Feature fiction film project

INSIDE

Contact: mirkoabrlic@gmail.com i jelenamarkovic2512@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/UNUTRA/191216180925414 Jelena Markovi +381642123259 Mirko Abrli +381640018833 1

Inside Synopsis for feature fiction film , w ritten by M irk o Abrli

Jovan (22) from small town uprija, student in Belgrade, finds himself in totally unexpected life circumstances: he has been convicted on one year prison sentence, with compulsory treatment of drug addiction. Film follows him from the moment he is entering the prison facility. He is introduced to the rules that apply inside, and setling in Special Prison Hospital to serve his sentence. He feels he doesn't belong there. He sees himself as an occasional drug user, far from an addict, and he doesn't even consider addiction and risky behavior. Jovan finds that his case is a series of unlucky circumstances, that will pass. Block for addicts in Special Prison Hospital is the only departement of that kind in the whole country of Serbia. That is where all end up together: drug addicts, drug dealers, young men who are not deeply consumed by illness of addiction, more experienced men who serve their sentences from earlier age. Such social mix necessarily leads to ways for drugs to be smuggled into that departement. So, some inmates do not resist the temptation of drugs, others make it their business to profit on it. That is where the plot takes place, folowing Jovan and boys on the block. There is a rigid and obvious hierarchy among them. Their main obligation is to sober up and become stable during the sentence. Routine of life on the block brings them into everyday contact with the departement's stuff: guards, a medical nurse and a correctional pedagogue. All stuff members follow the rules of the institution and respect the rights of inmates. The correctional pedagogue makes himself available for inmates, he has expertise and patience. But he is one, and inmates are many, with many problems. As the film flows, it becomes clear how the inmates are organized to avoid surveillance and to thwart the institutional program. By organized abuse of circumstances, a small group of inmates around leader Mare the main dealer, imposes unwritten rules of life on the block. Jovan tries to be responsable. He wants to return home undamaged. Well raised, he has no problem with other boys. But, he is not ready for all the traps of life on the block. Jovan's acquaintance with Mare develops into a user dealer relation, and then escalates as addict dealer hussle In prison hospital, Jovan becomes addicted to a dangerous opiate heroine. His plans remain just words. His prison sentence turns into captivity in illness. He orbits around his center Mare the dealer. When the drug dealing scheme is finaly exposed and once organized chain falls appart, Jovan's chances seam fade. Choices Jovan has made, make him another victim to addiction, exposed to other desieses. As an addict, but also an inmate subordinate to unwritten rules, he is unwilling to admit his mistakes. Preassure on Jovan grows, as the truth about the block is breaking out on his shoulders. Only totaly defeated, Jovan will face the concequences for his choices. Only if he decides so himself, he will reach out for the support, which is possible. For the first time at the end of the film, Jovan's voice is inner. And it becomes the voice of confession and cognition. Some day, Jovan will put his cognition into service for social benefith. Addiction and related risks break young lives of inmates on the block. That block is the crossroad that shapes several different destenies. Those destenies are outlined in short statements, over portraits in freeze-frame of each inmate caracther, at the very end of the film. Jovan is one of them. 2

Aleksandar Milisavljevi as Jovan Nikoli, protagonist of the film INSIDE

Slobodan Stepi, Aleksandar Milisavljevi roles of Igor and Jovan, room superior and new guy on the block

Explication by authors of the feature fiction film I N SI DE directed by M irko Abrli and Jelena M arkovi

The story happens in present time, in Special Prison Hospital in Belgrade, during the spring and summer season. Outside, summer time makes us think of free choices in spending time, while inside is always the same summer and winter are spent between four walls. Even when the sky is bright, the sealing is always gray. The whole plot takes place in D departement, the specific place or the prison block for inmates who have been sentenced on compulsory treatment of drug addiction. Previously to writing and shooting, authors conducted a therile reserach of this specific surrounding and of drug addiction issues. The environement, caracthers and plot of the film are realistic. Almost documentarist artistic style is descretely supported by often integral narration and mis-en-scene. Directors procedure in this film orchestrates a credible, communicative story in heavy topic framing. The precise caracther guidance creates nuances in wit, and occasionaly humorous effects. Interpreting reality through creative film language, Inside tends to grab attention and communicate a clear human message. As well as drug addiction easily becomes a longlasting, life problem, prison becomes over night an acceptable, natural habitat for addicts! Its routine seams to include evryone. Who ever enters inside, easily follows the stream. INSIDE raises a question, through Jovan's caracther: how likely is it to take another path and change the usual story on D departement? Around Jovan, everyone seams to know their place. Between the four walls, things are easily predictable. After all, prison is the place where an individual has no priority over general order. Guys like Mare know that very well, and they control the block by offering to addicts what they are addicted to. When Jovan finally fits into the environement he used to feel alian to, he actually repeats and repeats the same mistake that originaly brought him there! This line of the story reveals the paradoxal production of crime and illness in the place designed to stop them! INSIDE holds more then one dilemma: first we wonder weather prison corrects people, or corrupts them even more. Then we wonder if prison brings people down to self-confrontation, or brings them to the bottom so that they can start over. Finally and most importantly, INSIDE is the story about choices and concequences. There is always a choice, and each has its concequence. Authors call for responsability and silently suggest that we ought to measure up our choices to our own conscience. As for help it can come only when it is wanted, inside or in the free world.

Given the topic of drug addiction with predictable forms of behiavior, including criminal behiavior, this film consequently opens issues of law regulations and penalty system. Intention of authors is to raise social knowledge about this illness and its risks, as precondition for any prevention or battle against it. INSIDE exposes realistic problem that troubles individuals, society and the system. Can that change? Infrastructured system solution exists, but it is vulnerable, overloaded, outdated and slow. Can it become effective? This film stands on the side of humanity and doesn't criticise the system in fashionable way, for such tone is often patronizing and can dehumanize society even more. INSIDE offers no formula, but it articulates through grayness and humor, the human crye for conscience and consciesness. Finally, as much as the title suggests the nature of the institution where the story happens, it equaly suggests the place of our thoughts, the home to our souls, and what makes us human.

Mirko Abrli (writer/director) i Jelena Markovi (producer/director) on the film set of INSIDE

Authors
Mirko Abrli, writer and director of Inside, was born in Belgrade in 1969. He writes and publishes short stories and essays over two decades. Inside is his first script. He has recieved an award for it by the City of Belgrade, on Public contest for stimulation of film art. Mirko is also an economist with many years of professional experience in large companies. In addition, he is experienced activist in work with marginal groups and in raising social awareness. Jelena Markovi, producer and director of Inside, was born in Belgrade in 1973. She graduated Film and TV directing on Faculty of drama arts in Belgrade. She works actively in film. On Authors film festival in Belgrade, she recieved FIPRESCI special mention for feature documentary film Connections. She is a dedicated activist for peace, womens rights, empowerment of children and youth on the margine. She often combines filmmaking with social engagement.

P roduction and authors rights

Authors Mirko Abrli and Jelena Markovi hold all the rights to film INSIDE. From the very start, Association European Block has supported the preparations and realization of this film. Technical resources were rented.

Technical capacities and resources for production of I N SI DE

Authors and European block have engaged capacities from two Belgrade production houses for the shoot: Cinnamon productions i Galerija Medija. In addition to those, for the purpose of technical viewing and edditing the rough cut, project used the edditing studio in ART OF BUSINESS production. Plan for postproduction is to use the studio in company LIVING PICTURES. It is possible to engage with a coproducer, if the coproducer would help bring sponsors or donations to the film in this phase. Film INSIDE meets professional artistic and technical standards. It is shot in HD and processed digitally. Final product will be on DCP format.

The shoot of the film I N SI DE w as supported by:

City of Belgrade Secretariat for culture Ministry of Justice Directorate for Excecution of Sanctions Ministry of Defence Department for Public Relations; Serbian Army Medical faculty, Belgrade University Institute for Pathology

W ord about ongoing project

Status: film INSIDE is shot, its rough cut is available for review How it started: Writer Mirko Abrli conducted research for the script throughout 20092010. The first draft was writen by the end of 2010. Next year, INSIDE was awarded budget support, on Public Contest for Stimulation of Film Art, by the City of Belgrade Secretariat for Culture. However modest in money, that award set authors into action to start the production Until now, the most massive work on this film is accomplished: preproduction, casting, selecting the crew, rehearsels. Also, the location was adapted and designed for filming, costume and props holdings were formed. Therile preparations made the shoot fast and efficient. The material was reviewed and selected, followed by the rough cut of the film. The current activity is raising funds for finishing the film. Remaining work: film needs edditing, complete sound design (including radio sound and original film music) graphic design, credits/animation, colour grading and production of DCP format. Film also needs English subtitles, marketing and distribution (festivals, cinema, TV).

Goals:
INSIDE has two lives. One is life of artistic film, the other is life of a human idea. As a film, INSIDE has a goal to be seen, to tell a story to a broad audience, to become popular. As an idea, it aims to inspire creative reflection and social responsability. Common goal of film and idea, is to contribute to heritage of contemporary Serbian culture.

Costume designer Natalija Stevanovi on the location

Atmosphere and colours of barrs on the block, extra Vladimir Jovanovi posing for the photo

Short description of distribution:

Film INSIDE aspires to enter the competition of Serbian and international independant film festivals. Also, film will be distributed in Serbian cinemas. The prefered TV distribution in Serbia will be on RTS or other programs with national freequency. The plan is to enable adequate proffessional distribution of this feature fiction film.

Alternative distribution:
With this film, authors intend to launch a project for Serbian teenagers and adolescents, once it is complete and playing in cinemas. Project name is Resolving time, and it will include alternative distribution of film INSIDE. Resolving time aims to raise young peoples awareness of drug related risks and to promote healthy life styles. Project events open with the film show, and continue with debates between young participants and relevant experts. Project is educational, but also conducts a research and forms a base for permanent info&support network across Serbia. Ministry for Sports and Youth and Ministry of Health of Republic of Serbia have both expressed their interest to take part in project Resolving time. 8

Framing the shot Actors Lazar Miljkovi (Laza) and Aleksandar Milisavljevi (Jovan)

Film crew :

Writer: Mirko Abrli Directors: Mirko Abrli, Jelena Markovi Producers: Jelena Markovi, Mirko Abrli DP: Matija Muniza-Petrovi Editor: arko erijal Production designer: Isidora Spasi Costume designer: Natalija Stevanovi Composers: Petar Antonovi, Vlada Trikovi

Camera crew in working proccess

Consultations before the take, director Mirko Abrli and lead actor Aleksandar Milisavljevi

Cast:
Jovan Nikoli Mare ili Igor Era uki komi Laza Sava Petar abac Correctional pedagogue Nurse Guard Cheaf of security Guard in carantine Guard by the phone Aleksandar Milisavljevi ore Erevi Milo Ili Slobodan Stepi Nikola Penezi Milan Lane Paji Duan Radojii Lazar Miljkovi Uro Milojevi Luka Tabaevi Marko Lazarevi Ivan Nikoli Jasmina Dimitrijevi Predrag Paunovi Nenad Jankovi Bane Petrovi Petar Jevti

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