Tuesday 26 February 2008

FREE masterclass with Nick Broomfield

Date: 7 March 2008T
ime: 2.30-5.30pm
Location: Edinburgh College of Art Main Lecture Theatre, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF
Cost: Free, but RSVP to scottishdocumentaryinstitute@eca.ac.uk

Scottish Documentary Institute is delighted to welcome acclaimed director Nick Broomfield who will give an intense three-hour masterclass about his work and show his film Battle for Haditha at Edinburgh Filmhouse followed by Q&A. Famous for his idiosyncratic approach to observational cinema, Nick will be discussing and showing clips from a range of his films from his latest fiction feature Battle for Haditha to his documentary Fetishes.

While making Driving me Crazy in 1988, Nick decided to put himself and the producer in the film to try to make sense of the event. This experiment led to a greater sense of freedom from the confines of observational cinema and led to a more investigative and experimental type of filmmaking. For example: The Leader, his Driver and his Driver's Wife, Aileen Wuornos, Kurt and Courtney, Biggie and Tupac.
Battle for Haditha Screening
Director: Nick Broomfield
Location: Filmhouse Cinema, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ
Date: 7 March 2008
Time: 6pm (93 mins)
Tickets: £6/£4.50
Documentarian Nick Broomfield's third fictional feature is a forensic cinema verité-style account of a real-life massacre in Iraq, when US marines gunned down 24 Iraqi civilians in cold blood. Nick Broomfield's re-enactment of the massacre explores the events from multiple perspectives. Shot in the naturalistic style seen in his last film about the Chinese cockle pickers Ghosts, the film brings the audience close to life on the ground in this troubled country.Following the screening Nick will take part in a Q&A.

From Scottish Screen

Derek & Margaret

The Guardian has a short film up at their blog about Derek Jarman one of my favourite film-makers. I'm off to London soon to catch the exhibition at the Serpentine. Derek was a filmmaker mostly unfunded who used his limitations to create anyway and the anyway was often amazing, luminous, beautiful, awesome and life changing.

He used new editing techniques from his work doing pop promos for Mariane Faithfull and the Pet Shop Boys - he used the cheapness of Super8 in new and innovative ways in feature films.

The work of Scottish filmmaker Margaret Tait was also constrained by lack of funding and also is extraordinary.

I'm putting them out there as I think its too easy to say 'I can't make films because I don't have money' sometimes the money gets in the way. I hope that their work can inspire people to go along new paths.

Sadly no sound card in computer so unable to watch the Derek J film but one day I'll get that fixed.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Filmlive Rushes @ macrobert, Stirling

Monday 18th February - 6.30-8.30pm
SHORT FILMS - NETWORKING - FREE FOOD & DRINK
FIRST LOOK: A Special programme dedicated to first time filmmakers. From comedy to sci-fi, documentary to horror, 7 new films from some of Scotland's most promising new filmmakers. Catch a glimpse of the future in this special programme from Filmlive! and MIMAC-Rushes.
Part 1 - Short Stories: From the weird to the even-weirder (6.30-7.35pm)Stuart Condy: Loast (5 mins) and One More Minute (7 mins)Mike Callaghan: Father’s Day (9 mins) and Nowhere (9 mins)Seth Hardwick: VoodooPhone (20 mins)Followed by Q & A with Stuart Condy, Mike Callaghan and Seth Hardwick7.35-7.45pm
INTERVALPart 2 - True Stories: In search of the unique (7.45pm-8.30pm)Yasmin Fedda: Extract from Milking the Desert (25 mins)Breadmakers (9 mins) BAFTA Award winner Followed by Q & A with Yasmin Fedda
Part 3 - Networking (8.30-9.30pm+)Ample opportunity for networking with fellow Filmmakers in the macrobert's great wee bar area.
Previous events have seen connections made and projects developed. Who know who you'll meet?Remember to bring business cards (or scraps of paper) :)
The event will be hosted by Mitch Miller, Director, Rushes & Ben McNeill, Director, Film LiveTickets cost only £3.50 (£2.50 Concessions) and include complimentary popcorn on arrival and a free drink after the screening.RSVP on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=21199334576
Its great to get an opportuntity to see short films so if you are in the area do check it out. Unfortuantly a bit far for me to venture on a Monday night.

Sunday 10 February 2008

interested in being a TV researcher?


C4 Talent has just done a profile on my friend Stuart Brown about being a freelance researcher in TV.