THIN PLACES: Vilnius synagogue and orthodox church
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.
The 5th filming day the crew visited even 2 saint places in Vilnius- Choral synagogue and Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit.
Choral Synagogue in Vilnius
Choral synagogue in Vilnius is the only one functional Jewish house of prayer left after World War 2. There were more than 100 synagogues before that.
We spoke to cantor Shmuel Yatom and his wife Natalja Cheifec. The cantor told us touching story of his family and chanted about the Jewish people fate. We also talked to Faina Kukliansky- the president Jewish community of Lithuania.
Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius
Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit is principal orthodox church in Lithuania. At the center of it there is reliquary with remains of three saint people- Antanas, Austatijus and Jonas. Also this church is the only one Lithuanian orthodox house of prayer builded on the baroque architecture plan of Latin cross.
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).