Antero Arjatsalo profile picture

Antero Arjatsalo

Let's cut the bull, we have work to do

About Me


Screenwriter, Dramaturgist & Lecturer of Screenwriting
I was born in Southern Lapland, Rovaniemi. My grandfather Vilho Väyrynen was one of the founders of local movie theater Kino Teno. And my father was active movie-goer, so I have watched movies since I was a kid. My mother is blind, but don't let that fool you. She's as tough as a Lapland witch!
The youth center of Syväsenvaara was the place where I worked in 1984 and 1986. I took off Rovaniemi in 1986. Just had to get away from the town I felt quite depressing at that time. Nowadays I love Rovaniemi again. My parents and my sister with her family live there still.
So, I moved in Espoo in 1986 and worked few months with mentally handicapped in Rinnekoti. After some personal drama in my civil life I found myself in Helsinki, working as a guard of industry for a short time. I have had my share of personal drama during the years, like everyone, so this will do about that.
After packing my property once again I moved in Tampere in 1987 and started to work in local mental hospitals. I got in Pirkanmaa Polytechnic in 1988 and graduaded in 1991. During my studies I supported myself working in mental hospitals.
At the end of 1991 I moved again in Helsinki where I have lived since. I met my lady in 1992. I worked 1991-1999 as a nurse, specialised in psychiatry, in mental hospital Hesperia and in Office of Mental Health, partly studying at the same time in University of Art and Design Helsinki, at Department of Film and Television. I got in Uiah in 1996.
I have also worked short periods as a post-office clerk in Finland's Post and writing some press releases for Riot Entertainment Ltd. The latter one became bankcrupt in February 2002 with a boom. Actually shortly after I got there, but the bankcrupty had nothing to do with me - no matter what some of my friends might say! Watch the movie "Riot On!" directed by Kim Finn and find the truth. Hilarious! Or sad.
When I heard "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest in autumn 1980, I became a Heavy Metal fan. The song just blew me away! I started collecting records, magazines like Kerrang! & Metal Forces, demo tapes and live tapes all over the world, got pen pals, and got good friends with whom I have kept in touch during the decades. I learned English to find out what the lyrics of Heavy Metal songs were about and to write letters to my pen pals. I finally got Laudatur in English and in Finnish (wrote an essee about NWOBHM band Raven) in collage finals.
I have been in hospital with my grandfather and grandmother when they took their last breath. I have seen people dead after accidents and after succeeding in committing suicides. But I have also worked with hundreds of clients and seen them get over their personal crises and to cope and get better from mental problems and disorders. I have met very talented students who have a lot to give us if they just believe in themselves, write or direct and make it. And I have seen my daughter born and grown.
All the people I have been lucky to meet, being in contact, work with and spend time with, influece my writing in a way or another. My job is to tell stories I wish give hope, joy and other emotions which make us all learn a little bit more about life we are living. And that includes me. Our journey is done the day we go in the box - and not a moment earlier. I wish we all do some good to each other during the journey.
Peace, strength & inspiration.
SCHOOLS
2003 Master of Arts/Screenwriting; University of Art and Design Helsinki (Uiah)/ Department of Film and Television
1991 Bachelor of Health Care/Specialised in Psychiatry; Pirkanmaa Polytechnic, University of Applied Sciences, Tampere
1984 Collage Graduate; Rovaniemen keskustan lukio, Rovaniemi
WORK IN FILM AND TELEVISION
2008 KÄSKY / SHE-WOLF (feature film/Drama/War, premiere in 01/2008, Helsinki-Filmi Oy), Script consultation; Director Aku Louhimies
2007 GANES / GANES (feature film/Rock/Drama, premiere in 09/2007, Helsinki-Filmi Oy), Screenwriter; Director JP Siili
2006 RIISUTTU MIES / THE MAN EXPOSED (feature film/Drama/Comedy, Lasihelmi Filmi Oy), Dramaturgist; Director Aku Louhimies
2005 PAHA MAA / FROZEN LAND (feature film/Drama, Solar Films Inc.), Dramaturgist; Director Aku Louhimies
2005 KÄENPESÄ (television series/Drama, Helsinki-Filmi Oy/Jarowskij/MTV3), Story planner in 40 episodes, Script editor in 10 episodes, Script writer in 1 episode
2003 TUNTEMATON KAUPUNKI II (television mini-series/Drama/Comedy, Uiah/Department of Film and Television/Nelonen), Script editor in 3 episodes
2000 KESKIAIKA (short film/Drama/Mockumentary, Uiah/Department of Film and Television), Screenwriter & Director & Producer
2000 TUNTEMATON KAUPUNKI (television mini-series/Drama/Comedy, Uiah/Department of Film and Television/Nelonen), Script writer in 2 episodes
1999-2001 SALATUT ELÄMÄT (television series/Drama, Pearson Television Oy/MTV3), Script writer in 14 episodes
1997 SOKEA PISTE / THE BLIND SPOT (short film/Drama, Uiah/Department of Film and Television), Assistant director; Director Mia Halme
1997 HERRAN KARITSA / THE LAMB OF THE LORD (short film/Drama/Black comedy, Uiah/Department of Film and Television), Screenwriter; Director Jarkko Lyyra
SCRIPTS IN DEVELOPMENT
TEERI / BLACK GROUSE (short film/Drama, Oktober), Screenwriter, Based on idea by producer Joonas Berghäll, Outline version 1
MYSTERY DANCE / MYSTERY DANCE (feature film/Drama/Love story), Screenwriter, co-writing with screenwriter Miira Karhula, Outline version 7
KHAO LAK / KHAO LAK (television film/Drama), Screenwriter, co-writing with screenwriter Teppo Nuutinen, Script 4th draft; Director JP Siili
KIINNI SYRJÄSSÄ / HANGING ON THE EDGE (short film/Drama/Comedy, Oktober), Screenwriter, co-writing with Teppo Nuutinen, Script 2nd draft; Director Katja Gauriloff
PEDONLEUKA / JAW OF THE BEAST (feature film/Drama/Thriller), Screenwriter, co-writing with Teppo Nuutinen, Outline version 4
PROJECTS & SCRIPTS
2006 KYYHKY JA UNIKKO (feature film/Drama), Screenwriter, Step-outline, Based on script "15. yö" by screenwriter Heikki Vuento and novel "Kyyhky ja unikko" by Timo K. Mukka; Director Pekka Lehto
2006 NÄYTTELIJÄ (television mini-series/Drama/Science Fiction), Script writer, Outline, Based on short story "Näyttelijä" by Ilkka Vanne; Director Ilkka Vanne
2005 TULIKOURA (feature film/Thriller), Screenwriter, Outline, based on novel "Tulikoura" by Juha Numminen; Director Ilkka Vanne
2004 KILOMETERS (script for feature film/Road movie, Ruut Pictures, Estonia), Dramaturgist
2004 VAROKAA SIKA! (script for feature film/Comedy, Ruut Pictures, Estonia), Dramaturgist
2003 LIIGA / THE LEAGUE (feature film/Drama/Sport), Screenwriter, Script 1st draft
2002 JOS KAADUT / IF YOU FALL (short film/Drama/Thriller), Screenwriter, Outline, Based on idea by Lauri Törhönen; Director Lauri Törhönen
2002 PURNUKKA (television series/Scetch comedy, Nordisk Film & Television), Screenwriter, co-writing with stand-up comedian Mika Eirtovaara, Teppo Nuutinen and screenwriter Pekko Pesonen, Demo; Director Hannu Seikkula
2000-2002 SUB / SUB (feature film/Thriller), Screenwriter, Script 2nd draft; Director Peter Lindholm, later director Saara Saarela
1999-2002 AMPIAISTALVI / WINTER OF WASPS (feature film/Drama), Screenwriter, Script 4th draft; Director Aku Louhimies
2001 HEVI MÄÄRÄÄ! (television mini-series/Comedy/Rock, Gimage Oy), Script writer, co-writing with Teppo Nuutinen and Pekko Pesonen, Inspired by my short film script "Helluva Diarrhea", Outline
2000 HELLUVA DIARRHEA (short film/Comedy/Rock), Screenwriter, Script 2nd draft
LECTURING
2005-2008 Lecturer of Film and Television Script Writing, Full-time until 05/2008, Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, Faculty of Culture and Services, Department of Audio-visual Production/Script writing
2006-2007 Lecturer of Screenwriting, "Workshop for writing the first student short film", co-lecturing with Teppo Nuutinen, University of Art and Design Helsinki/Department of Film and Television, 3 weeks
2001-2007 Lecturer of Screenwriting, "Screenplay layout, format, terminology and screenwriting software", 1 week

My Interests

Collecting vinyl LP's, EP's and 12" singles as well as CD's, currently Japanese pressings - primarly Heavy Metal, but also Rock, Pop and Female fronted bands and artists; Concerts; 12 kilometers running; Watching soccer and ice hockey on television; Comics; Belgian and German beers.

Also, I'm a member of audio/visual group called JÄRJESTYKSENVALVOJA ("Security Guard" in English).

Members beside me are The Big H and J-Kluh. My codename is Mr E. Actually it's classified, so don't spread the word around. And Jani and Hannu, your identities are safe with me, dudes.

J-Kluh handles all-around nice guy stuff and PR (we couldn't afford PA), Mr E has running for cover and The Big H takes care of psychologial interrogation, whenever it's needed (which is never), and chatting to ladies, whenever his wife is out of sight.

We have tracks like "The Arrival Of V.I.P.", "Hey Buddy, Don't Start With Me... Please?", "All The Bottles & Weapons", "There's Nothing To See Here Folks", "Roger" and "I Wanna Marry That Jägermeister Gal".

You can witness us perform our tracks in festivals. Sometimes we're wearing yellow waistcoats, sometimes we're dressed as civilians. You might never know when we are around, so please, act in order.

I'd like to meet:

My old school friends in Rovaniemi from whom I haven't heard in ages, Angus Young, Kimmo Kuusniemi, Kate Bush

Music:

Elvis, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, Cream, Grateful Dead, The Who, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel, The Band, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult...

Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Iggy and the Stooges, UFO, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Armageddon (Keith Relf), Electric Light Orchestra, Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, The Dictators, Blackfoot, Meat Loaf, The Clash, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Police, Kate Bush...

Judas Priest, Samson, Mythra, Y&T, Baron Rojo, Raven, Venom, Iron Maiden, Hanoi Rocks, Diamond Head, Angel Witch, Tank, Lee Aaron, Witchfinder General, Accept, Girlschool, Eppu Normaali, Madness, Oz, Dawson, Queensryche, Saracen, Tredegar, H-Bomb, Sortilege, Tarot, Kolmas nainen, Crimson Glory, Drakkard, Sacred Blade, Beastie Boys...

Jalla Jalla, The Great Kat, Faith No More, Screaming Trees, The Nightingales, Greenhouse AC, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, The KLF, Public Enemy, Oasis, Suede, King Lapland, Last Crack, Iced Earth, The Black Crowes, Sarissa, Rammstein, Andrew W.K., Amy Winehouse, Strapping Young Lad...

Movies:

Citizen Kane, Battle Truck, Harold and Maude, Komisario Palmun erehdys, Sideways, When Saturday Comes, Annie Hall, Monty Python movies, John Carpenter's The Thing, Beautiful Girls, Raging Bull, There's Something About Mary, Rio Bravo, Alien, Mies joka ei osannut sanoa ei, Top Secret, Gladiator, This Is Spinal Tap, Apocalypse Now, The Exorcist, The Breakfast Club, The Marx Brothers movies (with Zeppo), About Schmidt, Blades Of Glory, Manhattan, Sininen viikko, Saturday Night Fever, Jurassic Park, The Doors, 2001: A Space Odyssey...

Hard rockin' story of Finland's most legendary rock band Hurriganes and its' founder & leader Remu Aaltonen.

In theaters across Finland on 28th September 2007. Get on!

Television:

Rescue Me, Battlestar Galactica, The Young Ones, Lipstick on Your Collar, All in the Family, The Shield, Friends, 3rd Stone from the Sun, Sex and the City, The Kenny Everett Show, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Cracker, Brideshead Revisited, Soittorasia, My Name is Earl, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Births Deaths & Marriages, The Prisoner, Der Alte, Band of Brothers, Columbo, The Royle Family, Lost...

Books:

Everything by Philip K. Dick and Terry Pratchett, Populäärimusiikkia Vittulajänkältä, Wasp Factory, All Quiet on the Orient Express, Oofirin kultaa, Mythago Wood, The Grotesque, Lord of the Rings, Clockwork Orange, Kyyhky ja unikko, The Third Policeman, The Watchmen...

Heroes:

People who give their best