Director, digital effects artist and animator Roger Kupelian is best known in international film industry for having created fantastic realities in “Space Jam”, “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy , “Alice in Wonderland”, “Batman and Robin”, “Da Vinci's Demons”, "Pirates of the Caribbean”, etc.

Kupelian and his team are now working on "East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints" graphic novel and documentary-narrative series, to be released next year and devoted to the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

The film is shot in different countries. Presently, Roger Kupelian and his team are in Armenia to continue the shooting launched here in June. Within the framework of his visit to Armenia, Kupelian delivered "Journey to Byzantium: A Unique Creative Process" lecture at Tumo center.

At the end of the lecture Roger Kupelian answered Mediamax’s questions.

- As far as I know, the idea of "East of Byzantium: War Gods and Warrior Saints" graphic novel and documentary-narrative series dates back to over 12 years. Having started working on the idea more than a decade ago what made you start the general shooting process in the end?

-It may sound strange, but it just happened itself. I haven’t planned to produce such film series. I have found out that I have an idea, which would help me represent Armenian culture and history, and also the way I identify with it.

I grew up in Africa, Sierra Leone, and despite the fact that I am in the Armenian culture, I am also an outsider, and see it by the eyes of an outsider. Heroic moments of Armenian history played a huge role in the development of my identity. And when the time came, I used those stories to explore myself, trying to understand my identity.

When I was a child, my father used to tell me stories about Armenian history and culture. It had huge importance because when an Armenian is raised in far Sierra Leone, it is not that easy to maintain connection with your identity and homeland. This was something I needed and when the moment came I understood that I am interested and it was also due to the fact that other people were also interested.   

The more I progressed in film industry, the more people (not even Armenians) were saying that making this kind of film is a great idea.

First people who started working on this project were from New Zealand. Later when the project started developing, people in Los Angeles and Armenia also got interested in it.

We started the general shooting process in 2008, but the actual funding for the project came this year. That’s why we are working hard right now to make the film ready for next year devoted to the Armenian Genocide Centennial. We have independent investors and deadlines, so we are obligated to finish it by the deadline.

When you are doing something artistic you are fed, kept and developed by the idea that this would interest the society. If that is just a commercial project, you just write the idea, hire a studio, get funding and realize that. But “East of Byzantium” is not a commercial project. This is something I really needed to do.  That’s why it lasts so long. The process could last 24 years or less… that’s not important. 

-Over the past months a number of websites started fundraising to render financial support to the film. Did you face any financial problems back then?  

-We didn’t have expectations from that campaign, and it’s not either true that we had financial problems. The film has independent investors and basic funding. But in projects like this, in case of having more we will be able to do a little more. Now we are in Armenia partly because of that funding and will shoot some additional scenes as well. At the same, time we want people to feel they are participating in film making process and have direct impact on what we are doing.

EOB SIZZLE REEL 2013 from Roger Kupelian on Vimeo.

- Watching the previous teasers of “East of Byzantium” movie many people started drawing similarities between the movie and “Game of Thrones” U.S. TV series. Is there any possibility the “East of Byzantium” movie will be converted to a TV series?

- Absolutely. It’s very possible to do dramatic film series based on these stories. For example, the story of Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates is so meaningful. It has everything - religion, sensuality, violence, spirituality…Just these things would make this story a 1 season film series itself.

If the film has success it would become easy to go to the investor and say look, we have already done this, and would like to make dramatic film series now. Not many people outside Armenia and even Armenians know about these heroic events of our history, and it is important for the film to have educational matters as well.

I like to call “East of Byzantium” a docu-tainment. It’s a special documentary series, which in case of being put in one network, can be added by new ones. If you look at these series, it is possible to shoot two seasons based on them. 

- How many countries are featured in the shooting process?

- The film shooting process includes three countries – Armenia, USA and New Zealand. By the way the first shooting started in New Zealand.

Now we are back to Armenia and will continue shooting started in June of this year and the students of Tumo center will again be part of the shooting process. The shootings take part in Ijevan and Ashtarak. Some war scenes will be shot there.

-The music of “East of Byzantium” is written by Serj Tankian. When will the official soundtrack of the film be released?

-We have prepared a new teaser and we are making final touches on it. It will be ready soon. We have included scenes from the latest shooting there as well. I think the teaser will be released by the end of the year and will include music parts as well.

Narine Daneghyan talked to Roger Kupelian

Roger Kupelian’s photos by Emin Aristakesyan