For anyone who is familiar with Jean Paul Belmondo, you will no doubt associate him with the French New Wave of the 1960s - not least his role as the smooth, pouting, petty criminal in Godard's 'A Bout de Souffle'. Well, that's the first image of him that springs to my mind and you can imagine my surprise when I watched Leon Morin, Pretre to find him playing a devout priest in a philosophical discussion about religion. I came away on the edge of my seat for the sexually frustrated torment of Emmanuelle Riva's character. Melville portrays her as a bold, wayward young woman who is a militant communist in occupied France. Girl power indeed.
If you want to look at the beautiful Belmondo pace up and down in a habit for a couple of hours, then watch this film. What's more if you want to come away on the verge of hysterical torture, for the deftly portrayed frustration and unrequited love of this poor young heroine, then make yourself comfortable and get ready to flex the philosophical muscles, those French do know how to think...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055082/plotsummary
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Pass the Asparagus!
More on Shortcutz London
For more information on the Shortcutz London event held every Sunday evening in Camden, see below. If you are new to film making and want to get your work noticed, this is a good platform.
Launching on 3 October, Shortcutz London provides a revolutionary way to experience new short film that looks set to become a regular and accessible part of London’s creative life. Part of Lisbon-based Labz – an international platform for disseminating and supporting global urban culture – Shortcutz is more than a short films festival; it is a showcase for new and existing talent that supports production and allows discussion between professionals, students, amateurs and anyone passionate about film.
Hot on the success of its Lisbon showcase, Shortcutz London will be a unique weekly contact point for new British short films. As the world’s only year-round event of its kind, it promotes close interaction with creative and technical teams, and the audience. Three short films, always presented by their creators and production team, will be screened every week. Two of these films will be entered into the ‘Best Short of the Month’ competition. The monthly winners are then entered for the ‘Best Short of the Year’. A guest professional will also attend to share their opinions and experience, and to stimulate discussion.
Launching on 3 October, Shortcutz London provides a revolutionary way to experience new short film that looks set to become a regular and accessible part of London’s creative life. Part of Lisbon-based Labz – an international platform for disseminating and supporting global urban culture – Shortcutz is more than a short films festival; it is a showcase for new and existing talent that supports production and allows discussion between professionals, students, amateurs and anyone passionate about film.
Hot on the success of its Lisbon showcase, Shortcutz London will be a unique weekly contact point for new British short films. As the world’s only year-round event of its kind, it promotes close interaction with creative and technical teams, and the audience. Three short films, always presented by their creators and production team, will be screened every week. Two of these films will be entered into the ‘Best Short of the Month’ competition. The monthly winners are then entered for the ‘Best Short of the Year’. A guest professional will also attend to share their opinions and experience, and to stimulate discussion.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Shortcutz - Camden
International short films movement.
Every Sunday, 07.30pm, Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town.
shortcutz.london@shortcutznetwork.com
www.myspace.com/shortcutzlondon
-come along this Sunday if you are making/interested in film. there is music, drinking and lots of networking opportunities.
Every Sunday, 07.30pm, Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town.
shortcutz.london@shortcutznetwork.com
www.myspace.com/shortcutzlondon
-come along this Sunday if you are making/interested in film. there is music, drinking and lots of networking opportunities.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Film
In September I started a Screenwriting course at London's MET Film School. Set in the historic Ealing Studios, there is no place more packed with atmosphere in which to study film. But anyway, MET Film plug aside...I started this course. I had great excitement going into it because I was undertaking something that I knew I had a passion for - if not a passion that formed many parts of a fragmented, slightly incoherent mix of passions that all steer me towards Film. Hopefully this course would be a good place to start the search for clarity and direction.
The course convenes every other Saturday and initially involved a group of very reserved, cool individuals who had to be coaxed out of their shells a little to start sharing their film ideas. It's been a brilliant experience so far, we study short films in minute detail and it is incredible how much effort and consideration is put into a frame in order to add to the overall message of the story. I am opening my eyes to the wonder of film as well as the frustrating fact that screenwriting is not a straight-forward affair. You take two steps forward with a script and then either a step back or a collision with a brick wall - that nightmare metaphor that plagues all writers. The problem with a screenplay though is that you don't have the freedom to explain away an emotion or an encounter - obviosuly it has to be shown through pictures and dialogue and this is a lot harder than you would think.
I am on a meandering path with my script and due to time constraints I find myself maddly scribbling things down while on juddery London buses. But it is a start, and I am learning. I am learning how to structure not only my screenplay but also the short film that I want to write, direct, film and produce in the new year - all grand plans considering my full time job. Better get back to it.
The course convenes every other Saturday and initially involved a group of very reserved, cool individuals who had to be coaxed out of their shells a little to start sharing their film ideas. It's been a brilliant experience so far, we study short films in minute detail and it is incredible how much effort and consideration is put into a frame in order to add to the overall message of the story. I am opening my eyes to the wonder of film as well as the frustrating fact that screenwriting is not a straight-forward affair. You take two steps forward with a script and then either a step back or a collision with a brick wall - that nightmare metaphor that plagues all writers. The problem with a screenplay though is that you don't have the freedom to explain away an emotion or an encounter - obviosuly it has to be shown through pictures and dialogue and this is a lot harder than you would think.
I am on a meandering path with my script and due to time constraints I find myself maddly scribbling things down while on juddery London buses. But it is a start, and I am learning. I am learning how to structure not only my screenplay but also the short film that I want to write, direct, film and produce in the new year - all grand plans considering my full time job. Better get back to it.
Pubs, Grub and Films Noirs
I went to Herne Hill last night to visit an old friend who I haven't seen in 5 years and we managed to pick up pretty much where we left off. Apparently I haven't aged but I know i've got fatter.
Herne Hill is nice, it lies around the delightful Brockwell Park which boasts a lovely lido for those intermittent summer days as well as a manor house atop a hill - probably Herne Hill. There are nice pubs in the area too - old victorian saloons brought into the urban trendy yet unpretentious 21st century styles. They are the kind of pubs where people sit alone by a fire reading a book and sipping a cider. My kind of pub.
Tonight I am going to a friend's in Vauxhall to be cooked chicken casserole and watch Jean Pierre Melville films, my earthy rioja should compliment this all as a real treat :-)
Herne Hill is nice, it lies around the delightful Brockwell Park which boasts a lovely lido for those intermittent summer days as well as a manor house atop a hill - probably Herne Hill. There are nice pubs in the area too - old victorian saloons brought into the urban trendy yet unpretentious 21st century styles. They are the kind of pubs where people sit alone by a fire reading a book and sipping a cider. My kind of pub.
Tonight I am going to a friend's in Vauxhall to be cooked chicken casserole and watch Jean Pierre Melville films, my earthy rioja should compliment this all as a real treat :-)
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