RuNet etcetera

Hello, need to verify that time is flying by… I mean it always runs pretty quickly but it`s getting speedier these days. Working all day, jumping from the office to meet people in the middle of the day, running out of the office to visit something else… The Runet Awards ceremony yesterday.

Think about Russia and about Internet – that is the RuNet (the Internet in Russian language). State support plus lots of sponsors are equal to some champagne and a concert with local celebrities lip-synching their songs. Maybe it`s fun, maybe it`s just one more event. This actual ceremony haven`t done anything but it was the part of the whole process which is advancing IT skills, still a task.

One of our projects got the prize and a really heavy goldenish column with RU letters on the top is standing on the table in the middle of the room now. It is surrounded by plastic plates with cake`s leftovers. The local office celebration was brief as lots of work is around - preparing the conference for the next week.

Snowing in Moscow (the first autumn snow) though the temperature is around zero so everything melts away creating puddles, but the streets looked clean and light yesterday night and my evening promenade – from underground to my apartment – was agreeable.

Just a bit of useless information now. My street is named “Ulitsa Krasnogo Mayaka” (never fear, I`ll translate). Literally it is “Street of Red Lighthouse” (or Beacon). During the Soviet times the toponomy (is it a word?) was seriously influenced by certain circumstances, so there are lots of “Reds” in the names of streets, towns, factories or whatever, because the word “red” was obviously seen as a synonym to “communistic”. And a lighthouse is supposed to show you the way, the red one. Translated into English now it sounds a bit funny as streets with red lights typically have a particular sort of reputation (not particularly our case but it`s questionable perhaps). My present-day street is just a vast territory with lots of high blocks buildings overcrowded with people. The percentage of people from Mid-East is pretty high there (and here "Mid-East" means Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan etc – former Asian republics of the Union).

The good news – my Mum was visiting me. Since recently she enjoys coming to Moscow occasionally - for one day of a weekend, to have a walk, a chat and a lunch with me. This time I provided her with the copy of “Oscar and Lady in pink” by E.-E.Schmitt. She called me the next day to say: “Can I give your book to Kolobkova at work?”. I love my Mum, and it is also because she can use phrases like that.

Ok, need to go now, see you soon.

Oh, and just in case anybody was interested in the RuNet stuff – it`s here though the more serious it is… okay, am not judging, but there is still now update on their website after the ceremony. Bye now.

My Windows, part 2 (Small update about me)

Have changed my office location. Well, actually almost changed the job – stayed in the same (non-for-profit) company though working for different program now.

The program to which I devoted three years of my one and only life has been finished. It was quite fun – giving grants to Russian youth for implementing all sorts of social projects and useful initiatives for the benefit of their local communities (let`s hope), though finally I was a bit disappointed with the whole idea. It was great enough to visit their towns - all over Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, and the distance between them makes eight-hours time difference by the way. Anyway there was three-year limit from the beginning so no regrets. By the way it was US money to be distributed there which actually added some charm (if not extreme) to the whole thing thinking about some aspects of life in modern Russia. Never done anything wrong but somehow felt a bit questioned at times.

So now it is another story: IT sphere, computers and communication, education for the future; financed by serious business, and me managing the contracts in the middle of that chain going from huge corporation to modest internet centers all over Russia. Not that exciting because reporting grant contracts sometimes reminds living a nightmare (well, that sounds exciting).

Anyway all that gave me the new office space, a bit crowded but with a lovely view from the window. Enjoy! (I like the gate).

The famous Tretyakov Gallery is on your left with its vast collection of art, painting mostly. The nice street full of pedestrians is Lavroushynsky pereoulok (Lavroushynsky lane). It is ended by the Moskva river which you can`t see from here because it`s just a river. And sort of on the horizon you may see one of the Kremlin palaces (there are several of them plus cathedrals on the territory of the Kremlin, I suppose everybody heard the name).

It is the Bolshoy (meaning “Big”) Kremlin Palace, supposed to be the best one. Here are some - interior pictures

And that`s my actual table as it is. (Hey, I`ve just moved in, so... yes, it`s messy).

With the new table I`ve got the map. Don`t know why but I like maps. They are beautiful, according to my taste, though somebody can confirm that I am not the best navigator. I admit I might have some difficulties, while walking or driving, but the thing is - I am where I am right now which proves that finally my navigation is successful enough (can all that be called success?!)) The thing is – I never know how to start and where to go – I perfectly see the map but until you understand the direction… So with all my brisk and confident walk I always start in the wrong direction. Actually, and I discovered it recently – I just need to walk in direction opposite to what my feelings tell me. Perhaps it`s some sort of topographical (anti)talent.

The picture which you hopefully see on the screen of my desktop was made in Brussels, on the bus stop with busses going to the suburbs with that cinema studio mentioned below.

Need to go now. Au boulot!

Oscar, la Dame Rose et moi

(*and forgive that immodest title today)

Salute, time to briefly testify what happened.

So there was me and the trip to Belgium. And there was the route looking like: night train from Moscow to Vilnius, then plane to Paris, and train to Brussels after, with some buses and underground in between. Which actually saved me some money on travel expenses and - as a bonus - kept me out of Moscow for a week. Fair enough. Plus sure there were lots of walks - me changing hotels every day because last minute booking (and that`s literally) is seldom a reasonable idea. Yes, my logistics was challenged by several obstacles but finally was precise and perfect enough.

- Paris, Brussels… what were you doing there?!
- Moving every single day to the next hotel.

All that doesn`t really matter because finally there was me in the real (!) cinema-studio outside the Belgium capital. Watching (and for the first time in my life) how the movie is being done... No idea how to describe that but let me put it clear: that was wonderful. And nothing else to add here, that was totally amazing and interesting in every moment. Honestly I was hoping to participate more actively, like carrying cables or stuff, but I had a chance just to observe things with a minor physical activity (like passing a special black screen covering unnecessary light once, come on, am proud of it). And that`s only fair, was glad to follow the rules.

I definitely saw what a professional business movie-making is. Perhaps that is an obvious statement but it`s always handy to see things in real. The documents and planning, the team work, working for one project which by the way keeps people together just temporarily. “Silence, Action and Cut” rhythm of activity. Whatever interesting conversation you have you stop it after the “Action!” word and nobody can guarantee you will remember it after the “Cut!” word. Being the real two-day long witness I respect cinema people on a new level now. And everybody was just nice, gentle and open. Lunches were also good.

So the film... Since last Monday Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is shooting his second film (second as the film director, because there are already several others based on his books but made by other directors). Now it is “Oscar and the Lady in pink”, already a real success as a book and as a theatrical play in many countries.

On the photo: Michele Laroque ("Lady in Pink"), Amir Ben Abdelmoumen ("Oscar") and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (author and film director). Photos taken from www.michelelaroque.com.
The shooting should be finished in January, though in Canada.

Oscar, interpreted by the little bruxellois Amir, doesn`t look the same now, because... have you finally read the book?

The story has been rewritten for the scenario and for a good reason – to show the evolution of the character. Of one of the characters... That will be a film worth watching, no doubt. Not that I was signing any documents concerning confidentiality but just don`t want to spoil pleasure of expectation for you, so... suspense.

Needless to say how much I appreciate what happened. New experience, meaningful conversations, tons of new information, smiles, big thoughts and small questions to myself... As some of you may know, all that happened in quite an intricate period of my life. Job issues and new ambitions, questions about potential childbirth, global politics and questioning my feelings towards my country and people, general attitude as well – somehow surprisingly all that became my everyday tension since this August and may be called something like “stress occasionally overcome by small nice moments of life but stress anyway”. Not that I finally solved that now, but... life`s going on.

So thanks for attention today. I guess there is not much valuable information about the film here, but knowing how talkative I am... If you are lucky to be around Moscow now or if you know my email address. Welcome, though time, time... Ciao now!