Your trusted source

“In order to prepare publicity presenting Armenia by CNN we need 1000 dollars for 30 seconds. And to show this current movie the Republic of Armenia won’t pay anything,” said Mekhak Apresyan, the head of tourism department of the Economy Ministry.

Note that by saying “won’t pay anything” we mean 225 thousands euros which should be disposed from the state budget to shoot the movie. The film is about Armenia which is conducted by foreign companies.

In June representatives of Spanish companies specialized on shooting documentary films “Bas Business” and “Trans Globe” will arrive in Armenia to work on and to shoot a documentary film telling about Armenia.

M. Apresyan said to Panorama.am reporter that the representatives of the companies will stay in Armenia for 21 days and it is planned to finish the shooting activities. In the end of this year the film will be ready and in 2009 it will be presented to film lovers audience.

A statement rises – why does not an Armenian company shoot film about Armenia, Why do foreigners deal with it? Do not Armenians know about it? Can not they meet the requirements? Did not they know? Were not they selected?

They say that the above mentioned companies have applied to the Ministry of Economy and “wished to shoot a film about Armenia” to include it in “Escape” film series. Note that 13 countries are included in “Escape” series and the films about them will be shown by all the continental TV stations more than twice.

In the signed contract the company representatives guarantee that the film will be shown for approximately 7 years.

The project has been presented to the government and it was affirmed. According to Apresyan the company will get its revenues from the presentation of the movie and not from the state budget.

According to the ministry representative the duration of the film is 52 minutes and it will cover the history, culture and investment atmosphere of Armenia, hence they hope that it will contribute to the development of tourism.

Now! About forming the image of Armenia abroad. Just the statement itself that foreign companies shoot a film about Armenia shows that the local companies could not work on it. Why?

According to Suzanna Azoyan, the marketing director of tourism development agency in Armenia, the agency is ready to support “Bas Business” and local companies too.

Whereas it is interesting to know that according to Anahit Petrosyan, the manager of tourism development agency in Armenia, foreign companies are more skillful in shooting films in tourism field. They have researched Armenia and will shoot not an ordinary film.

Having such “severe” opinion, of course, you can not shoot that film. Any comments?