If a person only focused on criticism, they would never create anything. Raising money for a film is becoming increasingly difficult, says director Eva Toulová.
She is one of the most criticized domestic filmmakers. Her films repeatedly receive very low ratings and a sea of negative reviews. The latest work by Eva Toulová, a romantic comedy titled Deník Shopaholičky, received only 10% on the review website ČSFD.
She studied directing at Prague's FAMU under the guidance of the legendary director Věra Chytilová. She also writes her own films and often plays some minor roles in them. Her first film was released in cinemas in 2014.
She is also the author of several documentaries and, together with Tomáš Magnusek, directed the series Čechovi. However, it did not receive much acclaim.
As a director, she also made several music videos. Among them is the video for the song Posedlá by the late singer Anny Julie Slováčková, who passed away from cancer in April last year.
Eva Toulová is also known in show business for her unconventional and even extravagant outfits. She arrived at the Český lev awards in a dress notably dominated by a large lion's head. While other personalities were mingling quite a bit, Eva stood aside alone when we approached her.
So Eva, how do you feel today and what are you most looking forward to?
Well, I'm curious because we had venues, so I'm keen to see how everything will look in the new environment. I'm very curious about the host and mostly looking forward to enjoying a pleasant evening.
Who would you like to win?
I probably won't name anyone because there are people from each team I don't recognize, so it would be like... I support everyone and I think that being nominated is already a victory.
You are wearing, I would say, as always an interesting outfit, so tell us more about it.
Well, this is a lion mirror. Actually, as you asked who I support, I try to make sure these outfits always have some message. So here, everyone can look into it and see their own lion, even those who don't win.
And what does the animal lion mean to you or what does it represent?
It is a majestic, dominant animal and above all the king of animals, so I think it is a symbol, at least for today, of victory.
Your latest film recently hit theaters. Do you already have plans for another movie?
I have another in preparation, but I am very selective, so until everything is tip-top, I won't be publicizing anything yet.
Your films have received rather sharp criticism. How do you feel about that? How do you actually deal with negative criticism?
It's certainly not pleasant, but if you only focused on criticism, you would never create anything. It's important not to be discouraged, to take both the good and the bad from it, and move forward.
And how do you explain the fact that your films have been criticized like this for a long time?
I make low-budget independent films, so there are certainly some areas of improvement, probably like in every field. On the other hand, if I waited for budgets of tens of millions, I would make one or two films in a lifetime, and for me, creating and the process are probably more important.
You mention low-budget films, yet they feature the most famous Czech acting stars. How do you actually get these well-known faces for the film?
I approach them just like on any set. I reach out to them if they fit the role, send the script, and if the role appeals to them, we meet, talk, and then we shoot.
Do you consult with someone about who might fit a particular role, or is it purely up to you since you’re the director?
It always depends on the fact that I have incredible freedom, but of course, I'm slightly limited because if you want to distribute it, it's good to have some well-known faces. It often depends—if you cast one person to play a couple, you have to find someone who complements them. It’s always such chemistry and a mix of everything.
So how do you actually raise money for a film? It's a rather lengthy and challenging process, isn't it?
Lengthy and challenging. It's probably the most demanding part. I would say it's getting even harder considering the current economy, but if you want to create, you simply have to.
At the same time, there are statistics available that show that cinema attendance has been declining worldwide for a long time. How do you cope with this, or what is your stance on it?
It's a certain part of progress, which has been somewhat accelerated by the coronavirus, as everyone got those big home theaters. But I believe that once you have the film, there are always viewers who want to go out and experience it. Nowadays, going to the cinema is not an everyday activity, but more for the experience. A film might run through cinemas quickly, but then it gets on television or streaming platforms, so it really has a constant lifespan. Moving into the online space is just evolution.
And what is your opinion on the use of AI in the field of film?
I think it's a bit like fire – a good servant but a bad master. The possibilities it offers are incredible, and it would be foolish to completely reject it. But at the moment when the entire film would be created only on a computer, for me, it no longer has the meaning and charm.
Thank you for the interview and enjoy your evening.
Thank you very much.
