Meeting another judge... Carol Harrison

2009-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Carol Harrison another judge for the awards, was more than happy to chat to me. We talked BAFTA's, the upcoming festival and the importance of acting.

What was your first reaction when you were asked to judge the Student Film Festival Awards?

I was really thrilled because I’d been involved in the film school and seen the talent of young people. I’ve had the experience of teaching young people, and seeing the potential of the filmmakers. It’s a great way to showcase their work and new talent.

Out of the three categories, best short film, best animation and best documentary, which one are you most looking forward to?

They all require different strengths. In the short film category I’ll be looking for creativity and script writing. In the documentaries I’ll be looking for compassion, views on life, fascination and the soul of the piece. Animation is not so much my area, but I’ll be looking for skills and attention to detail.

What kinds of characteristics will be generally be looking for whilst judging? Are you going to be looking at the acting?

I’ll definitely be looking at the acting. Sometimes there’s a real gap between the vision and the acting, and how they understand the role of acting within that. Sometimes it does appear to be the last consideration. The director should have an understanding of the acting process to get the best performance.

How do you feel about winning six BAFTA awards for the film Martha Jac a Sianco?

Thrilled and surprised about the BAFTA’s. I loved the whole experience of working on the film. It is a in the Welsh language, so it was a challenge to work with people speaking another language. It was small cast so it was very intense. We filmed in a very remote part of South Wales and it was very beautiful. The whole thing just clicked really, it was written wonderfully and we all loved what we were doing.

You’re conducting two days of acting workshops in November. What sort of things will you do in workshops? How do you think they will help people?

We will do exercises, improvisations and also work with text and then shoot and analyse the scenes. It will show directors the process of acting. It will get actors and directors together, and show them the different aspects of the process. By showing the craft and process of acting I hope it will help them produce a better product. They will learn from each other, and together create a 'conspiracy of talent'.

Do you have any words of wisdom for wannabe actors/actresses?

Keep believing in yourself, in your vision your unique talent, and bring it to the screen. Then keep refining your craft. Lastly, have passion.

An hour with Howard. J ford

2009-10-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Howard Ford is one of the judges for this years Student film festival Awards. Dawn Murden went to meet him to find out a little bit about him, why he’s looking forward to the Awards and what he’s looking for in all you budding young film-makers.

What was your first reaction when you were asked to judge the Awards?

I was pleased to be involved. It’s been a long time since I was at the grass roots of film-making. In some ways, I envy students who are at that stage of their career. It’s an exciting time. I loved the time when creative freedom was a hundred percent and I didn’t have clients over my shoulder often trying to dictate how you shoot something. I’m excited to see if I can recognise a spark of talent. I know what I’m looking for; someone who is using all the tools available to the film-maker to the best of their ability. Critics are often tough in art.

What category are you looking forward to the most? And why?

Best short film. Not that I’m not looking forward to the others. Prior to my features and commercials, I started making short films when I was thirteen, and I recall where I was at, and I’m excited to see where other people are at in their film-making.

What characteristics will you be looking for when judging entries?

Camera angle/movements and performance. When some start out, and I’m guilty of doing it in my early days, they get so focussed on the technical side they neglect performance. I’m looking for someone who can bring it all together. I think I should get a feeling of what they might be capable with more resources. It’s important how they use their tools, for example camera angles, location etc to guide the audiences eye in best way possible to tell a story, and this goes for all categories.

What interested you in becoming a film director?

I don’t know. Sometimes I think I may be a reincarnated film maker as there’s no apparent reason for me to be so hooked on it. I wish I was Sergio Leone, but he died when I was already alive! From the age of eleven I was interested in television and cinema, and was interested in how it got there. I couldn’t fathom what was going on behind the scenes; I had no concept of film making. There no DVD extras, but I did watch a behind the scenes of a TV show and I was hooked on creating that myself.

I watched two horror films in particular when I was younger, The Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead. They scared the s*** out of me and I was so impressed with the fact that I was save in my seat but I was absolutely terrified. I wanted access to that ability of invoking emotion in an audience.

To be a film maker you have to have three elements, talent, determination and luck. If you only have two of those, then you won’t make it. Without luck they will be a frustrated artist, and without talent they’ll be a one ht wonder.

Do you have any valuable tips for young film-makers?

1) Get out and do it!

2) Break the rules- rules do apply, for example camera angles, how one shot will cut with another, to create a smooth flow, but breaking these rules can break new ground so take a risk…

3) Advice for the first shooting day- get the first shot as fast as you can, once you get this done things will flow. It will kick people into gear, rather than people standing around chatting.

4) Direct the film at home in advance; know what you’re going to do, by using storyboards or shotlists. Then if your brain is overworked with stress or egos on the day, you can use them, trusting that you had good creative reasoning behind them in the first place.

5) Throw away you storyboards- always be on the look out for something better!

Your film ‘The Dead’ is coming out early 2010; can you tell us a bit about it? For example what was your inspiration?

Making a horror film was one of the first things I set out to do, but twenty years later I had still never actually done it, what with two other feature films and countless commercials, finally a particularly bad commercial script we were shooting topped me over the edge. Then my brother John, who works with me as a Cameraman, said “let’s make that film” we never did. We had been to Africa, so we decided to set it there, it gives it something different. It’s not just another zombie movie, but it’s a tour of Africa as well!