cinema – T E Shepherd

Confused over film funding

Thomas — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

I am confused by Cameron’s latest call for film funding to only go to commercially successful films in the future. Many have already raised the issue better than I can that you can’t predict what is going to become a blockbuster. It’s not that much of an exact science, and if it was then everyone would be doing it.

The announcement completely misses the point as far as I can see. The Film Council or BFI or whoever it is who dishes out the lottery funding these days are there, surely, in part to support parts of the film industry who would not be able to get films funded without their help. So by their nature they are going to be the riskier, more arty, independent films. If they were guaranteed commercially successful then they would be able to get funding from other means and wouldn’t need lottery support.

Surreal Cinema

Thomas — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:44:00 +0000

A surreal experience came that evening when we all returned to Salisbury that evening to see The Other Boleyn Girl. To begin with Em and I got ourselves into hysterics before the film had begun when Em pointed out the bear a few rows in front who was settled down in her chair and munching popcorn! Then, later on, it felt strangely in keeping to be watching the exploits of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII in the surroundings of the former Tudor corn exchange, now an Odeon cinema.

Impromptu

Thomas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:58:00 +0000

Normally I like to plan for things. I like to know what I’m doing and when I’m doing it. That said, it is great when one does something on the spur of the moment. I’ve been wanting to see 2 Days In Paris since it came out and seeings as it was finishing up at the Oxford Picturehouse this week, and how that cinema is literally just round the corner from work, and how they had a showing 15 minutes after I finished work, I decided to go.

And I’m glad I did. It was great. Written and directed by Julie Delpy, the film owes a lot to the Richard Linklaker films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset (the latter of which Julie Delpy also helped to co-write). It’s another film where they talk, alot, and where the conversation goes from inane and comedic to deeply serious and interlectual in the blink of an eye. I would like to know though why Julie’s character is in love with Adam Goldberg’s – I mean come on, surely girls wouldn’t find him attractive what with that many tattoos over his body?!

Leaving the theatre just after 6 o’clock, Jericho was just beginning to get a bit of an evening buzz, and dusk was setting in, and it felt so fantastically autumnal. I love this time of year!