H2
See examples of Ben's work:
Can you tell us about a film you have shown at the Electric Palace or at our film festival?
I screened 1 Giant Leap feature film + other films made with Mark French
Do you remember a moment when your love for the moving image was sparked?
I remember the first moment I saw colour TV it was like a window onto the world.
Can you tell us about a film that you would have liked to have made?
I would have liked to make a film that Mark and I have devised about a group of girls and boys on Hastings peer who invade each other’s on line world by stealing their phones.
What does filmmaking offer you as an artist?
The opportunity to travel the globe, to meet other cultures and the opportunity to collaborate with other creative minds.
Is there something you try to subvert, avoid or rebel against in your work?
I rebel against the idea that anyone is boring, as Michael Franti sings, "Every single soul is a poem written on God’s hand."
How do you plan your work – with a script, storyboard or another method?
Depends whom I am collaborating with and what kind of film I am making; Drama; a script, Commercial: a storyboard, Documentary lots of conversations about content.
Do you need to collaborate to make your work?
Always! If I am alone on the crew I am always collaborating with what I am filming.
Has living in Hastings influenced your work?
Yes it’s a sheltered town full of creative people influenced by the amazing artists who live here.
Is there a difference in producing films for a large screen or making work for online viewing?
There is less and less difference these days due to the fact that films are watched on all the various platforms. Cinema is different when you can build an atmosphere by a large group in front of a huge screen.
Have developments in camera technology changed the way you work?
As I get older the technology gets smaller that is great news for my back!
Do live audiences in a cinema matter to you?
Yes very much! There is a great difference when a large group watch the film and a greater focus on the film, no pausing to make a cup of tea or check FB!
Can you tell us about an unusual event where you have screened your work or attended a film screening?
I screened my work to a tribe of Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert fearful that they had never seen the world and would not get what the film was about. I was wrong they ended up open mouthed at shots of cities and dancing in front of the screen.
What continues to inspire you as a filmmaker or artist?
You inspire me! Every person is a miracle if I just get the time to ask a few sensitive questions and take the time to listen well...