LESBIRU.COM :: THE SCOOP: “TASTY BITS”

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THE SCOOP: “TASTY BITS”

LesbiRu.com proudly presents the premiere of the first Russian lesbian comedy “Tasty Bits”.

About a year ago LesbiRu.com had a chat with the movie’s director and announced a casting call for the starring role in “Tasty Bits”. What came out is a delicious comedy with a bouncy soundtrack, chewy one-liners and a sizzling lesbian couple amidst all the quirky action. The film features an array of Russian thespians plus a bunch of non-professional actors. “Tasty Bits” helmer Sasha Valenti is a young Russian-American filmmaker who is taking her creation back to the U.S. right after the Russian premiere.

According to Ms. Valenti, “the westerners are fed up with the tired stereotypes that Russia’s generally presented by. I strive to show our country’s pulse, the shifting image of today that people around the world already sense via the Internet and through direct contacts with the many Russians working and traveling abroad.”

Q. Is this your first feature?
A. As a student at Boston University’s Film school, I took part in many professional and student productions. However, “Tasty Bits” is my first independent commercial project that I’ve written, directed and produced.

Q. How long was the shoot?
A. 24 days of principal photography and 2 months of post-production. However, they both had stretched over a year, since residential status obliged me to visit America every once in a while.

Q. Why, after receiving your diploma in the USA, you decided to shoot your first movie in Russia?
A. The best career advice in my life was: “Preparing to make a low-budget movie, don’t think about what you’d like to have in it, think about what you do have.” A gutsy low-budget movie is a great calling card for a filmmaker who doesn’t want to spend years kissing Hollywood’s derriere. Nevertheless, shooting a movie like this in America would have cost me ten times its Russian budget, hence, long months of fund-raising and personal compromises. As it is, I still took a great risk flying across the Pacific to make my movie, but I’m happy to be my own boss, and this whole story, if nothing else, sounds like a treasure for the press.

Q. Why choose lesbians as a subject?
A. To paraphrase Howard Stern, the infamous NY radio host, “Lesbians equal box office.” Risking both creatively and financially, I tried to spice up “Tasty Bits” with as many commercial hooks as possible. This is the first film from Russia to feature an open and passionate relationship between two women. Yet, a lesbian love story notwithstanding, “Tasty Bits” boasts a dynamic plot, excellent soundtrack, great dialogues and a heap of quirky characters. Even the story of how the movie was made should give the media a lot to munch on. However, the going for a commercially healthy film didn’t blur my focus on making a sincere and flamboyant picture about things that interest me most.

”Tasty Bits” premiere is scheduled for June 13, 2002.

Click here for our “Tasty Bits” review and interviews with the cast >>>
Official website: http://www.tastybits-themovie.com

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