From Shooting People blog - Film of the month

https://shootingpeople.org/blog/2012/09/film-of-the-month-september/

VOTING ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER - THIS MONTH'S JUDGE DANNY BOYLE!

TWO EASTERN EDGE FILM FUND SHORTS IN FILM OF THE MONTH!!

Moments – Ida Akesson

For me Moments was one of those projects that came together really quickly and kind of
just worked. I had shot some test footage in Autumn 2010 and then in 2011 the Eastern
Edge Film Fund kindly agreed to support me and get the film made.

The film was shot around Barking in some industrial estates that was so wonderfully
scruffy and looked just as timeless and place-less as I wanted them to – I wanted it to look
a little bit like it could be any city any time, like a fairy tale almost.

I also wanted the street extras to come across as authentic as possible and had to go to
some trouble to find the right people. One guy I found whilst cycling around the industrial
estates on my bicycle looking at locations – he was living in a van outside the waste
transfer unit – my favorite location! I had to go back a few times to talk him into taking part
but in the end he came along and turned out to be a really nice guy.

Another member of the cast had recently lapsed his drug rehabilitation and called up
saying he wasn’t feeling well enough to take part on the day. We had to halt shooting -
whilst I again had to work my persuasive powers – and he also made it along, I think it was
the promise of a hot meal that did it.

Finally I was lucky enough to have a really great sound team – most notably a piece of
music by Andrew Horne, sound design by Rebecca Lloyd and a score by the legend that is
Simon Fisher Turner, to me the sound is what really makes the film.

To be picked as a Wild Card by Shooting People is awesome and I’m most grateful. I can’t
believe that the film has had nearly 2000 views! Big up Film of the Month!

Walk Tall – Kate Sullivan

 

Firstly I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who helped us make the final round.‬
Both myself, the crew and George are very proud that you have enjoyed watching our film.
We’re all hoping for a fitting end to our year-long festival run, but come what may our journey with the film has been a truly wonderful one, and most importantly, one that has made an old man very happy!‬
Many, many thanks!
Kate

How the film came about:
I first met George a couple of years ago. He was 89 and spinning on his back on a concrete floor in the middle of an entrance hall. I assumed then and there that this was going to be the best thing I see all day, until…he stood up and displayed the most amazing posture! He radiated this incredible, almost angelic sublime elegance! I stood transfixed, in awe – and envious. You see I have TERRIBLE posture – but luckily that day something helped me overcome a bit of self-consciousness and ask George (who unbeknown to me was an ex-Olympic gymnast and coach) for some advice.
Well to cut a long story short this kind, generous man offered to give me a few posture lessons. No gym equipment was used – or even a gym – just his front room at his home in Richmond, which I began to visit every couple of weeks of so. At times that I’d think, “isn’t this a all a bit odd?!” but I trusted my coach and anyway, his stories were making me want to keep returning. (I think that this must have been the longest time I’ve ever managed to keep up a gym-membership!)

Weeks turned into months and I began to take a long a small video-camera along with me to record these meetings and my bus-rides back home I’d watch the footage, sit (up a little bit straighter) and reflect on how it was the ideas and the man behind the exercises and not the exercises themselves that were starting to have an effect on my posture. When I heard about film London’s scheme to help first time film makers make a film I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to pitch an idea for a film about George because I really wanted to as many people as possible to hear his stories. I suppose I also wanted to in some way immortalise him – in return for the posture advice!

It also so happened that at this point in my life I was also starting to recognise a few recurring themes in my work and it was a thrill to realise that they were all present in what I was planning for Walk Tall. And finally I also wanted to as George would say “challenge myself” and attempt to dramatise a story and also to make an audience like a character, without being overly sentimental…

(George is a lovely bloke, but he’s no Werther’s Original granddad. He’s kind, generous and open-minded, but also is a highly determined, tenacious man who continues to test himself on a daily basis.)
And so anyway, thanks to George, I made my first film.
- And I’m chuffed to say that it’s had some really nice feedback  (from people including George!)
- And this has of course all left me walking a lot taller!