Released for public viewing a few weeks ago via Vimeo (see link below), PHANTOM VALLEY was a major project of the filmmakers, Nina Kotyantz and Ara Woland of KotyantzWoland Films. Fully funded, produced, written and directed by Nina and Ara, it took a year in post-production, honing and refining the final cut. And being shot on film stock, post-production needed to be done very carefully so as not to waste a frame unnecessarily.

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Nina's vision was specific and singular. Her story-board was extensive and richly imbued in sub-text, artful imagery, meaningful cultural significance and rigorous critical analysis.

 

Like so many independent films, PHANTOM VALLEY began it's industry journey via the international film festival circuit. And scooped a plethora of Laurels, nominations, wins and accolades. 

 

Now that the film is public, I can readily share images of the weeks the cast and crew spent on location deep in the Los Angelos Mountains.

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It was a singular joy to create 'Medicine Woman', a finely drawn character on page, deeply poetic and enigmatic, carrying within her eons of wisdom - natural and otherworldly. Yet a woman of the earth too, and earthy, pragmatic and practical. 

A delicate balance between realist and surrealist. 

VIMEO