How FILM.UA and Signal Red turned Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi into Greek Syracuse

About six months ago, I told you about the shooting of the documentary "Leonardo da Vinci", and now FILM.UA and Signal Red started shooting a new docudrama from "The great dreamers" series. This time it'll tell of Archimedes. Action of the film takes place in the ancient Greek colony of Syracuse in Sicily, where the legendary mathematician was born and lived most of his life. In search of suitable locations for the project crew went to Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, where the largest in Ukraine fortress facing the sea has remained.

- The fortress in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi is very similar to a fortress in Syracuse - says Creative Director of the project Eugene Sannikov. - Of course, we will have to construct a lot using graphics, because the fortress is half-ruined. But we are very pleased that we were able to take a lot of beautiful shots with sea views.

According to the tradition established in the previous films of the series "The great dreamers", the viewer will see the entire life of Archimedes. Therefore, Archimedes will be played by three actors: Nikita Lyakh - in childhood, Jura Deac - in youth and Alexander Gabor - in old age. Two other key characters will be played by actors of different age: king Hiero - Sergey Korshikov and Vasily Ostafiychuk, and the wife of Archimedes Telesilla - Lydia Timofeeva and Oksana Platonova.

- The film tells about the life of Archimedes - continues Eugene Sannikov - although it focuses on the relationship with the king Hiero, who first noticed talents of a young boy and sent him to study under Euclid. But when Archimedes returned to Syracuse and began his ministry a conflict arises between him and the king. After all, the king Hiero wants to put the talent of Archimedes for military service, and Archimedes resists, in his heart there is a struggle, but in the end it's his machines that protect Syracuse.

According to Eugene, they had to make up a romantic story in the movie, because history is dumb on whether there was a woman in Archimedes' life. The creators of the project introduced a maid named Telesilla:

- First, she is a slave, serving Archimedes - says EugeneSannikov. - But then they fell in love and eventually lived together for a lifetime. It was she who after his death tells the story to a one writer, and we through flashbacks return to various episodes of the life of Archimedes.

Of course, the re-creation of Archimedes life on the screen would not do without constructing his famous inventions. For example, Archimedes' mirror:

- We have created only one mirror, but then with the help of graphics we placed a lot of mirrors on the wall and will show how they collect sunlight and set fire to the Roman fleet in the bay of Syracuse, - says Eugene.

Frankly, I was sure that the project team had to tinker with the costumes and lifestyle of the ancient Greeks as much as with the props of the Middle Ages. But it turned out that the older it is, the better:

- This time it was not as difficult as in the case of Da Vinci because ancient civilization didn't pay much attention to clothes, to utensils. But we studied the history of costume not to mix anything, because after so many millennia some things have faded, but for us it is important that everything was authentic. For example, only a noble woman could wear a himation, in any case, not a slave. But even costumers sometimes get confused, and we corrected mistakes right while shooting.

And now it's time for a few important names: film director and director of photography was Taras Shapoval, art director - Ruslan Gubenko, costume designer - Seda Baroyants. Creative producer of the project - Oksana Maydanskaya.

And a few more photos from the set:

The filmmakers claim that no Roman was hurt during the filming

In mid-August, team will move to the pavilion, where the palace of King Hieron will be recreated. Post-production stage, according to preliminary estimates, will take two to three months, and the premiere of "Great dreamers," as I told you before, will take place only after all the films will be completed