Tuesday 19 January 2010

I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER, NOT A TERRORIST!

The UK activist group I'm a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! is planning a mass photo-shooting this Saturday in Trafalgar Square, London: "Following a series of high profile detentions under S44 of the Terrorism Act including seven armed police detaining an award-winning architectural photographer in the City of London, the arrest of a press photographer covering campaigning santas at City Airport and the stop and search of a BBC photographer at St Paul's Cathedral and many others, PHNAT feels now is the time for a mass turnout of photographers, professional and amateur to defend our rights and stop the abuse of the terror laws."

I feel passionate about this one folks - this Saturday 23rd January.

Saturday 16 January 2010

YOU WILL BE ADORED

Tomorrow, January 17th, we will be making a welcome return to Manchester's kookiest short film night, the Odder Mini Cine Picture Show.

It's the Picture Show's first anniversary celebrations, and they promise the "best short film oddities" from around the world. The night is held the third Sunday of the month in Manchester's Odder Bar on the Oxford Road.

Exactly one year ago our film The Return of Ellen Love was premiered there, and for the birthday party we will we back - screening a special two-minute sneak-peek of our latest film Getting Ready.

It's called Adored.

Entry to the Mini Cine Picture Show is free and so is the popcorn!
Films begin at 8pm.


Tuesday 12 January 2010

HACKNEY'S VARIETY BOX - THIS SATURDAY


It's all down to Hackney's Empire Theatre this Saturday for the regular live art event, Variety Box. Held in the theatre's Marie Lloyd Bar, it's a platform for experimental and physical theatre, contemporary dance, stand-up, music, short film and more. Unlike other nights, Variety Box has no firm concept regarding themes. It is literally a night of artistic mayhem and surprise with a neo-avant garde touch. This weekend a hand-picked selection of Roundeye films - all directed by Ben Barton and featuring the vocal talents of Jennifer Harris - will be screened, the only films of the night!
Entry is free and the show starts at around 8pm, but get there early for a seat!

Monday 11 January 2010

INCINERACION TAKE 2


Some advance notice here - and Incineracion, Spain's super 8-friendly independent film art festival, is gearing-up for another screening. Ben Barton's Jesus and Ellen Love films are back on the programme, with screenings this April 20th at the Afrodisia Club in Granada.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

OBLONGING & LOVING THE LITTLE CINEMA



Starting tomorrow, there's something very special beginning at the Oblong Gallery, London. And that's because Initial Prospect, our down-and-out-in-Dungeness super-8 film poem, will be screening as part of a curated exhibition of artists' cinema. Oblong Screenings runs from the 7th-21st January, with two screenings per day; the first from 12pm-2pm and the second 3pm-5pm, both on a loop.

This sounds like a good one folks - the gallery will become a temporary little cinema, with 20 'first come, first serve seats' where guests will be presented with complimentary popcorn and a drink.

The opening night, tomorrow, will be the only time you can view the films at night, from 7pm-9pm - thanks to Time Out London's First Thursdays collaboration, supported by the Arts Council England.

Saturday 2 January 2010

ROUNDEYE BEHIND THE BAMBOO CURTAIN

First off the bat for 2010 - and two Roundeye films du jour - The Return of Ellen Love and Uphill for Jesus - are going to make their Chinese debut in Beijing (which Benny B was lucky enough to explore on a tour of China a couple of years back).

Electric Shadows is a multi-platform film and music venture designed to promote experimental and art house cinema in the Chinese capital. Run by a team of passionate volunteers, they hold a screening every month aiming to "showcase the finest short works from around the world which challenge the conventional labels of documentary and fiction, and blur the lines between narrative and experimental film".

The inaugural event of the new decade will be tomorrow, January 3rd, at the Peng Hao Theatre, Dongcheng. This exceptional new theatre and coffeehouse is one of the first privately-owned theatres in Beijing. Located in the centre of the performing arts district, it is a beautifully-restored hutong house with a bohemian feel, chill-out zones and rooftop bar.

The screenings begin at 2pm and entrance is 30 yuan.

Benny B in Tiananmen Square, 2007

Friday 1 January 2010

SO THAT WAS 2009 - AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well that decade flew by like shit off a shovel - and 2009 was the busiest yet for Ben Barton’s super 8 films.

In just 12 short months the Roundeye-produced creations were screened at 16 film festivals in cities from Budapest to Manchester and Madrid to Warsaw; at music festivals in Cambridge and Wales; cafes and bars in Edinburgh and Tokyo; universities and galleries in London and Liverpool; in a multiplex cinema in Brazil and ‘little’ cinemas in Berlin, Birmingham, Dublin, Norwich and San Francisco; projected onto buildings in Athens and Leeds; with a live choir in Windsor; at scary Halloween horror events in Brighton, Croydon and Huddersfield; and at many great underground film nights in Beijing, Canterbury, Luton,
Northampton, Nottingham, Preston and of course, London. LOTS of unspeakably cool nights in London.

None of this would be possible without the input of the informal Haus of Roundeye, an uber-talented bunch including the 'modelling' and vocals of Jennifer Harris, music of Robert Harris, styling of Scott Gibson and artwork of Mark Vanstone. So big love to all of them.

We’ve also shot our next film, Getting Ready, and are beginning the next one very soon. Oh, and all the current films have been picked-up by the BBC for their ‘Big Screen’ public screening project. Phew!


Not sure if we’ll beat our busy sophomore year that was 2009, but there’s already lots planned for 2010, and we’re keeping it all under our big shiny hat for now, but here’s a wee clue…


Look out for Jimmy D on the streets, and have a good one!