Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films
From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum
Compiled by
Camenati
Camenati
Background
The Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films was a newsreel and documentary production company founded in 1927 originally as a division of Sovkino. The studio underwent several name changes throughout the 20th century, being Soyuzkinochronika from its founding year to 1931, All-Union Newsreel Factory from 1931 to 1936, the Moscow Newsreel Studio from 1936 to 1940, the Central Newsreel Studio from 1940 to 1944, the Central Studio for Documentary Films from 1944 to 1993, and lastly its current name since the latter year. During the 21st century, the studio was on the verge of bankruptcy before liquidating in 2015.
Central Studio of Documentary Films
1st Logo (1944-1948)
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Normal soundtrack
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Rearranged soundtrack
Visuals: The camera slowly backs away from a shooting line filled star with a gray outline and the Spasskaya Tower inside. Further away from the star, its large shadow is shown alongside a dark background in the same effect as the shape's fill. Once it stops zooming out, the company's full name in a serif font and with a shadow effect fades in below.
Technique: Cel animation and practical effects.
Audio: A cold vibraphone jingle repeated twice.
Audio Trivia: The jingle is the official call sign of Soviet radio played during radio intervals. The notes are adapted from the first verse of the patriotic song, "Wide is My Motherland".
Audio Variant: There is a later arrangement of the normal soundtrack.
Availability: The normal track can be seen on Москва — столица СССР while the rearranged score has, so far, appeared on На страже мира.
2nd Logo (1992)
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Visuals: Against a starry night background, the company name is displayed with the first letter of each word in orange and a different font than the rest.
Technique: A still painting filmed by a camera.
Audio: None.
Availability: It can be seen on Благовещение and Ветераны, ветераны....
3rd Logo (1992)
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Visuals: A set of buildings (likely representing Moscow) are shown against a dark blue sky. On the top right is the company's full name in a nearly identical appearance as before.
Technique: A still painting filmed by a camera.
Audio: None.
Availability: Like before, it had a short lifespan, but there are slightly more films that have this logo. These include Светлое Христово Воскресение, Непобедимый никогда, and Милость к падшим.
Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films
1st Logo (1992-2005)
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Visuals: The screen zooms out of a simplistic blue coat of arms, consisting of a gold double-headed eagle, the company's initials in red over the symbol, a long flag with two ends containing the Russian flag and "FILM STUDIO" in the center, the company's full name arced over the eagle, and "MOSCOW" arced below. The logo is shown against a gold sunburst background against a blue foreground. Underneath the symbol, the company's full name in a stacked format wipes in.
Variants:
- Starting in 1994, the company is referred to as "RUSSIAN CENTRAL STUDIO OF DOCUMENTARY FILMS".
- The font for the text changed in 2002, becoming a bolded version of the original one.
Technique: Cel animation.
Audio: None or the opening theme of the film.
Availability: Many of their films can easily be found on archival sites such as Net-film and also have this logo intact on television airings. These include А нам нужна великая Россия, Отчего непрестанен ветер, and Герои-пасынки. The current name debuted on Ой, бог ты мой! and was later seen on Старый двор или Соло гитары с детским оркестром или Пой, Гриша. По следам Русского авангарда was the final film to use this logo.
2nd Logo (2005-2007)
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Visuals: Set on a blue gradient background, the following text is displayed:
агентство по культуре
и кинематографии
The text then fades out and in comes a close up of the logo from before. The seal zooms out while a still copy of it slowly fades out. Before the close up is gone from sight, the company's full name in a stacked format and Western-themed font, plus with "Russia" in normal capitalization, wipes in from top to bottom. The logo then disappears and is replaced with "ПРЕДСТАВЛЯЮТ".
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: None.
Availability: Although it lasted for two years, it appeared on a lot of documentaries within that short span. One of these movies having this logo include Маленькая дверь консерватории.
3rd Logo (2010-2015)
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Visuals: There are multiple long filmstrips rising above against a dimly lit honey dew background. The screen zooms further above, passing by several more curvy filmstrips and black particles before the background becomes brighter and desaturated. When only a few dust particles are left within the background, a curvy and sleek Russian flag is seen over the company's initials in a metallic font, followed by their full name in a different font and small size.
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: A peaceful, syntesized ambience note alongside some nature-like sound effects.
Availability: Seen on their later documentaries, which include Настоящие люди (the logo's first appearance), Терроризм, and Дети России.
