MONTREAL & CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TRIP

I (Angela - Director / Producer) spent one night and two over 20hour days in Montreal Canada. This two day reminder of what life was like on the road filming in Europe made me ask, how did we survive two months of no sleep, few meals, and non stop activity? I really don't know, but damn is it fun!

The trip to Montreal was for two purposes, to follow up with the Russian Bar act we followed at the Monte Carlo Festival and to present to and meet with the World Circus Federation. The Federation has be absolutely crucial with helping to gain access for filming and it was wonderful to meet many familiar faces I had met and interviewed while in Europe.

You can see what the Federation is all about by visiting their WEBSITE.

We followed the Alegria Russian Bar Cirque du Soleil act closely at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival in January, but was not able to visit them before the competition like we did the other four acts we followed. I decided to make the trip to Montreal to follow up with the troupe with the understanding of the importance of Cirque du Soleil's place in the world of circus. You can't have a film without them, plus this is quite an extraordinary act. And I have to mention, I didn't to want waste my months and months of emails with many different people and departments at Cirque in order to get permission to film this act.

We also interviewed Carmen Ruest, Director of Creation at Cirque du Soleil, who has been with the company since the start!

If you haven't watched the "Meet the Acts" video where you can see the Russian Bar Troupe in action, do so!
WATCH the VIDEO "MEET THE ACTS"
It is a jaw dropping and breathtaking act lead by Aleksander Dobrynin, who developed Russian Bar in 1977. Two of his sons are flyers in the act. Nikita is the 15 year-old son who was literally born into the act. Alegria has been an over 15 year running show, which this troupe has been traveling and performing with from the beginning. At the age of seven Nikita began performing. Now, although he loves the travel of circus and the calming feel of flying, he says he want to go into computer engineering. Talk about a change in life style!
Tamir, known as the biggest in the troupe is a porter (who holds one side of the bar, which catches the flyer). He is originally from a circus family in Mongolia and has been with the Troupe from the beginning. Tamir admitted in his interview that he holds life and death in his hands everyday as Nikita flies above him needing to land back on the skinny bar he holds, but he smiles and says the smiles, applause, entertainment and wonder he gives the audience makes up for this.
We met the troupe for interviews in the rehearsal tent behind the big top for the new show TOTEM (A great technologically advanced and costume spectacular show). We got a backstage tour and then later were able to see the show. You would think maybe after 2 months of circus I would have seen what could be seen, but circus NEVER stops amazing you. One act with two roller skaters, began with moves which reminded me of figure skating. The guy would skate in a tight circle while lifting the woman into the air as she flew out vertically. And then you realize they are on a TINY circular podium of sorts, not in a huge ice rink, and unlike in figure skating where they do one maybe two circulations, these two fly around maybe 30 times in a row! Some acts I'm not even sure how to describe and their origins can be lead back to such explanations as Aleksander's to how he invented Russian Bar, "I decided I wanted to do something weird, something different than just a trampoline act."

I hope the film can capture both the reality of the the behind the scenes life as well as the magic and art center ring.