Esra Saydam and Nisan Dag co-wrote and co-directed Across the Sea. They met and trained in the US but they returned to their home country of Turkey to make this, their first feature. They talk about the hurdles they had to overcome and how they got started. Continue reading
Published writing
The Shining: FrightFest 2014
I first saw The Shining when I was far too young, probably about 10 years old. I remember being terrified, and rightly so, the father running around wanting to cut up his son tapping into that ultimate childhood fear of the bad parent. As the years passed I have seen the film – both cuts – probably a dozen times and am always left thrilled and impressed but never quite as scared as I was that first time around. Continue reading
“A big producer once said to me I would never be a director because I’m too nice”
Gail Harvey has been working as a director in Canada for 26 years; both in TV and film. She brought her latest low budget feature Looking is the Original Sin to the Raindance Film Festival ahead of its upcoming release. She took a break from promotion to share some of her insider knowledge. Continue reading
Advice from Women Directors: ‘Don’t Listen to Naysayers…Just Do It.”
The indie film world is traditionally where women can find a place for themselves. A range of grants and funds specifically designed to encourage women to make films both narrative and documentary means more than ever they are making inroads into the indie scene. The 22nd annual Raindance Film Festival was the perfect place to catch up with some female filmmakers from around the world at different places in their careers. Continue reading
Amat Escalante the writer and director of Heli
Amat Escalante the writer and director of Heli (released May 23rd) managed to find some time in his hectic promotion schedule to speak to me about his latest project.
Amat, since you finished the film (Heli) how many times have you watched it?
Completely from beginning to end, maybe 2 or 3 times
Are there any scenes you find difficult to watch?
For me it is very personal why I wouldn’t like to watch a scene; usually because it doesn’t come out how I wanted, maybe I wasn’t able to achieve something or I saw some defect. Continue reading
Philippe Claudel, award winning writer and director
Philippe Claudel is the writer and director of the BAFTA winning I Loved you So Long. He spared me some time in his busy promotion schedule for Before the Winter Chill (out May 9th) to answer a few questions.
Philippe, this film reunites you with Kristin Scott Thomas whom you last worked with on I Loved You So Long, did you write the role of Lucie with her in mind?
No. We wanted to work again together one day, but I wrote this screenplay with Daniel (Auteuil) in mind. Later, after it was written I told myself that it would be a good idea to offer the part of Lucy to Kristin. I like to film Kristin. It’s not always simple to work with her and we have a strange relationship. I respect her deeply, her talent and grace.
People say you write what you know; in what way did you identify with Paul’s “mid-life crisis”?
Paul is not me. But I’m more or less full of the same doubt: is my life the life I dreamt of when I was twenty? Life passes so fast. Like Paul I don’t have the time to take a break and think about that.
Who do you think the audience is for this film? Paul and Lucie have very middle class problems; can they still be sympathetic characters?
I don’t know. There is a social aspect in the movie; we observe the life of the middle class as very far removed from the real problems of the world. In this way, the character of Lou is like a bomb in their life. I believe too that Lucie can be a portrait of a lot of women; she sacrificed her own life and desires for the career of her husband.
As a writer do you feel that you instinctively become a repository for other people’s memories? Do you feel a certain responsibility about this?
I like to inspect the human being, with novels or movies. A “responsibility” is too big a weight for me. I try just to do my best, to be at my place in this world, with the other people
Do you prefer writing or directing? What are the unique problems you find with each of these roles?
I write alone and I direct with a crew. It’s 2 different pleasures. The pleasure of writing is unlimited. It’s not the case when you make a movie: there are a lot of walls, money, time, etc. But it’s so exciting to shoot, to work with actors and technicians. It’s very powerful drug.
What next?
I prepare my next movie, “Childhood” I’ll shoot it in June and July. I’ll finish a novel. I’m a lucky guy…
Lauren Owen author of The Quick
Lauren Owen is the author of The Quick; her debut novel set for the most part in Victorian London. With an exceptional academic background (English Literature at Oxford, MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia) she is now completing her PhD in Gothic writing and fan culture at Durham.
Happily Lauren was able to take a little time out to speak to me. Continue reading
Short film focus: Hand Krafted film night
On the 3rd Tuesday of every month Hand Krafted films shows a collection of shorts at 93 Feet East on Brick Lane. Here filmmakers can see each other’s work on the big screen, meet each other, and make plans to collaborate on future projects. Continue reading
Short film focus: Rotoreliefs
If you live in London and have any interest in short films at all then this will hopefully be the start of a beautiful relationship. As an actor/writer based in the capital I have come into contact with many people working in the short film arena and the number of screenings available to watch are enormous. Much like the unsigned band and comedy circuits there is something on most nights of the week in London for you to watch. Continue reading
siren lane 