THIN PLACES: Hill of Crosses

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.

HILL OF CROSSES

At the first day of filming we were filming Hill of Crosses- a place where many palmers from whole the world since 19 century come to pray and bring here a cross- the symbol of their faith to God. During the hard times the Hill was revived by lithuanian people many time after it was destroyed by oppressors. That is how Hill of Crosses has become a sign of heroic resistance to suppression of faith freedom.

Film crew came there at the early morning and captured the first sunshines of the day that was raising behind the most famous mound of Lithuania. We did not get frightened of January perishing frost and worked outside until nightfall. In a chapel of Hill of crosses we filmed monk Mykolas Letkauskas from the Order of Friars Minor.

All the corners of the Hill of Crosses were explored with 360 degrees camera, camera osmo, Vaidas Čekuolis was a cameraman of Steadicam. The sea of crosses was viewed from Drone flight (drone pilots were Rolandas Joneliūkštis and Rokas Tamulis).

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).