PORTFOLIO
Film Production, "Film Institute", HSE University, Moscow.
GPA 8.72
During the second year I took part in academic mobility program and received a grant for conference trip.
For the convenience of the selection committee, I made a brief annotation in English for each document and certified the translation from my academic supervisor at the HSE University Polina Ilyina, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Industries, e-mail address pilina@hse.ru tel. +7 (916) 276 0832.
- 1The project “Laboratory of Scientific Cinema 2.0”, 2023Last spring I won a competition for the practical course "Laboratory of Scientific Cinema 2.0" to shoot short films in the laboratories of the best Universities in the country. We wrote scripts about research in the laboratories of Moscow State University and made short films about research that is changing our environment. The premiere of the films will take place in February 2024.
Recommendation by сo-founder and artistic director of the project Julia Kiseleva: - 2Internship in Guild of Non-fiction Films and TV, 2023I was a editor-in-chief of the news column on the website, my supervisor Ekaterina Vizgalova. My article “Rice husk and Super Fly for lunch: How was the pitching of the Science Cinema 2.0 Laboratory” and film review “Verbal portrait: About the film "Writer "P". Identification attempt”.
- 3Article in the scientific journal Bulletin of Dubna State University, 2023
- 4А report at the scientific conference, 2023The third All-Russian Scientific Conference “The Wind of Perestroika” in St. Petersburg, a full-time report on the topic “Postmodernism on the example of Soviet cinema of the Perestroika era”, 2023. The article is checking by reviewer.
- 5Moscow Film School, 2023-2024Universal University, Moscow Film School, long-term program “Practical Film Criticism”, curator Vsevolod Korshunov
- 6Аssistant director, 2022-2023Higher School of Economics, “Film Institute“, talk show ”Crossroads of Cinema”
- 7Еditor assistant at the periodical of the University, 2023Higher School of Economics, “Film Institute“, Bulletin of the “Film Institute“, issue about modern animation.
- 8Volunteering at the Dialogues in Cinema Film Festival, December 2023The volunteer group includes assistance to the organizers, as well as a personal assistant to the actress Polina Malikova. The organizer is Director of the Film Institute Alexander Akopov
- 9Volunteer of MoscowThe Mosvolonter movement no.1000009132406231.
- 10A personal volunteer project in Dubna, Moscow region.Director and screenwriter at Sunday school. Letter of appreciation from the Dean of the Dubna-Taldom church district, Archpriest Pavel Murzich, May 2022
- 11Adobe Premiere Pro Advanced Training Course, certificate, 2023.The author's course of a graduate of NYFA and Universal, director of editing nine full-length films, including for 20th Century Fox, Dmitry Larionov “Adobe Premiere Pro Advanced Training Course”.
- 12Studio photography course, certificate, 2023.ArtPhotoschool Moscow, the author's course of studio photography from the founder of the production studio Michael Ryzhov MEDIA, the author of eight solo exhibitions - Mikhail Ryzhov, 2023
- 13Manager of the You-Tube channel, 2020, certificate.Author's course from Marina Mogilko, co-founder of the California Linguatrip company, “Manager of the You-Tube channel”, 2020, certificate.
- 14The best student of the creative laboratory, certificate, 2022Higher School of Economics, “Film Institute", Creative Laboratory, 9.5/10 points
- 15Winter Film School, certificate, 2022Higher School of Economics, “Film Institute".
- 16Qualification “Actress of drama theater"Diploma issued by the Theater Laboratory “Kvadrat", director Juliana Kukarnikova, 2022
- 17Cambrige certificate, 2021.Level of English - B2, Upper-Intermediate
- 18High School Diploma with honors, 2022High School Diploma with honors.
Recommendation by Kamill Akhmetov, professor of HSE University:
I know Alena Silaeva as a former student of my film history class, from which she graduated with honors. She has also conducted research under my supervision, producing an excellent term paper and two articles that have gained recognition from both editors and readers for their scholarly value, and she spoke at "The Wind of Perestroyka" conference regarding Soviet postmodernist films in the "A View from the Screen" section.
Currently, Alena is enrolled in my drama course as an elective. I have also had the pleasure of viewing some of her directorial work and find it to be of great interest.
Alena is a highly adaptable individual, capable of navigating complex situations. For example: despite having to finish one of her directorial projects with an incomplete team, she presented an engaging story.
Alena is a skilled researcher who excels both independently and collaboratively. She effectively interacts with colleagues, friends, and acquaintances, generating and sharing valuable ideas with ease. Her extensive knowledge and familiarity with diverse topics are evident, underscoring her passion for learning.
Therefore, I am confident that Alena Silaeva is an excellent candidate for the exchange program.
"I am a director"
“Against her parents’ desire a girl decides to study to be a director. She passes the entrance exams brilliantly and receives full-funded stipend for the first year. However, the curriculum of the program suddenly changes being under the pressing of some circumstances. The girl faces a difficult choice - to leave the program or to get into interesting projects on her own”.
It is not in my rules to give up, that’s why I did not leave the program and created an individual educational track. Plus to the undergraduate program at HSE University, I attend a year-program at Universal University and took several author's courses of leaders of industry.
This is the beginning of my essay. All essays can be downloaded from the link below.
The premiere of the Almanac of films took place on the Day of Russian Science, February 8, 2024, at the Illusion cinema.
Link to the review (in Russian) >>
Alena Silaeva: I participated in the work on the script and in conducting interviews with researchers in the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University.
I also developed a pitching presentation, as a result of which the film received funding.
Locations: laboratories of the chemical faculty of Moscow State University, collecting of hogweed in the fields.
Shot in the style of Wes Anderson.
Below are some shots from the movie
Alena Silaeva: I participated in the work on the script (pre-production), took part in the filming at the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University, in finding financing, in post-production. I also prepare the titles in English
Locations: laboratories of the chemical faculty of Moscow State University and on the territory of Kalmykia, Russia.
Below are some shots from the movie
I am the head of the project "Laboratory of Scientific Cinema 2.0", which received the support of a federal grant. In the spring of 2023, we held an application competition and interviews for directors who wanted to participate in the Laboratory. Out of more than 300 applications from all over Russia, we selected 26 directors. I met Alena Silaeva at an interview, as a result of which she was accepted into the project and became the youngest participant in it. Alena belongs to the rare young people who are interested in the development of both mass cinema and popular science cinema. This is an important social mission in society, which contributes to education and drawing attention to the most diverse challenges of our time.
I believe that Alena will be an excellent student at the Global Ugrad exchange program because she takes an active life position, shows empathy for colleagues, participates in volunteer activities and is sincerely interested in US culture.
You can download the entire recommendation from the link below.
and especially for our leader Yulia Kiselyova.
I have analysed the experience at the «Laboratory 2.0», and I realized that it is possible to benefit the research community if we help them learn how to make short films about their research on their own. Then every research group would be able to tell about their work in a unique manner by themselves.
I have a plan to assemble a team of film industry professionals like my mentors and friends from Laboratory in order to create an educational platform “Practical Filmmaking for Scientists”. The target audience is STEM researchers who will have an access to lectures about drama, directing and etc. With the help of consultants from the scientific community, we will take into account the specifics of filming in laboratory and field conditions. Such films would provide an advantage to the scientific group when applying for a grant or to attract graduate students.
Most important that they would contribute to the popularization of Science.
After returning to Russia, I will start forming a working group for the educational platform in Russian and in English. I hope that my project will help to bring together filmmakers and researchers around the world.
Some of my short films
and
screenwriting
- Alena Silaeva: script-adaptation of the story, casting, director, actress (the role of Jonesy), makeup, hairstyles, costumes, locations, editing, sound design, props.
The short film is based on O. Henry's short story “The Last Leaf".
I edited the trailer of a short film especially for Global UGRAD.
The short film is in Russian - here is the link.
- Alena Silaeva: assistant director, casting, location selection, props for filming in the workshop, editing.
In childhood Victor loved spending time with his dad. Every weekend the family went to the country, where the father equipped a workshop in an old village house. At first, the boy just watched his dad making wooden objects. Then he slowly began to help and together they began to make models of airplanes. The greatest joy was in those days when the whole family went to the big field and launched models into the sky. Victor grew up and became a helicopter designer and pilot. He is happy, because he feels that his activity brings joy to many other people. Victor's parents taught him the main thing - to dream and work for the fulfillment of dreams every day.
Viam supervadet vadens!
Forward to the dream
Marina Mogilko's song “My Mountains” sounds in Russian, it's about how not to give up on the way to a dream.
I work on the script of the feature-length film “March, 1953”. The film consists several novels and shows fates of different people through the prism of the end of the Stalin era. For my portfolio I suggest you to read the final scene of novel called “6th of March”. The events take place on March 6, 1953. On the eve of March 5, Stalin and great composer Prokofiev died on the same day.
"Bulletin of the University of Dubna", N2, 2023:
Vestnik 2 23.pdf (uni-dubna.ru)
Here you can see some of the photos I took.
Email: amsilaeva@edu.hse.ru