Next Stop? The Czech Republic! Slovo 21 has produced an instructional film for foreigners

What is life like in the Czech Republic? What should foreigners know about this country in the heart of Europe before deciding to make it their new home? They can find out all this in Next Stop, an updated instructional film that offers newcomers a basic overview of the Czech Republic—all presented clearly, understandably, and in an entertaining way. How is such a film made? We asked director Miroslav Ondruš.

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How challenging was filming Next Stop?‍

Every shoot has its own specifics, and Next Stop was no different. We had three different foreigners in the lead roles, we needed sunny weather, and we had to travel all over Prague. Fortunately, the weather worked out for us, even though a cold front arrived right after, and the temperature dropped by almost twenty degrees. The foreigners appearing in the film were not professional actors, so a huge thank you goes to Majdulin and Blanka from Slovo 21, who managed to find people who performed excellently in front of the camera. For a director, that is absolutely essential.

So it was also organizationally demanding...

The travel was the most taxing part—having to unpack all the equipment from the car, carry it to the location, set it up, and then, after finishing, pack it all back up, carry it back to the car, and drive to the next location to repeat the whole process. That is why it is important to choose the right film equipment that is suitable for so many moves.

Did you personally learn anything more about the lives of foreigners in the Czech Republic through the filming?‍

I have lived and worked in a foreign country in the past, so I know how hard it is to start over somewhere else. I appreciate all the more those foreigners who have come to the Czech Republic, found work here, and adapted. All the foreigners I have met over the years through Slovo 21 projects have agreed that it is very important to learn Czech. And I haven't met anyone who spoke poorly of the Czech Republic or didn't like it here. That just confirms what a great country we live in and how well off we are.

You already hinted at it—you have been working with Slovo 21 for a long time. What makes our organization close to you?

The director of Slovo 21, Jelena Silajdžić, approached me about thirteen years ago regarding the filming of the original version of Next Stop, and even back then, it was a very pleasant collaboration. Slovo 21 is exceptional in the approach of the people who work there—not just professionally, but above all on a human level. For me, it is very important to work with people I get along with and feel comfortable around. And, of course, the projects that Slovo 21 does are meaningful and close to my heart.

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