A film is coming out and as you may have guessed, it covers anxiety. It’s not something of the educational variety with huge chunks of information you could find in a book on mental health. Instead, it finds a way to show those feelings in a creative matter. I know earlier this week I mentioned some similar films showing feelings and this is another example of such a film. Once intended as a feature, but now shortened into a smaller project without dialogue or exposition, instead visual language and behaviour. Well, it might become something bigger in the future, who knows? A lot of people would be interested in something more. I was interested in more details, so I spoke to Vladyslav Fidryk, the creator of this film, who did so much work on it. Anxiety probably generated anxiety but the outcome of the film making its rounds is worth it. I know this interview was worth doing. Prepare for a session of what went into this film, and hopefully you’ll see it at an upcoming festival in your local area.
HNMAG: Anxiety is one of your more deeply personal chapters in life. How else does it differ from other work you’ve done?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Well, this is a totally different project for me because I had to live with this experience and it’s rooted my experience. Making this film required me to revisit that experience in order to be able to show our audience that experience on a screen.
HNMAG: You based this film off your own six-month period of physical disability and made it to place the audience IN the experience. Was it difficult to make a script with a such a concept?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Yes, it was challenging. Not so much to write the script itself, but to translate something into a visual language because I know what anxiety feels like. But initially I didn’t know how to show it on screen because it’s something internal. The challenge was finding a way to show those expressions.
HNMAG: The work of an immersive experience can be complex. How did you find a way to translate all your feelings into visuals?
Vladyslav Fidryk: We focused on sharp camera movements mostly and certain lighting choices. We had a lot of lighting devices on set that helped us to create an atmosphere.
HNMAG: And were there other kinds of challenges you had to face as well or did you find this to be relatively simple?
Vladyslav Fidryk: It was challenging on multiple levels, just because I had to revisit the experience. It required me to have emotional discipline and also at the same time I had to produce and direct on set. I had so many responsibilities, but that was quite challenging.
HNMAG: I can imagine. You mentioned lighting the whole thing as well. How did you manage to make that look proper for the shot?
Vladyslav Fidryk: We had a lot of discussions with my crew and I have a really amazing DOP and that aligned with our vision. A lot of different things, we used things like Golden Hour in one of our scenes, some lighting that would show you our main character Alex struggling with anxiety. It was a lot of different things.
HNMAG: Getting the shots in particular, the DOP really helped out. How long have you known him?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Yeah, it’s a friend of mine. I’ve known him for 5 months. We’ve been working together on sets.
HNMAG: Anxiety is in the process of going through a festival circuit now. Which ones are you hoping pick it up?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Well, we’re hoping to connect with festivals that support psychological storytelling and where people can bring conversations about art.
HNMAG: And editing it. How has that process been going?
Vladyslav Fidryk: It was going pretty well, we focused mainly on removing anything that felt explanatory, and just left space for silence and discomfort.
With the way he was describing the film and the visuals and the creation, I felt like it sounded a lot similar to one of those VR exhibits I’ve tried at past festivals (haven’t seen one of those in a while) and I had to question Vladyslav about him possibly working to make one of those.
HNMAG: Have you considered possibly making it as an immersive experience for VR exhibits?
Vladyslav Fidryk: I am very open to exploring that format but just right now I don’t want to rush into any decisions yet because I want to focus on letting the film live out its own life with audiences before I expand it into other formats.
HNMAG: Yes, that’s a valid point. Just showcasing it on a giant screen will be interesting and give quite the experience.
Vladyslav Fidryk: Totally. Yes, definitely.
HNMAG: Now, you do a lot of films with pyschological realism and internal conflict. Are your ideas based off all your personal experiences or other stories you have heard?
Vladyslav Fidryk: For the most part, it’s my personal experiences. I would say it expands into observation and some shared stories as well.
HNMAG: What other concepts have you made in the past that differ?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Lately, I’ve been exploring different themes. Including impact over trauma, which was sexual assault and complexities of relationships between friends.
HNMAG: How has that been going? Is that a little more difficult in creating?
Vladyslav Fidryk: It is difficult, but I’ll have a few projects in currently in works and a few scrapes that are being in the works. It’s such a difficult topic to discuss but I feel that those topics have to be discussed and I want to bring awareness for people and to society.
HNMAG: Is that also why you mainly focus on Psychological realism?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Yes.
HNMAG: Are there other forms of media you may look into exploring in the future?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Probably a long story, long-form storytelling.
HNMAG: Oh yeah? Why’s that?
Vladyslav Fidryk: In my opinion, it will be really interesting to work on that kind of form.
HNMAG: What do you hope audience will take away from watching Anxiety?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Well, I want to make people aware of anxiety and anxiety is something that people don’t recognize until they’re inside of it. I would like to let people know that anxiety comes and goes away everyday but it doesn’t have to control our life. I also like to make people aware that anxiety can lead to making very dangerous decisions in people’s lives.
HNMAG: So there will be a fair warning about the content of the film beforehand?
Vladyslav Fidryk: Yes.
HNMAG: Regarding your recovery from your own anxiety, what are some of the most positive outcomes to have come out of the whole thing?
Vladyslav Fidryk: I would say that during the time I was recovering from physical assault, how I was often dealing with my anxiety, I would say that the arts and film industry actually helped me to bolster anxiety because I decided to put my focus on something that is related to art and while I was thinking of my own anxiety, I thought I have to bring this topic to make people aware. I would really recommend to focus on something else while you’re struggling with anxiety.
As someone who also struggled with anxiety and has made some creative content before, I can agree with Vladyslav’s closing statement. No anxiety happened for me while I was doing this interview. In fact, I’m excited to see the end result at any festivals in the Vancouver area. I really hope I do.