Was reading one of last years Sight And Sound magazines (thankyou library),
and, as usual enjoyed the variety and artistry of the films/filmmaking. Having recently returned to acting I thought I may have to decamp overseas to get a gig! Then wondered where all the substantial filmmaking was in this country.Covid not withstanding it seems so quiet! different times, culture, generation? With the passing of Monica Vitti I recalled discovering Antonioni's films,and their impact and influence on me to this day. Bunuel.....Bergman.....Phillipe Garrel.
Every time I think of making a film the obstacles of money/crew/equipment come up before I remember all you need is a camera. Always liked Andy Warhol's simple/rough cinema.
Having just returned to acting on the stage I had an idea for a play but am now thinking it could be a film.
Here's what I have so far.......( yes, no script! not starting from there.)
Set during a LOCKDOWN (are we doing art about lockdowns yet?)
A man and a woman in a house or largish apartment.
The man has macular degeneration and uses a magnifying glass. He's a drinker, intelligent and angry.
The women is a sex worker, can't see clients in the flesh but is doing some oneline stuff. She is strong , intelligent , possibly artistic.
Trapped together........could kill or fuck each other.
I am interested in experiment/play/abstraction/surrealism.
A director in that Sight and Sound magazine (Dea Kulumbegashvili) says.......it's simple....it's the light, it's the camera, it's nature. There are moments when cinema just happens in front of the camera.
I can create this with my small film camera/radio mic/ little lights.
I am a (visual) artist and love the idea of cinematic art (and entertainment).
This would be a chance to work/play in a close/relaxed/poetic way.
would need to find the location and 2 actors , probably late 20's , 30's.
always happy to collaborate with other like minded filmmakers/technicians.
but not worrying about money or end results.
I have retained my punk ethos but also a new found interest in Zen philosopy and the wonderful thoughts of Alan Watts.
I would prefer any contact via kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com
HEAVYWEIGHT is a pilot/promotion/short film, approx 30 minutes produced in Melbourne.
Drama/black comedy......low budget. Payment method to be determined.
With a different kind of story and a unique style the main aim is to seek potential interest from streaming platforms in a series.
The main character is a transgender woman, an ontrend topic these days.
Publicity campaign via still images and teasers/trailers......world wide online exposure.
Strong visually/big acting/humour, a little violence and a sex scene will attract interest.
THE STORY / CONTENT
The opening and closing scenes are in colour.
OPENING.....Beatrice Fryer is a police detective and also happens to be a transgender woman. She is at home , lying on the couch under a blanket ,messy, on medication, on medical/stress leave. She was shot in the bum and is moody and whingy. She has her old doll with her.Also with her is her daughter , an independent/stroppy girl......(dialogue)
CLOSING....(scene in development) A quirky ending , possibly ex wife showing some tough love / wrestling Bee back to LIFE. or see below.....
THE MIDDLE SCENES OF THE FILM ARE ALL IN A CONTRASTY BLACK AND WHITE.
1 Bee in front of mirror ready for work....dark suit/blouse/makeup/hair tied back......looking at herself.......fierce.
2 Police office.........Bee with boss who's overly enthusiastic re promotion and diversity, wants Bee to do publicity. She's not so keen.
3 Pub.......Bee with several detective collegues.....a celebration of her promotion. A speech and some muttered dissent in the room. May have faces with voiceover thoughts.
4 Bee's office where she has to discipline a junior male detective constable.
(Dialogue)
Knock......pause
Bee.....come in
DC.......enters/stands/waits
Bee......looking at computer.......well this is a clusterfuck (looks up) that's Americanmilitary slang for a large mess..............you assault a suspect,who we have to let go,andhe may sue us.......and then you abuse and harass a collegue...........too much testosterone is it? Down at the gym pumping iron and taking steroids.....
DC.....No Boss
Bee....you think you're Al Pacino?
DC.....No Boss
Bee..........sit down (moves around to him,sits on edge of desk)...What's your favourite Pacino film HEAT or SCARFACE?
DC.....SCARFACE
Bee.....I might have known......well I have a no dickheads policy on this team.....any more of this crap and your out of here ok?
DC........yes boss.......thanks
Bee......I'll be micro managing you so watchyourself......................you can go.
DC.......He moves to the door and turns back......What'syour favourite Pacino film sarge?
Bee..........Dog Day Afternoon......google it......................and appologise to the other members.
DC Exits.
5 A girl is walking throught a park in the evening , she is stalked/bashed and raped.Possibly choreographed, surreal movement of actors.
6 Police Office..........Boss,Bee, other detectives, angst and urgency over another woman being attacked.The superintendent ,possibly in uniform gives a passionate/emotional speech about male violence that is jaw dropping.
7 Bee and detectives at crowded market , suspect has been traced and is confronted by detective team and arrested.........more surreal/abstract movement.
8 Bee and another dancing with abandon at a queer club with comforting physical contact.
9 Police offices........Bee leads interview with alleged rapist
10 Bee visits home of a male.....he comforts her.....they end up in bed..........sex. During sex Bee looks up and into the camera.......she may talk to it.
11 Police offices.....Bee attends session with pyschologist to discuss her condition but she changes the subject to the Tina Arena concert the pysch took his boyfriend to last night.
These scenes continue to develop and dialogue has been written but not included here.
Final Colour Scene.......in development. Could be Bee with artist ex wife in her studio.....Bee being painted....chit/chat,they leave and we pull back to see portrait which is a B/W anxious, abstract image of Bee.
THE END!?
THE STYLE AND METHOD
I have both commercial and experimental instincts. The colour sequences are naturalistic with playful dialogue and larger performances.The middle B/W section is not a typical flashback style, more fragmented aspects of her recent life/love/work/trauma.The camera will move and generally be tight on upper bodies and faces, dark suits,detailed white faces (or other ethnicities).Moments captured/dark/light/shadows. Documentary aspects.Possibly non linnear and surreal in the editing. Bits of dialogue and possible added noises. Bee in police/masculine culture but with all in dark suits it's a bit genderless. Bee is a force/strong presence.....she can be soft and hard....one of the team but separate.
Films are made 3 times....writing/developing......performance/discovery......editing/playing.
There is more than one way to make films!
Filming is broken into segments......4 to 6 hours......makeup/setup/rehearse/perform. There is always a framework but always creative space within that. No rush/stress.......all ideas valued.....fun. Actors not constrained by a lot of dialogue or technical stuff.I want them to breathe/relax/play.
My filmmaking methodology has developed over many films/ 2 webseries. Enjoyable.
THE SCEDULE/BUDGET/PAYMENT
Currently there are 14 sections to shoot , 5 are in police offices and can be done in 1 or 2 sessions.Many of the others can be done 2 at a time. Probably 8 filming sessions in total. Start filming when everything in place, Covid permitting.
Flexible weekdays/weekends........a few evenings.
Yes, it is one of those low budget films!
I want to pay participants something and have some personal funds but want to discuss options with potential producer(s).All deserve to be paid. I have a idea/budget in mind.
I will discuss this further with interested crew/cast.
For me, I need to keep being creative , sometimes it involves risk/sacrifice.
I attempt to offer stimulating workwith potential without asking for large time comittment or overwhelming effort.
THE TEAM/CREW REQUIRED
1 I am the writer/director/lead actor
2 A producer.....or 2
3 A cinematographer.....with own camera/basic lighting.Artistic/can work reasonably quickly/likes to try things/sometimes guerilla style(markets/nightclub). See's limitations as opportunities.
4 A sound recordist with own equipment....boom or radio mic's? experiment with random voices/sounds.
5 A co-director/assistant director/another filmmaker. To help me/another set of eyes. Involved in various aspects of the film.
6 Production designer/ art department..........I've never used these in the past but would be keen to work with them on this project.
7 Makeup artist..........maybe just 1..........design a makeup for lead character Bee. Many scenes with 2 actors , a few with 5/6/ or 7...........would need to work reasonably quickly. Could do a quicker powder down on some actors? Probably no need to do hair.
Also a makeup design for rape victim....battered/bloody.
8 Editor...very creative part of my filmmaking. Piecing together each sequence, moving things around/playing/experimenting.
Transitions on B/W pieces......jump cuts/fades/dissolves?
9 Music......composer..........some music cues, open to discussion.Electronic? Heard a track....In A Quiet Mood by Eric Hilton that was great for the sex scene.
10 Choreographer/movement consultant....could co-direct with me.
I have a no frills/punk ethos with art and filmmaking.
Ideas/energy/passion..........just do it.
Embrace limitations......great art is possible with very little.
I am gender diverse/trans/mild AIS intersex......phew...
it happened to me......born this way (cheers Lady Ga Ga)
Grew up in Adelaide, had no idea. Eventual punk attitude with underlying shame.Even thought the trans element is a key part of the film it is generally free of the traumatic struggle of a lot of trans stories of the past. It's a new era.
Bee is strong/confident/charismatic and in charge (mostly). Her issues are mostly from the consequences of being in the police force.
Recent compulsion to resume acting.Rediscovered acting power and fascination with performing at recent workshops. Recent keto diet/fasting have trimmed body and sharpened features.Want to put this under the microscope of the film camera.
I still wonder where amazing cinema is going to come from in this country,maybe it's the one minute films on Tik Tok! I'm interested in big/bold performances. Energy/intensity/humour and weird.
POINTS OF REFERENCE
Jane Campion....Top Of The Lake China Girl.........how have I watched this 4 times?! Great photography,always intelligent and quirky.
Nicole Kidman in Destroyer....was never blown away by her acting but she is spacy and powerful in this.
Al Pacino in Serpico.....the outsider hippy in the macho police force.
Killing Eve...came to this late ,as usual. Jodie Comer brilliant...performing with abandon. Brilliant writing.
Tilda Swinton..........fascinating face of course but she talks about her different style of performing. She was a muse for the great English director/artist Derek Jarman.
Dear old David Lynch with his old video camera in Inland Empire........no frills/weirdness.....and Mulholland Drive.
This is a detailed brief because I am selling myself and the project ,as well as giving as much information as possible in the hope of finding passionate/talented people to create with. Thanks!
Please contact me with any interest/information about yourself/thoughts/questions at
We have finished filming EXIT WOUNDS and I am looking for an editor to work on the film. strong visuals / interesting content............a woman's story. will need a bit of colour grading..........would like to push contrast a little bit in the white apartment space. basic sound mix..............bit of music! Pretty low budget and I am happy to work within our limitations. Can discuss payment and would need own editing equipment. might suit someone starting editing career or who wants to work on something that stands out as a bit different to the conventional.
We are filming a short FEATURE film in West Melbourne apartment over 4 sessions. First shoot was last Sunday, it went very well............relaxed , enjoyable , creative work. I have kept crew to director (myself) and cinematographer for filming in a slightly smaller space but now realize I need someone to handle the boom microphone! The person doesn't have to be a sound technician ............anyone associated with filmmaking who is enthusiastic/reliable/fun to work with. Dates are this Sunday from 1PM to 8PM (or earlier). Sunday March 25......half day Tuesday April 3........full day (just after Easter long weekend) The work will not be too taxing as the dialogue is minimal. All participants are being paid $50 per filming session plus profit share (v low budget!) I don't follow up on face book with people who right 'interested' on this post. It is more helpful if anyone interested can email me at kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com Thankyou!
producing a short FEATURE film in white city apartment over 5 or 6 filming sessions mostly filming late afternoon/early evening on Sundays (flexible scheduling) makeup for 4 actors over 50 years old, mostly only 2 actors per shoot. strong , natural makeup for white space ,higher contrast cinematography. will also need a tired makeup as well as a ghostly makeup. strong feedback on script, strong cast,strong visuals. strong desire to get out of comfort/safe zone of most filmmaking. v low budget/small crew...........all participants paid $50 PER FILMING SESSION and profit participation. relaxed/playful/creative work committed , reliable artists can contact me at kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com to look at script and arrange a meeting. first shoot probably Sunday March 4
I am producing a short feature film (14 scenes)in a modern white apartment in the city and would love to collaborate with a cinematographer .It's a relationship drama between 3 adults. Not a huge space so just myself directing with cinematographer.I have a small pro camera/radio mic/few lamps or we can use cinematographers equipment (good if they do sound ).Want to keep things simple but do a good job with the technical stuff (not my strong point). Many strong visuals/ideas in the space and not just actors talking.......(see Christopher Doyle clip attached). Want to shoot over 5 or 6 sessions , being on a very low budget I am offering all participants $50 per shoot...........plus of course profit participation. I've always believed in the possibility of great work without all the bells and whistles people think is needed to make a film. I don't try to cram too much into a shoot so on the set it is playful, collaborative, fun and creative. Any questions or interest please say hi at kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com Happy to send out script. Thanks
Casting a feature film with 3 juicy roles plus one small role Sandy......union man,3 years in jail,getting out, angry,bitter.......hidden dementia diagnosis. Irene.......Sandy's wife emotionally abused by Sandy but has blossomed while he was away.....has a lover Leon.......loves Irene..........more new age,sensitive,giving. Clare......friend of Irene.
Several themes being looked at here, including Sandy going from an domineering bully to incapacitated and mute and how the dynamic with Irene changes. Shot in modern , white apartment in city........about 6 shoots. Crew of myself / cinematographer / make-up Very low budget...........$50 expenses payment for each shoot. Moving away from more experimental , tricksy work to simplicity/honesty. Not a lot of dialogue Strong, cinematic visuals.
If this is of interest please email kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com I will send script out to anyone fitting the brief Thankyou!
Casting one male to play Christopher Walken . Casting one female to play production assistant.
This film is a fictionalized account of Christopher Walken in an apartment in Africa preparing for his lead role in the film Dogs Of War, he has a black African female production assistant on hand to take care of his needs. a physical, black comedy, slightly experimental.........filmed in Melbourne!
Christopher Walken
we don't need the actor to be a Christopher Walken double but physical similarities would be preferable. TALLISH.......LEAN.........ANGULAR FACE...........at a younger age his vocal mannerisms are not as pronounced as his older self...........would be looking at a simpler American accent.............it would be an impersonation via looking at his earlier work
female, black, African production assistant....Lulu
this character is assigned to assist the famous American actor with whatever he needs as he prepares on location in a foreign country. Bit of a cultural clash..........she may be shy but strong..........as they develop an unusual friendship
with my return to filmmaking and impatient to start I am producing NO BUDGET work, ORIGINAL/CREATIVE/STANDOUT WORK . Simple, easy shoots that do not involve a conventional narrative/filming/editing style or conventional dialogue based acting..........freedom for performers to breath/relax/play.
I saw Chris Walken in Dogs of War years ago on a big screen and was struck by his physical presence.........he has a dancing background. I had idea of him preparing in his African apartment with a black female production assistant to assist him..........I wanted to have them interact in the space.........
It is a black comedy , but not silly............lots of ideas for this. There is more than one way to make films........... any interested applicants must want to stand out from all the average stuff being made...........and can contact me at kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com with photo/biog/comment!
FILM EXPLOSION MELBOURNE is an idea about making films that are big in ideas/risk/passion/art/poetry/excitement/unpredictability/danger.........a thrill about the amazing possibiities of what can be achieved with a camera...........an attitude of just doing it with whatever is at hand. It is a reaction against formulaic/conventional/low risk/boring filmmaking that continues to be made and does nothing/says nothing/ and is meaningless /pointless and does nothing to further the art of filmmaking in this country. It goes against directors with no vision/style.............writers who just write shallow blah............producers who don't look for the bizarre(and support it) and actors who's commitment to the art/craft of performance is small and shallow and who have no inclination to take a risk and put their guts on the line.
Its about frustration with a BORING film culture. (maybe its a boring time/society!)
Doyle: I liked the disparity. For example, when you are with the grader — or what they call the colorist now, I hate that term — the person is there looking at the footage and says, “Well what you see now, once it goes through the printing process it will be a little more green.” I love that, the random factors. This sense of anticipation, what you put in, has a certain authenticity, but what is going to come out has a look of its own. I think this is the big challenge now. I work so often with younger people, and they treat the film likes it’s a commercial. I don’t want to see a Big Mac in the middle of my screen. It’s weird. They are so obsessed with perfection. One: perfection doesn’t exist. Two: the imperfections of an image are what give it energy. Like, look at your beard — you should have shaved a little bit over here. It’s the same thing. You’re working with your beard everyday, and occasionally you say, “Oh shit I have to trim it.” Life has to be like that, and a film has to be like that, and the real danger at the moment is that we can do anything, but when there is nothing to say, there is still nothing. If it doesn’t add anything, why would you do it? This is an interesting space that we are in. People say, “Oh, there is a cable in the edge of the frame,” and I respond, “Well, aren’t you watching the actors?” There is no need to stamp out imperfection.
Looking to cast last part in cast of 4 in new film by Kim Miles.
An older sister with Asian background has Australian boyfriend.....her younger sister arrives from overseas to study and is intoxicated by the free and easy Australian lifestyle and very quickly starts a relationship with a charismatic Australian woman. Looking to cast this last part............female/lesbian or bi/strong/edgy/provocative. This is a black comedy about sisters/culture/prejudice/freedom/conflict with experimental/abstract elements. Strong costume/makeup design and visual imagery in white apartment. Minimal dialogue/minimal'acting'........looks/action/mood. There will be NO nudity or Sex Scenes. 1 day shoot and 1 evening. Simple production/relaxed enjoyable acting experience. No funds at the moment so this is a NO BUDGET film. A return to filmmaking for me after a 5 year break............the personal style and vision is strong. Uncommonly different filmmaking If interested PLEASE EMAIL ME AT kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com with comment/pic/biog. thankyou
'I want WILD,I want INNOVATIVE,UNUSUAL and VISUALLY EXTRAORDINARY'
Jill Bilcock......leading Australian editor
"If you're not trying to be real,you don't have to get it right. That's ART"
Idea came from empty white room (not uncommon!)and a book of Kate Moss photos.Then an idea about housemates and issues surrounding them. Wrote a script and I think I asked the actors to speak slowly but can't remember why?!Again sparse dialogue,sometimes without specific meaning,almost with a rhythm sometimes, and the black and white contrasty look. I was,and am really happy with this film.....the actors Clare,Clare and Ziggy are particular favorites and Ziggy's idea of leather coat and Alana's (hair/makeup)bun hairstyle for her still amaze me.Makeup was standout......2 girls wore black , 1 white..... I love the colour draining from colour to BW and back again and when the striking music arrives towards the end of the film.My favourite bit is when the coffee mug is placed on the glass top table and makes no sound(was removed)! and the movements the actor makes as she is on the phone in the backyard. We also had the abstract drummer in the background!(before Alejandro González Iñárritu put it in his film Birdman....a great film). I had a choice of which film to show at a screening and chose this one, the organizer said he "didn't get it" but went ahead.For a joke at the Q and A I said "Hands up who didn't get it" and several young ladies put their hands up! A guy came up afterwards and was completely absorbed by the whole thing.....he loved it. Never been interested in spoon feeding an audience.I remember someone saying it was the artist's job to ask questions, not give answers.
I am casting some actors shortly and want to outline some thoughts on where I would like to go with performance.I am not comfortable with the term acting/actors.In our conventional system acting is learning lines/movements and pretending to be someone else/pretending to feel something/or manufacturing real feelings usually in the service of telling a story.The best actors can do this in an amazing way and there is nothing wrong with story telling.However if interested in cinematic art there must be other avenues to explore.I always remember the quote 'great art is about seeing the world in a different way's. Some filmmakers talk about dreaming/fantasy/magic.I also like the ideas of abstraction and surrealism and it did occur to me the other day perhaps in troubled times and the increased pace/stress of life why would I want to put that on the screen but the true artist can come at it from another angle. I used to think that if film was pretending why not exaggerate that to such a degree that we achieved some sort of other truth.I had a certain look with costume and a pale makeup. We have performers in a room with a camera,what do they do ?How do they feel ,nervous/shy/uncomfortable......Don't worry about feeling,pretending,character.....just be in the space with whatever comes up. As usual there will be a framework with an outline/script but more abstract,I don't want them to be remembering a lot of lines or showing how they are feeling.I always liked the writing and plays by Harold Pinter,the text was very sparse and could have various,or no meaning.Ambiguity.I would like them to be totally free and not have the expectation that they have to act in a conventional way.We will explore the scenario and there will be different angles/cutting in the editing.I never really want to record a 'performance' but to possibly discover something true/false/unexpected/accidental. A filmmaker can find infinite possibilities in an interesting space with some bodies in it. I fully subscribe to Robert Bresson's thought that 'when actors are asked to perform theatrically in front of a camera that is reduced to recording the actors performance,this miraculous,extraordinary instrument is demoted to a tool of reproduction.......I WANT THE CAMERA TO BE A TOOL OF CREATION.' and I am always pleased a bit of humour seems to sneak into the work!
In the next post I will talk about 'A Hesitant Move' a film we made that suggested a few of the elements discussed in this post.
I am looking for people for a project probably serialized on online platforms.Experimental(all art should be)....abstract/surreal/poetic/punk/dangerous.Filmed in white apartment and day/night around West Melbourne.No money/equipment/crew..........just a camera/wireless microphone/lamps if needed for lighting.I will develop the work from the people I cast(locations and actors give me the direction).Interested in any gender/sexuality/age/shape......helps if you are strange. The work is about humans with some sort of narrative(abstract?)I don't like people learning lines and pretending to have feelings etc........I want performers to be free/relaxed to play without rules.(I never see crazy/free/unobligated performance in films made here).I have vision/impulses to do things with film that aren't being done.I would appreciate any contact/details /dialogue initiated via email .....kimmilesfilms@hotmail.com I will arrange meetings to chat and go from there........thankyou
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.
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
