I have just started the pre-production of my fiction film directorial debut and I’m so excited. All I can announce at this present moment is that the film is called Hands of Time, it is of the crime genre, it will be 10 minutes long and will be produced by Paul Lewis (who recently had his film An Uyghur Odyssey archived at the BFI).
To stay up to date with all the latest news, pre production, behind the scenes access, photos, teasers, trailers, and screenings either follow the project on the official facebook fan page by clicking HERE
Sorry again for the lack of posts, I’ve been fairly busy working on various exciting new projects, which you will find out about over then next couple of months. I’ve recently purchased a Canon 7D which is a DSLR that also shoots 25/24 frames per second, meaning it can be used as a movie camera with some great SLR lenses on it.
I shot my first film on it last week and it was a great camera to use, especially with the 35mm look. The film is a supernatural horror called Borderland, directed by James Norton and starring Alastair Cook. I produced it and was Director of Photography on the project, read the synopsis below:
Mr. James M Rhodes is photographing the site of an ancient conflict when he becomes lost. Panicking he stumbles across an unusual artefact unleashing a terrifying apparition that begins to haunt him and transform the landscape around him. He must return the artefact before he becomes engulfed in the darkness of another world.
It was a great shoot with a small tight knit crew shooting in a studio in Cambridge, and locations at Waltham Abbey and the River Lea in Canning Town and Chingford. The film is part of the Tri-Borough Film fund, funded by Film London and the boroughs of Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets. It’ll be screened at Mile End’s Genesis Cinema on the 24th April as part of the East End Film Festival, hopefully I’ll see you there. In the meantime enjoy some screen grabs from the ungraded rushes.
After The London Paper discontinued it run of free evening newspaper publications a gap has opened in the newspaper market. Since its discontinuation, the Evening Standard has become free but there is still a gap in the market for young people who only read these free newspapers that they pick up while commuting. Theblogpaper is a new monthly paper that launched today and features the best submissions from blog users across the country. My Harry Brown review was lucky to make this official beta launch print (page 19). If you didn’t manage to pick up a copy from either Stratford, Bethnal Green, Old Street, Angel or Holborn then you can view it here online.
I was lucky enough to get hold of some premiere tickets for the debut film from director Daniel Barber but the glitz and glamour of the red carpet was a stark contrast to the content of the gritty British thriller. The film was introduced by the director of Lionsgate, producer of the film, director and cast all stating how realistic the film was and they weren’t wrong to a certain extent. They clearly highlighted how corrupted the minds of some of our youth society have become. The film is an amazing triumph for British cinema, when watching it at Odeon Leicester Square it was hard to believe that it was only a low budget independent release. I felt like I was about to watch an American studio production and after watching the trailer you will see what I mean.
The film follows Michael Caine’s character Harry Brown, who lives alone in a council estate off Walworth Road in Elephant and Castle. His wife is ill in hospital living off a life support machine, no longer recognising her own husband when he comes to visit. His wife passes away and the only other person who Harry has in his life is his best friend Leonard. Leonard is living scared, he is tormented by a group of hoodies who hang around a subway outside his flat terrorising him. One day Leonard approaches the hoodies to confront them but is murdered in the process, leaving Harry alone and broken. As the police say they are unable to convict the people responsible, Harry takes matters into his own hands and goes on a roaring rampage of revenge.
The film is a must see but it is hard to watch. Where as in films like Reservoir Dogs, the characters are criminals but likable at the same time, their violent acts have motivation for a goal and can sometimes have ironic effect. In Harry Brown each character is just as sickening as the previous one and watching them live in the environment they do disgusts the viewer even further. There is no remorse for any of the acts of violence in the film and this was the director's intention. He wanted to show how nasty our society has become and how acts of violence are often unmotivated and committed purely for entertainment.
Daniel Barber plays around well with the framing, for example we see Harry look through the curtain of his flat window, looking down observing the crime going on outside many times but doing nothing. These are the same traits that many people in society do, watching crime but not reporting it. These voyeuristic qualities are reflected in the viewer of the film as Harry is looking through the curtains of the window, we are looking through the curtains of the cinema screen with the screen being our frame. Each time Harry steps out of the flat to actively do something, the framing changes thus creating a gripping story.
The performances are probably the stand out feature of this film. Although Michael Caine is the name that will draw people in to see the film at the cinemas, you will be astounded by some of the supporting performances. Sean Harris who starred in The Red Riding Trilogy earlier this year gives an outstanding performance as one of the most horrifying characters I have ever seen on screen. Whilst injecting himself with heroin he stays conscious and threatening towards Harry. I don’t want to spoil too much but its one of the best supporting roles I’ve seen so far this year. Caine’s performance is solid and holds the film strongly together, it feels weird seeing Caine playing a retired Second World War veteran of poor health rather than the healthy, full of life character that he is usually cast as. Seeing an old age pensioner kicking arse is a must watch and seeing Caine do it makes you wonder what would have happened to Carter if he retired.
The film is a must watch for fans of the thriller genre but this film is definitely not for the faint-hearted. The opening scenes before Harry Brown reacts to his friends death are heart wrenching and made a couple of eyes weep. Whilst in the later part of the film the audience were jumping out of their seats as gun shots blew across the screen. The film is gritty and shows the lowest of the low of characters on one side, the oblivious police force on the other (focusing on new schemes with silly names rather than what’s really going on) and the victims including Harry Brown in the middle. Due to the lack of normal characters going about their day to day life, the film isolates Harry Brown and makes him a loan vigilante. For this reason it loses the element of realism but makes the film more powerful and unsettling as it focuses on the nasty characters in our society. If you enjoyed Gran Torino, Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs and Get Carter, Harry Brown will not disappoint you.
I recently worked on a short horror film called Bear Scary as Director of Photography. The film is directed by Dan Brownlie from Brand-B Corporation and the finished product will be ready around December time. Until then here is a sneak peak at some behind the scenes moments. Photos taken by Philip Penn.
Shooting Sophia's outdoor night scenes.
Keeping warm in between takes.
Sophia getting dragged.
Tabitha Ecco running through her scene.
Lighting someone wearing a cap over their face without casting a shadow for every shot will add time to your schedule!
Lauren and Louie running through a scene
Actress Channel getting attacked.
Me on camera during a run through.
Dan-B the Director applying extra blood to a bear whilst another gnaws away at his arm.
Various bears for different scenes (puppet, poseable and stunt bears).
Sorry for the absence of posts recently on the Rough Cut, I have been busy with various other projects that hopefully you will get to hear about in the coming months.During my absence I have been reflecting on various ways to enter the film industry as a director.
Due to the current financial crisis it has become harder for a less established director to get studio backing due to the risk taking involved in their project.The minority of feature films made are from original screenplays with adapted screenplays, remakes and sequels being the majority that are backed by the studios, as they already have a track record or public general interest.
This then led me to think of ways that I could get my first feature film.Obviously I am still a newbie in the industry so don’t take my word for it but I believe the answer is in the short film pitch.This could be argued to come under sequels or remakes but essentially it is still a foot in the doorway of an executive producers office to get your feature film funded.Below are 3 examples of films that have graced our screens in the recent months.
Alive in Joberg
Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 was first discovered as an award winning short.The style of the feature length is also apparent.His other work prior to District 9 also includes the Citroen Transformer ads.
9
The Oscar nominated short made by Shane Acker was recently brought to life by Tim Burton.Its didn’t stray to far from the original idea, other than the characters having dialogue from the likes of Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly, Jennifer to name a few.
SAW
Although this is a sequel (number 6 to be precise) the original concept came from a short film that packs the same punches as the number one of the series.Written and directed by the Australian duo Leigh Whannell and James Wan, they decided to pitch it to an American exec after failing to get funding back in Australia.Whannell stars in the short which features the reverse bear trap sequence from the feature film, he also stared in the original feature as well.
Litebook - the creative lighting magazine is a photography magazine founded in 2008 by Robert Cook and David Hollingsworth and is published by the Bowens International. Released quarterly, each issue features a series of regular sections related to creative photographic lighting. In this months issue, I was interviewed about my photography and photographic style in the “student in the spotlight” section, so check out a few questions from the interview below.
Latifu Laoye is a 21 year old London-based photographic student trained in both silver halide and digital photography. He uses each medium to create his own personal vision.
Litebook: How did you first become interested in photography?
LL: Truth is I don’t remember how it all started. Similarly I don’t have a clue how it will end either. But I do know I’m on the right path and I have complete confidence in my work. That’s all that matters right now.
LB: Which areas of photography interest you?
LL: I am fundamentally rooted in the portraiture genre I guess, but I tend to flirt with more than one area at a time too, just to see what happens. Right now I am exploring the world of fashion advertising; beauty - and a good deal of digital ‘comp’ work. I don’t believe in limits.
LB: Tell us about your studies:
LL: I am studying at Barking College – and if you don’t yet know about this place I guarantee you will do in the next few years. I am completing a Higher National Diploma in Photography.
LB: Who is your favourite photographer and why?
LL: No outright favourites. I admire many photographers who have mastered their craft and fought their way to the top. But if I could pour Rankin, Avedon, Steve Klein, Mario Testino and Perou, (the music fashion and video genius) into a blender, that would be close enough.
LB: What are your plans when you finish studying?
LL: Well obviously it has to be world domination through stunning photographic imagery with subliminal messages of love, lies and deceit – all caught up in a world that couldn’t really care less.
Do you remember back in early February this year when London came to a stand still because of the heavy snowing? That is the week when we shot our university graduation film Tide. With locations at Bradwell-on-Sea’s beach in Essex, Northumberland National Park and three different studios it felt like we were shooting a feature film. I worked as Assistant Director on the film with Luke White Directing it. Below is the film’s synopsis.
A boy and his father live a harsh existence against a desolate backdrop. Whilst the father is stranded, the boy’s physique allows him to pass through a small tunnel leading to a place very different from their own. He brings back footage to satisfy his fathers desire to re-live memories of when he too could make this journey. Tide is the story of a father’s obsession that will ultimately lose him the respect of his son, and in turn his companionship.
It has already had its first public screening at the NFT1 screen at the BFI Southbank last month and this is its online debut. Click HERE to watch the film.
Although a lot of the film was shot on location, a lot of credit has to go to Jessica Bernard the Production Designer who designed the cave, which is made of polystyrene, timber and clay. I’m really proud of how the film turned out and I hope that it does well at various festivals throughout the coming year. Below are some photos from on set.
I recently came across the short film Carousel, and unlike any other short film ever made, it runs continuously in a loop. The film recently won the Cannes-Lions 2009 Film Grand Prix so see what all the fuss is about right here.
The film shows a Matrix/Swordfish bullet time effect but rather than motion continuing in slow motion, the camera tracks through frozen time. The film feels as if you are travelling through a photograph, with a narrative developing as the camera roams around the scene, returning to the opening shot at the end. The film is about a heist set in a hospital, with the police against a gang of criminals bearing clown masks and boiler suits. I don’t want to spoil too much so watch the film in High Definition by clicking HERE. You can also watch the Director (Adam Berg), DoP and Visual Effects Advisor talk about how different parts were achieved at different point of the film.
Below is the making of for the film. It shows how the tracking shot and effects were achieved, using state of the art cranes and rigs for the camera movement that could exactly replicate the same movement over a number of takes. The filming/effects technique is the same as the frozen Hiro scenes in TV show Heros. The actors are actually stationary, sometimes suspended on wires, where more difficult objects such as bullet fire, shattered glass and explosions are added in post-production, Enjoy.
The whole film is part of an advertising campaign for Philips new 21:9 Television. Basically what the television does is remove the black bars from feature films when you watch them, however these will then be added to the horizontal sides when watching TV in either 4:3 or 16:9 picture ratios. I’d rather films were in full screen anyway and the Ambilight technology looked great when I watched it round a friend’s house.
With two month until the theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s latest film Inglorious Basterds, the Internet hype is in full swing for the release of the film. About a year ago the script for the film was leaked onto the Internet but I chose not to read it as I didn’t want to spoil the film for when I see it for the first time on the big screen. The film is about a group of Nazi killers, also known as the Inglorious Basterds who are a legion of Jewish soldiers out to kill the German army in Nazi Occupied France. The film builds up to an attempt to blow up a cinema where Hitler is attending a film premier. Below is the recently leaked TV spot trailer and Tarantino introducing a scene from the film, enjoy.
