Today is the last day of the 2011 ECU Independent European Film Festival in Paris and after the what a weekend it has been. One of the more standout and original films of the festival has beenVictoria Mather’s multi-award winning student short ‘Stanley Pickle’ which TNC’s Joshua Feldman in Paris absoluytly loved, and its clear why. Victoria was kind enough to take the time to answer a few of our questions and for more information on ‘Stanly Pickle’ you can head to their Facebook Page HERE.
How did you get into filmmaking has this always been a passion?
I got my first job on a feature film at Ealing Studios, I was the art department assistant. I spent about two months in pre production until funding was cut the day before we started shooting. Following advice from the art department, I went on to study fine art and I found myself experimenting with animation techniques.
I think I naturally gravitated towards filmmaking, it’s now one of the hardest industries to survive in financially, but creatively for me, it feels like the most modern form of self-expression.
Tell us about your films, what is your approach, how do you come up with your projects?
I start with illustrations and photographs. I am never without a camera, it’s my first port of call. Ideas take form over periods of time and I note them down. I love it when I get ideas from dreams, they are always the most weird and strange.
Your film is part of the ECU Film Festival in Paris, are you excited about this?
I am very excited about ECU because it’s in PARIS! The most romantic city in the world! I wish I could be there.
Stanley Pickle has picked up a slurry of awards, does it still nerve you being nominated and attending the ceremonies?
Even though we’ve won at a number of festivals, it is still incredibly nerve wracking to get up on stage to accept, you never expect to win, I hear my heart pounding every time.
Stanley Pickle’s success has opened doors for me and for the crew, and it’s been a truly humbling experience to get so much positive recognition at such an early stage in our careers.
What have been your the challengers you have faced?
There have been many challenges- off the top of my head: making the risky decision to shoot the film all stop motion using live actors was challenging since so much could potentially go wrong, but that is what I enjoy about film making, it’s largely about problem solving, taking risks, embracing challenges and finding ways to solve them as a team.
How did Stanley Pickle come to life?
With a stills camera, two sets, two locations and an ambitious crew. The concept and lose narrative was conceived a year before I got in to film school, and the final story I developed with Screenwriter Orhan Boztas.
Things are going so well for you, are you feeling the pressure?
Of course I am but it’s all great incentive to work harder!
With the cuts to the UK Art Council and the closing of the UK Film Council do you think future filmmakers will find it hard to get funding and support for UK Films? What has their help meant to you?
With the state funding in the UK right now, I believe film school was the best decision I ever made. I don’t know what is going to happen for future short film-makers but there will be solutions, just different ways of doing things. It’ll be a long road but my glass is half full, it might turn out for the better you never know.
What do you want people to take away from your film?
I hope that people enjoy the film, laugh, and at least feel hopeful for Stanley by the end (then go home and ‘like’ our facebook page.)
What advice would you give other filmmakers?
Get on that stage and take off all of your clothes.
Finally, what are you working on now?
There is another film in the pipeline, working on some other ideas and I pitching for an array of other projects – busy busy busy!
