TriForce Short Film Festival launched November 9th!

by Tremayne Miller

The TriForce Short Film Festival (TFSFF) line up took place at the bfi, Stephen Street on November 9^th.

Opening the festival was After The Storm, the directorial debut by Jessica Oyelowo.

‘A Short film about when you’re caught in the push and pull of love.’

The film’s actual working title was “Love”,” and although a short film, it doth hold a full story within it, where life is negotiated after tragedy has struck. A storm of life, whereupon strength and courage is tested in order to maintain an excellence, whether it be in a parent, son or wife.

After The Storm, which was  inspired by current social events stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond The Lights, 2014) and Chiké Okonkwo (The Birth Of A Nation, 2016), alongside newcomer Caleb Oyelowo,  the director’s son,.

It is shot by Cinematographer,Sam Sullivant whose extensive experience in production is evident.

 ‘Every good film has a distinct point of view. This perspective is entrusted into the hands of the director of photography. Each lens, film stock, digital sensor, studio light, and camera movement forms the subconsciousness baseline from which a viewer perceives the emotions of a filmmaker’s story’ – Sam Sullivant.

I love his use of sped-up photography on the mother, in contrast to the stillness around the father, who appears in “real time.”

An animosity visible surrounds what are lining shots, the most notable of all being the clouds, a mixture of a thundery bluey-grey, placed against those you would catch at the peak of summer.

A philosophical sum-up of the film might be where hearts bleed, so do they continue to love, until there’s nothing left to give.

A promising debut from Jessica Oyelowo, and I look forward to discovering any future creations she makes.

All shortlisted films for The TriForce Short Film Festival 2016 are as follows:

·I Believe In Pink

      ·Glow

·The Good Son

·Foot In Mouth

·Lucky Chicken

·Ferguson, Missouri

·Living With Monkey

·Huey & Louis

·Take The Chocolate

·Believe

·Hall Of Mirrors

·SAVE

·The Night Shift

·Lil’ Benny

·The Dead Sea

·Harriet and the Matches

“the TriForce Creative Network and all they do is about partners and relationships, working together, discovering mutual ambitions and figuring out how to make it happen.”

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The TriForce Film Festival takes place December 3rd at BAFTA.
For more information on the festival and to buy tickets go to tfsff.com

Writer c. Tremayne Miller

Tremayne podcasts for LifestyleMK, Tuesdays 7pm

Prey - Exclusive Interview with Director Sunny King

Lifestyle MK's Film Critic Tremayne Miller caught a quickie interview with the director of short film Prey at the TriForce Short Film Festival.

Prey tells the story of a young woman who finds herself in trouble in car park with a psychopath after a party.

TM: All in all how long did it take you to get the story of Prey off the ground?

SK: It took us about four to six months to get the story off the ground. The first draft was done by the writer but we both worked on it until we felt satisfied.

TM: Was it a collaborative effort; and where did you draw your inspiration from?

SK: It was a collaborative effort and we had many revisions. It was quite a process but after reading the eight draft, we knew we were ready.   Inspiration came from research materials. I watched world cinema thrillers from Hong Kong, Japan and the US. I also drew from Hollywood films made in the 90's and late eighties.

TM:  Is there a particular process you go through with your Actors, i.e. Improvisation, from which a script is then locked down, or do you always work strictly from the Text?

SK: I always allow room for improvisation and of course I was very fortunate to work with talented actors like Weruche Opia, Oc Ukeje and Steve mace; who brought their A-game to the process. Ironically, as we ran through our last rehearsals, the script changed and the actor had to improvise.

As the first global agency to focus on African film and TV talents, Restless Talent represents several of Africa’s top actors (Nse Ikpe-Etim, OC Ukeje, Anthony Oseyemi, Nana Mensah, Kehinde Bankole, Diana Yekinni), writers (Kemi Adesoye, Tunde Aladese), and directors (Shirley Frimpong Manso, Tosh Gitonga, Caroline Kamya, Sunny King, Kivu Ruhorahoza and C.J. Fiery Obasi).

by Tremayne Miller
https://www.facebook.com/Tremayne-Miller-337320829468/?fref=ts

Meanwhile, you can catch the new season of LIFESTYLE:MK HERE

Vintage Blood - exclusive interview with Writer and Director Abigail Blackmore

Tremayne Miller

LifestyleMK's Film Critic, Tremayne Miller, has been talking to Tri-Force Short Film Festival winner Abigail Blackmore about her film "Vintage Blood".

Vintage Blood is a 14 minute black-comedy short starring Indira Varma, Sophie Thompson, and Michael Rosen.  It tells the tale of  the owner of a vintage shop who finds a ouija board.   Vintage Blood won the "Audience Choice" award at the festival.

TM: For those who have yet to see prize-winning Short, Vintage Blood, how would you pitch it to them? 

AB: It’s a story within a story about the owner of a quirky vintage shop who discovers her fiancé’s life is in danger when she comes into possession of a cursed Ouija board.

TM: What aspects of it do you think lead to it being awarded the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Triforce Short Film Festival?

AB: Ha! Well, I can only guess it’s because it’s quite funny and a bit scary and it has a pretty strong story with a solid ending. I’m honestly delighted that people like it. 

TM: In Vintage Blood you wear two caps, that of Actress and Director.  How was that, and given the choice again, would you choose not to act in it?

AB: If you asked me that during the shoot I would say I wouldn’t do it again, but being in it actually makes it a lot easier for me to meet people who’ve seen the film. There’s that instant recognition which cuts through all the “were you involved in one of the films?” conversations. It wasn’t easy though. Most of my stuff was shot on the first day and it was freezing cold, so it was a relief to get into a coat and scarf for the rest of the shoot. Actors are always uncomfortable, whether it’s too hot or too cold. It’s not easy! I prefer directing but I’m glad I was in it and probably would give myself another small role sometime, like a zombie or something. Acting is still a lot of fun.

TM: Where did the idea for the story come from, and was it a sole effort or did it form part of a collaboration process?

AB: Well, Ruth, who plays the rude friend who’s visiting my character, is actually one of the owners of the shop we used. She runs it with Megan, who played the customer who is interested in buying the fan. We were originally planning on making a YouTube sitcom in the shop so I already had the idea about someone planting a cursed ouija board in there, then when producer Ed Barratt and I decided to make a short film I thought that would be a fun idea to use. 

TM: Was Vintage Blood your first behind-the-camera experience?  If not, could you elaborate a little on the previous projects you have been involved in.

AB: I’ve made a lot of things that I put straight onto YouTube. Small series and one-offs, all comedy. I quite like shoving a camera in someone’s hand and getting them to film me asking people dumb questions. There’s a lot of that in my YouTube mini-series “She’s Behind You, parts 1&2” where I stalk the author Sarah Pinborough at various horror and fantasy conventions. She gave me permission to stalk her but she was the only one who knew. I nearly got thrown out of the World Horror Convention for it.

I’ve written things that other people have directed and I’ve developed TV ideas for a few production companies but Vintage Blood is the first thing I’ve directed that had a proper crew and release forms and taxis and lunch. 

TM: Where did you take your inspiration from for this particular screen play; and in general filmmaking terms?

AB: This idea was inspired by the location, the vintage clothes and homeware shop Cha Cha Cha in North London. It’s like stepping back in time, surrounded by items owned by a lot of now-dead people. I feel very much at home there. It’s like a cool version of your nan’s house. It’s so packed with colour and texture. I always joked that there could be someone hiding in the corner and you’d never know. Fortunately Ruth and Megan were game enough to let me do it despite being unsure about the ouija board. 

I used to watch Tales of the Unexpected as a kid and I think that’s a big inspiration for this film. Stephen King is another. I was brought up on horror and it’s still my favourite genre by miles. It’s the most inclusive of all the genres (along with comedy). You can combine it with sci-fi, drama, romance, thriller, westerns, war, comedy, tragedy, history... It’s an equal-opportunities genre.

TM: Are there other genres besides Horror-Comedy you would like to explore?

AB: I’d love to do a sci-fi or a thriller. I have a few scripts I’d like to make that are mostly drama-comedies. I’m very interested in people and how they react to others. The only genre I have no interest in tackling is action. It bores the pants off me. 

TM: What does 2016 hold for you?

AB: All being well, I’ll be directing my first feature in the Spring. The script is ready and we have a couple of amazing actors attached. It’s another horror-comedy, but I don’t think I can say much more at the mo. Watch this space!

Your next chance to see "Vintage Blood" is Thursday 14th January, 2016 at the Hackney Picturehouse.  Tickets available HERE

LifestyleMK is back for a new season on SATURDAY 9th JANUARY 2016 12 - 2pm!!

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Past shows can be heard and downloaded on SPREAKER

Tremayne writes for The British Theatre Network, and HeyUGuys.

Find out more about Tremayne HERE

Films to watch out for - the Triforce Short Film Festival

Tremayne Miller

Film Critic Tremayne Miller has given Lifestyle:MK an exclusive insight into the Triforce Short Film Festival.  Hear her reviews on some of the latest films on this week's LifestyleMK 12 - 2pm Saturday December 19th.

Tremayne has written for the 2nd Sundance London Film & Music Festival 2013, The 4th Rendez-Vous With French Cinema Film Festival 2013, BEV: Birds Eye View ('Women In Film') Film Festival 2013, The 27th bfi London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2013, The 5th Pan-Asia Film Festival 2013, The bfi London Film Festival 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 and the Sundance London Film & Music Festival 2012.

You can read more of her work here:

HEY U GUYS

UKTHEATRE.NET

Tremayne will be on LifestyleMK on Saturday Dec 21st

LifestyleMK broadcasts live on Saturdays 12 - 2pm on Secklow Sounds.

Catch their previous shows HERE