohammad Hamzaei, the director of the “Captain” movie, complained about the online release of the movie before its physical release, saying: “This movie could have found its audience in the cinema if it was shown to the public.”
to report cinema cinemaMohammad Hamzaei, the director of the movie “Captain”, explained about the online screening of this movie and why the movie was not released physically: Regarding the movie “Captain”, according to the conversations I had with the producer and previously with the directors of the Farabi Cinema Foundation in this The matter had been discussed, it was supposed to be released in the fall of 1402, and even the broadcaster had been discussed about the release and the appropriate time, but due to the circumstances that occurred and the transfer of the managers of the Farabi Foundation, they naturally did not give us any news except that they attended We were aware of it in festivals abroad, because “Captain” was doing very well in international distribution despite the restrictions imposed on a part of Iranian cinema.
Online screening in Iran is like a joke
He said: Considering the general atmosphere of the cinema, we predicted that the conditions for the screening of “Captain” in cinemas are not suitable, and according to friends, films of this type may not be popular with the general audience in the general sense, because mainly comedies seem to be in the current situation. They sell well. With this description, we thought that the physical release of the film was a bit delayed, but suddenly on the night of Eid (March 27) we realized that the film is going to be released online!
Hamzaei clarified: Online screening is like a joke and I think it can be considered a respectable smuggling, because the film that is made, if it is not shown on the screen and at some point in terms of the media space, cannot introduce itself to its audience, it will be a success. does not Friends practically put the film in a situation where it will not be talked about anymore. I don’t know why this happened to the “captain” and it seems that Farabi’s explanation should be heard on this matter.
He also said: I believe that the film should be released and screened for the audience in cinema halls because there is no suitable platform for online screening in our country. The movie “Captain” was released online on the 8th of April at 8 pm and at 8:20 this movie was released on Telegram channels and I think it was broadcast on satellite channels three hours later!
The director of “Captain” stated: “When we are not subject to copyright in Iran, the conditions for presenting our works online are not available, and I, as a filmmaker, can do nothing but watch!” What can be done when a film that we have produced with blood of heart, precision and obsession until a standard work in the medium of cinema is presented to the audience, is treated in this way!
“Captain” could find his audience
He said: I really wanted my film to be shown in cinemas. I had no claim on the amazing sales of “Captain”, but for the release of this type of film, there are several strategies that could have been released in terms of time and with fewer screenings. With this method, he could find his audience and get in touch, but now nothing has happened except that we have provided the product produced in the framework of Iranian cinema productions to satellite networks and Telegram channels that smuggle a major part of cinema products!
Hamzaei emphasized: I think “Captain” was a victim of the difference in taste of a number of film directors who wanted to settle the case by closing the file of this film, and I don’t understand why my film and I are in these conflicts.
Do silent cinema audiences see “Captain”?
In response to a question about online audiences being more effective, given that their number is far more than cinema audiences, he said: Anyway, as a filmmaker, I should get feedback from the presentation and screening of my film, but when there is an advertisement for the presentation and presentation of the film does not take and the film is released in an illegal form, accurate statistics of the amount of audience it has managed to attract are not available. Definitely, the film in the online screening can communicate with a wide range of audiences if the preconditions for the screening or introduction of the film are provided. The audience of the VOD version of the movies is the silent audience of the cinema, because the supply conditions are not standard and balanced, and I do not agree that a film produced for the cinema screen should suddenly take off from the film screening platforms. In my opinion, online screening could have been a complementary option for the movie, not the main option! In this case, it would be possible to talk more precisely about increasing the audience of a movie.
“Captain” is the missing link in today’s life in the country
Hamzaei stated that he has made efforts to postpone the date of the online show, and said: In this connection, I even spoke with Mr. Khazaei, the head of the Cinema Organization, but I could not see or speak with Mr. Zain al-Abidin, the CEO of Farabi, and to anyone within my reach. It was, I sent a message, but apparently there was a determination to close the “Captain’s” case as soon as possible! “Captain” was seen very well in the international field, considering the limitations of Iranian cinema, and as evidenced by the limited range of audiences who had previously watched “Captain”, it was a standard, warm and suitable work for families. The themes raised in “Captain” are the missing link of today’s life in the country; It means hope, love, dream and trying to live in difficult conditions. In today’s current situation, which society is struggling with, these issues can be significant.
What movies are included in the official stream?
This movie director stated: “Captain” is not just a children’s movie by any means, and its target audience is adults who need to hear the story of their lives today from the words of children. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what approach and goal we pursue in cinema, but when we come across a film produced by Baitul-Mal with a special approach and to communicate with families as the lost audience of Iranian cinema, in my opinion, it not only disappoints the cinemagoer and We regret, but a big and serious question is raised for a range of cinematographers; This is how it is treated when a film that is produced in the framework of the official channel with the permission and government funding, and it has no place in the official channel’s screening portfolio! So, what else can the license and permit for construction and supervision have!?
I am not optimistic about the interaction and obtaining the production license from the cinema directors
In the end, Hamzaei said: I am a filmmaker, if my film is not intended to be shown with a production license and a screening license, why should I be optimistic about the interaction and receiving a film production license from the cinema directors. In my opinion, closed and one-sided behavior with filmmakers has no other purpose than to give formality to the flow of underground cinema (in the words of the gentlemen themselves) and to direct filmmakers in this direction more than in the past. I hope that friends and movie managers will give us a significant and logical answer, because I consider the situation to be unfair, unjust and suspicious. With this dual approach, they practically make Iranian cinema stagnate and become a single product cinema. There is no doubt that when I, as a filmmaker who has no other job, find myself in this predicament, I see no other way to survive than to join the trend of cinema screening.
Source: Mehr