I can’t help taking pictures of pictures. I’m OCD about it. To the point where I can’t actually remember taking some of the photos below, let alone where they were taken. I just have to take them. If I don’t take it when I see it, It will keep me awake at night. I’ve been taking pictures of pictures for years. My film / clip Paradise is all about shooting pictures of pictures. Kind of the motherload of pictures of pictures. I think for me it’s about seeing how the light falls in the original picture and how that corresponds to the light in my picture.
If your interested in Stanley Kubrick, or interested in film, or just want to watch a great doco. Do yourself a favour and watch ‘Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes’. An excellent and often amusing doco about the thousands of boxes that Kubrick filled with ideas, research, reference and obsessions. Most of which had never been opened until this film was made. It doesn’t get more process driven than this. Full film on YouTube, Part 1 of 5 HERE…
Life is chaotic at the moment. There doesn’t seem to be enough minutes in the day, and my work / family balance is most definitely out of whack. But I was very happy to give 3 of those precious minutes over to this wonderful short film that a friend emailed me. Such a beautiful balance of tone. Playful but underpinned by cool ideas big and small. It made me feel good.
I’ve finished my time with Offspring. I locked off the edits for my two episodes last week and I’m quite happy with the way they have come together (Eps 108 and 109 go to air in October on TEN). I have had an absolute ball with the cast and crew. I have learnt alot and the experience both personally and professionally, has been invaluable. My fingers are firmly crossed that the show is the success it deserves to be.
Below from top to bottom. Sacha Horler, an absolute acting force, who I was lucky enough to cast for the guest role of ‘Stacey’. Kat Stewart, this still was taken as part of a visual effect sequence, but here is something I really like about it. Kat is one special actor, who I can’t wait to work more with. Asher Keddie, in character in the delivery suite. I have so much admiration for Asher. As the ‘star’ of the show she has had such an intense and tiring workload, but she continually strived to make each and every take the best she could make it, with impressive results. And Don Hany, who is one of the most down to earth and lovely guys I’ve ever met. It was a pleasure to watch these guys (and all the cast) at work each day.
I’m very much in denial about the Melbourne International Film Festival which is currently in progress in this fair city. Over the past fifteen or so years it has been my main cinematic pleasure dome. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many of the worlds great film festivals, but Melbourne is and will always be, my number one. There have been years where I have gone into lock down for the two weeks and seen around 40 films. Thats between 3-5 a day for the duration. Bliss!
But this year I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t even had a chance to leaf through the programme. So wrong! I’ve just been way too busy. Which is good and bad all wrapped up into one.
So instead I have been trying to catch up on a few ‘at home’ screenings. Working my way through some of the 1500 before I die. And just like a film festival proper I lucked upon an amazing documentary. The other night in the wee small hours I watched Carts Of Darkness and it was so worth missing an hour of sleep for. You can watch the whole thing below. Or perhaps just wet your appetite with the trailer.
On the surface the film is about a bunch of homeless guys who have developed their own extreme sport where they ride shopping trolleys down super steep hills. But of course like all great films, it’s about so much more.
The film is directed by Murray Siple who also features in the film. I don’t want to say to much about this as his presence is one of the more surprisingly wonderful aspects of ‘Carts’, particularly the final sequence of the film which in it’s own surreal way is one of the most uplifting and life affirming endings to a film I’ve ever seen.
I read an interview with Murray today where he discussed the way he approached the film. “I want to make the kind of films where I’m involved beyond directing and actually a part of it. Where I’m not just an outsider pretending it’s something cool to document… Make the film “with” them not “about” them.” this kind of filmmaking, where it’s an immersive experience for everyone involved is such an amazing way of making films, especially documentary. On a personal and professional level it’s something I crave.
I must admit I have purchased a few Criterion Collection DVD’s over the years not so much for the films, but for the stunning DVD box art. So, so good. I’m such a sucker for a beautiful image and simple, considered typography, and it doesn’t get much better than this. Oh, and the films are not to bad either ; ) I just want them all!
