Master actress Türkan Şoray: "Cinema has become a place where I can breathe."

As part of the festival organized by the Anatolian Culture and Arts Assembly Association, hosted by the Afyonkarahisar Governorship, Şoray spoke at a talk titled "Family in Yeşilçam" moderated by Festival Director Sevda Dursun.

At the event held at Afyon Kocatepe University Atatürk Congress Center, a film was screened that brought together Şoray's childhood, youth and maturity using artificial intelligence.

Şoray said she remembered coming to Afyonkarahisar for the film "Hunger," which depicts famine and man's struggle for survival, and that Bilge Olgaç, one of the first female directors of the period, stayed in the villages of the region for about a month during the filming.

"I got to know cinema before I got to know myself"

Şoray, in her speech, stated that she missed cinema and acting greatly, saying, "I got to know cinema before I knew myself. I started to get to know myself through cinema. Years passed with cinema. Cinema became a place where I breathed, a place where I lived. I couldn't live without cinema. Years passed."

Şoray, who stated that her fans told her, "We learned about love from your films," said, "These are all things cinema has brought me. I wish I could return to film sets, but unfortunately, it's the same in Türkiye and around the world, too. After 35, you don't get leading roles anymore. You have to be young and beautiful. After a certain age, cinema doesn't care about you. When I'm with you, I'm glad I made those films. I believe you love me. I've earned your love."

Giving advice to young people in his speech, Şoray said:

Cinema instantly impacts all audiences. When you do this in cinema, you see how much this art form affects people. For example, I have a film called "Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım" (My Girl with the Red Scarf). I believe everyone in my country has seen it, but there's so much there that touches people emotionally. I have many films like this. Not just mine, but other filmmakers like Şener Şen, Hülya Koçyiğit, Filiz Akın, Fatma Girik—we all have films that touch people's hearts and speak to them. You have to believe you're doing something very important. It's an incredible responsibility; you have to prioritize your life. For years, cinema was my only priority. When you neglect cinema, it immediately neglects you. You have to love it deeply and work hard.

The master artist, who said that sets were "like a family" during the Yeşilçam era, explained that cinema was a collective endeavor, that films were shot with teams of 10-15 people under impossible circumstances, and that the difficulties experienced together in the cold and heat created a bond of kinship among the crew.

"We should always look at the bright side of life"

Türkan Şoray stated that sets are now very crowded, and that this situation has diminished the "warm, sincere" relationships in Yeşilçam, and that direct communication between director and actor takes place over monitors and through assistants, and that sincerity has disappeared.

Şoray, emphasizing that cinema is a mirror of its time, said, "Years ago, cinema reflected the family structure. Today, it reflects the family structure. There used to be larger, warmer family ties. We'd gather for dinners like this. Families like this still exist. For example, nowadays, children are given whatever they want so they can grow up more freely. I think there should be limits to this. Respect and love are very important in the family. This needs to be preserved."

Şoray stated that being able to handle fame is very important, that she was able to get used to it thanks to being recognized at a young age and gradually, and that being loved rather than being famous makes her happier.

Türkan Şoray, emphasizing that films will be made with artificial intelligence but that emotion lies at the core of cinema, said, "Images in cinema appeal to emotions. Artificial intelligence lacks emotion. It can create the most beautiful editing in the world, it can produce the most beautiful images, but if that emotion doesn't penetrate or touch you, it only reflects matter."

When Afyonkarahisar Governor Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı asked about her performance in comedy series like "Tatlı Hayat," the master artist responded, "We should always look at life from the bright side, the funny side. Atıf Yılmaz used to tell me, 'You're more of a comedic actor than a dramatic one.'"

Şoray also answered questions from the students who attended the talk and took a souvenir photo with the participants at the end of the program.