In Winter We Don't Freeze

A tribute to deteriorating winters.
A visual essay about frost and different ways of how people keep themselves warm. The compilation of scenes captures the life of northern people reflecting how the harsh weather tests the human spirit. The film is made with a slight addition of sentiment considering that we might be the last generation experiencing the raw beauty of winter season.
You can read more about the project here:
reinisspaile.com/copy-of-breaking-it-down-method

director/writer REINIS SPAILE
dop JANIS JURKOVSKIS
production STEVE SPENCER production

producer HELVIJS FINKIS & MATISS SPAILE
1st AC ROLANDS ZELDERS, ERMINS BALTAIS

film loader, 2nd AC DAVIDS SMILTINS
music CHRISTIAN GABEL, 1900
sound ALEKSIS LURINS
color correction BIRGIT SUITSU
Voice over ANDY GALLER
makeup MARISA VIPULE

style MARISA VIPULE, TEIKSMA JANKAVA
film scan RUTA SUDAKOVA

camera equipment BBRENTAL.EU
Film stock KODAK GERMANY
special thanks to Roberts Vinovskis, Ghetto Games
stevespencer.tv

cast: EVA BERZINA, ZANE PAULA SIETINA, TEREZE TIESNIECE, PATRIKS PATRICIO , Madona Hockey team, RFS, KSENIJA HEIMANE, AIVARS ŠMAUKSTELIS, PAULINE KALNINA, MARTNINS ZVIRBULIS.

During the past winter we teamed up with DOP Janis Jurkovskis to create a concept project – a visual essay ‘’In Winters We Don’t Freeze’’. It is a collection of short scenes that reflect on the frost and different ways of how people keep themselves warm.
It was actually a honeymoon to the countryside with 35mm and 16mm film cameras having no restrictions. We got support from the local rental house BBrental providing us with the equipment + film scan and Kodak Germany that supported us with the film stock. Everything for the road trip was set.

We created maximum flexibility by selecting a slim film crew so we could fit it in two vans – one for camera equipment and a camper for the wardrobe, makeup and actors. We decided to use the natural light with the help of two portable led panels. The key was to find naturally rich settings that do not require the art department. This gave us the possibility to do an incredible variety of scenes in just a few days and significantly cut the budget. Also, it allowed us to react on the momentum which you miss when having a large crew.

Firstly this allowed us to test the 35mm and 16mm film in different environments and settings to become more confident with this complex medium. Secondly, we learned that efficiency provides us with a lot of creative space. Finally and most importantly we managed to produce a project that was motivated with a pure desire to create. Filmmaking became tangible and brought joy.