Upsetting Subjects

[Dave Watterson]

So far we know that Ken is making a movie about/for a hospice and that Ned
was briefly involved in taking one about down-and-outs. What about others?

On the international scene Rolf Mandolesi continues to make beautiful studies
of people facing change/crisis. Some of you might have caught his "Waiting
Room" at the IAC Festival which deals with an old people's home where people
are waiting ...

Does anyone remember "Giuseppi" by a fine film maker from Malta, whose name
has temporarily slipped into my Altzheimer cache? That dealt with a disabled
beggar.

A Brit called Danny (? name in that cache again)used to make powerful movies
about the people on the fringes of society in seedy clubs, living in dumpsters
etc.

A strange and disturbing movie did the rounds last year - Gunther Halle had
made it about an Italian-Chinese family funeral ... real Lars Von Trier stuff
with the camera in among weeping, wailing relatives ... clambering into the
hearse just ahead of the coffin ... technically amazing but morally upsetting.
It felt so intrusive, though he was there at the request of the family who
wanted a record to send to relatives in China.

There are many "less comfortable" topics to shoot, so why do so many people
stick to the safe, trite and often trivial?

Dave McAbsent-Minded

[AN]

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

So far we know that Ken is making a movie about/for a hospice and that Ned
was briefly involved in taking one about down-and-outs. What about others?

On the international scene Rolf Mandolesi continues to make beautiful studies
of people facing change/crisis. Some of you might have caught his "Waiting
Room" at the IAC Festival which deals with an old people's home where people
are waiting ...

Does anyone remember "Giuseppi" by a fine film maker from Malta, whose name
has temporarily slipped into my Altzheimer cache? That dealt with a disabled
beggar.

A Brit called Danny (? name in that cache again)used to make powerful movies
about the people on the fringes of society in seedy clubs, living in dumpsters
etc.

A strange and disturbing movie did the rounds last year - Gunther Halle
had
made it about an Italian-Chinese family funeral ... real Lars Von Trier
stuff
with the camera in among weeping, wailing relatives ... clambering into
the
hearse just ahead of the coffin ... technically amazing but morally upsetting.
It felt so intrusive, though he was there at the request of the family who
wanted a record to send to relatives in China.

There are many "less comfortable" topics to shoot, so why do so many people
stick to the safe, trite and often trivial?

My God, all the above so, so serious subjects, makes my own film making seem
somehow to be in your last trivial category.

But for a change, and for some months now, I too have been working on a serious
film (about searching in life).

Albert....beyond the blue horizon.

[Ken Wilson]

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

So far we know that Ken is making a movie about/for a hospice and that
Ned
was briefly involved in taking one about down-and-outs. What about others?

The Hospice doco is a two pronged project. I was wanting to make one there
for a couple of years now and was recently asked to do one to help "Hospice
awareness" etc and to promote (if that is the right word) their complementary
therapies service. There will therefore be two versions to fulfill both requirements.


Ken.

[Dave Watterson]

All of which prompted me to wonder: why don't we see more song and dance movies
in the amateur world?

Back in the days when synch sound was a problem I could understand it, but
now ... What could be better for the movie-maker? Colour, action, music
and all choreographed usually within a small area.

A couple of years ago that lovely bear of a bloke, Tony Jacobs, made "Carrier"
which did very well. A British woman, whose name I forget, did one on aspirations
to the ballet. Last year's UNICA included a wonderful French dance movie
"Minouche" ... but there ought to be more.

Where is the amateur "Singing in the Rain"?

Dave (with song in his heart) W

[AN]

"Dave Watterson" <dave.movies@virgin.net> wrote:

Which prompted me to wonder: why don't we see more song and dance movies
in the amateur world?

Back in the days when synch sound was a problem I could understand it, but
now ... What could be better for the movie-maker? Colour, action, music
and all choreographed usually within a small area.

There's your answer Dave...Choreographed. Very, very few have this ability.
Even less can really 'dance' !!

Where is the amateur "Singing in the Rain"?

Nah,it's time for a new one...."Groaning in the sunshine?"

Dave (with song in his heart)
Wasn't that the overseas forces song request theme tune?

Albert...tuning up.