The Unloved: An Interview with Samantha Morton

Feb 15, 2010 | No Comments | ByJulia Carruthers

Samantha Morton's directorial debut The Unloved

Samantha Morton's directorial debut The Unloved

The directorial debut from Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton, The Unloved is a powerful drama about a young girl growing up in a children’s home provides an intimate child’s-eye view of the UK’s care system.

Working with screenwriter Tony Grisoni (Red Riding), Morton has created a script that gives an honest and intimate child’s-eye view of the care system in the UK. Filmed in Morton’s hometown of Nottingham, the two young leads – Molly Windsor and Lauren Socha – were cast through a series of open auditions held across Nottingham schools, drama groups and at The Television Workshop, which Morton herself attended.

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BEV Review: Nowhere Boy

Dec 16, 2009 | No Comments | BySophie Ivan

Sam Taylor-Wood in action:directing Nowhere Boy

Sam Taylor-Wood in action:directing Nowhere Boy

About a third of the way into Nowhere Boy, there’s a moment which snaps the viewer back to director Sam Taylor-Wood’s debut short, Love You More: a close-up of a needle being delicately settled on a vinyl groove, an audible crackle which sparks an electric sense of silent anticipation and sexual tension… And then a rock ‘n’ roll record lets rip. Except, this time round, it’s not 1978 and it’s not the Buzzcock’s unrestrained ‘Love You More’ providing both foreplay and soundtrack to the teenage protagonists’ charming, fumbling, randy lovemaking; it’s the fag end of the 1950s, it’s Screamin’ Jay Hawkins howling, thrilling ‘I Put a Spell on You’ on the stereo, and the two thumping hearts trying not to be heard over it belong to a teenager called John Lennon and his estranged mother. In essence, it’s a tad more complicated this time round. Read the full story

Jordan Scott Makes her Feature Film Debut

Nov 30, 2009 | No Comments | ByLaura Lacey-Freeman

Cracks director: Jordan Scott

Cracks director: Jordan Scott

Jordan Scott has wanted to direct feature films for a long time – it was just a question of finding the right material. And when Cracks came along, she knew instantly that she’d found the script that she was waiting for. Set in an austere, all girls’ boarding school, Cracks is a dark and troubling story of obsession and loss of innocence.  Scott has directed short films – including Never Never and Portrait – and contributed a segment to All The Invisible Children, a collection of seven short films with a common theme, the exploitation of children, which also included sections from Spike Lee and John Woo. For Scott, 30, filmmaking is in the blood. Her father, Sir Ridley Scott, has directed modern classics including Alien, Thelma and Louise, and Gladiator. Her mother, Sandy Watson, is a producer and her uncle, Tony Scott, and brother, Jake Scott, are directors. She has also directed commercials for several leading brands including Prada, Renault and Land Rover. Cracks is her feature film debut. Read the full story

We Live in Public: An interview with Ondi Timoner

Nov 16, 2009 | No Comments | ByClare Callan

"Riveting - a compelling cautionary tale." - New York Times

"Riveting - a compelling cautionary tale." - New York Times

On the 40th anniversary of the invention of the Internet, We Live in Public reveals the effect the web is having on our society, as seen through the eyes of  artist, futurist and visionary, Josh Harris.  It has already recieved rave reviews.  We were lucky enough to catch up with Director Ondi Timoner about the film, whats she is planning next and being the only person to have ever won the prestigious Sundance Grand Jury Prize twice.

We live in Public premieres in UK cinemas this Friday 13th November. Visit the movie’s website here


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Philosophical Dreaming from a First Time Feature Director: Sophie Barthes on Cold Souls

Nov 13, 2009 | No Comments | ByClare Callan

Sophie Barthes, director of Cold Souls

Sophie Barthes, director of Cold Souls

Friday November 13th is a lucky day for philosophical dreamer Sophie Barthes, whose first feature Cold Souls is released across the UK. A melancholic comedy starring the brilliant Paul Giamatti (Sideways) as himself. We were already fans of Sophie, whose short film opening the Birds Eye View film festival in 2006, and so were delighted to catch up with her, and learn more about this amazing achievement, and her new baby! Read on for an insight into the intellectual & dreamlife of an extremely talented first time feature filmmaker…

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Jane Campion speaks on Bright Star and her Filmmaking Career

Nov 5, 2009 | 1 Comment | ByRachel Millward

bright_star-movie-poster1

Bright Star, starring Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw

Jane Campion, the only woman to have won a Palme D’or, and one of only three to have been nominated for an Oscar in directing, has delighted us all by creating another filmmic masterpiece out in cinemas this Friday: Bright Star. It’s the most exquisit film - poetry and astounding beauty in every moment. Huge fans that we are, we went along to hear her speak at the London Film Festival, and here we share some of her pearls of wisdom with you…

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