24 year-old filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas is attracting a buzz for his new feature “You Can’t Escape Lithuania”. Times are tough for independent filmmaking, which is why this openly gay director has decided to strip naked for the sake of art. His Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign promises a “nude pic” of the director for everyone who will donate more than 50 dollars.
We managed to get some time with Romas, to ask him just what people could expect in helping him reach his goal.
So what made you wanna get naked to fund your picture?
Well, in festivals, events or articles for indie filmmakers, they often repeat: sell yourself. OK, so I thought - why not to do it literally?! It's a tough time for indie film businesses with challenges like piracy, so you have got to flaunt what you got! I don't take myself seriously, it's obviously just a fun thing to do in order to attract attention for more important things, like making my film and challenging homophobia in Lithuania.
What kind of nude shot is it? Tell a little of what people can expect?
Well, it's full frontal, if that's what you are asking?...
Also there were some misleading publications stating that I will share selfies - actually it's a professional photoshoot by a great Lithuanian photographer Neringa Rekašiūtė. https://www.facebook.com/neringaphotography?fref=ts
Is there much preparation before taking the naked photo?
The photo is already taken! Our Kickstarter video shows the actual photoshoot that already took place.
So it's now a question only if it's gonna be distributed or not - we have to reach our goal until December 3, otherwise we get nothing!
As for preparation, I did go to the gym all this year, and when I decided to make this photo, it did inspire me to work harder! That said, I'm still rather a twink than a gym bunny...
Are you quite an exhibitionist at heart?
Well I guess I can't deny I'm quite egocentric, because even my new film is about a fictional version of me. As for exhibitionist - I just don't think a naked body is a big deal! And I have no shame in mine certainly.
Is there a lot of nudity in your films?
No, not really! With the new one, there will be some more, but still not really that much explicit. I just don't feel it's very relevant for my films.
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Do your family know your funding your project like this?
Oh sure, absolutely! My mom wanted to donate already, but I asked her not to - I feel like I have to do this on my own. My whole family is very supportive, which is rather exceptional in Lithuania.
Tell us a little about life for LGBTs in Lithuania, is it hard at the moment?
It is hard. Just yesterday I got a message from a 16-year-old living in a small town. She wants to come out as lesbian, but her parents and the whole town is homophobic. What should I advice her?.. I told her that she needs to think on what the consequences can be, and if she thinks she can cope with it and decides to come out - then her decision is good. But imagine how difficult these decisions, reactions, consequences are?...
I get a lot of messages like this and it's heartbreaking, but also inspiring - because young people really do want to come out, stand up for themselves and change our society. Meanwhile, it's very sad that most of our politicians aren't solving these problems, but are themselves fueling homophobia by new homophobic initiatives as well as censorship through "Protection of minors" law, passed in 2010, and hate speech. That leaves me very frustrated.
Why do you think there is a backlash against gay people?
Because it destroys traditional gender roles. If a man can love another man, and a woman can love another woman, then surely the notions of "men are born like this" and "women are born like that" are bullsh*t. And if it's bullsh*t, there is no more reason to discriminate women and for men to retain their power (symbolic or real). Sorry if it sounds like a difficult explanation, but that's what I truly believe.
Is it easy to come out to your families?
It depends on a family. It wasn't difficult for me, but as I said, I receive a lot of sad stories with different experiences.
Is it likely to get better in the near future?
It's getting better and worse at the same time. While most politicians are doing worse, I think our society actually does change for the better. We have more and more LGBT people coming out, both on the individual level and on Youtube as well as in the media. We have more celebrities standing up for LGBT rights, more positive stories.
Do you feature the difficulties faced by gay people in your films?
Yes, absolutely! But in my own artistic ways.
My short "Porno Melodrama" tells a story of Jonas, who enjoys his life with his boyfriend Matas, but wants to emigrate from homophobic Lithuania. Things get crazy because in order to earn money, Jonas accepts to star in a porno film with his ex-girlfriend Akvilė.
My feature "We Will Riot" is actually a "straight" story about a privileged DJ's journey of discovery from New York to Vilnius. However, in Vilnius he also meets a gay manager of the local beatmakers, Andy, who throughout the film comes in terms with his homosexuality. Available now on UK VoD platform Filmdoo: filmdoo.com/films/we-will-riot/
"You Can't Escape Lithuania" will be even more crazy, because it's a story about a fictional version of me, but I'm not even a positive character! It will be a challenge on how LGBT people are represented on screen. People should not expect educational films from me. However, I do use the media attention I get in Lithuania to make different activist initiatives, to speak up for LGBT equality and to inspire LGBT community itself to be more open.
Visit the Kickstarter page here
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