Zoo Garden railway station was the first place in Berlin I got to. It’s normal that I was looking for any animals around there, but I found my friends & one red elephant – it seems to be usual in Berlin to meet here and there colored beasts, mostly bears (exploitable symbol of this city). And (I can’t forget it) one red elephant near the Holocaust Memorial – this Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is used by teens as funny labyrinth. Is it some kind of historical irony? Maybe it’s not so bad, ‘cause it’s really magic strange place of the metropolis – 2 711 silent concrete slabs and you… who is loosing his time among them.

The gigantic Soviet soldier, fragments of the Berlin wall, the television tower with elaborate paintings of men and vampires, people with blue faces in the streets, the official delegation from Saudi Arabia (suddenly we met them near The Brandenburg Gate) – my first acquaintance with Berlin was really complicated. At the final I was all-out, fell to the bench and was taken home by train. “All you need is…” rest.

Lucia: The first question is… What is Gogol Bordello for you?
Elijah: What are they? To me?
Lucia: Yeah.
Elijah: Hm-m-m… Well, family… friends… and, I don’t know, probably one of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen now. And I think what they do is necessary, because it brings a sense of life and sort of a positive energy to people around the world. In fact they are multicultural and trying to reach out other cultures and I think it’s really important. But to me personally they are my friends and I am proud to be involved in their worlds as a friend.
Lucia: And when did you find them?
Elijah: Well, I worked with Eugene on a film called “Everything is illuminated”. And I hadn’t heard of the band before that. And then obviously when I met Eugene we became friends on that. Then I heard the music of the band, and I’ve known them ever since.
Lucia: When you were in this film, you were in Ukraine for the first time?
Elijah: We actually shot the film in the Czech Republic, we shot it in Prague, we didn’t shoot it in Ukraine, so I’ve never been to Ukraine.
Lucia (surprised): You’ve never been to Ukraine?
Eelijah: No… no…
Lucia: Oh, that’s interesting place!
Elijah: I know, I know, I need to go.
Lucia (after pause): Gosh!
Elijah (scared): No…
Lucia: The next question was…
Elijah (more scared): Oh, no…
Lucia: …about Ukraine…
Elijah (screaming and smiling): Oh, no! NO!
Lucia: That’s Ok. What is this film for you?
Elijah: Illuminated? “Everything is Illuminated”?
Lucia: Yep! Is this film about Ukrainian and Western mentalities?
Elijah: It is but it’s also just about connecting with your roots, and where you come from, and, I think we can all relate that on some level, whether or not, we’ve taken a journey like that and, gone to find out where we come from specifically for and then. So I think we can all relate to a sense of belonging to a certain… you know, society, or country, or heritage. And I think it’s just a really beautiful film, it’s a beautiful movie to work on, it was wonderful to work with Eugene, and I think we all kind of knew that we were doing something special, and beautiful.
Lucia: And do you know your roots?
Elijah Kind of, I’ve not really explored them, but I know that I have eastern European on my mother’s side, I believe its either Austrian or Polish.
Lucia (interested): Polish?
Elijah: Perhaps, not sure. Somewhere in eastern Europe. And then on my father’s side it’s English and Irish, so it’s split down the middle.
Lucia: Why do you travel now? Why don’t you work at USA?
Elijah (somebody started to speak into microphone): What’s that?
Lucia (loudly): Why are you traveling now?
ELIJAH: Why am I traveling now? Well, I’m not working at the moment, so I came out. My girlfriend is in the band and she had her birthday tonight, so I came out for her birthday. So yeah, I’m not doing anything at the moment, but I’m working on a small record label, in the United States called “Simian Records”, and I’m going back for some shows that a band that I’ve been working with, are playing.
Lucia: What pictures are you going to work on?
Elijah: Well, I’ve been working on an animated film, called “Nine”, that should come out… end of next year. I did a movie earlier this year, called “The Oxford Murders”, that comes out next year. And then I’m about to start on some other that come out next year.
Lucia: What is your point of view, about modern cinema?
Elijah: Modern Cinema? I don’t know… I feel like it becomes more and more difficult to find movies that I really wanna see. I feel like years ago, at any given weekend, there were three or four movies that I wanted to see… And the older I get, I feel like it’s more difficult to find movies that I want to see. So I don’t know, I feel like there’s a lot of sequels, there are a lot of remakes, and a lack of original ideas. But I think that all art runs in cycles, and I think that we’re in a bad cycle at the moment, and I think it’ll shift and change, like anything does.
Lucia: Which is your favorite European or USA director of film?
Elijah (bewildered): Wow… The favorite of all time?
Lucia: Not to work may be. To see. Like… I don’t know… Almodovar.
Elijah: Yeah, he’s great. I mean he’s had such a long career, and has made some amazing movies. I love Ang Lee, I think Ang Lee is consistent in being amazing. I love Paul Thomas Anderson… Who else… I love Guillermo del Toro, I think “Pan’s Labyrinth”, which he did last year, was extraordinary. I love the Coen Brothers, I think the Coen Brothers are amazing. I’m really excited about their new films.
Lucia: So, thank you! That’s all.
Elijah: That’s it?
Lucia: Yep, thank you.
Elijah: You’re welcome, of course.

What’s up? I don’t know where are you going to & what are you looking for, but Fish wish to tell what you can find here if you should stay for a while. This is the Blog about a Man & the Fish. There is collection of different stories about most interesting people which the Fish have met & will meet all over the World. People from music streams & cinema waves – this is two sides of one suitcase, which includes photos & live-videos, tales & details, news & interviews – everything handmade (finmade?) by Fish one. Everything about everyone who has his own way in the Art World.

Step by step, day by day, when festivals change into awards, party turns into afterparty, Someone of creative Persons is ready to tell a lot of funny stories & serious thoughts about our cruel world and his bright imaginary worlds. Fish wish to uncover the human & the art beings in an artist. It’s not painfully.

No artists were harmed during the making of this Blog. Even if they say so.