World War II movie filmed on island
SHS grad produces films for Faith vs. Fate Productions
By SARAH ARNEY Staff Reporter
The cast and crew of a short film called “Zinka,” set in Russia during World War II, film a scene on Camano Island recently. The short film will be one of eight in a short film festival presented by Faith vs. Fate Productions. A movie crew filmed a World War II picture on Camano Island last weekend.
The short film by Faith vs. Fate Productions will be part of a short film festival presented by the same organization in Seattle Feb. 18.
The short film, “Zinka,” is about a historic Russian sniper, and will be one of eight short films in the competition.
“We have connections on the island,” said the founder and CEO of the production company, Collin Joseph Neal.
The producer and co-writer is his wife, Erin (Hemenway) Neal, who graduated from Stanwood High School in 2001. While at SHS she won a best director award in theater arts. She has appeared on stage at Skagit Valley College and for Shakespeare Northwest. She and her husband now live in north Seattle.
Yulia Hancheroff is Zinka, and Nikita Breznikov plays the general in Zinka in a short film being made by Faith vs. Fate productions. FVF Productions was established in October 2010 and created four short films in 2011, along with dozens of other independent and corporate projects.
FVF believes in creating new works featuring local artists.
“Zinka is one of the last films being shot for the festival and we are excited to have the opportunity to return to Camano for our project,” Erin Neal said. “We chose Camano for its similarity to Russian landscape.”
The Faith vs. Fate Festival of Shorts offers films by eight directors who will premier films at the Feb. 18 festival in downtown Seattle.
All the short films are volunteer projects, Neal said.
From left, Jason Vo, Yulia Hancheroff as Zinka, production manager Erin Neal, writer/director Collin Joseph Neal and Daniel Mimura on the Steadicam are shooting a scene for a short film set in Russia during World War II on Camano Island recently. Each director has been given a 48-hour time frame to film, and they have less than a month for post-production.
“We have asked the directing/producing teams to utilize the talent in the community as a collaborative effort,” Neal said.
The eight directors were solicited by Faith vs Fate but do not have contracts with us, Neal said.
“We hired some who had been directors before. We wanted to give them an opportunity to take a vision from page to screen.”
“While the company is faith based, that does not limit our films to religious issues exclusively,” Neal explained.
“This festival has a wide range of subjects. We believe in putting faith in the people by helping them to produce the highest quality films.”
“Zinka” is directed by Erin’s husband, Collin Joseph Neal, with Nikita Breznikov acting in the lead role.
Other films by FVV, “Red” won a bronze award from Jam Fest Indie Films and “In Those We Trust” is headed to Spokane International Film Festival this month.
The last film they shot in Snohomish County was “Carrera,” which was directed by Gina Lockhart. All eight films will be released online following the festival, Neal said.
For information about the production company, see www.wix.com/faithbyme/faith-vs-fate-productions or www.facebook.com/FaithvsFateProductions.
Staff Reporter Sarah Arney: 629-8066 ext 115 or sarney@scnews.com.
