 |
Yuriy ZhelyabuzhskySoviet cameraman, director, screenwriter. Member of the CPSU
Date of Birth: 01.01.1888
|
Content:
Birth and Family
Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky was born in 1888 to Maria Fyodorovna Andreeva, an actress. Maxim Gorky, the famous writer, became his stepfather.
Early Education and Career
Zhelyabuzhsky pursued a degree in shipbuilding at the Petrograd Polytechnic Institute from 1913 to 1916. He then graduated from the Higher Technical School. His film career commenced in 1916 as a laboratory assistant at the Keneke and Martynov film laboratory in Moscow.
Film Industry Contributions
Zhelyabuzhsky became a screenwriter for the "Era" film company, penning several scripts for the "Russian Golden Series" of films. In 1917, he stepped into roles as a cameraman, screenwriter, and director for the "Mezhdunarodnaya Rabochaya Associatsiya Pomoshch" (Mezhrabpom-Rus) film studio. His debut as a cinematographer was "Dug a deep pit with a pickaxe" (1917), while "The Little Match Girl" (1919) marked his directorial debut (the film is now lost).
Zhelyabuzhsky played a pivotal role in establishing the State Film School (now known as the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, VGIK) and served as one of its instructors. During 1919-1920, he led the Moscow group of film journalists that filmed Vladimir Lenin. He authored the first Soviet educational films and theoretical works on cinematography and camera techniques.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1940, Zhelyabuzhsky became a professor of cinematography at VGIK. After 1944, he worked at the "Military Technology Film Studio" (Voentekhfilm), "Moscow Science Film Studio" (Mosnauchfilm), and "Technical Education Film Studio of Heavy Industry" (Uchtekhfilmtyazhprom) while still maintaining a connection with VGIK.
