The “Bratři v triku” (“Brothers in a T-shirt”) film studio producing for America

After global pressure slightly relaxed after 1956, American film producer William Snyder discovered Czechoslovakia. He became persistent in his plan to produce movies abroad with Czech animators, and came to Prague to make arrangements on his specific conditions. Director Gene Deitch recalls his visit: “Bill Snyder said he wanted to see the studio so they arranged a tour. It was a studio in Klárov which stood on the spot of the present-day metro station. The name of the studio was Bratři v triku. It was a wooden building with a sign on it that said it was a temporary structure. No one knew how long it had been there, but it was only supposed to be temporary. A young assistant animator who spoke English very well had worked there. Her name was Zdeňka Najmanová. She was given the task to take the American guest on a tour of the studio. Snyder then returned to the office and reportedly said: “I’m ready to shoot six movies a year here, but I have one condition. She’s got to be the head of the group!” Gene Deitch himself came to Prague for the first time in October 10, 1959. The gray city with half-empty shops reminded him of America during the Great Depression. Moreover, he knew that he should not expect a friendly welcome. He would tell the Czechoslovak movie professionals that films for the American market had to be made in a different timing, therefore they had to change the way they work: “I was an intruder. They were very proud of what they were doing and I understood that. They were making great films; they were awarded prizes for them everywhere around the world, so why should they listen to some stupid American? Their system was not bad. But it was completely different from what was needed for America.” Initially, Zdena Najmanová as well viewed him as an intruder. But then the situation relaxed and it turned out to be a fateful meeting. Five years later, in 1964, they got married and since then, the Deitch spouses have been living in Prague. With his Czechoslovak colleagues, Gene Deitch made hundreds of animated films for Snyder, even winning an Oscar in 1960 for his film “Munro.”