One interlocutor reads the English news on Hungarian TV, another designs interiors, a third, our recent colleague Gretchen Kessler, makes films. They all fell head over heels in love with Budapest, which is why Matt Silverman and his Planet Be team chose them to present their passion to the camera in the latest production of The Eastern Beat.
They share their love of Budapest and explain their reasons why this city grips them so. For one, it’s the spas. For another, it’s the architecture. One interviewee expresses her gratitude to Budapest for allowing her to become who she is. As Nigerian singer/songwriter Zubi Gold puts it, “Whatever you think Budapest is, it’s not that!”.
Interspliced with classic Technicolor footage of pre-war Budapest from the MGM series Traveltalks, narrated by the great James A Fitzpatrick, the four-minute clip also takes in the majestic cityscape along the river, a café terrace and a bar or two. Take a look:
But of all the ten interviewees, filmed from last summer onwards as part of an ongoing project, no-one loves Budapest more than the one character not featured: Matt Silverman himself.
“This is a love letter through the eyes of those who aren’t from here,” says Matt by Zoom, surrounded by the bucolic countryside of California. Director, producer, actor and musician, Matt divides his time between San Francisco and Budapest. Still chilly here in Eastern Europe when we talk, the Hungarian capital still draws him in. “I miss it,” he confesses. “I feel it from afar. Part of me wants to be freezing my ass off in Budapest!”
Recently wrapping a Sci-Fi Western for Netflix, Matt flies back in May. He was also a producer on the critically acclaimed Ruben Brandt, Collector for Sony Classic Pictures.
For the last few years, however, his boutique film company Planet Be has also focused on the expat community in Budapest. By discovering individuals with an international angle, Planet Be is not only illuminating their stories but offering locals a new perspective about the way in which foreigners experience and live in their communities.
Vibrancy and sadness
“There’s a special vibrancy to Budapest that I haven’t found anywhere else,” says Matt. “And also something very layered here. There’s a sadness about the city, too, of course. For example, around District VII, it’s great to celebrate the new while being cognisant of what went on before.”
In the spring of 2019, Matt sat in the ELLÁTÓház bar with photographer Ania Jopp and content creator Wiktoria Skiba. Over few pálinkas, they fleshed out The Eastern Beat. Also the name of Ania’s website showcasing her photos of creative expats, The Eastern Beat soon became an ongoing series of video clips, bringing in the filmmaking expertise of another visual storytelling platform, Matt’s Planet Be.
As we first reported in 2020, pooling the resources of these two organisations, the videomakers have been able to take a deep dive into what draws people to Budapest from all around the world.
“Budapest has had to become global,” says Matt, “but at the same time, it’s actually several small cities in one, each with a neighbourhood feel. I still love seeing old ladies in supermarkets. There’s something beautiful about so many of the buildings, there’s something about the river running through it. This is a city that has changed me completely. One of the magic things about it is the not knowing why”.
As well as hoping that local tourist organisations pick up on The Eastern Beat series, Matt has plans to tell similar stories in Prague, Lisbon and San Francisco.
“The world is smaller than it used to be,” concludes Matt, “and Planet Be Films is honoured to help tell the stories of these individuals and the cities they love”.
