Google and Mosfilm collaborate for The Master and Margarita project

Google has teamed up with Russian film studio Mosfilm for the “The Master and Margarita: I was there” project, which will see 360º films of readings from Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel (written between 1928 and 1940 and published in 1966).

An array of celebrities, together with members of the public chosen through internet auditions, will read excerpts from the book. The readings will come to life with the help of YouTube 360º and chroma keying, a special effects process that layers two images or video streams together.

The project has been timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the author’s birth. Casting will take place during September and October, while the readings themselves will be held in eight major Russian cities, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, and Vladivostok, as well as Tel Aviv in Israel.

“The Master and Margarita. I was there” is organised by the team behind other online reading marathons such as Chekhov Alive.

Source: Afisha (in Russian)