THIN PLACES: Church of Apostle Evangelist St. Matthew in Anykščiai

From 7th to 18th of January 2017 Audiovisual Arts Industry Incubator (AMII) together with a team from Huntington University (Indiana, USA) which was leaded by film producer Paul Nethercott, were implementing film project „Thin Places“ (,,Kalbančios sienos“). During that time the most marvelous saint places of Lithuania were filmed. Film crew visited five catholic churches, synagogue, orthodox church and one place without a roof- Hill of Crosses.

Church of Apostle Evangelist St. Matthew in Anykščiai

The 3d filming day the crew went to Anykščiai. The church of Apostle Evangelist St. Matthew is the tallest of Lithuanian churches. In 2012 at one of church towers a viewpoint was made. People who climb there are able to enjoy the panorama of Šventoji river valley from 79 meters height.

The day was sunny so the light coming from stained glasses miraculously colored the altar and high walls of the church by making perfect conditions for us to film.

In this church we were not only capturing architecture details but also recording the music which was performed by local organ player Rimvydas Griauzdė.

The story of the church was told by priest Nerijus Papirtis.

Crew members from USA were surprised by capacity of the church and symbols of spirituality- many sculptures and paintings of angels there and in a Museum of Angels (Sacred Art Center) which is located nearby the church. Museum personnel were taking care of us during the day just like real guardian angels, we are thankful to museum director Tomas Tuskenis and project coordinator Edita Pivoriūnienė.

A local newspaper „Anykšta“ wrote about the filming:

http://www.anyksta.lt/naujienos/naujienos/49759-amerikos-ir-lietuvos-kino-kurejai-iamzino-anyksci-baznycia

All the filming days lights were set by an experienced and famous cameraman and gaffer Algimantas Mikutėnas who also was advising us on set, Inesa Kurklietytė worked as film director, DOP- Adomas Jablonskis, D.I.T./Focus Puller- Kęstutis Serulevičius, cameramen assistant- Nojus Drąsutis, Grip- Mindaugas Docaitis, Production Sound Mixer- Ramūnas Jasutis, steadicam- Valdas Čekuolis, editor- Ričardas Matačius. AMII residents from Huntington University in Indiana (USA) fully integrated in the team. We are proud of having worked with film producer Paul Nethercott and his students: director assistant Mary Devore, associate producer Paige Olivia Schreiber, assistant sound Richan Anderson, 2nd Camera Unit- Aaron Mattson and Riley Hendrickson.

The project is partly supported by Lithuanian Council for Culture, United States Embassy in Vilnius and Huntington University in Indiana (USA).