I have just returned home from 12 days in Berlin and I am exhausted. After screening the film at the Kino Sputnik I immediately spent the last week at a conference exploring ‘Art as Cultural Diplomacy’, something that the 72 Hour Movie unwittingly fulfilled by arriving in Australia via the Irish Embassy and using an international crew. I am now planning to describe myself as a cultural diplomat instead of a filmmaker in the hope I can have more money, immunity and WikiLeaks as a promoter.
In all seriousness, whilst we were all taking on the challenge in Melbourne, we were actually engaging with new people from different places and exchanging ideas about our beliefs. We asked everyone to think differently about the process of filmmaking and what we could achieve collectively. I would argue this is actually cultural engagement as opposed to political diplomacy, but seeing as the Irish Embassy proudly hosted us (the Irish Film Board weren’t so proud), we can take pride in our new political status.
Why am I mentioning this? Well, I believe that the greatest asset about the digital ‘revolution’ and the ‘democratization’ of media is NOT that every wannabe can imitate Hollywood with a Canon 7D DSLR. The greatest thing is that these tools can spread new ideas – helping us connect and communicate with one another in ways that were never previously allowed or feasible with traditional media. We can work differently, we can tell different stories and see different perspectives.
I am simultaneously excited and scared about what I currently read about Libya. I am excited that people have the courage to rise up, but I am scared for my friends there. I made a film in Libya in 2007 with small consumer MiniDV handicams. It was a film that could never have been made if I had waited around for traditional funding streams to stump up cash and then stamp their own ideology on top of it. The film is quite simply how I subjectively saw things whilst I was there. It is not my favourite film; in fact it is probably my worst. It is at times miserable and self-indulgent and I apologise for that. I cringe at some of it and I’m proud of other bits. Filmmaking is a learning curve and I have always learnt more from my mistakes than I have my successes.
I want to selectively share the film now on the basis that deeper understanding is necessary in these difficult times and that traditional media will always have their own agendas; Libya is a political hot potato. This film is about cultural engagement and I hope that it offers a new perspective that isn’t perhaps reflected currently in the media. The film has recently been unavailable for viewing as I am currently in the process of re-cutting a documentary about the Sahara in general, but I am sharing it now, for two weeks, in light of the recent news. I have password protected the film for the sake and safety of the people in it, but will share it with you if you write to james (at) hellocamera (dot) ie
James
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
The plan...
Oh! How the months fly by! One moment there is silence and then I am spewing over the cybernetic walls again. Apologies for the prolonged silence - we were quite simply sorting ourselves out. Not that we are fully recovered even now!!! But here is the news - we are now turning our attention to the northern hemisphere, and getting audiences to see 'The Ballad of Des & Mo'.
In the coming days and weeks we'll be announcing various screenings, Q&As, documentary details and loads more, but to whet your appetite now, a trailer for your perusal...
Much love,
James
In the coming days and weeks we'll be announcing various screenings, Q&As, documentary details and loads more, but to whet your appetite now, a trailer for your perusal...
The Ballad of Des & Mo - Trailer from James Fair on Vimeo.
Much love,
James
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Monday, 23 August 2010
The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?
Hey 72 peeps
So no video for only the 2nd time in this crazy blog. I'm giving the camera a break!
I leave Melbourne on Friday after 2 months of absolute craziness. Is this the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning? I can't really tell, but the fact is that the 72 Hour Movie project must now be called 'The Ballad of Des & Mo' and recognised as a film in its own right. I'm looking forward to seeing it again once I'm in the Northern Hemisphere, and getting out to all the other people who would love to see it.
So much focus in filmmaking is upon getting the film MADE and not the film SEEN. This now becomes the centre of our attention. Please bear with us as we go through all the small steps that will make the film ready for the release it deserves!
In the mean time, I must get back to the teaching. If you want to see me here in Melbourne, come along to the Open Channel FRAMED event on Thursday and we'll try and sneak a cheeky beer somewhere afterward.
Much love,
James
So no video for only the 2nd time in this crazy blog. I'm giving the camera a break!
I leave Melbourne on Friday after 2 months of absolute craziness. Is this the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning? I can't really tell, but the fact is that the 72 Hour Movie project must now be called 'The Ballad of Des & Mo' and recognised as a film in its own right. I'm looking forward to seeing it again once I'm in the Northern Hemisphere, and getting out to all the other people who would love to see it.
So much focus in filmmaking is upon getting the film MADE and not the film SEEN. This now becomes the centre of our attention. Please bear with us as we go through all the small steps that will make the film ready for the release it deserves!
In the mean time, I must get back to the teaching. If you want to see me here in Melbourne, come along to the Open Channel FRAMED event on Thursday and we'll try and sneak a cheeky beer somewhere afterward.
Much love,
James
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Friday, 2 July 2010
TAKING CHANCES
Taking Chances from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! JOHN BOORMAN - CHANNEL 4Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Friday, 25 June 2010
Monday, 21 June 2010
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Friday, 11 June 2010
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
Casting closed. Shop open. Sun is out.
Casting closed. Shop open. Sun is out. from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! FACEBOOK PAGE - THE 72 SHOP
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Monday, 24 May 2010
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Friday, 14 May 2010
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Friday, 7 May 2010
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Adventures in Social Media
Adventures in Social Media from James Fair on Vimeo.
A superbigmassive thanks to Turlough Rynne, Usna Tunney, Clara Walshe & Amanda Grady for all their help on making 72 come into the 21st century!Sunday, 18 April 2010
The End Of The World
The End Of The World from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! THE BENJA MEN - ELEANOR GARRAN - FRUTALOKAWednesday, 17 March 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
Everything I've learnt so far
Everything I've learnt so far... from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY - SEQUENCE POST PRODUCTIONSunday, 28 February 2010
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Berlinale
Berlinale from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! MULTILAYERLADEN - BERLINALE FILM FESTIVAL - BEN ARNTZ - MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALSaturday, 13 February 2010
Saturday, 30 January 2010
The one with no video...
Apologies for asking you read this as opposed to watching it. I was burgled on Thursday and one lucky thief got away with the computer I was using to record video diaries for 72. I haven't yet ruled out whether this was the reason it was stolen in the first place, as some of them were pretty bad. Either way, we'll end January with a text-based update as opposed to a video one.
Both Gary Hoctor and I are quite pleased to see the back of January in all honesty. The little dispute over websites and the recent theft are just two of the low points, but the whole month in general could be written off as a month of great potential yet little progress. There are still so many 'irons in the fire', but few have come good for us yet. It is not something that is setting off alarm bells for us, but it is frustrating.
However, being the eternal optimist, I can see February being an entirely different situation. The FUNraiser in Berlin will be awesome. There is also a meeting with a potential sponsor at the end of the month and there is some really exciting news on the script front that I hope I can publicise later. One 72 volunteer, Andrew Brown, will be landing in Melbourne in the next few weeks also, and I hope to get the other Melbourne based volunteers set up and busy too. So February will be a month of real progress. On the downside, I turn 29, which is perhaps the most depressing element, but we'll gloss over that.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and hope to post a video up here again soon!
J
Both Gary Hoctor and I are quite pleased to see the back of January in all honesty. The little dispute over websites and the recent theft are just two of the low points, but the whole month in general could be written off as a month of great potential yet little progress. There are still so many 'irons in the fire', but few have come good for us yet. It is not something that is setting off alarm bells for us, but it is frustrating.
However, being the eternal optimist, I can see February being an entirely different situation. The FUNraiser in Berlin will be awesome. There is also a meeting with a potential sponsor at the end of the month and there is some really exciting news on the script front that I hope I can publicise later. One 72 volunteer, Andrew Brown, will be landing in Melbourne in the next few weeks also, and I hope to get the other Melbourne based volunteers set up and busy too. So February will be a month of real progress. On the downside, I turn 29, which is perhaps the most depressing element, but we'll gloss over that.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and hope to post a video up here again soon!
J
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
Sunday, 10 January 2010
A call to party... from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! FACEBOOK GROUP - BERLINALE - MULTILAYERLADEN - THE BENJA MEN
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
The Christmas Syndrome from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! BERLINALE FILM FESTIVAL - MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - ROSIEThursday, 5 November 2009
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Things To Make & Do
Things To Make & Do from James Fair on Vimeo.
Go to the things mentioned in this vlog! FACEBOOK GROUP - ROSIE
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Thursday, 10 September 2009
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