Category Archives: Film Production

Shooting of the “Coastlanders 8 to 8” has finished…

8'den 8'e SAHİLDEKİLER (COASTLANDERS 8 to 8), Film Directing, Film Production July 7, 2009 Leave a comment

The pre-production and production procedures of  “Coastlanders 8 to 8” (8’den 8’e Sahildekiler) have finished.  And we are in post production procedure. This short documentary movie can be considered a part of  and also a pre-production shooting of the main documentary project about Maltepe area in the future.

boats

We observed a summer day at Maltepe Coastline in Istanbul and interviewed couple of local people who know the old times of the area.

at the boatDue to walking and working under the hot summer sun all day long we got sunburnt very much:-)  Local people were helpful for us and especially old people were very pleased to hearing about short documentary.  We did shooting on the boat and extra sunset shooting in other day.

As I known before and also as I heard from the Maltepe people my short movie will be the first  documentary about Maltepe Coastline.

between the stones

I like this place and I’m living here for many years. I also remember the old times we spent there with swimming etc. And I’ve been still spending some part of my daily time as walking and making fitness there towards to Princes’ Islands view.

Thanx to  Burçin Ankara and Murat Vanlı who worked with me and  did their best during the production procedure. Now I’m exited for the editing:-)

Burçin Ankara & Orkide Ünsür

Paten ve Kamera

Burçin 2

Test shots at the coast

 

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8’den 8’e SAHİLDEKİLER (COASTLANDERS 8 to 8): A short documentary by Orkide Ünsür

8'den 8'e SAHİLDEKİLER (COASTLANDERS 8 to 8), Film Directing, Film Production July 6, 2009 Leave a comment

“The first documentary movie about Maltepe Coastline and  Sureyya Beach.”

Genre: Short Documentary, Duration: 13′ 53”

Producer & Director : Orkide Ünsür, Screenplay: Orkide Ünsür,  Camera: Burçin Ankara, Murat Vanlı,  Music : Umur Türel (DOKTOR DEPRESSION), “Crying Out”  Editing: Tamer Gültekin, Umut Can Sevindik

Logline: Brief oral history of Maltepe Coastline in Istanbul.

Synopsis: A hot summer day at  Maltepe coastline in  Istanbul  and the local community -including animals- who share the daily life there accompanied with the brief oral history of the coast and the Sureyya Beach at the background.

Short Documentary Film, Hidjaz Houmayoon (2002)

Film Production May 21, 2009 Leave a comment

Hidjaz Houmayoon / Documentary (2002) ( 3th 1001 Documentary Film
Festival/Alanya,  1st Eastern Mediterranean International Underwater
Photography And Film Festival/Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,  9th
Biennual International Festival of Underwater Photography /Switzerland)

Producer and Director: Okan Ünsür

Executive Producer: Orkide Ünsür

Underwater Camera: Okan Ünsür

Music: Murat Tuğsuz, Reed Flute Performed by: Eyüp Hamiş, Flute Performed by: Murat Çelik
caretta gif
I find the life under the sea is astonishing. The creatures which are living in a harmony with their nature rules in their habitat are so impressive for me.  Although I am not a diver and not planning to become one in the future, this magical atmosphere effects me heavily and I respect it.

In 2002 my brother Okan and I were in Kaş for making a promotional movie
of a diving center. Kaş/Antalya is a wonderful town famous for its diving
sites. We had an idea in our minds for some times to make a short under
water documentary about Kaş. So we planned our shootings and chose the most popular and interesting diving sites like Cave, Flying Fish, Canyon, and began to shoot. The most dangerous site was the Plane Wreck which only highplane gif professional divers like Okan are allowed. The plane had crashed for unknown reasons during the Second World War. The engine of the plane becomes visible at a depth of 57 meters; the other parts and the tail go down to the depths of more than 70 meters. Sometimes Okan followed a unique creature, or experienced the underwater exhibition with ceramic objects. And the night diving was done too. We decided to edit the movie with lyric style with the music but text.  It would be reflection of the divine, holy and mystic atmosphere of the under water world of Kaş and the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkish classical music consists of different kind of music tunes, a system of melody type called “makam”(maqam). Each makam specifies a unique intervallic structure and melodic development. Whether a fixed composition or a spontaneous composition all attempt to follow the melody type.

cave gif

Hidjaz Houmayoon makam belongs to Hidjaz family. Hidjaz (hijazz) makam is one of the oldest, most be loved and most common makam in Turkish classical music which gives the soul modesty, humbleness.

This tune infuse into divine melancholy too. So referring the beauty of the under water world and feeling the divine love and melancholy Hidjaz Houmayoon makam and it’s tune was a meaningful and nice choice. And of course, many thank’s to Murat Tuğsuz and Eyüp Hamiş…

Orkide Ünsür


On the set… Acting

Acting, Film Production, Front of the camera March 30, 2009 Leave a comment

ABOUT BÜYÜKADA (BIG ISLAND)

AND THE TOY FACTORY SHORT MOVIE

This short movie produced in Büyükada (Big Island) / Prinkipo which is one of the Princes’ Island in the Sea of Marmara, near Istanbul. Büyükada is a wonderful place for it’s specific position which is so close to Istanbul (it’s only 2300 metres from Maltepe coast to Büyükada )  but also far away from the city crowd and noise. This place is famous for its beaches with cool and clean water.

from my childhood memories

from my childhood memories

As on the other islands, motorized vehicles – except service vehicles –are forbidden. Visitors can explore the island by foot, bicycle, in phaeton (horse- drawn carriages) or by riding donkeys. The famous monastery Aya Yorgi (Hagia Yorgi) standing on the island’s highest point. There is a ritual to climb and you should strictly follow the old rules without talking, only praying. Orthodox believers climb barefoot. But it’s a holy place for people from all religions. Some muslim Turkish people mostly visit Aya Yorgi especially 2 times in a year April 23 and September 24. And with an old tradition, some people tie ropes or rag on to the bush and trees for their wishes come true.  And this short movie is inspired of this old tradition.

“Oyuncak Fabrikası / The Toy Factory” Short Movie, Producer: Michael Armstrong & Münire Armstrong, Director: Münire Armstrong & Didem Erayda,

In my opinion, a drama director must have empathy actors/actresses’ world and have knowledge and/or instict about acting. I like acting and same improving my knowledge and understanding about this area. So it was a nice chance for me to have a role in this short movie, I found the opportunity with work wonderful actresses as Sevim Çalışgir, Tanju Tuncel (like we worked in Pamuk Prenses / Snow White short movie) Hasibe Eren. And even I kept my contact in my private life with Sevim Çalışgir since 1998 while we were working in TV drama Ateş Dansı/Fire Dance, it was the last time for me to had a chance working with her. Unfortunately this remarkable woman passed away in 2008.

In this short film set, I was also working as a Production Coordinator and collabrated with İsmet Karalar.  Due to motorized vehicles forbidden in island we had to take special permission for our movie set vehicles. And as a production coordinator I found the opportunity with work wonderful technical team too. Briefly, it was nice and enjoyable movie set in Büyükada with unforgettable memories…

Short Documentary Film: Powwow (1996, Canada)

Film Production March 30, 2009 Leave a comment

Powwow shortmovieset1

Selected for

  • IFSAK National Short Film and Documentary Festival (1997)
  • Hiroshima Film Festival (1997)

 

Producer and Director: Okan Ünsür | Co-Producer: Orkide Ünsür

Camera: Okan Ünsür,  Second Camera: Orkide Ünsür

Powwow time is the Native American people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and make new ones. This is a time to renew thought of the old ways and to preserve a rich heritage.

For me, Native American culture is always interesting with their philosophy, way of thinking, and shamanic rituals.

In 1996 my brother Okan was in Montreal for education and I was working at ATV in Istanbul. We decided to shoot this short documentary about Powwow. I travelled to Canada and it was the longest trip in my life with 2 transfer destination. I had our Hi 8 camera in it’s case during all long hours by my side.  When I was in Montreal I was very happy but totally jetlag and tired.

During the shooting procedure, we are welcomed from the community and  spent nice time with them. I remember, it was very hot time in the middle of summer in July but second day of the event it rained cats and dog which was surprising.  I was nice experiment to know these people more, with observing their ceremonies, dances, songs, foods  and talking with them personally.

Orkide Ünsür

Powwow short movieset2



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