THEMATIC PLANNING AS AN INSTUMENT OF UKRAINIAN CINEMA REGULATION (based on the 1920s experience)

Abstract

The article analyzes characteristics of thematic planning in Ukrainian cinema in 1920s. The thematic plan of 1929-1930 operating year is taken as a basis. At present, issue of thematic planning is quite debatable. Some consider it a relic of Soviet era. However, along with private film production there will always exist state film industry. Therefore, stated topic is relevant today. Thematic planning was an integral part of Soviet cinema. This applies to Ukrainian cinematography as well. The first attempts to establish a planned release of films were made in 1919 by All-Ukrainian film committee. However, these attempts were obstructed by lack of material, technical and financial resources, as well as by civil war. In 1922, All-Ukrainian Photo and Cinema Administration (VUFKU) was created. The process of thematic planning of films was started. At first, thematic plans did not have a clearly defined character. They were often adjusted. At end of 1920 winding down of new economic policy and strengthening of administrativecommand system of national economy's management took place. At this time, thematic planning became increasingly important. It became an important instrument of control of Ukrainian cinematography. In late 1928, VUFKU developed a thematic plan of film production for 1928-1929 operating year. This thematic plan was a subject to a broad discussion. It was first real thematic planning of Ukrainian cine products. It was carried out within framework of introduction of five-year development plans of theUSSRnational economy. A VUFKU draft thematic plan for 1928-1929 operating year consisted of five sections: Social and everyday themes, Themes that cover national politics, Topics in history of social movements in Ukraine, Themes on ancient past of Ukraine, Topics of children's This thematic plan failed to be implemented. The faults of previous planning were considered in thematic plan for 1929-1930 operating year. A draft thematic plan for 1929-1930 operating year was even more ideological than previous one. The leading role in a thematic plan was given to Iosif Stalin's thesis that inevitable intensification of class struggle which would happen along with building of socialism and communism. This thesis was supported by Head of VUFKU Ivan Vorobyov (he was shot as the people's enemy in 1930s). Ivan Vorobyov also thought that thematic plan for 1929-1930 operating year should be established on basis of major newspapers' editorials. According to thematic plan for 1929-1930 operating year, Ukrainian cinemography was to release 40 feature films. Thematic plan consisted of 71 theme, which were divided into 11 chapters. Some of sections were: Social and political themes, Social and industrial themes in a city, Social and industrial themes in a village, Cultural revolution and everyday life, Anti-religious themes, Themes about life of national minorities... Thematic plan for 1929-1930 year was not well-balanced. The internal logic was disrupted in several sections: these sections included themes from other sections. The mechanism of script development, from its creation to film production, was not thought out well. The significant drawbacks of thematic plan were its further ideologization, its artificial character and a raw propaganda in majority of declared positions. The above-mentioned problems led to fact that thematic plan was only partially implemented (mainly due to scripts that were already ready). Nevertheless, thematic plan for 1929-1930 operating year became next step on path to further ideological oppression of Ukrainian feature films. This led to a one-sided and very subjective interpretation of events that negatively affected development of national cinematography.