When I started watching Valentina Khodnevich’s dance film Sun I was immediately hooked by its tactile, hazy 16mm photography. But as it went on, its message and celebration of everyday routines became the focal point that stayed with me after the credits rolled. What makes Khodnevich’s film so interesting is how she uses dance as a vessel for the cyclical nature of human life, incorporating mechanical movements inspired by daily, mundane activities. This is accompanied by a trance-inducing rhythmic score populated with industrial beats and a twanging guitar that together, with the movements, form a complete and engrossing package. Dn is delighted to premiere Sun alongside a conversation with Khodnevich where she breaks down the journey of the film from a logistical standpoint, the juxtaposition of natural and industrial locations, and the decision to shoot on a 16mm Bolex.
How have you been pitching Sun to both your collaborators and audiences?...
How have you been pitching Sun to both your collaborators and audiences?...
- 6/6/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The impressiveness of Aj Prager’s short Seeing Other People comes through in its sheer ambition. By taking the trauma of being inside a toxic relationship and translating it into a visually compelling piece of short form filmmaking Prager is able to utilise the tools of cinema to create something both affecting and exciting. The story follows a young woman who ventures into a bar with her boyfriend, who just so happens to be an all-seeing hivemind in control of the other patrons of the bar. It’s a thrilling and thought-provoking short that portrays the emotional blackmailing and coercion of a controlling relationship through the guise of a neon-hued haunted house ride. Dn is proud to premiere Seeing Other People on our pages today in conjunction with a conversation with Prager where she reveals the long gestation the project went through and her techniques for developing on-screen chemistry after a last-minute casting dropout.
- 6/4/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The Ballad of Shirley Collins
Prof. Neil Fox is no stranger to the pages of Directors Notes, having contributed many an article over the years in addition to being interviewed for both his filmmaking work and his film festival co-directing. Today, however, we’re speaking to Fox about his latest venture as the author of the BFI book Music Films: Documentaries, Concert Films and Other Cinematic Representations of Popular Music, which is released by Bloomsbury Publishing today. Fox has long been writing on music films and the knowledge he’s gained over the years coalesces into a fascinating read that avoids the typical chronological structuring that comes with genre analysis and instead looks at the varying ways music films can be recognised as true cinematic artefacts. Joining us for a conversation below, Dn asked Fox about the overarching study he looked to produce with the book, the music films he feels deserve a reappraisal,...
Prof. Neil Fox is no stranger to the pages of Directors Notes, having contributed many an article over the years in addition to being interviewed for both his filmmaking work and his film festival co-directing. Today, however, we’re speaking to Fox about his latest venture as the author of the BFI book Music Films: Documentaries, Concert Films and Other Cinematic Representations of Popular Music, which is released by Bloomsbury Publishing today. Fox has long been writing on music films and the knowledge he’s gained over the years coalesces into a fascinating read that avoids the typical chronological structuring that comes with genre analysis and instead looks at the varying ways music films can be recognised as true cinematic artefacts. Joining us for a conversation below, Dn asked Fox about the overarching study he looked to produce with the book, the music films he feels deserve a reappraisal,...
- 5/30/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
As a graduate of French and Philosophy, a choice 17 year old me thought was wise, I have been in the exact same situation and experienced similar feelings of despondency and hopelessness as befalls the fresh graduate in Alec Pronovost’s Pro Pool (Piscine Pro). Through a series of hilarious scenes depicting pointless tasks, infuriating colleagues and truly monotonous interactions with the jacuzzi buying public, the universal themes and authentic scenarios laid out by Pronovost could be transplanted to anyone, anywhere punching a time clock in a dead-end job and feel totally relatable. Pro Pool, shot in the exact same location from which Pronovost drew his real life inspiration, features the most fabulous ensemble of characters whose authenticity cements the absurd comedy of the daily interactions that our above it all newly minted graduate Charles-Olivier finds himself subject to. Dn invited Pronovost to speak to us about the lived situations that...
- 5/29/2024
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
Earlier this year when covering the National Film and Television School’s 2024 Graduate Showcase we watched Mansi Maheshwari’s nightmarish animation Bunnyhood for the first time. It was a film that instantly created an impression on us through its tense narrative and scratchy, frenetic visuals, which we described at the time as being like, “the scribbled drawings etched onto an old school desk come to life”. It’s no surprise to us then that the film has gone on to secure a place in the prestigious La Cinef programme at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It’s an inclusion which which we thoroughly back. Dn caught up with Maheshwari as she was preparing for the short’s world premiere on the 23rd May on the French Riviera to discuss her film, learning more about her lengthy process of cel animation and how her time studying at the Nfts has impacted her creative practice.
- 5/22/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
After finding himself inspired by the music and artistry of Chino Amobi during the making of his short film La Bicicletta, director Nathan De Paz Habib reached out to the artist seeking permission to use one of his songs which quickly saw the pair develop a shared understanding of artistic and creative intentions, the fruition of which being Eroica. The hallucinatory and enigmatic short, adapted from the opening to Chino’s namesake novel, explores complex notions of mythology, the African and Jewish diaspora and our desires to escape our present. With such epic and wide-reaching themes, Eroica visualises an opening to the exploration of worlds beyond our reality with luxurious cinematography, a mind-bending sonic landscape and seamless editing. With Eroica having completed its well-received cinematic screenings, Dn sat down with De Paz Habib and Amobi for the film’s online premiere to delve into how their ongoing collaboration evolved, the...
- 5/21/2024
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
The test of a good filmmaker is in how much they can do within the parameters they’re given. Commercial shorts, as an example, aren’t traditionally long in duration but they need to pack a punch and create an instant impression on the viewer. That’s where Nicola Martini steps in with his film The Shape of Life, a commercial short created for jewellery brand Serafino Consoli that sees a lone woman dancing amongst a mountainous region slowly becoming intertwined with a malleable flowing entity. Under two minutes in length, Martini populates his short with instantly distinctive imagery that conveys power and intensity, leading all the way to its climactic finale. Dn spoke with Martini about the ideas behind his pitch for the short, his evolution as a filmmaker within the commercial sphere, and the creative decision to combine classical and modern elements across each aspect of The Shape of Life.
- 5/15/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Having worked with artists such as David Guetta and Chris Brown, and brands such as Nike and Puma, Director Shapxo has developed a bold, visually lavish style that often blends contemporary aesthetics with the rich history of culture. That combination of past and present continues with his latest fashion short Chasing The Drums, which presents a Pan-African inspired world filled with dynamic, fantastical elements. In the short film’s brief 79 seconds, the Berlin-based filmmaker is able to use energised cinematography and ambitious conceptual effects to produce a visual feast that highlights the inspired fashion of Rick Owens and Balenciaga. With the film now available to watch online, Dn caught up with Shapxo to talk about his ambitious vision for the shoot, working night and day during the post-production process, and the challenges of shooting in an operating subway station.
What drew you to this particular location for the shoot?
As a location for the shooting,...
What drew you to this particular location for the shoot?
As a location for the shooting,...
- 5/2/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The trick with horror is how you use the tropes. Slashers, ghost stories, monster movies, there’s a formula to them all but what separates the good from the bad is how they use that formula in an innovative way. James Button and Kristaps Kazaks’ short turned web series turned short again The Corpse Series is a great example of this. At its heart, it’s a comedy about two bumbling idiots trying to dig themselves out of a bad situation. It’s just that the bad situation is an ever increasing stack of dead bodies. The innovation and excitement of Button and Kazaks’ short is in its escalation and how the filmmakers string together the ever-increasing chaos of their characters’ situation. It really is such a fun time and must-watch for fans of Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy or Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead series. Dn is...
- 4/30/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
There’s a Safdie Brothers aesthetic to Gareth Bowen’s new short The Licensed Fool. Despite the film being set in a Medieval past, it carries that gritty, textured look that we’ve come to expect from New York’s brightest filmmakers. Story-wise, it follows a travelling court jester who begins to unravel when he learns of a sinister motive behind his hiring for an upcoming performance. Whilst, from what I’ve said so far, this may sound like a tense, charged affair, Bowen’s film actually has a comedic quality to it as well, with plenty of jokes amidst its twisted folkloric vibes. With the short currently playing festivals, Dn joined up with Bowen to break down his journey with the film so far, from the internet rabbit hole that inspired its creation through to the technical specs that inform The Licensed Fool’s distinctive, zoom-lensed look.
When and...
When and...
- 4/23/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Set in the outer boroughs of New York City, Nick Bentgen’s latest documentary #LoveYourz follows a group of teens who have formed a self-love creative collective as they look to pave a way for themselves into the future. What makes the film so compelling is Bentgen’s ability to capture these teens on their own terms. The camera often floats through organic scenarios, catching moments on the fly, whilst maintaining an intimacy that feels immersive. This is also backed by the use of multiple visual mediums, with great high res photography combined with retro VHS-style footage to give the film a fresh aesthetic buoyancy that keeps you engaged. Dn sat down with Bentgen to talk over the creation of #LoveYourz, revealing the serendipitous moment that led to its creation, the decision making behind his multi-camera setup, and the filmmaking rules he followed to tell his story with authenticity.
#LoveYourz...
#LoveYourz...
- 4/22/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The challenge of crafting great science fiction lies in the balance of a compelling narrative and thorough worldbuilding. When you’re embracing the task of creating a new world every facet of it needs to be thought through, otherwise your idea can crumble at the first hurdle. This all-encompassing approach is key to Tomas Kamphuis’ ambitious and detailed sci-fi fashion short Exiles. Made in collaboration with Hamcus and Adidas, Kamphuis’ film relishes every element of its story. From the inventive costuming through to the gorgeous, dusty visuals you can tell each part of this film has been deliberated over with great intent. Now, with the film recently arriving online, Dn speaks with Kamphuis for an extensive conversation about the making of his short, the location-based challenges that arose during the shoot, and the visual language he employed to emphasise the film’s narrative and its fashion.
Exiles is a unique...
Exiles is a unique...
- 4/19/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Some of the best music videos are the ones which understand the power of a simple and contained idea. As Director Austin Hutchings mentions below, Radiohead’s Karma Police or Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Maps, for example, are simplistic in plot but iconic through the power of their imagery. The same can be said for Hutching’s video for Kat Duma’s So Long, which sees the singer pose as a runaway bride whose past catches up on her. It’s a video driven by distinctive imagery, one that is quite happy holding a shot to give the audience time to immerse in its world. Dn is excited to present the premiere for So Long alongside a chat with Hutchings where he speaks to the importance of both shooting in practical environments and giving yourself time on set to play and be creative.
What were the first conversations you had...
What were the first conversations you had...
- 4/10/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Crafted during a period of tumultuous uncertainty, Amaka Lin’s experimental dance short Stasis explores our relationship with time, nature and the unknowability of the future. As she mentions in our interview below, Lin drew from the eerie yet calming textures of dark ambient music when crafting the tone of her film. Watching it, you can see how that’s apparent in the sonic palette but it also comes through in the carefully choreographed movements of her performers, who convey an unsettled sense of being suspended in time. It’s also shot on 16mm which gives the short that added grainy texture to fully envelop the viewer in its perturbing atmosphere. Dn is delighted to present the premiere of Stasis and spoke with Lin who broke down the construction of her short’s tone, the benefits of shooting on film, and the aforementioned influence of both ambient and classical music.
- 4/8/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Director Christian Meola’s film The Expanding Horizon is a great example of a short that doesn’t rely on anything big or flashy, at least in the external sense, to achieve a high level of quality. There is no humongous set or sprawling cast of characters, instead, the short harnesses a rich emotional interiority to the characters at play that leaves the viewer with so much to think over after the credits have rolled. Plot-wise, the film follows a teenager who meets with his drug dealing classmate one day after school to make an unusual request. I won’t say much more than that as it’s best going in as organically as possible but trust us when we say that this is a compelling film that is best watched with those you can discuss it with afterwards. Dn is proud to be premiering The Expanding Horizon on our pages today,...
- 4/4/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Dn last spoke with Colby Day when we premiered his one-shot short Lead/Follow back in early 2023. Day’s movement-led film caught our eye with its brisk yet all-encompassing depiction of the different stages of a romantic relationship. It’s a really special film and it left us eagerly anticipating what Day would make next. Then earlier this year it was announced that Day’s next project, this time as a screenwriter, would be playing Berlinale before premiering on Netflix shortly after. The project in question was Spaceman, an Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan-starring science fiction drama directed by Johan Renck about an astronaut deep in the throes of space where he encounters a strange alien spider (voiced by Paul Dano) who helps him reflect on his failings as a husband. Similarly to Lead/Follow, Spaceman is an impressively expansive film that at its heart is about the trials...
- 4/1/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Director Lilya Syvytska’s experimental short Roots (КОРІННЯ) features some of the most striking black and white imagery I’ve seen in a long time. But there’s much more to this film than extraordinary cinematography. On a narrative level, it’s a film confronting the difficult stages of emotional displacement that come with the experience of war in your homeland. Syvystka conveys this through an experimental, choreography-led approach that, in tandem with the stunning camerawork, forms a truly cathartic piece of filmmaking she hopes will offer audiences a place to process their emotions. Dn is delighted to premiere Roots today side by side with an in-depth chat with Syvystka where she breaks down the poem the film was born from, the creative influence of both frenetic dance work and Maya Deren and the preparation she and her Cinematographer Austin Kwok did to achieve the short’s powerful images.
What...
What...
- 3/13/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Filmmaker Nick Aldridge’s latest project is a documentary on male mental health entitled The Men And The Chair In Front Of My Window. It’s a film born out of a personal journey Aldridge went on during a break from directing and working mostly as a DoP. The filmmaker was at a point in his life where he felt like he was internalising a lot of his darker thoughts and it got him contemplating how other people were managing similar feelings. These thoughts formed the kernel of Aldridge’s film, which takes an intimate look at men and the internal struggles they face. It really is an incredibly powerful piece of work, taking intimate conversations between men and putting them in front of audiences in hopes of starting a wider discussion. Dn spoke with Aldridge ahead of today’s premiere about the film’s personal and organic inception, the significance of its street-set location,...
- 3/7/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
When a vulnerable man attends a personal development forum to address his declining mental state, he finds himself at a moment of realisation. Ned Donohoe’s brilliant drama The Forum was birthed through a personal experience the filmmaker had with this type of self-help seminar. Between the years of 2014 and 2016, Donohoe attended a number of classes designed to improve his mental well-being, as he learnt during his time there, however, that wasn’t all they were designed for. What’s unique about Donohoe’s film is that he portrays his characters with a deep empathy and understanding, this isn’t a satire or parody of these situations. Instead, it delves into the emotional wiring of them and unpacks how we find ourselves in these places. Dn is delighted to premiere The Forum online in conjunction with a conversation with Donohoe where he delves into the film’s origins, how he...
- 3/4/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Coming of age stories are forever popular for their ability to capture the awkwardness of a person scrambling for a sense of identity alongside the discovery of burgeoning emotions they weren’t previously aware of. As we’ve seen with Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun in recent years, teen stories centred around girls don’t need to be restricted to the conventional trope of falling in love for the first time. Instead, these films delve into the relationships that girls have with themselves and their families. Kali Kahn’s Father’s Day continues along this progressive narrative path with its depiction of a teenage girl named Ceci and the discovery of her father’s knotty male behaviour. Kahn expertly captures the questionable conduct of men and the guilt felt when one woman betrays another in subtly authentic ways throughout her short, cleverly allowing a seemingly sparkly...
- 2/29/2024
- by Bex Thackery
- Directors Notes
Directors Notes first caught wind of Yegane Moghaddam’s impressively constructed animated short Our Uniform back at Annecy last year. Amongst a plethora of compelling shorts, Moghaddam’s film stood out to us due to its visual tactility and thematic political relevance. Its story follows a young Iranian woman who reveals anecdotes surrounding her experiences at school and the gendered effects of wearing a mandatory hijab. These anecdotes are brought to life via a combination of stop motion of the school uniform and overlayed 2D animation that is rendered upon its surface. It’s such a compelling piece of filmmaking and it was of no surprise to us when it became nominated for an Oscar. With the Academy Awards ceremony now just around the corner, Dn joins Moghaddam for a discussion on her film below, talking over its beginnings as a series of real-life schoolgirl stories, her surprise at its international success,...
- 2/27/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The small rural islands of Kinmen, part of Taiwan but within swimming distance of China, has long held its own as a spot as a hotbed of political conflict and escalating tension between the two countries and is closely examined through the eyes of documentarian S. Leo Chiang in his Oscar nominated short Island in Between. This film is by no means a singular or straightforward observational look at the islands’ historical and political significance instead, Chiang uses the islands as a metaphorical insight into his own sense of identity and belonging, split between his Taiwanese heritage and American citizenship which adds to the profundity of this filmic exploration. Kinmen holds mythical proportions in the imagination of the public and has also been a place of resistance against the overbearing desires of China, and Chiang with a mix of archival imagery, narration and heartfelt familial connections, offers us a brief...
- 2/20/2024
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
Known for their live action comedies Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, Jerusha and Jared Hess have, for the first time, ventured into the world of animation for their debut short as a directing duo. The film in question is Ninety-Five Senses and it’s as creative and visually driven as you’d expect, telling the story of a death row inmate who’s reflecting on his life through memories related to his senses. The film is structured across six different sections and corresponding animation styles ranging from soft, painterly visuals through to distinct, dynamic character-driven styles reminiscent of Brad Bird’s The Iron Giant. It really is a feast of a film on an aesthetic level, but it also leaves much to chew on in terms of its philosophical themes too. Dn caught up with Jerusha and Jared on the road to the Oscars to learn more from them about their experience making Ninety-Five Senses,...
- 2/15/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
With its hand-drawn style and sparing use of colour, Ross Stringer’s animated short film Crab Day is an excellent example of how you can do so much with seemingly little. It follows a father and son who attend a yearly fishing ritual where, for the first time, the son must kill a crab in order to become a man and win his father’s approval. The short was created during Stringer’s time at the National Film and Television School and is a great testament to both the breadth of creative expression the school encourages within its pupils as well as the high level of quality the institution produces. That’s a feat not just acknowledged by Dn either as the brilliance of Stringer’s short has been recognised with a nomination from Britain’s largest film awards body, the BAFTAs. With the annual event on the horizon, Dn...
- 2/6/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Avery Stedman’s music video for Night Lovell’s My Day Is Ruined! follows the Canadian Rapper as he embarks on a series of strange and unfortunate scenarios. It’s a slick, stylish and unhinged video that operates like a Night Lovell multiverse, hopping between different encounters and eras, one moment showing Lovell as a medieval king then as a hospital patient bandaged from head to toe. The wild energy of the narrative is supported by Stedman’s wide, dynamic and active camerawork which captures Lovell’s baffled reactions as he negotiates these mounting situations. It’s just such a fun ride of a video and we’re stoked to be featuring it on our pages. Dn caught up with Stedman to chew over the constant collaboration he has with Lovell whilst making their music videos and the desire the pair shared to venture into new territory and create something unexpected.
- 1/22/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
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