Serbian director Stevan Filipovic shoots Breaking Point: a Star Wars story
Self-confessed Star Wars fanatic and award-winning writer/director STEVAN FILIPOVIĆ has wrapped primary shooting on his dream film project.
BREAKING POINT: A STAR WARS STORY is a 15-minute English-language fan film shot in and around Belgrade, Serbia.
The film stars DARKO IVIĆ (Next to Me) SLAVEN DOŠLO(Next to Me, Humidity), and JANA MILOSAVLJEVIĆ (After Party, Pogresan Covjek, Moja Generacija Z).
The story is set after the Galactic Empire has fallen. In its place, the New Republic has risen and, with it, the next generation of Jedi Knights.
Among this new band of Jedi Knights are the Dust brothers Nol (Ivić) and Kess (Došlo), raised on the merciless streets of Corellia.
Brought to Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Temple to be trained in the ways of the Force, they meet Twi’lek girl Mala (Milosavljević). Now, the brothers face their final lesson.
Serbian Actors Front Star Wars Fan Film
For Darko Ivić, this was a dream role. “I’m the biggest Star Wars fan,’ he said. “I remember watching the films as a child, playing Jedi make-believe with a broomstick lightsaber. Never did I think I’d ever put on a Jedi costume and act in a Star Wars Story. This really is quite overwhelming. A dream come true.”
Female lead Jana Milosavljević was not so well-versed in the Star Wars lexicon. “I had never seen a Star Wars film,’ said Jana. “But when Stevan approached me, I watched the first three episodes back to back, and I was hooked. Now I see what all the fuss is about.”
As part of her transformation, Jana had to undergo hours of make up, turning her body blue and donning a latex headdress. “It wasn’t so bad,’ she said. “Such extensive make up can always be a bit tiresome but I was fascinated as I saw myself transformed. I usually bring a good book to take my mind off it, but I didn’t read at all on set. I quite like being blue. It’s powerful.”
Despite a shoestring budget and short running time, Stevan and his experienced international crew adopted high standards and techniques that paid dividends with critical praise and film awards for work including Next to Me (Pored Mene) and Skinning (Šišanje).
Belgrade Star Wars Production
Produced by renowned Belgrade-based production house HYPNOPOLIS from Stevan’s English-language script, the film is based on the Star Wars universe developed by George Lucas.
Director of Photography Djordje Stojiljković shot on location around Belgrade (Avala and Kosmaj), using high-spec cameras and drones. Assistant Director Isidora Bulatović made dreams come true for Serbian Star Wars fans, filming additional footage with a lucky few who answered a call to be extras on set.
To create a look to honour the famous film franchise, Stevan secured experienced Serbian art director Branislav Crvenković to oversee special make-up effects and masks. Costumes were by Milena Kostić.
English Dialogue Coaching for Serbian Actors
British film consultant Marcus Agar coached the actors on script and dialogue coach. “The Star Wars universe has seen characters with various accents and we turned this to our advantage,’ said Marcus.
“We didn’t want the characters to have clean British accents or a Californian lilt, and we didn’t have time to do that, so I toned down the harder sounds of the actors’ Serbian accents, lengthening vowels, softening R’s and getting the ‘TH’ sound right.’
“Thankfully, Slaven, Darko and Jana was fast learners and took the whole process seriously. They even did their homework.”
The actors also underwent two weeks of light saber training and fight choreography with SRPSKA KASKADERSKA AGENCIJA stuntmen, led by co-ordinator Slaviša Ivanović.
Students from Belgrade’s prestigious Akademija Umetnosti film school, where Stevan is a senior professor, were integral to all stages of the project.
BREAKING POINT: A STAR WARS STORY is a not for profit, unofficial, fan-film that is not intended for commercial use. Characters are owned by Lucasfilm/Disney and this fan-series is not connected in any way to said companies.
Photography is by Tamara Antonović.
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