Dear iDEALS, a while I was introduced to Oleg Mitrofanov's project "I HATE MY COLLECTION" through an Athens based friend and was immidiately stimulated by the whole concept it is based on.
Mitrofanov describes his route as a life "full of coincidences". Born and raised in Moscow, first studied International Law at the Moscow State Academy before moving towards a completely opposite direction, Fashion.
By chance, Saint Martins' Andrew Whittle invited him for an interview along with his non-existing portfolio and some time later he was accepted in LCF for some sort of pre foundation course. In London, as he states, he met his best friend Pierre, who actually taught him a lot, without him he would never be able to get into CSM. Then Judith introduced him to Thomas Persson and a collaboration with Acne Paper followed whilst being at Saint Martins....
FilepMotwary: Oleg, what is your project about?
OlegMitrofanov: It is a documentary about Central Saint Martins college of art and design, and people who went through it, at the end of the day that what makes the college's history. You see the college has moved to a new location in Kings cross and the new chapter in CSM history has started. I think it is a good time to talk about CSM influence on British and World fashion, and it was enormous. I also would like to look in the future and try to find out what awaits CSM in its new home.
FM : When did you start the documentation and how the idea originally came from?
OM : I started filming about a year and a half ago, I had to have a break in between as I had to graduate from Saint Martins. So now I am trying to get funded to be able to complete it. Well the idea came from a very ordinary conversation with a very extraordinary friend, and then I researched it, and realised that actually none done a documentary about Saint Martins before.That's how it all started.
FM : What is the aim you have making this documentary?
OM : Well you see because I have been working on this for a while my aim changed few times, or developed rather. At the begining I thought it just sounded like a fun project to do, but the more I researched Saint Martins history and its present the more I realised that what I really want is to tell people what Saint Martins is about, to tell it's story and to remind people that it is about being yourself, being original and creative. To inspire people in a way.
FM: What were the difficulties that you found along the way from the beginning to the end of filming, editing etc.
OM : Where do I start here. This is my first big project, I have never really done anything like this before, it is a big learning experience for me. Obviously I make mistakes during the process, but sometimes they are good mistakes that change the direction of the film. But I have an amazing team and a had a lot of support so far.
FM: How many people worked on this project and when will it be released?
OM : I haven't actually finished it yet, but if everything goes well I hope I release it in 2012 at some point. The permanent team is very small it's just me, Judith Watt who actually talks to people in the film and Markys Nylaander, who is the director of photography. Home.corp which is a production company helped me to make the trailer. But I guess once I find a budget I can extend my team little bit
FM: How do you think the fashion world will receive it?
OM : I jokingly say it will be the British response to the September issue, and I am not even British. We shall see, I hope I won't dissapoint! I have some pretty amazing people lined up and some fantastic stories.
FM: What will your next projects will be?
OM : I would like to develop this project further and perhaps make an exhibition and a book about it, that will compliment the film. You see I always wanted to write a book, curate an exhibition, if not about CSM then about something else and also I always dreamed to stage an opera.
‘I HATE MY COLLECTION’ is the first feature length documentary about the world most famous fashion school – Central Saint Martins. The college is such an important institution whose influence in fashion has been a vital part of British culture for the past 60 years.
It has been a crucible of design and art talent, from Amanda Lear to filmmakers Derek Jarman and John Maybury to fashion designers Bill Gibb and Katharine Hamnett to Galliano, Stephen Jones, John Flett and Rifat Ozbek. While its more recent Alumni is topped by the late, great Lee McQueen, it has continued to irritate, agitate, cajole, push and propel creative vision from the newer voices of Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicoll and Christopher Kane. It is telling that that all came from a rundown building in Soho, where so many tutors worked for the love of it. There was no‐where else like it in the world and a film that cherishes its past and looks to the future is long overdue.
Directed by a former CSM student Oleg Mitrofanov and narrated by Saint Martins lecturer, celebrated fashion historian Judith Watt. Filledwith anecdotes and untold stories from world famous designers and per- sonalities about their student life the film gives an insight to the London most famous talent factory.
The new chapter of Saint Martins history has started when in the summer 2011 the college moved to the new purpose built building at King’s Cross. The question that everyone is asking is ‘will Saint Martins survive the move?’ How important was the old run down building on Charing Cross road?
Antonio Berardi, Antony Price, Bobby Hillson, Julie Verhoeven, Howard Tangye, Katharine Hamnett, Stephen Jones, Manolo Blahnik and Niall McInerny. Potential interviewees include: John Galliano, Hamish Bowles, Christopher Kane, Richard Nicoll, Amanda Lear, Rifat Ozbek, Louise Willson, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Louise Goldin and many others...
www.olegmitrofanov.com
www.ihatemaycollection.com
**Thank you to Panayiotis Nicolaou
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