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Oh - just making some theatre with the Autochtones (Pygmies) of the villages of Indo and Nyanga, Congo Brazzaville
Hi there, so in case you were wondering what I was doing out in that there Congo, it was a little bit of this:
Yup, yup - that right there is essentially a spontaneous piece of theatre created by people from across three continents speaking about 7 languages between them (on this particular occasion - most of our friends speak about 8 languages each anyway!). Of course, Pygmy culture is steeped in a tradition of theatricality, so it's no surprise that our friends there took little persuasion to get into character! But I'm still very proud that we managed to convey so much so collectively in such a short space of time.
Hooray!
I am even more proud of the fact that we then went on to the much larger village of Nyanga, and actually created a theatre space in the forest (good old 'Mequisa Swag'* as it became known) and performed Alain's play to an invited audience.
Hard though my trip was at times, and strewn with dilemmas, looking back at this footage makes me understand what a remarkable experience any collaborative theatre piece is, but especially when it involves people from such markedly different backgrounds with such varied references. It sort of proves that the essentials of human life are universal - something we all knew anyway, but it's good to see it played out.
x
* yes I have no idea how to actually spell this, but it means 'theatre in the forest
I wrote a blog for SylC all about the Independent Cultural Cinema Exhibition Conference
I am quite proud of it and also it is important to read if you are a cinema because it concerns you. Do comment if you are actually a cinema, because that's amazing.
It starts like this:
It's not often that the specialised film exhibition sector gets the opportunity to talk directly to policy-makers. So yesterday's Independent Cultural Cinema Exhibition Conference hosted by SylC partner and field leader Watershed in Bristol, was a welcome opening for cinemas, film societies, higher education and research bodies, and funders to share feedback and strategy with DCMS representatives. Rachael Castell attended on behalf of SylC to note down some of the emerging headlines from an industry both in flux, and - according to many of the attendees - on the brink of an exciting new era...
and you can read the rest here:
http://supportyourlocalcinema.com/profiles/blogs/optimist-pessimist-or-realis...
thank you and goodnight. x
The perpetual regeneration of parsely, getting visa'd up for Congo, the soothing sounds of the gong and what to do when you accidentally leave your chocolate bar on your computer charger.
Hello.
Yes. It's been another one of those days. A wonderful day but various. Very various.
The nice men from Currys woke me up at 6.55am to tell me that they would be with me by 10am which was both kind and inconsiderate. You can see why. Anyway, they couldn't install the damn washing machine until tomorrow anyway. Why I am starting with this? It definitely gets more interesting. Wait til you hear about my gong bath.
- Posted from Walthamstow, United Kingdom
The Congo Project: Trailer mark 1
This is what I'm working on at the moment.
For more information check http://thecongoproject.posterous.com
Sunday Part III: All you need to make a film is two girls and a bicycle
Post-pitch I ended up having an invaluable conversation with Peter
Gerard of Distrify (one of the industry panel, see
http://www.distrify.com) over free wine on the deck of the MEDIA
pavilion. At some point, Caroline came to join us and I made a friend
for life. I had already felt a strange sense of connection with
Caroline – at our initial Imaginox meeting we had talked about the
importance of the natural world in both our seemingly urbanite lives –
and it was about to be cemented. When she mentioned that she was about
to have to move from one apartment up the hill to another way down the
beach, not only herself and her case but also her bike, it seemed like
the sensible thing to do to join forces! Before I knew it, I was
perched on the back of her rented bicycle as we careened through the
streets of Cannes and this was the way of the festival from that
moment on.
Talking, feeling, celebrating, committing to our selves,
trying even just trying to do something for the better of the world,
idolizing John Lennon, needing to dance – this
was our experience and I am so grateful for it.
Sunday: Part II: And then the Director of the Berlin Film Festival put the bread in the lady’s pocket
Alex and I shared a fantastic evening the night before the pitch – entirely accidentally we bumped into each other climbing the chattering cobbled narrow streets of old Cannes in search of dinner. Having missed my friends, I was alone, breathing the night and the frisson of opportunity and excitement coupled with the refreshed calming sea air of Cannes and sort of looking forward to a solo meal at which to gather my thoughts and prepare for the day. At which point Alex happened along, and he kindly invited me to join his table for a great dinner. And at the end of it, we went for pudding and talked about our words to ourselves mine (as those of you who have seen my tattoo will know) is simply ‘yes’. Alex enjoyed that, and I enjoyed his company, his wisdom and calm manner. As we drank red wine and ate surprising apple tart and talked about Sundays, outside I saw a man approach a lady on the phone and calmly put bread in her pocket. Turns out it was the director of the Berlin Film Festival Dieter Kosslich. Oh – the things you see in Cannes!
