How it started:

   Being fans, we have been watching and, sometimes, enjoying Matrix fan films and clips, but also it seems somehow strange for us, why people, who shoot Trilogy-based films, always took it in humorous aspect. Then, black-white version of “Wrong number” comics by Vince Evans were published on official Trilogy site and that clinched it for us. For years we had been talking about doing a film, and so, I wrought scenario and gave a start to pre-production.

   As for myself, I am a chairman of oldest Ukrainian historical re-enactment club ( It's “Varyag” indeed, founded 1991) , which has an action stunt team as a part of it's structure. I worked as an actor and stunt doubling in few (mostly amateur) projects for a number of years, but I had never taken myself a project as complex as WRONG NUMBER.

   Starting our work as a team, we wanted to prove independent local film-makers could produce good quality films and show what “Varyag” could do for little money (the whole budget of our film is approximately 1000 US dollars, and biggest expense was purchasing a camera).

   Plus it was a hypnotizing power of Matrix Trilogy.

How it worked:

   The script was completed to a draft we were comfortable with (to be sure, that we can “picture” this with our non-Hollywood production potentialities) and we started to bring in cast and crew. Originally WRONG NUMBER started off very small but with a big ambition. So, who do you call when starting a project like this? Well, your friends, of course.

   A big challenge for doing WRONG NUMBER in terms of filming was time, as we all had full-time jobs, families, kids, bills, other tasks, and could only afford and schedule such large shoots 1-2 weekends a month. It took a year for pre-production, half of a year to film 5 hours of basic materials and another half of a year to complete 20 minutes movie from it.

   Calling in professional actors wasn't our plan, as not many people are going to shoot according to our schedule, not change their hair style or look for a half of a year, and do it for free. So we gathered talent who could commit their part in such a circumstances and beloved in the project. Plus our cast and crew had to pay for their own food, travel, working materials and wardrobe. It cost our people money just to be involved in the film and some of our actor had to take time off from work just to shoot with us. That is asking a lot out of someone and we are very thankful for our cast and crew, they are the greatest to work with.

   The production of the film seemed to just grow and grow, and when something came up and we thought “We can never get that, or do that!” .We simply asked or attempted it anyway. We found there was almost no limit if you applied and worked hard for it.

   The most difficult aspect of WRONG NUMBER was time. We never had enough, and had such a rigorous shot list. The reason being is we were lucky to get a location such as the subway scene. So we had to always get the many shots we had scheduled for a scene in a very tight amount of time. No one shoots the way we did for WRONG NUMBER. Doing enormous amounts of set-ups in small amounts of time. What made it all work is planning; excellent crew, staff, talent, and simply making it work. You can throw money at it, cheat it, or be creative. We tried to go for the last option.

   Upon the release of the film (Summer 2006) WRONG NUMBER have been 2 years in the makings. There were around 50 people in total involved in some aspect of the film. cast, crew, extras, behind the scenes, etc. This project was simply made through the combined effort of so many, and we want to thank those people. We were able to keep costs down and production high by using the resources we could find and treating the film in a professional manner as well as surrounding ourselves with talented, committed people who believe in what you are doing and wanting to see it succeed. There is a small piece of a lot of people wrapped into WRONG NUMBER

   All said and done we shot in total of about 6 days to make the film which took a good deal of time and effort to pull off.

   The FX and CG for WRONG NUMBER was accomplish by team of local artists. A bid idea of WRONG NUMBER in the beginning was to show the various talents there were, and show off those talents in an independent film.

   Through the whole process of WRONG NUMBER we learned and made the many. Each day and each shoot was a challenge that we always seemed to overcome, and walked away much smarter. Would we do thing differently knowing what we do now? Of course, and we would always want to go and re-shoot and fix this or that. But we take what we learned and apply it to our next project, or the project we'll be involved. New challenges, new rewards.

   Two years to make WRONG NUMBER and we hope you enjoy the many efforts of so many. This being our first film to come out, it is what it is, and hope, we do not disappoint. It wasn't about being the next biggest thing, or aiming to having lunch or business with Wachowski brothers, but about film making, the people involved who make it happen as a large group effort, and setting goals high and enjoy the ride. WRONG NUMBER is for ourselves, and for you.