Film Focus’ Emily Cook joins special guest Mike Freedman Founder of the first Dada Festival, at the London Cinema Museum. They speak about the origins of Dada, its relevance today and what you can do if you’re inspired to watch or create Dada Cinema.
Emily and Sarah review recent release Swiss Army Man staring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. The film tells the story of a hopeless man stranded on a deserted island who befriends a washed-up corpse and together they go on a surreal journey to get home.The film is directed by visionary duo, renowned music video directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert who bring their own brand of bizarre ‘out there’ creativity to the mix. We also hear from Daniel Radcliffe himself who we saw at the press preview screening of the film the other week. Here’s what we thought of it…
Film Focus’ Emily Cook speaks with highly accomplished multi-camera director and live events producer Peter Maniura. They met up at the BBC in London to talk about the art of directing multi-cameras for live TV, the media landscape of today and Peter’s top tips for anyone wanting to break into the industry.
I’ve been rather busy…. I’ve spent the last week working as Media Producer for the fabulous Isle of Man Film Festival as part of their core team. Working with DOP and Editor Nick Coole, I produced and published a series of highlights videos across the week, arranged and ran press junkets as well as provided content for the Festival’s official social media platforms.
From left: Actor John Rhys Davies, Mark Kermode, Emily Cook, Nick Coole. Photograph ny Mark Boyd for D.E.D.
We welcomed back our patron BBC Film Critic Mark Kermode and special guests; visionary artist Roger Dean, world class actor John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Sliders) and Hollywood Props Master Linda Reiss (Stanger Things, American Beauty, True Detective) for a week of events from daily free screenings with exclusive previews of international shorts and features, to a Q&A with the Props Master of hit Netflix show Stranger Things, to outdoor screenings of cult films in the grounds of a medieval castle, to an all-Island, four-venue movie pub quiz, to Hollywood actor John Rhys Davies sharing hilarious and poignant stories of his life behind the lens and treading the boards with our gracious and always-entertaining patron Mark Kermode. And much more.
It was such fun conducting the interviews and producing the videos .You can find them below.
The highlights from the Isle of Man Film Festival’s evening with Hollywood props master Lynda Reiss. Freshly back from working on Netflix Sensation Stranger Things in the States, Lynda gives an intimate talk to a packed house at Interior Rehab.
BBC reviewer and patron to IOMFF Mark Kermode returns to interview our special guest, acclaimed British actor JOHN RHYS-DAVIES (Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings) about his life and career, before a screening of one of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ in the stunning setting of the Gaiety Theatre.
The latest from Isle of Man Film Festival’s film pitching competition, ‘Pitch Fest’, where we welcome filmmakers to pitch their ideas in front of a panel of industry experts from the IOM and the UK.
Mark Kermode and our visiting filmmakers join us for a special screening and prize presentation for our 2016 International Short Film Competition. We also celebrate some of our home-grown filmmaking talent.
Tuesday 6th-The highlights from our cast and crew preview night – an exciting billing of the latest Manx-made and MannIN Shorts Independent productions.
The Isle of Man Film Festival presents a special screening of this year’s shortlisted films from the Best Manx Independent Film category with a Q&A from the Filmmakers.
All the highlights from the Isle of Man Film Festival’s Island-wide Film Pub Quiz which took place in Ramsey, Douglas, Peel and Port St Mary simultaneously. An interactive, fun night featuring some quiz questions specifically devised by Mark Kermode. We also hear from the organisers of the quiz, Richard and Ed.
Visionary artist Roger Dean, whose work has influence filmmakers such as James Cameron, gives an exclusive tour of his exhibition to a lucky group of local artists.
The festival is only made possible by a core team of dedicated individuals who put their heart and soul into ensuring they provide the best programme of events for YOU, the audience.
Emily and Sarah review Cult Classic ‘Labyrinth‘ Directed byJim Henson, Executive Produced byGeorge Lucas, and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. The musical film revolves around 15 year-old Sarah’s quest to reach the centre of an enormous otherworldly maze to rescue her baby brother Toby, who has been kidnapped byJareth, the Goblin King (played by David Bowie). With the exception of Bowie and Connelly, most of the significant characters in the film are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The Film will be screening at this year’s Isle of Man Film Festival.
In this exclusive video Emily‘s joined by Film Focus‘ Resident Cultural Commentator Ash Singh to talk about the controversial avant-garde film movement, Dogme, where the director doesn’t get credited and sexual acts are depicted for real. In this filmed segment, Ash speaks about this exciting and often misused Danish school of filmmaking.
*Warning- trailers contain nudity and sexual references.*
Ash Singh
Ash Singh is a social and cultural commentator and broadcaster who has written for the Guardian, Spectator, Scotsmen and appears regularly on national and international television. He has a book coming out later this year.
Emily and Sarah review Absolutely Fabulous, the latest British comedy from BBC Films and Director Mandie Fletcher. The film tells the story of much loved characters Patsy and Edina who, after being blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forevermore!”
In this episode Emily and Sarah review new release, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ the latest from BBC Films. Emily catches up with a special guest, highly accomplished Multi Camera Director, Peter Maniura. Having Directed the BBC Proms and with over 30 years industry experience, he speaks to us about the craft of directing live TV, revealing some industry secrets and divulging his top tips for anyone wanting to break into the industry.We’re also joined by our Resident Cultural Commentator Ash who discuses the importance of the controversial, raw and often shocking films of the Dogme Movement. Finally, we let you know of any film-making opportunities and events on the horizon, the latest from the Isle of Man Film Festival.
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Film Focus’ Emily Cook catches up with Manx born Script Supervisor Ben Desmond at the BFI on South Bank in London. They speak about a Script Supervisor does on a film set, Ben’s recent place on the prestigious BAFTA crew scheme and he reveals his top tips for anyone wanting to break into the industry.
Emily and Ben at the BFI after recording the interview
We’re also joined by our Resident Cultural Commentator 
