12/2007
Semih Kaplanoğlu' s new trilogy has brought him to the limelight once again
Lalehan Uysal - On Air

The director, Semih Kaplanoğlu, received the "Best Director" award at the Bangkok
World Film Festival for his current film "Egg" which was also deemed worthy of the
Eurimages Award at the European Film Festival, which takes place in Seville, in Spain's
south, by a jury made up of Seville University Communication students. "Egg" has
received an award from each international competition it has participated in and ensured
that Semih Kaplanoğlu received the "Best Director" award at the 14th Valdivia International
Film FestivaL. His indispensable team is also award winning ...

Naz Erayda, the creative director whom he works together with on his films was awarded "Best Creative Director" and "Best Costume" while Özgür Eken has been awarded "Best Director of Photography" ...

The world premiere of "Egg" took place at the Cannes Film Festival this year after which the film received praise in international media. Semih Kaplanoğlu could not attend the gala of "Egg" at the 44th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in which "Egg" was selected "Best Film" because he was on location in Tire shooting "Milk", the second of the trilogy.

"I'd like to point out that i don't put the weight of my films on the story, that is, the scenario.
I believe that the raw material of cinema is time. Mine is an expression regarding the passing of time using simple, silent and audio details." Together, we watched his award winning film "Egg" on the set of his film "Milk" in Tire, which is the first of the trilogy that is being shot from the end to the beginning completing the story as a whole. We discussed the creative process from concept to product in the town in which rain, wind and rainbows exist.
SEMiH KAPLANOGLU: "FOR ME. FILM IS A COMPLETELY METAPHYSICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ACT"

Where did the idea come from and where is it heading?

I follow emotions and think about visualizing those emotions firstly. The scenario is a product of the characters.

So what happens next?
It's quite clear. First emotions, then the characters that come to life, their living spaces and the materials I'm going to place those characters in. For example, the period, the time. I have gradually started to feel that cinema has more to do with time as opposed to visuals. Just like music. .. I feel that music has a lot to do with time also. According to me, time is the measure of bat h music and cinema. It is time also that changes our perception and emotions ... Whatever i see, i see it through the window of time.

How and when do you share the first emotions before your concept becomes a product?

I turn inwards first. Emotions must go through a period where they cannot be shared or interfered with. This process must be experienced ...

Are there people that you would never without in your productions?

Yes, I do have an obsession about people, while creating the atmosphere, color, tissue and details, there are three people who I can't do without. They are Leyla İpekçi, Naz Erayda and Orçun Koksal. Leyla is the first person I discuss emotions with. Then I discuss the visual phpect of my emotions with Orcun and the physical phpect with Crativ Director Naz Erayda.

What are the cinematic qualities of a Semih Kaplanoğlu production?

I don't like superficial light. Minimalism is paramount in terms of acting and expression,
and not using music.

What's the objection to music?

Music is a major thing. I feel that music is contradictory to cinema. I feel that it is
something used when visuals, acting and expression become insufficient.

What is the most crucial stage of the production process?
 
I think shooting is the most crucial because the scenario is only what gets me
started in my work. I want to make people feel the invisible by cutting and eliminating
to push the viewer into seeing what they can't literally see. And this is something that
can't be expressed through a scenario or words. That's why the shooting stage is the most crucial ... The time experienced with the actors during shooting, editing and mixing are also important. When putting the film together, i rewrite and shoot the film all over again.

What's the most natural thing about your films?
I let things flow ... I want to let everything flow and not interfere with anything. Some
things are out of our control; therefore, my aim is not to disturb the harmony.

Are there times when you stop?

If it 's not working, I won't push it. I stop when I need time. You have to be flexible.

What are your emotions when sharing the final product with people?

When it's mixed and the first copy is completed, the product is no longer mine.