PT Journal
AU Kos, M
TI To Protect the Christian Idea against the Hanky-Panky of the Jewish Clique. St. Wenceslas as a Conflict of Ambitions, Ideas and Interests
SO Iluminace
PY 2020
BP 41
EP 60
VL 32
IS 1
DI 10.58193/ilu.1654
WP https://iluminace.cz/en/artkey/ilu-202001-0002.php
DE St. Wenceslas; production history; Czech silent cinema; Millenium-film; National cinema
SN 0862397X
AB This article explores the conceptual and pre-production stage circumstances and decision-making process in the case of negotiations for the production of Czech silent epic drama St. Wenceslas. Members of Millenium-film, a non-filmic association, seeking to provide financial resources for the production from the Czech government, had a several opportunities to make a deal with Czech producers (Milos Havel) or production companies (Elektafilm and Astra National Production Ltd.) to co-finance it. However, the negotiations were completely unsuccessful due to different interests in the project. As the records of meetings indicate, Millenium-film's decisions were greatly affected by members' demands for the maximum control over the making meanings related to the figure of Saint Wenceslas. Their approach is reflected by crucial choices about scenario and director, influencing the film form and meanings. The study argues filmmakers' ambitions could not be fulfilled due to their lack of symbolic capital in this particular project and they could operate merely as suppliers of their skills.
ER