REFLECTIONS ON 'SICK TO THE VITALS'

still frame from Sick


10 years since we created Sick To The Vitals and a few thoughts

on its creation.It was gratifying when Bill Mousoulis listed it at number 4 in his top 50 Australian Independent Films......

http://www.innersense.com.au/mif/50_films.html 

 

 

I had a thought about the winner of Australian Idol who was a young women who was overweight and how when they get into the fame 'system' they get advised/styled/surgeried into a conventionally acceptable size/shape/look.I thought about the winner doing this but ending up on alcohol and drugs to facilitate/cope and ends up being very lost,aggressive and angry.I was always interested in strong women possibly as a reaction to the male dominated landscape in film story telling or even my own gender possibilities ie male/female/androgynous/non binary.

 

So I wrote my longest script ever and for this type of length broke it up into many different shoots(never interested/capable of doing the whole thing at once).

As usual it was Patrick on the Sony PD 150 standard definition camera(incidentally David Lynch's favourite camera these days for his digital work)A few times we had someone on a boom microphone but I think most may have been recorded in camera plus my household lamps for a bit of light.And we used make-up artists(always important in my work!)

Always lucky with casting gathered some terrific performers.

We had a quiet pub in Brunswick to shoot most of the film, around the same time Nicholas Cage was filming Ghost Rider in the city and I remember saying that they had millions and we had nothing but we were both doing the same thing ......capturing images with a camera.........there was no difference.........and some of the stuff we created was just as, or more impressive than them.(this remains my filmmaking philosophy).

Each shoot was organized and filmed without too much trauma.I have always tried to keep things relaxed/playful.Its never about getting performers to do what I want but discovering within the framework.....the accidents/the surprises etc.

We had a good editor who smoothed the rough edges(lots!) and created some wonderful special effects including a bit of green screen.

I had all the Sonic Youth CD's and knew their sounds would be perfect...(don't ask about the getting permission process.......).

 

I didn't (and never do) know what the film will reveal.I think it ended up being about the yin and the yang.........the dark,dirty woman and the white,clean woman.It alluded to how many women can be anxious/uncomfortable with their genitals and the surreal conversation about bodily functions/menstruation the men and the woman disguised as a man have around the eight-ball table.

 

Watching the film for the first time in years reinforced the idea about cinema being about a mood/a sensation/a dream and how there are no limits to what you can do.

White skin in the blackness/skin turning red/removing the vocal track/the white room/faces misted over/superimposing images/freeze frames/home made special effects/bright lights in faces.......

There is always so much to explore/uncover if we have the instinct/courage to look inside and express in our art.

 

 



WORKING WITH ACTORS 1

I met Charlotte,offered her the role,and she said,fine,no problem.As soon as we started working together there was a chemistry.We understood each other almost without speaking.It was a pleasure,and during the shooting I realized that she became the subject of the film,and to observe her was sufficient to tell a story.

francois ozon......swimming pool.......charlotte rampling

                                         
                                                                 tiger and dog web series outtake

BIG ART-ARTISTS

 https://youtu.be/7YeAU1GwBzk

Philippe Garrel
Marina Abrovonic
Barry Kosky
Graham Murphy
David Glass
Placebo
Rowland S Howard
Antonioni
Fellini
Jane Campion
David Lynch
Francis Bacon
Paul Cox
Derek Jarman
Ken Russell
Nicolas Roeg
Nina Simone
Luis Bunuel
Tarkovsky
Satie
Savages

WHO I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE WITH

I am a generous/friendly collaborator who meets with people,talks with them and if there is a connection off we go.
I am interested in meeting performers/actors of any age/size/gender/sexuality/ethnicity.
People from other artistic disciplines including singers/dancers.
Also cinematographers/sound artists/composers/make up artists/art designers/editors.
(I don't need any of these to make films but welcome them if they come along).

who think outside the square
who want to examine themselves/life
who have something restless/uncomfortable inside them
who think
who stare out of windows
art puts meaning in their lives
who feel there is more to be discovered in filmmaking.
who have edge

tv is the new film with work like Jane Campion's Top Of The Lake and David Lynch's Twin Peaks showing what can be produced by artists with vision and a personal style.

and they capture images with a camera/sounds with a microphone......and so can we...........

A FILM IN DEVELOPMENT

I now live in West Melbourne and have been inspired by several locations in the area.
The apartment I live in is white/wooden floorboards/green plants/sparse......very filmic.
I want to work with 2 or 3 performers.
some sort of narrative but quite abstract........after a 5 year break I feel like doing more refined/focused work..........honing in on the essence of a shot and the sound.
Strange? Poetic? Humour?(usually creeps in!)
Could be short.........could be extended feature length construction......could be serialized online.......
I have the smallest pro camera and am interested in operating it myself.
People have likened  my work to David Lynch along the journey and his Inland Empire film shot by him with an old Sony Digital camera is an interesting comparison to this work.
My work now develops over a period inspired by an idea/location and especially the actors etc who I work with.
A structure / blueprint is used but within that ,much creativity .........experiment.......play.
Instinct is very important.


Melbourne Girls Web Series

PUNK FILMMAKING

I have always identified with the punk music idea. Fuck what's being done or gone on before, start a band and do your own thing with passion and energy.
Filmmaking is a camera and a microphone, that's all you need.

I don't mind technical proficiency but often it is the main concern at the expense of the complete work of art.I am happy to be rough around the edges if the ideas/passion/energy/engagement is in the work

The image/the sound/the body /the face
Narrative/non narrative/short/long/words/no words/colour/black and white
Abstraction/surreal/poetic..........hopeful/hopeless
Clean/filthy/funny/weird
Controversial/dangerous/disgusting
Beautiful/joyful/...........loud/quiet

no equipment/no money/no fundraising/no career/no competitions/no prizes

raw energy..........freedom/experiment/play/risk.........no ties to formulae/structure   

freedom/experiment/play/risk

vision/crazy brave/dreams/greatness

                                         Melbourne Girls Web Series

FILMS WITH NO IMPACT?

Films are made and have no impact.Mediocrity is all around.Films that have writers/development/money/crew/commitment but on the screen there is nothing.Why do we aim so low?A film could blow peoples minds.....it could surprise and traumatize them.....it could change them
A great film can last forever.
If I can't be a great filmmaker I'm not going to bother.

tiger and dog webseries

ABOUT FILM EJACULATE MELBOURNE



tiger and dog web series

 

After a 5 year break from filmmaking(health and issues with conservative nature of filmmaking)the obsession has resurfaced and I have decided to communicate my thoughts/energies to interested others.

http://www.innersense.com.au/mif/miles.html