YEREVAN. - Shooting of Lost and Found in Armenia, a movie predominantly made in Armenia, are finished. Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent managed to interview the producers of the film Maral Djerejian (Sideways) and Valerie McCaffrey (American History X, Neo Ned).

The producers said they have been planning to shoot a movie in Armenia for a couple of years already, but there were constant financial problems.

“This is an entertainment film, really awesome piece for laughing. I guess the actors managed to put into life all the great scenes elaborated in the scenario,” said the producer of Lost and Found in Armenia, producer of Glendale based Red Tie films company Maral Djerejian, adding that they managed to involve young but already famous Hollywood actors.

Angela Sarafyan (On the Doll, Kabluey, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) and Jamie Kennedy (Bug, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Sol Goode, Son of the Mask, Extreme Movie, Spring Break ‘83, Bending the Rules), the two leading actors are already famous in Hollywood. Angela Sarafyan has moved to the U.S. and did not visit Armenia for 24 years.

“Both of them fell in love with Armenia and Armenians. I must say that for Hollywood actors the filming conditions are at least unusual. They are accustomed to comfort, but found none of that here. They had really difficult first week but at length both Angela and Jamie fell in love with Armenians and their hospitality. The features, the colour, and the peculiarities of Armenia in comedy airs, reflect on Armenia-Turkey relations, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said the producer, giving a shot account of the scenario.

According to the scenario, several American youngsters go to Turkey for holidays and while enjoying their stay decide to try a new entertainment - parasail flight. Their strong resolution, however, dwindles as sea storm their boat but the Trukish captain’s encouraging words prevail on common sense. As a result of parasail mishap U.S. Senator’s son Billy finds himself in a small village in Armenia, where at first he is taken for Turkish spy. Here start Blliy’s unbelievable adventures that will change his life forever. 

“We did not work to preserve geographical accuracy. It’s evident that one cannot reach Armenia from a Turkish seaside and that would not possibly worry a comedy lover who looks for non-formal, funny moments,” said Djerejian.

According to the producer Armenian actors Mikael Poghosyan and Hrant Tokhatyan also participated in the shootings.

“There are many talented actors in Armenia, there are many experts but they lack the experience of working with modern cinema. The problem will be solved if people engage in film production in Armenia,” said Djerejian, adding that a single film could greatly promote general knowledge about Armenia worldwide.

“We did not make Lost and Found in Armenia for Armenian audience only. It is just a comedy and that is the precondition of its success, I guess. The film is based on a universal story that is applicable everywhere in the world. It was merely our wish to make it in Armenia. We could have shot the film elsewhere because of poor level of technical equipment in Armenia but the producers of the film are Armenians, the director, Gor Kirakosian, is also Armenian and we wanted to make it here,” said McCaffrey. “We have huge potential for boosting film industry. A great number of Armenians work in Hollywood nowadays, but most of them do not pay attention to media. The parents consider medicine, law, and economics as serious professions for their children, forgetting that we raised many famous writers and art people.”

Asked what the Armenians need to fully exploit their potential in Hollywood industry, the producer said that people should support each other, invest not only into schools and churches but also into film industry.

“When I visited the Armenian Genocide Museum, I got astonished that so many renowned people have touched upon and condemned the Genocide. Nobody actually knows about that, meanwhile each of those stories could make a splendid film scenario,” said McCaffrey, adding that it would have the same effect as Schindler’s list of Steven Spielberg.

Premiere of Lost and Found in Armenia is scheduled for Christmas holidays. The authors plan to submit the film for Sundance, Oscar and Golden Globe in the category of best foreign language film.