In this “Fantastical Mythical Comedy” among the Minotaur-legend, the actress Iznasha, as the protagonist of a film production, dreams of her unknown parents in a living relationship making an impossible film within an ensemble of artistic friends.
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riter Statement:
Leo Lionni’s Caldecott Honor–winning story “Frederick” about a mouse who gathers unusual stories for the long winter, has shaped me beyond my childhood. It guided me for now 45 years to become an international artist who is following a similar path as a writer, actor and director.
When the days grow short and the colours turn grey, I wish to warm the hearts and spirits of our public. The lives we are living today are the precious only ones we have, in which our dreams can become true by celebrating their recreation, even in the most difficult moments for all of us.
The biggest driving force for my artistic journey is the founding of an international acting institute for artists in 2004 in Hamburg, who share an interest in developing the miracles of our lives in artistic projects, that are game changing for their public. Striving for this goal, I have also been collaborating for 38 years with Dominique De Fazio, lifetime member of the Actors Studio. 2013 I have been the associate producer of his film: “Dancing On A Dry Salt Lake”
During the pandemic, when the world stopped and held its breath, we decided then and there with our artistic team of collaborating writers and actors to develop the screenplay of “Angels Desired” – a script about an artistic ensemble, that decides to make an important film, rather than giving up.
To make this metaphor interesting and necessary for the public, we underlyingly introduce themes of Ancient Greece, like the saga of the Minotaur, in the film. As a creative twist, we created the figure of the female “Minotaura”, a partner for the Minotaur. She is the embodiment of the continuous world-wide empowerment of women, acknowledging the potential of female qualities for future leaders!
In the story of Iznasha’s growth from an adolescent girl into an adult artistic moderator of her life, who, while navigating the very different proposals of her mother and her father, develops an understanding for her actual needs, important questions reach the heart of the public:
What are parents? What is love? What is death? Who are we? What is body as soul? What is life about?
Whilst travelling through 5 different countries, in which the film ideally will take place, the screenplay grew by itself. This was a new and fulfilling approach to writing, reflected in the final draft. Words appeared, guided by dreams.
We all need to be on a path that allows us to propose a way forward. We all need a meaningful life with purpose! Hopefully this film can become such a journey for its public.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank our profession, my artistic team and friends and the main inspiration for this film: Federico Fellini.
Biography
Lukas Scheja is a German actor, director, artistic director of an acting school, executive film producer and screenwriter, working nationally and internationally for 35 years in all fields of the dramatic arts worldwide in theatre and film.
As a founding member of the film production company "Dancing Coyote" in Los Angeles he co-produced the 2013 international film "Dancing on a dry Salt Lake" with his international film production company "AlsterGlobalVillage" seated in Hamburg in northern Germany.
This film directed by Dominique DeFazio, who is a lifetime member of the Actor´s Studio, has won 39 awards, like “Best Screenplay”, “Best Directing”, “Best Protagonist”, “Best Ensemble Acting” and “Best Camera”.
As an actor, Lukas Scheja started at the Thalia Statetheater in Hamburg and toured in different productions as the protagonist internationally. The movie "Heidengeld '', in which Lukas Scheja starred as a protagonist, was awarded "Best Newcomer of the Year" in Hessen/ Germany. He is still actively taking classes with teachers from the Actors Studio and educates hundreds of actors in different countries. He has also been a member of the "Ma-Kata-Chi-Theater Company" in Rome.
Having been educated in German studies at the University of Tübingen, he acquired the linguistic and academic skills that make him the highly innovative screenwriter that he is today.
Throughout his life, he has undergone training with renowned masters in disciplines such as Karate, Zen-Meditation and Dao in acting. His teachers combine the highest skills in their area of expertise worldwide. He is one of the rare artists that unify all other existing methods.
As a director, he put on productions in different state theatres in Germany. He also directed a production with 110 artists at the theatre festival "Ruhr-Triennale'' under the famous artistic director Jürgen Flimm from the world-famous Thalia Theater.
As a coach, he recently founded the presentorics institute "ConPublico" to teach managers in higher positions presentation, communication, and strategy as vital skills for guaranteed success.
In the stress of the pandemic, he decided to encourage the students of his acting school to produce a full-length feature film, rather than being destroyed by doing theatre that no one could see. He asked 12 talented co-writers of his advanced students to join him during the process of two years to create his new screenplay "Angels Desired" with the challenge of incorporating 35 speaking roles in seven chapters and 49 scenes.
Furthermore, Lukas Scheja is one of the founding members of "Cinema Reveal", a film distribution for sophisticated arthouse-productions in California.
Lukas Scheja is currently dreaming of producing this brand-new screenplay as a longer feature film, or a series of seven short films, 45 minutes each.
His teachings are breathtakingly innovative, and he is founding a culture of work that enables his participants to create their dreams into real embodied success. He creates wonder effortlessly from nothing and passes these skills on as a teacher himself.
Lukas Scheja particularly thanks his educators, breath-taking students and among all others who created the wonderful and necessary profession of the performing arts. He wishes to create in every production a game changer for his public!