Episode 144
Boris Meshkov, Filmmaker and Video Producer
We're going all the way over to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, some of you may know it as Saigon.
Today will be talking with Boris Meshkov, a producer, director of music videos, film commercials, and currently working on a film series called Saigon 3000.
He’s been around the world and he expresses a world of creativity in his own work, in his own travels. Boris was born in Russia and is now living in Saigon and in between, he's traveled to over 20 countries, where he's lived and worked.
Boris began his travels back in 2014 when he got a scholarship to travel as an exchange student to the US. While there, Boris got a 3 months job in Idaho Sun Valley, and in between work, he visited the city of Boise, which he found to be absolutely beautiful. When his 3 months work was done, he moved to Los Angeles Hollywood to pursue his film-making dream. A year later, when that didn’t work Boris returned home to Russia.
According to Boris, when traveling, don’t travel alone. So Boris and his girlfriend made the decision to hitchhike across Europe where they slept in tents during their visit to 20 countries, 6 months later, Boris still had this deep desire to travel, he decided to travel east to China, before getting to Vietnam.
After 3 years of living in China and teaching English as an expatriate, Boris made his way to Vietnam. Two years later, he shares with us lessons he has learned in pursuing his journey of film making and his progress in making his movie Saigon 3000.
- Vietnam's growth over the past decade and a half have made it an excellent country for the film industry due to an increased number of film studios and production companies. The lifestyle, reduced competition, and less bureaucracy make it easier to break into the film business compared to Hollywood.
- Making connections as a foreigner wasn’t easy, however, by sharing his ideas about the movie he wanted to make with everyone he met, before long people in the industry started reaching out to him.
- Boris tells us about his experience pitching his film and how he has to incorporate feedback into making this film.
- For success in the film industry, Boris says it is about your network, who you know. The key in filmmaking is quality and to find good quality, you require teamwork and collaboration. By sharing the love on the set in pre-production and post-production. you can make something really great.
In summary, Boris says when he started to travel, he was looking forward to discovering the world. But when he finished traveling, he realized that he discovered himself. So it's not the adventure of searching. It's the searching of and revealing yourself.
Boris Facebook: Boris Meshkov
Boris Website: Saigon 3000
Transcript
auto generated transcript
Mark (:Welcome back friends to our podcast, unlocking your world of creativity. And today that world word in our title is gonna be underscored. We're going all the way over to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. You may know it as Saigon, and we're gonna be talking with Boris Meshkov. He’s been around the world and he expresses a world of creativity in his own work, in his own travels. Boris, welcome to the program.
Boris (:Hello, it's my pleasure to be here.
Mark (:Well, when I say a world of creativity, Boris was born in Russia. He's now living in Saigon and in between he's traveled to, gosh, is it 20 countries he's lived and worked everywhere that we can think of. So, Boris, you've got a lot of creative experience to share with us.
Boris (:Yes. Indeed.
Mark (:You're currently working on a series of short films called Sagon 3000. So we definitely wanna hear more about that, but why don't we just start with your story? How did you become the world traveler that you are
Boris (:Okay. That's a good question for a start. So the first trip was actually to states it was an exchange program for students back in 2014. I was lucky to get a job offer in Idaho sun valley for three months as a Banker. That's how I visit Boise
Mark (:Which is absolutely crazy.
Boris (:In between the shifts, I've managed to go there. Beautiful city. I really enjoyed it. So I spent a year in the States after Idaho, I moved to Los Angeles, Hollywood, and I was chasing my film dream. I wanted to make movies, but Los Angeles is not that easy for the newcomers, as you might know. So after states, I just came back to Russia. And after that, I was ready for the world. I was ready for discovery. I was ready for the big search of my life. So me and my girlfriend, we were like on the same page with the traveling and covering the world. So we finished our universities, got our diplomas, packed our backpacks and thumbs up road.
Mark (:Literally thumbs up. I wanna hear the story of hitchhiking to Hong Kong
Boris (:oh my God. So first it was like six months of traveling in Europe. So that was 20 countries. The fat piece of traveling was in there. It sounds crazy, but it is amazing, of course, I'm really happy to have this chapter in my life. European hitchhiking. After six months of traveling around Europe, those 20 countries, and stuff, I still haven't found it. So in Europe, there was no place that I felt like staying at if you know, what I'm talking about. So after Europe, we tried another shot for the east to go to China. We've heard some good undiscovered things about that area. So yes, our destination was Hong Kong, but when we came to China, we really liked it. We really enjoyed it and we decided to stay, firstly, because it's like the first step into Asia for me, this is the first time I met the Asian culture, not on TV where these talk only about like Vietnamese war noodles anime, it was quite a surprise for me to discover that Asia is much more than the stereotypes that it having.
Boris (:And on the other hand, China was back in 2016, China was offering a really good job for foreigners to be a teacher. So the weird thing is that you don't even have to speak English very well, but you have to be a white guy to get a job, but the salary was insane in a good way. And there was after a year of wild-style traveling, sleeping in a tent and cooking food on the fire. That was definitely an interesting call you know, so yes I decided to stay in China for three years and then I moved to Vietnam and I'm here for two years now.
Mark (:Well, in Saigon, you talk about a vibrant city. I think about your comparison to Hollywood and LA and a city, the size of Saigon, and trying to break into the business and make connections. How's that working for you?
Boris (:Actually, it works so much easier here in Vietnam. I do really like it. I do really prefer Saigon to Hollywood. I lived in both cities, so it's definitely less pressure in here in terms of competition, in terms of bureaucracy, and the overall stuff. You know, I know traffic is crazy. Like having a car is crazy in Los Angeles, here, you don't have to have a car. You need to have a bike. And it's pretty cool. First time in my life, I don't have to wait at the bus stop or go to remember all the, subway stations, you know, just hop on the bike and you're ready to go. So, I compare to Hollywood is definitely like the top-level topnotch in terms of filmmaking, you can reach the film sky if you say it like this, but in Saigon, it's much more humble, but the opportunities in the way that I personally place myself in here is much, much better than in LA.
Mark (:Well, I did travel to Saigon almost two years ago and it's interesting. You're, you're comparing the cities. I can only imagine LA with all the motorbikes and mopeds and bicycles it would be a different place that's for sure. I barely learned to walk across the street in Saigon. So that was my first challenge.
Boris (:They don't do It here.
Mark (:You think it sounds silly, but crossing the street is an adventure in itself. Anyway, back to your creative pursuits, I love that you've had this burning desire, this gut desire for film and creativity, pretty much your whole life as an adult, for sure. What is it now that you're producing and creating and how fulfilling is it to finally be putting some work on tape?
Boris (:So currently I'm working on some corporate projects this is the time in Vietnam to shoot the commercials for the lunar new year. The holiday happens in early February late January. So now production companies are getting pretty busy preparing those new year commercials. So for now I'm stepping aside for the commercials side. But I always prioritize my film, of course, not only in Vietnam, but this is my statement in life to make a movie and I find Vietnam is a pretty suitable spot for that at least right now
Mark (:And what makes it suitable? Why is it a good environment for making a movie for
Boris (:You? Well, Vietnam showed itself pretty well in terms of economics and growth of quality of life and level of life. So Vietnam is so much better than it was like 10 years or 15 years before. There are much more film studios. There are much more production companies. There's much more support from Korea. And there's a lot of opportunities, to be honest specifically here in Saigon. So there are studios that are actually making high-quality products, I'm talking about videos, whatever it's commercials or music videos, or even short films. The quality is great. They have professionals, they have people who studied abroad and came back from states, for example, or Singapore or Hong Kong from film schools. And they come back and they share the skills here and they produce some really cool, interesting stuff. The only thing that is lacking is the lack of idea, and it still feels a little bit fresh for the Vietnamese. They've made some really good movies. I'm talking about films, but there's still some space to grow for them. And I'm here to help. I'm here to take part in this game. It's so exciting to learn and, create alongside the whole nation, you know?
Mark (:Yes. It is a hot market, isn't It?
Boris (:Yeah, it is. But that's what makes it so exciting, right?
Mark (:Yes. And as a foreigner how are you making the connections and getting the introductions to some of these studios?
Boris (:Oh, actually it was so easy. Last year when I came to Vietnam, I had no practical experience of how to be a director or pitch a movie. I just had this idea about the film. I wrote it down, I made a script, I learned how to make it. And I just start meeting people. I just start sharing my idea and it was such an unstoppable force that it went out to control, I think. So I did all my documents showing some of the treatments and premises of Saigon 3000 some of my ideas of sci-fi films with heavy cyberpunk and neon influence. And I was just so excited about the opportunity to make the movie. So I start sharing with the people. I start meeting with DFX artists, producers, with anybody who can be involved in this. I was surprised that feedback was actually positive people liked the idea it turned out that it is a little bit too hard to make for newbies, like newcomers like me, but it was so much fun. Sharing those ideas with people and accepting them from others. So I found it pretty easy to make it here.
Mark (:That's great. Well, why don't you use this opportunity to give us a little pitch to describe the movie project to us?
Boris (:Okay. Well with great pleasure. I've done it already hundreds of times.
Mark (:I'm sure you have. That's why I, wasn't afraid to ask
Boris (:That’s my pitch drill.
Mark (:and I, and I'm not even asking for PowerPoint slides.
Boris (:So Saigon 3000 is sci-fi series it's a trilogy of three short movies based in Sagon Vietnam. It's talking about the futuristic location. Also here in Vietnam, there are three stories that we are having different characters, different situations, but the same location and at the same time. So it all happens in Sagon 3000. The first movie is called Mu it's a movie about a monk who travels to cybers space, and he transformed himself into a virtual creature for the first time. So this is a really in-depth movie, trying to answer the questions about cyberspace and like what it is for us now. Just imagine that the internet is the visual version of our dreams. I was taking it from a perspective of religion from Buddhism, and I put it in the movie Mu about the monk. The second one is much more fun.
Boris (:It's called The Runner it's like heavy influenced nineties action, VHS film, still really heavy, punchy, beefy, cyberpunk stuff about the midnight ninja who is seeking revenge, seeking blood from the evil core who betray him. This is not that a drama movie. That's not much in-depth idea, but its emphasis is really on atmosphere, the neon, the nineties, the VHS tapes, and stuff like that. And the third movie is called the Glitch. It's about a girl who has an implant in her hand and suddenly, the implant freezes in the air. And she cannot move. So yeah, this movie questions implanting some technology into our body. These are the three films that I was trying, to pitch. I was trying to make and still on the go still, there are chances to make it happen. And yes, this is Saigon 3000
Mark (:Fantastic. And always pitching. I've had other guests, filmmakers, TV shows, producers who say, they’re always pitching. That sounds like your world.
Boris (:Don’t stop the pitch.
Mark (:That's right. And I'm sure, from a production standpoint, the creative description is very strong. What do you see as the potential market? Who are the people who are going to enjoy a film series like this?
Boris (:Well, I was aiming at Netflix cuz I find it the new age, the new word in film now because it's much more available for all kinds of people. But personally, I would like to make it a rated R because I want to use some elements of gore nudity or swear words, just elements too, use it as a tool of storytelling, you know, and that find myself comfortable in, this rating. R plus I hope I can make it happen. And the producers won't be mad at me.
Mark (:What have been some of the responses you're getting from the pitches?
Boris (:It was like 95%. It was so positive and it was so supportive. I think just because of this response from the people, this project kept ongoing and it grew pretty big. Yeah. we've gathered a lot of information. We've had meetings with scriptwriters and VFX artists. The crew was at a max of 10 people and we used to have a weekly meeting. It was so much fun discussing the script. Where does the main character go or how does he act in the end what's happening in the beginning. And that was great. That was great to have feedback from the people. And of course, that was the gasoline for this engine to run, you know?
Mark (:Yes. Well, and even though this has been a personal passion of yours, does this tell you something about the teamwork and the collaboration that it's gonna take to actually get the movie off the ground?
Boris (:Oh yes. I think it's impossible to make a really good movie alone. Like we have some examples of solo-made films, but what I'm searching for is quality and quality always requires teamwork, especially in film. The film is the most complicated form of art. It's really difficult and it's still number one in difficulty. So when you're alone, you just can't make anything good. It can take years. It can take as much time as you need to make a movie, but you cannot do it alone. So for sure, you need to have people that you can rely upon that you can trust in terms of taste and workflow. And only sharing the love on the set in pre-production and post-production. You can make something really great.
Mark (:So a lot of personal connections are needed?
Boris (:Yes. It's all who, you know, it was a really good phrase from T.O.P the camera operator from Hong Kong. He was an Australian guy and I was just a beginner in videography and it was my first day on set. And I'm just asking, how do you make it in the film industry? And the guy says, it's all who, you know, and that's it. So I like five years after that, I still agree. It's all, you know, it's all about the network.
Mark (:Yep. I love it. Well, Boris, I feel the energy. I feel the passion. I love seeing your smile on the video here. but I, I guess I want to go back to some of those international travels and, and what led you here. It was always a fun adventure. You had some challenges along the way.
Boris (:Actually, I cannot remember. I tried to remember some bad moments of my trip, but I cannot remember. There are fun moments. There were ridiculous moments, but the overall experience was mostly positive. I can say that maybe we've met a couple of like, not nice people, but they were just not nice. They weren’t aggressive or dangerous or stuff like that. Most of the people that we've met were extremely helpful, extremely friendly, extremely hospital. And I cannot remember any actually bad experience in the travel.
Mark (:That's so good. And I think if you speak to people who might be listening, who have considered that kind of international adventure and travel, what advice do you have for us to say, you know, get out of our own world and, and see other parts of the world and meet other people. What's been your experience that you could share.
Boris (:I can say that when I started the travel, I was looking forward to discovering the world. But when I finished traveling, I realized that actually, I discovered myself. So it's not the adventure of searching. It's the searching of and revealing yourself basically. And if anybody's listening right now and having a call to, go hitchhiking just a piece of advice, have a partner don't travel alone. I think this is like technical advice. I was traveling with my girlfriend and it was a really fine combination. Maybe that's why we have avoided all the unpleasant situations because it was like a perfect basically and a young man and the young woman. Yes. And it felt great. It was the world. It was summer. It was love. It was just amazing. Yes. It's a mix of risky adventure and the mix of kind of curiosity. So anybody who wants to do it, just go for it guys.
Mark (:Fantastic. Well, Boris, I wanna make sure that people know how to connect with you and learn more about your work and make sure they follow your projects. How can we find you?
Boris (:The best way is to contact me through Facebook. This is my station information station. You can find everything else through Facebook. My YouTube, my Instagram all my works are posted on Facebook. So please just type it correctly. If you, if you can, because my Russian second name. Yeah. Boris Meshkov on Facebook.
Mark (:That's terrific. Well, be sure to find you well, Boris, thank you for sharing your adventures, your creativity. I love your theme of curiosity and sort of fearlessness. I mean, there's going for it kind of attitude that you've expressed. It's like, Hey, I'm gonna show up in Saigon. I'm gonna meet the people I'm gonna keep pitching and we're gonna get this film made.
Boris (:Actually, I was having a fear of not doing this. I was, having a fear of staying at home and doing nothing. It, was the fear. And when I was released, it wasn't scary at all. It was like a revelation, you know? So yes, I feel so, so much better after making those decisions of traveling somewhere in another country and then back home and traveling again and coming back home again and traveling again. And yes, finally, I feel like I found it here in Saigon, Vietnam.
Mark (:Terrific. Well, thanks for being on the show, Boris. So my guest has been Boris Meshkov producer, director of music videos, film commercials, and he is working on a film series. A short film called Sagon 3000. And we're gonna be sure to connect with you on Facebook, Boris, and follow your work.
Boris (:Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
Mark (:It's great to have you and listeners come back again for our next episode. We're gonna continue our around-the-world journeys virtual right now, but around the world, indeed, to talk to creative practitioners globally about how they get inspired and how they organize their ideas. And most of all, how they gain the confidence and the connections to launch their work out into the world. That's what it's all about. So until next time, I'm Mark Stinson and we've been unlocking your world of creativity. See you soon.
