Latest news with #filmmaking
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Austitic teenager from Sanquhar dreams of big screen career
An autistic teenager from the south of Scotland is hoping to pursue a career in filmmaking after picking up a prize for his Ryan, 14, from Sanquhar, won the audience award at the recent Into Film event in received his honour from actor Andy Serkis and presenter Edith told BBC Scotland News he hoped to turn his passion for movie-making into a job in later life. Edward was born in Inverness and grew up in Forres but has lived in Sanquhar for almost a organisers of the awards described them as "celebration of talent" but also a "clear statement of intent".They said they wanted to show that the UK film industry "values, nurtures and believes in the voices of the next generation".Among those voices is Edward's. "I'd always loved making and building with Lego when I was younger and I wanted to make these Lego people and characters and things come to life," he said."So I then started to make stop-motion animations with these Lego characters and buildings and things like that, make little movies with them."Then I would then progress my skills with that and then get different equipment and better equipment."The Sanquhar Academy pupil was given a laptop by the local council for his school work which he started to use for making films and it has "progressed and progressed" from award-winning film - More Than One Way To Go Home - tells the story of a young autistic girl who has to find her own way home when her brother leaves her to fend for herself. He said winning the prize for his work was a special moment."It felt great, it was just overwhelming with all the support that I got from loads of people voting me for this award."It was just great. I am still in shock that I won."All the support from my community of Sanquhar, it's just been absolutely brilliant and I'm so grateful for all of it."It has fuelled his passion to pursue a life in cinema after he finishes his education. "I really want to go into the industry and hopefully become a director of photography," he said."That's my dream goal. So I'm hopefully just going to stick in and then go to college and university and just work my way up until I'm a director of photography and do what I want to do."His mother Jess said the whole family was "incredibly proud" of what Edward has achieved."He was a nominee in the best story category as well and even though he didn't win that prize it was still just an incredible achievement to be chosen," she said."That was a new category this year that the judges chose out of all the films that were entered."So it was an honour to know that he was chosen to be part of the best story category up against other filmmakers that were 18 or 19 years old.""We're just really, really proud of him and very thankful for the support the community gave him." She said the fact that he was autistic made it all the more remarkable."He's obviously had to overcome a lot of different challenges in his day to day life," she said."Filmmaking has been a way for him to express himself in ways that he has otherwise found difficult."It's been a really good outlet for him." She said she believed he could go further in the field where he has already started to thrive."We just feel proud and we just hope that he can continue on and achieve his goals and his dreams of one day being a director of photography," she said."I don't see why he can't, to be honest, he's got his sights set on the big screen."He's got a lot of hard work ahead of him, but he seems really enthusiastic for it."
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘No plans ever to retire': why Steven Spielberg and the movie brat generation just won't quit
If life behaved in the same way as movies, then The Fabelmans would have been Steven Spielberg's last film. He spent the previous five decades writing the rulebook of modern cinema, and then The Fabelmans was the rare work of art that wrapped everything up with a neat little bow. Part autobiography and part tutorial, it was like the work of a man looking back on his life with a sense of satisfied completion. But real life doesn't behave like that, and Spielberg has just announced that he is never going to retire. In fact, he announced it twice. In a speech he gave during a star-studded event unveiling a new Steven Spielberg Theater on the Universal lot last night, the 78-year-old said: 'I'm making a lot of movies and I have no plans … ever … to retire.' And then, talking to the Hollywood Reporter afterwards, he added that he has 'an appetite for a western which I will someday hopefully do. It's something that's eluded me for all of these decades.' If you have been keeping track of Spielberg's movements, this will not come as a surprise. Next year should see the release of an as yet untitled sci-fi film starring Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, which means The Fabelmans will not even be close to being his final work. And that is undoubtedly a good thing, since if a talent like Spielberg still has the passion and ability to keep making films, the world will be richer for it. And he isn't alone in his desire never to stop working. Last month, Tom Cruise declared his intention to still be making films when he's 100. Again, this is great – maybe he and Spielberg will even team up and do a Minority Report sequel a decade from now – but it is slightly unusual for them to say it out loud. Because the expectation is that film-makers won't retire. Martin Scorsese is 82 and shows no signs of stopping. So is Werner Herzog, and his next improbably titled film, Bucking Fastard, is in post-production. Francis Ford Coppola is touring Megalopolis at the age of 86. And Ridley Scott, 87, has four films in various stages of production including a sci-fi, a western and a Bee Gees biopic. When David Lynch died this year, aged 78, he was still trying to get his Netflix series Unrecorded Night off the ground. If you make films for a living, then everyone wants you to do it until you drop. This is for a couple of reasons. With age comes wisdom and confidence and perspective, which makes for richer storytelling. Scorsese claims that his film Silence took 30 years to make, for instance, because he was waiting to amass the right amount of experience to give it the proper respect. And The Fabelmans would have been wildly different if Spielberg had made it in his 50s, 40s or 30s. Furthermore, making a film is a battle. The time between concept and completion is measured in years. The process is such a slog that, when a film-maker dies, the likelihood is that several unrealised movies die with them. Wouldn't you keep going to the bitter end if you were in their shoes? In fact, the expectation to continue no matter what is so ingrained that people struggle with the thought of a film-maker retiring. In every interview Quentin Tarantino has given for the last decade, he has been asked about his decision to walk away after his next film. And Tarantino is 62. By the time what he says will be his final film comes out, he'll be pushing 70. In any other industry, that would be prime retirement age. He'd release it, give his last interview, then spend the rest of his life watching daytime TV in his favourite slippers. Yet, because he makes films, people are baffled by the idea of him stopping. Such is the life of a director. Unless you are a Tarantino-style outlier, retirement isn't an option. You are destined to keep going, until either you die or the entire film industry dies around you. And really, at this point, it's a coin toss.
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘No plans ever to retire': why Steven Spielberg and the movie brat generation just won't quit
If life behaved in the same way as movies, then The Fabelmans would have been Steven Spielberg's last film. He spent the previous five decades writing the rulebook of modern cinema, and then The Fabelmans was the rare work of art that wrapped everything up with a neat little bow. Part autobiography and part tutorial, it was like the work of a man looking back on his life with a sense of satisfied completion. But real life doesn't behave like that, and Spielberg has just announced that he is never going to retire. In fact, he announced it twice. In a speech he gave during a star-studded event unveiling a new Steven Spielberg Theater on the Universal lot last night, the 78-year-old said: 'I'm making a lot of movies and I have no plans … ever … to retire.' And then, talking to the Hollywood Reporter afterwards, he added that he has 'an appetite for a western which I will someday hopefully do. It's something that's eluded me for all of these decades.' If you have been keeping track of Spielberg's movements, this will not come as a surprise. Next year should see the release of an as yet untitled sci-fi film starring Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, which means The Fabelmans will not even be close to being his final work. And that is undoubtedly a good thing, since if a talent like Spielberg still has the passion and ability to keep making films, the world will be richer for it. And he isn't alone in his desire never to stop working. Last month, Tom Cruise declared his intention to still be making films when he's 100. Again, this is great – maybe he and Spielberg will even team up and do a Minority Report sequel a decade from now – but it is slightly unusual for them to say it out loud. Because the expectation is that film-makers won't retire. Martin Scorsese is 82 and shows no signs of stopping. So is Werner Herzog, and his next improbably titled film, Bucking Fastard, is in post-production. Francis Ford Coppola is touring Megalopolis at the age of 86. And Ridley Scott, 87, has four films in various stages of production including a sci-fi, a western and a Bee Gees biopic. When David Lynch died this year, aged 78, he was still trying to get his Netflix series Unrecorded Night off the ground. If you make films for a living, then everyone wants you to do it until you drop. This is for a couple of reasons. With age comes wisdom and confidence and perspective, which makes for richer storytelling. Scorsese claims that his film Silence took 30 years to make, for instance, because he was waiting to amass the right amount of experience to give it the proper respect. And The Fabelmans would have been wildly different if Spielberg had made it in his 50s, 40s or 30s. Furthermore, making a film is a battle. The time between concept and completion is measured in years. The process is such a slog that, when a film-maker dies, the likelihood is that several unrealised movies die with them. Wouldn't you keep going to the bitter end if you were in their shoes? In fact, the expectation to continue no matter what is so ingrained that people struggle with the thought of a film-maker retiring. In every interview Quentin Tarantino has given for the last decade, he has been asked about his decision to walk away after his next film. And Tarantino is 62. By the time what he says will be his final film comes out, he'll be pushing 70. In any other industry, that would be prime retirement age. He'd release it, give his last interview, then spend the rest of his life watching daytime TV in his favourite slippers. Yet, because he makes films, people are baffled by the idea of him stopping. Such is the life of a director. Unless you are a Tarantino-style outlier, retirement isn't an option. You are destined to keep going, until either you die or the entire film industry dies around you. And really, at this point, it's a coin toss.
Geek Girl Authority
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Tips for Making a Film
Many people dream of creating their own film one day. They could be inspired by cinematic legends or an intriguing narrative begging to be told. But making movies requires artistry, technical know-how, and some determination. Creating movies goes far beyond simply wielding a camera, it is about crafting experiences that speak directly to audiences. While the process can seem frustrating and exhausting at times, with some help and tips it can become a career worth embarking upon. Concept and Scriptwriting: The Bedrock of Your Film Every cinematic masterpiece begins with an amazing concept. A film's story, themes, and structure form its core. Therefore script writing becomes very important in creating cinematic works of art. A well-considered script serves as both its heart and blueprint, outlining narrative arc, character interactions, tone setting elements within one document. Focus on Your Vision: Knowing the tone and genre will help guide your later decisions. Characters are Important: Believable characters drive an engaging tale while keeping audiences invested in their development. Keep It Crisp: For a good script, aim for a balance of dialogue and action. Avoid long, drawn out monologues in favor of actions which speak volumes. Once the script has been written, refine and rewrite it for better results. Very rarely are scripts completely finished in their first draft stage. Editing helps transform them into something extraordinary. Assemble Your Dream Team Movie productions require teamwork. Assembling the perfect team can transform an ordinary film into something extraordinary. From cinematographers and sound designers, each team member brings something different to the table. Choose the Right Cast: Actors give life to your script. Hold auditions until you find those who embody the characters you've imagined . Find Technical Wizards: Skilled directors of photography, sound engineers, and editors can be invaluable when creating art from raw footage. Stay Organized: Assign clear roles and responsibilities among team members in order to make sure there is smooth collaboration among them. A production manager or assistant director can be invaluable in keeping everything running as smooth as oil. Plans, Budgets and Scouting Before you start with the production of your film project, careful planning is important. Devising a production plan and securing funding ensure the project stays on course. Set Your Budget: Film production can be expensive, but resourcefulness goes a long way in covering the costs. Crowdfunding , grants and sponsors are often available to indie projects who require financial backing for production costs. Scout Locations: The setting of each scene is what creates immersive and aesthetic appeal, from urban alleys to lush forests. So carefully choose the locations that align with your story and always obtain all necessary permits before the filming begins. Storyboarding is Your North Star: A storyboard serves as a visual outline, outlining key shots, sequences, and movements for production purposes. It ensures your creative vision translates seamlessly during production. The Magic of Cinematography Once the production begins, cinematography takes the forefront. Cinematography goes far beyond simply recording scenes, it creates an immersive environment within each film that sets its mood and atmosphere. Lighting Sets the Tone: Lighting sets the atmosphere and enhances a scene's depth. From soft natural daylight for an ethereal atmosphere to dramatic shadows that create tension. Angles Matter: To create dynamic content, experiment with various camera angles . Overhead shots can convey distance while close-ups capture raw emotion. Keep it Smooth: To add movement and create dynamic shots, invest in stabilizers or gimbals for smooth shots. Shaky footage may exude chaos when intended but can become distracting when overdone. Using Drones to Elevate Your Filmmaking Drones have revolutionized filmmaking, providing dynamic perspectives and cinematic shots previously impossible. Creators can use drones as versatile tools for capturing sweeping landscapes, dramatic aerial views, and smooth tracking sequences effortlessly, elevating storytelling techniques while leaving an amazing impression with viewers. Shoot Breathtaking Aerial Shots: Filmmakers who use drones like the DJI M400 can capture breathtaking aerial shots that were once impossible or required costly equipment. Creating captivating aerial views for their film that convey scale, depth, and grandeur, whether filming expansive landscapes, bustling cityscapes or intricate chase scenes. Versatility in Angles: The drone's agile maneuverability makes it simple to experiment with dynamic angles and perspectives, from bird's-eye views to dramatic pull-back shots, adding cinematic flair that keeps viewers engrossed. Smooth and Stable Footage: With its advanced stabilization technology, the drone produces smooth footage free from distracting handheld shots or shake. This ensures professional-grade cinematography which seamlessly fits into your film project. Cost-Effective Innovation: Integrating a drone like the DJI M400 into your toolkit brings tremendous production value without breaking your budget. Filmmakers can achieve results comparable to helicopter shots while saving both time and money, and maintaining exceptional quality. Unleash Creativity: Drones help directors expand their creative boundaries. Thanks to their ability to quickly adapt to various environments and shoot at various altitudes and speeds, tools such as these make it possible to easily visualize and execute complex scenes with ease. Perfecting Post-Production Post-production is where all of your film's pieces come together into a narrative, through meticulous editing, visual effects, sound design and color grading processes. Seamless Editing: Arrange scenes to ensure an engaging storytelling experience. Choose an editing pace that complements the scene. For instance, quick cuts work well for high-energy scenes while longer shots may better suit reflective moments. Enhance with Sound: Dialogue clarity, ambient noise and background music can add depth and emotion to your scenes. A great soundtrack can elevate the emotional impact of any film. Color Grading: Adjusting the tones and colors of your footage for stylistic effects. Warm tones may evoke nostalgia while cooler tones create suspense or isolation. Conclusion No filmmaking experience is without its challenges, but every hiccup adds depth to both the storytelling and technical prowess. When coupled with captivating stories, collaborative teams, and determination, creating your own film becomes an exhilarating creative conquest. With credits rolling and applause erupting upon its completion making every ounce of effort worth it. Cinema has the power to inspire, connect, and entertain, an avenue through which dreams truly become realities. POKER FACE Recap: (S02E10) The Big Pump RELATED: NYCC 2025: Check Out the First Wave of Star-Studded Guests
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Ariana Grande among new invited film Academy members
Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Ariana Grande are among the names invited to join the film Academy in this year's just announced list. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended the invite to 534 names this year, up from last year's total of 487. 'We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists and professionals to join the Academy,' said Bill Kramer, the Academy CEO, and Janet Yang, the Academy president, in a statement. 'Through their commitment to filmmaking and to the greater movie industry, these exceptionally talented individuals have made indelible contributions to our global film-making community.' Graham is coming off the back of a career high with breakout Netflix drama Adolescence, Comer has just appeared in horror sequel 28 Years Later and Grande was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for the hit musical Wicked. The list also includes recent best actress winner Mikey Madison along with her Anora co-stars Yura Borisov and Karren Karagulian and the film's cinematographer, Drew Daniels. Other names from this year's Oscar race include acting nominees Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and Fernanda Torres as well as directing nominees Brady Corbet and Coralie Fargeat. British stars featured include Gillian Anderson, Andrew Scott, Aml Ameen, Emma Corrin and Naomi Ackie ,while other notable names include Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Payal Kapadia, Dave Bautista, Danielle Deadwyler, Justice Smith and Adam Pearson. If all invites are accepted, total members will be up to 11,120 and the number of voting members will be 10,143. It would also make the Academy 35% women, 22% from underrepresented communities and 21% international. Next year's Oscars will feature a new Oscar for achievement in casting and this year's invite list features 13 casting directors. Earlier this month it was also announced that this year's honorary Oscars will go to Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas. Last year the Academy invited stars including Lily Gladstone, Jessica Alba, Fiona Shaw and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
