new funded features.

[johnmoordon]

Hi all,

did anyone see any of the new features under the north west vision scheme?

I havn't seen 'kicks' as of yet but have had the pleasure of seeing 'of time and the city', which was really good. I also saw 'salvage' which was below par and doesn't have any of the money on the screen, some of the worst acting ive seen in a long time.

anyone else?

regards all

jon

 

[gepetto]

John

I did see "Of Time and the City" - not a bad achievement although I do have to wonder where the demographic would lie as I found it smacked a little too irrereverant and the banal musical choices made it rather dull

The fact that its "producers" seemed all too pleased that they "only had to spend £40,000 on the stock footage" moves to support your comment on how much money allocated to locally produced stuff is designated for the screen and not a "producer's" roof.

Ah well

George

 

[johnmoordon]

I think it's the sort of film that appeals to people who want some sort of sugar bowl view of Liverpool and the inner city. Ive re-visited the film and it is not an experience i would endorce. Upon second viewing i was totally distracted by the sort of music that should only appear in vicars dinner parties and lifts.

 

[gepetto]

John

I should be clear about what I mean. I think any film that is made either in the North West or involving personnel from the North West is great and I am totally into that.

However, this does not always define greatness, or by any means great product. I know I'm not alone in saying that there have been too many squandered opportunities by the local "Spielbergs" and their bretheren - people who are far too interested in themselves and what they can get rather than what they create.

Anyone with a smidge of insight will also know this attitude has cost us dearly in terms of who will invest here. It should also be a maxim that you have an understanding of film and genre to be able to produce - more importantly executive produce - art. This is a particularly nasty and parasitic thorn and one that should not even exist, but it does and all too often up here.

I suppose when I see more heart and passion on screen - and I'm not including anyone who makes their own films their own way here by any means possible whether they be short or feature - that is not waylaid by people who have no reason to belong other than shaving off slabs here and there for "production costs" then maybe the North West film industry will be back on track leading somewhere instead of going nowhere.

What'll the North West do without Chris Moll now eh?...I dunno

Maybe something artistic

George

 

[Jon Williams]

Hi,

Chris Moll got NWV&M to commission a really good report on feature film making in the North west from Derek Murray. Derek called the report, "Defying Gravity" as he'd pretty much concluded that filmmaking in the region happened without support. NWV never changed the title - you can download the report from their site - so did they ever even see the point?

Still Chris, who was always keen to 'act the ex-company executive professional' did organise some useful conferences. And he did, to use his own term, 'leverage' enough money for the 'Digital Departures' scheme.

But what NWV were/are to arrogant/stupid to notice is that, outside of arranging a screening at FACT (in Liverpool) they can't do a thing about distribution of exhibition. So, if it hadn't been for Terence Davies and the accompanying wave of sentimentality, the whole scheme would have resulted in 3 'Capital of Culture' screenings - at a cost of £250,000 each - which must come close to being one of the biggest follies in the history of art and entertainment. What's more the poor buggers who made the other two films don't have the rights so they can't even attempt some DIY distribution.

Still, Chris has moved on to pastures new (surprise, surprise) so the others can say "What? It wasn't me guv, not my idea at all..."

 

[gepetto]

Hi Jon

Nice one and absolutely. The funny thing is that if anyone is to voice any dissent of what Chris and his magnanamous efforts have been then people are somehow seen as being negative or even bitter.

I don't think that the end results of the other two Dig Dep films - Salvage and Kicks - are in any way worthy of "major" commercial distribution from any angle. I must say that this is no slur on the original writers/directors and anyone connected with the artistic thrust of either project. As any of those people would probabaly attest themselves, that failure to launch will lie at the feet of Chris et al - people who have as much clue about creativity and artistic integrity as Al Pacino's niece and nephew in " Scent of a Woman".....y'know "He's a mechanic, she's a homemaker. He knows as much about cars as a beauty queen and she bakes cookies taste like wingnuts...." Like you so rightly say, the poor people who gave their scripts up for the scheme have had them made - okay we like that - but at what cost? For no one to see them? To have them muddied and meddled with by so-called executive producers that quite frankly couldn't produce a souffle never mind a major commercial venture. But what about supporting well-made left field stories with the same level of production guidance and knowledge that you would expect from "industry professionals". Chris Moll would expect it. The rub is it's all too easy for people like that who have no real title worth an artistic carrot

to apportion the blame on the scheme, the film-makers, the market and move on. Which he has done. Nice.

And that's it. I get the point about the report Jon but I don't see why. Commisioning idiotic studies on pathetic reasons just to inflate an ego or have a point is about all for Mr. Moll...why not spend the money and time it takes on stupid exercises on just sticking your neck out and having a go...feeling your instinct and breaking new ground and getting peoples ideas developed, scripts approved - and ultimately - films made. Period. Even doing what Chris said on the announcement of the winners for the scheme...."we're going to rip up the book of filmmaking..."

Actually that would mean having creative substance...so thank god he's gone. Here's hoping things may begin to happen up here now ( with regard to getting funded - I know things are happening and always have - even without Chris' "advice and guidance").

I could never understand that - letting out my Joe Gladwin Hovis inner coloquial. Head of North West Vision but lives in Bristol.. I know, I know - primitive and cheap - but nontheless relevant and true in appreciating the mindset.

What is he now - head of head of head of head of executive production development scheme programme industry innovation programmes....

Of course he is.

George

 

[Jon Williams]

North West Vision. Such a waste of space and money. When we'd got a reasonable cut made of Bad Lad, we still needed to do a heck of a lot of audio post-production, so we approached Chris Moll to see if he could give us any assistance. For a long time I thought that we we got from NWV was nothing. But I've recently realised it was even less. Let me explain...

We got nothing. But I started getting invited to NWV lunches where the main guests were from London, or whatever. Then I was invited to speak at a big event at FACT - packed out, maybe 600 people. They also gave us £250 towards going to Cannes.

Now taking a no-budget film to Cannes in the hope that someone's going to be interested is a pointless and despiriting experience. But, when you're there, you keep having NWV people coming up and chatting to you. But if you ask them if they can open any doors for you, nothing. Instead they invite you to their annual Cannes event - the NWV 'industry breakfast' in the English Pavilion. This is what they've all gone there for (at the tax-payers not inconsiderable expense) it's the main focus for their aim of attracting inward investment into the region (note that, by implication, there are no north-west filmmakers, they have to be attracted from somewhere else).

But the trouble is, no one who is anyone at Cannes is up at such a ridiculous hour in the morning - even if they were remotely interested. So there's North West vision and a few odd bods and other nobodies who've turned up because they've no friends and nobody invited them to a party last night, and there's me, and Michael and a few other people who they've given bursaries too. And I've suddenly realised that they paid us to make up the numbers - that we were there to do something for them.

This brought to mind something someone once told me (I'll leave them nameless 'cos I've not asked there permission) about how they'd actually managed to arrange an important meeting one morning with some potential backers for the feature film project. But calls to their mobile kept interrupting the meeting. It was NWV demanding to know why he wasn't at their 'breakfast'.

 

[johnmoordon]

The only thing they do is justify their own existence and extend whatever funding they may or may not have for the future. 'Of Time and The city' is a huge scalp for them. I'm sure they will live of its 'success' for a long time. I was shortlisted for feature funding and told i was in a weak position given our team was 95% white. Rather strange, i'd have rather they told me my script was terrible. To be in with a good chance of funding you have to tow the party line, it's like Scientology but just a little less sinister. I'd much rather not make anything than have anything to do with them or at least struggle on with my integrity in tact. As for Chris Moll, the less said the better. A man with absolutely no clue about film, in charge of production on a huge salary and based in Bristol. Thank god he has departed. Mind you i pity the people he's now 'working' with.

 

[gepetto]

Jon and John

It's interesting isn't it and very frustrating. There is no other way to make a point other than to tell it as it is - no matter who is mentioned I suppose - because the process is vital when deciding what to do and these issues are totally prudent.

I know the "industry breakfast" stories Jon as I've heard them before and let's be honest here, there has been so many like tales of creative hindrance than genuine assistance ever put the way of anyone whose walked the NWV yellow brick road. Again, I am not being hypocritical or nasty here because anyone who can get their projects advanced and noticed is great - truly great - as that in itself is hard, but you'd expect a little more than an "industry breakfast" and a NWV bacon roll for your troubles eh? Especially when it could be the only thing you have in you. North West Vision's manifesto was that the products would be supported fully before, during and after production but on this latest occasion that will only apply to "Of Time and the City" and fundamentally, that's only because of Terrence Davies.

Oh no sorry, its because of Chris Moll and Lisa Marie Russo. Sorry there.

I mean Terrence would have got it all wrong had they not have lent a guiding hand....

Just ask the people behind Salvage and Kicks

George

 

[Jon Williams]

Hi George,

Do you have any contact details for the makers of both Kicks and Slavage?

Jon

 

[gepetto]

Hi Jon

The prod of Salvage is Julie Lau and Kicks is Andy Stebbing.

I have both email addresses somewhere if you need them

george

ps Have you seen either film yet? I hate to have to say it but they are both pretty poor mate

 

[Moll]

Ah... how gratifying it is to arouse such bile and from such high achievers. I must have been doing something right then I look forward to seeing your next "productions" on the big screen. Me? I'm off to Edinburgh FF to congratulate Andy, Julie et al

Best

C

 

[Birty]

Oooohhhhh...game on.

Classy.

 

[Cop]

Just when I thought it was going to be a quiet night...

 

[pattyb]

Can anyone tell me who Moll is. What films has she directed/produced?

 

[Cop]

Can anyone tell me who Molly is. Women can be so bitchy. What films has she directed/produced? ls she famous?

Chris Moll is Head of Funds at North West Vision

 

[pattyb]

Can you tell me the names of the films he has directed/produced? l may have seen them.

 

[Moll]

Was Head Of Funds. There are only so many pitches/moans that you can take from Jon Williams without losing the will to live.

 

[Cop]

Apologies Moll...

Pattyb, check out his profile on IMDb for quick reference

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0596960/

 

[Moll]

No probs Cop.... it's just that if people want to denigrate and abuse, they might as well get my gender and current job status right.

Oh... and be prepared to receive as well as to dispense...