Chris Hartwell, director and executive producer of the The Tesla Archive series, speaks for Serbia.com about his new project and Nikola Tesla’s archives that will be opened in 2013 after being classified as “top secret” for 70 years
Nikola Tesla, surely one of the most fascinating and mysterious scientists and inventors in the world’s history, left behind loads and loads of sketches, blueprints and other documents that we now know as “The Tesla Archive“. What he didn’t do is to name the inheritor.
In 1943 the FBI had no intention to waste time discussing the inheritance rights after Tesla died. They immediately confiscated all his documents and, by the orders of the director J. Edgar Hoover, labeled them “top secret” and hid them away from the public.
The production team of California based “New Renaissance Pictures” gathered almost two years ago around the idea of shooting The Tesla Archive series and through it revealing the secrets of Tesla’s documents that will be opened to the public after spending 70 years “in a bunker”.
Chris Hartwell, the director and executive producer of the series The Tesla archive, believes this moment will change the world forever.
Hartwell said for Serbia.com that his crew, itself being inspired by Tesla, was encouraged to launch this project by the great interest of the entire world in “the master of lightning“.
He himself got interested into doing some serious research about the great scientist/inventor after watching “The Prestige”, a film in which Tesla is played by David Bowie.
In the teaser we saw online Nikola Tesla was already dead. Is this the only scene in which we are going to see him or there will there be a part of the series about Tesla himself?
Although the series Tesla archive starts with his death, Tesla will always remain present in this show through his work and legacy, which affect our characters and plot in integral ways.
What our heroes discover in Tesla’s secret archive is the catalyst for every action they take subsequently. A key aspect of our story is our characters uncovering more and more just how involved Tesla’s hand is in their lives.
What do you think of Tesla’s legacy?
Tesla left behind a legacy of forward thinking. He not only believed in the possibility for a better tomorrow, but also chose to actively engage in bringing that future about.
We’ve taken to heart his statement: “The scientific man does not aim at an immediate result. His work is like that of the planter – for the future. His duty is to lay the foundation for those who are to come, and point the way.” That legacy, that passion, has absolutely been infused into the themes and ideas that run through our show.
Do you plan on shooting some scenes for The Tesla archive in Serbia or elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia?
Yes, a good portion of our second episode takes place in Serbia, with our heroes visiting locations such as the Tesla museum in Belgrade.
Though some of that will be brought to life on sets and locations here in Southern California, we knew we needed to get some authentic footage to convince an audience that our characters had traveled there. As such, we sent a second unit to Eastern Europe to shoot pieces of those sequences in order to capture the culture and vistas in that part of the world.
How do you see the future of independent film? Since you are funding The Tesla archive by online donations, is that one of the ways?
Absolutely. The world of film and television ever continues to evolve. The ability to write a story, cast actors, assemble a crew, get one’s hands on a camera, and present a story to an audience no long belongs exclusively to large studios. Literally anyone can do these things. We live in a world where a five-year-old can film something and upload that video on Youtube. What will never change, however, is people’s desires to see well told stories. Those are the films/television shows that audiences will enjoy. Those are the stories that will last. And that is what we at “New Renaissance” seek to do.
The series is still in production. So far, it is intended to have an online premiere, but there are planes for TV distribution as well.
Creativity is more important than big money
During six years of its existence, “New Renaissance Pictures” has managed to produce several independent web series seen by millions of viewers around the world. Thanks to the new technologies, it managed to prove that creativity rather than funds are crucial for successful production and good ratings.
Drama, mystery and science-fiction
The Tesla Archive is a mystery-drama series with some elements of science fiction added because, according to its authors, Tesla himself was turning science fiction into reality.
The plot takes place in 2013 and follows the secret FBI department with access to the secret “Tesla” files.
Using information from this archive, the team will try to stop the upcoming catastrophe and ensure “a better tomorrow” by influencing the future.
The lead role in the series The Tesla archive is entrusted to Andrew Simpson. The leading female role is played by Nicole Lambo, while in the character of the scientist/inventor/Tesla expert we’ll watch Lenard Kelly-Young.
The series Tesla archive was endorsed by the Serbian princess Jelisaveta Karadjordjević.
Photo: www.teslaarchive.com
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