Making of the Movie

It was a six-year journey. No actual footage of Modjeska was ever discovered. Rather than misrepresenting an artist of such caliber or attempting to replicate powerful stage performances that no living person has ever witnessed, Modjeska was "symbolically re-created" through objects of diffusion, such as glass, veils, and elements in nature. Visual composites blended archival imagery with cinematic impressions. Over 75 hours of footage were shot using six different film cameras. Silent film footage and 300 archival photos obtained from sources all over the world were used in the film.  During an eight-month post-production period, every photograph was restored and enhanced to unify the film and to match nineteenth century photography and early filmmaking techniques.  

Filming involved reenactments and interviews with experts and descendants shot in California, Arizona, Colorado and Poland, from a horse-drawn carriage in Paso Robles to the Tabor Opera House in the mile-high city of Leadville where Modjeska performed, to the dynamic steam train sequences in Durango. The private worlds of Helena were filmed in and around her Santiago Canyon home built in 1988. (Today Arden: Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens remains a US National Landmark, currently maintained by the Orange County Parks and supported by the Helena Modjeska Foundation). Descendants living in Arizona and Colorado shared intimate family stories and commentary and access to rare materials, such as Modjeska's original theatrical traveling costume trunks and newspaper articles from this era. Filming on the streets of Krakow, in museum archives of the Stary Teatr, across Polish countrysides and within the catacombs of historical churches gave the film enormous authenticity and threw a unique light on Modjeska's early life and first impressions.

The inner worlds that haunted Modjeska were conveyed through the words written in her own memoirs. The contemporary "Queen of Polish Theatre" Danuta Stenka brilliantly voiced Helena's mixed emotions and psychological dimensions. All voices were recorded in dual language (Polish and English) via studios in Atlanta, Warsaw, London and Burbank. The romantic and poignant music further represented the melancholy nature of Modjeska and her nostalgia for the world she left behind, composed by internationally-acclaimed Mikolai Stroinski during an intense two-week session. The Primetime Emmy and Golden Reel award-winning sound design team of Larry Oatfield + Ewa Sztompke edited dialogue, re-recorded and sound mixed the film at the prestigious post-production house of Skywalker Sound (Nicasio, California) where the film was initially screened in their magnificent 300-seat state-of-the-art Stag Theatre. 

One of the greatest challenges for the filmmakers was telling Modjeska's passionate and complex story as simply as possible, in condensed form, and at the same time present an historical context in American settings. The objective was to produce an educational film shown through a diverse lens and representative of this unique artist. Yet it was the in-depth and passionate account provided by cultural historian and Professor and Chair of the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies at Duke University Beth Holmgren, who brought it all together. Her expertise unified all the elements of  the film and contemporized it for modern audiences. Beth Holmgren is the author of the book Starring Madame Modjeska. To further deepen  insights into the life, career and persona of Helena Modjeska, the filmmakers turned to Professor Emil Orzechowski at the Cultural Institute of Jagiellonian University in Poland.

When the film was picked up by PBS SoCal and screened at film festivals and venues across the globe, the filmmakers realized the power of the story. Q&As were enriched by participation of the documentary's performers such as Svetlana Efremova (portraying Modjeska the Actress), family members, sponsors and production creatives engaging audiences in panel discussions. Both Polish and American communities uncovered new insights, historical perspective and immigrant contributions.

Finally, the making of this documentary about a celebrated actor and mother led to the making of the next film about her son, Bridging Urban America - The Story of Ralph Modjeski, another little-known story.