ALL QUIET ON THE ROUNDEYE FRONT...?!

Yep, there's no hiding it friends... things have been a tad quiet here in Roundeye's tiny corner of cyberspace.

No excuses, it's just we've been extra busy planning new films for 2012, sending Little Red out to lots of cool festivals, oh, and welcoming our very own Roundeye child into the fold - poor thing!

All that said, we will be back with a bang very soon - launching with a fab new Blu Ray competition actually! So watch this space if you please... all will be revealed soon(ish)!

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY...

Fresh from it's premiere at the Folkestone Triennial 2011 last week - and now being broadcast on the short film television programme Ronke - we are now in the process of sending out the latest Roundeye film to a host of film festivals, screenings nights and art events all over the UK.

This one is a creepy take on Little Red Riding Hood - which combines elements of fairytales and horror to reveal something unexpected lurking in the forest...

As always - we really don't want to put the full film to view online. Why? Well because we want you to actually come watch our films with an audience, to get that crowd experience going, to get some alcohol into the mix (!) and to show you our work up on a big screen. Besides - it never looks that good all pixelated and juddery on a computer screen, does it?

That said - we will give you a little teaser trailer to feast your eyes on. So here goes... (but keep coming back for details of future screenings - we hope to see you there - in person!)

OUR FILM NIGHT IS... TOMORROW!

Yep - the week has zoomed by - and the aforementioned Roundeye film night IS TOMORROW!

So remember folks, please get your cute bumbums down to the excellent Quarterhouse on Tontine Street to see our full oeuvre of super-8 wonderment right where they belong - on the big screen!

It's tomorrow at 7.30pm. But you already knew that, didn't you?!

SOLO FILM SHOW - THIS WEEK!

Well this week this the most exciting one EVER for Roundeye - and that's a fact.

And it's all because coming this Friday 8th July is Ben Barton's first ever solo film night, all being held for the fantastic Folkestone Triennial 2011.

Part retrospective, part avant garde film night, the evening promises our usual blend of scratchy, imperfect super-8 films, found footage and great music from Roundeye regulars Jennifer and Robert Harris.

We'll be showing virtually every single film we've made over the past three years, including the first ever screenings of new works Little Red and 5,000 Miles From Hollywood.

So if you can get to Folkestone's fab Quarterhouse this Friday - please come down and support us - the more the merrier! The films start at 7.30pm and entry is a teeny-tiny £3!

You can read more about the short film night here at the Folkestone Fringe website, or here at Benny's very own homepage.

We hope to see you there!

TRIENNIAL VIDEO BLAH BLAH...

If you've got a spare five minutes - here's a half-interesting video about the Folkestone Triennial that's popped-up on the Guardian website...

AT LAST... PRIMETIME TV!

Well, we seem to be ever so popular over at Sky TV channel 219 - Eat Cinema/My Channel - they're repeating our underground Dungeness film Initial Prospect three times this coming week!

Yep - and rather than being relegated to the midnight slot - this time we're primetime - sort of.

Here's the blurb for the week's shows, now rebranded as My Super Shorts Light:

Enjoy a selection of our best easy going short films on this special programme dedicated to new talents, good ideas and an important piece of cinema yet to be explored on television - the short film.

You can watch Initial Prospect this Tuesday at 6pm, Wednesday at 1.30pm and Thursday at 4.30pm.

THE FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL STARTED - TODAY!

Well I thought I knew Folkestone pretty well - but today was a real eye opener! As you all probably know, the fab Folkestone Triennial 2011 launched today - in spectacular fashion!

It kind of started last night with the fireworks over the harbour, but today was the first day of action. The truth is - I hardly recognised the place! Instead of gum-chewing wellard chavs - the town was abuzz with artists, music, food, theatre, installations and general merriment - and this was only day one!

There were hundreds of people milling around, going in and out of the galleries and quirky little shops, kids jumping around the new fountain (who looked like they'd 'catch their death' as your Gran might say...), a large walk-in whale, amazing new restaurants opening their doors, art installations around every corner, live bands, street food, performers, art-in-progress, filmmakers, a new mermaid overlooking the Sunny Sands and so so much more!

So if you need any more encouragement, get your arses down to the harbour and Old High Street, and to all the other locations dotted around - and take a look for yourself!

Here's a little video that someone's just uploaded, which captures some of what's been going on...



As part of the festival, there's going to be an extra special screening of all the Roundeye films, at the Quarterhouse in Folkestone, on Friday July 8th, 2011 at 7.30pm. Watch this space for more info - coming very soon!

It's all part of the Folkestone Triennial 'Fringe' - which you can read all about in this cool little catalogue thing here...


To grab a copy you can go to the snazzy new Folkestone Triennial Visitors' Centre (at the bottom of the Old High Street) or download one here.

SEE... HEAR... SPEAK...

Well, the three wise Jesuses on my desk are calling me... which means... BACK TO WORK!

And the next few weeks are going to be lots of fun - with plenty in the pipeline such as a solo film night and another short film TV programme showing my stuff... Watch this space peeps!

Ben Barton

THE PICTURES R.I.P.

The Pictures - a very special film night which were one of the very first to show my little films - has come to an end... Very sad news!

Above is a roll call of everyone who was involved, from start to finish. My name's in there somewhere, if you squint...


Ben Barton

STOP YOUR JUNK FILM DIET!

If you’ve been stuffing yourself with film junk lately, why not follow my suggestions for these healthier options? They’re every bit as tasty – but all are free from artificial sweetness, hydrogenated twats and genetically modified film stars. Best of all – they won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth, and you can tuck in GUILT FREE.

Swap ‘Burlesque’ for ‘On Tour’

Sure she can sing, but Christina clearly can’t act her way out of a recycled paper bag, and even the frozen features of Queen Cher and a glimpse of Cam Gigandet’s lovely bum can’t save this mess. No siree! – for a taste of the real glitz, glamour and sleaze of modern burlesque, it has to be Mathieu Amalric’s excellent road movie ‘On Tour’. Directed by and starring Amalric, it follows a travelling troupe of burlesque performers, a real ragtag pick n’ mix, as they travel from one crappy gig to the next all along the coast of France, passing through a series of crummy hotels and smoke-filled dives. Bittersweet and imperfect, ‘On Tour’ is a movie with real heart.

Swap ‘The Social Network’ for ‘Catfish’

Yes I know David Fincher is unbelievably cool, and he’s made some excellent films in the past. And the truth is, ‘TSN’ really isn’t that bad – but for me – ‘Catfish’ is the real Facebook movie. Who gives two shits about the millionaire geeks who wrote the html – why not see how Facebook is actually corrupting people’s lives right here right now? It’s hard to give you a synopsis of this film without ruining it – just watch it!

Swap ‘Scream 4’ for ‘Amer’

Now I’m a big-time horror junkie – always have been – so don’t get me wrong: I was looking forward to ‘Scream 4’ (or ‘Scre4m’ for the pedantic) just as much as the next person. And it was ok, in a way, though it will never beat the thrill I got from sneaking in, underage, to the original ‘Scream’ all those years ago… but anyway, I digress…

The problem with horror films these days is it’s all so oversaturated – with shite. Once you’ve seen one big-titted wench running away from the masked madman/monster/ex-boyfriend (delete as appropriate) – you’ve kind of seen it all before. You really have to have your wits about you to separate the wheat from the chaff – and intelligent, button-pressing horrors are seemingly few and far between. So how refreshing to see a film like ‘Amer’. Visually it’s something else – like Argento filtered through a haze of Gothic magic mushrooms. Plus it’s virtually dialogue free – and even I, Mr Pidgin French, still managed to follow it unsubtitled. A striking, unique, trippy, confusing, spellbinding and rewarding little film of three acts, it’s really worth seeking out.

Little anecdote time: When I was at the cinema and asked for a ticket to ‘Scream 4’ the little popcorn kid thought I said ‘Screen 4’ and promptly gave me a ticket to ‘Winnie The Pooh’ – oh the irony…

Swap ‘Sucker Punch’ for ‘Uncle Boonmee’

Well ‘Sucker Punch’ has finally been released, after what seems like the biggest build-up in history. The truth is, I already feel bored by it all... So my alternative fantasy movie for your platter is the wordily-titled ‘Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives’, a Thai film. Sure it’s slower than the kick-ass pace of ‘Sucker Punch’, but it’ll be a far far more rewarding viewing experience!

The film follows the final days of the title’s Uncle Boonmee. He lives in the remote Thai jungle where ghosts, spirits and monkey-monsters with glowing red eyes all come to life and sit around his table. A fable, fairytale and gentle rumination on the meaning of life and death, ‘Uncle Boonmee’ probably won’t please everyone – but I suggest you see it for yourself and make-up your own mind… Just as long as you don’t get offended by bestial scenes of a princess receiving oral from a catfish… you have been warned!

Swap ‘The Mechanic’ for ‘Rubber’

No I haven’t watched ‘The Mechanic’. Why? Because Jason Statham is in it, that’s why. But what I have seen is the surreally brilliant and unique film ‘Rubber’. Actually directed by Mr Oizo I kid ye not – this warped, almost indescribable film is a total blast. It follows the murderous misadventures of Robert, a car tyre who rolls around the Californian desert, blowing people’s heads off via telekinesis – all while being watched by a live ‘audience’ (who of course represent you, the viewer). I’m not making it sound too good am I? But it is, I promise!


So there we have it - why not swap some of the junk for real wholesome film today, and see how healthier you feel… you know it makes sense!

Ben Barton

££££££££££££££

It's been all doom and gloom on the arts' funding front lately - what with the sad closure of the UK Film Council and the tightening of the Arts Council belt etc... so in these frugal times I'm happier than ever to say that I've received some much needed cash from the government to keep on making the Roundeye films!

Sure it's not much, but after four years of begging, borrowing and thieving to get these films out there, it's very nice to be given a little backhander to keep on going!

So a big thanks to all the arts team at Shepway council for all their support... and to the rest of you - you're sure to see the fruits of your hard-earned tax money here very soon!

Ben Barton

A LITTLE RED HERRING...

The Hollywood version - sure to be a PG-13 yawn-fest...

Hell, you know that feeling when you're busy working on your new underground super-8 film with a total budget of say £300 - then along comes a massive Hollywood shitbuster to steal your thunder? You don't? Well I do!

Of course there's nothing new about the Little Red Riding Hood story - I mean, 200 hundred years and the Brothers Grimm have got the edge on me, I know... It's just such a coincidence I guess! A bit like when you see those two buses tailing each other, both heading in the same direction. Still - I know which film will be scarier - and 42 million smackaroonies aint got nothing to do with it!

So Roundeye followers - keep your ears to ground for news of 2011's best version of Little Red Riding Hood... not coming to a Cineworld/Odeon/Vue near you soon!*

*But hopefully to the coolest film nights and underground festivals instead.

Ben Barton

The Roundeye version - mind over money...

THIS IS WHAT UNDERGROUND FILMMAKERS DO ON THEIR DAYS OFF...

Don't ask! x

ATTENTION ALL CODEBREAKERS!

Benny B has a super-duper new website underway.

If you have a newfangled code scanner thingy-bob, go knock yourself out...!

ROUNDEYE'S TOP 10 FOR 2010

This year has been pretty spectacular for new films… here’s my Top 10 favourites from the past 12 months (in no particular order, of course).



Black Swan
What if you took SWAN LAKE and mixed it with THE PIANO TEACHER, added a little bit of JEKYLL AND HYDE, seasoned with THE RED SHOES, REPULSION and SHOWGIRLS then wrapped it all up in a blockbusting MOMMIE DEAREST-type package, what would you end up with? Why BLACK SWAN of course!

I know I’m putting this on my 2010 list even though it doesn’t officially come out until 2011 – but I just had to, because I’ve seen it and think it’s incredible.

I haven’t really loved any of Aronofsky’s films before, but this one really did it for me. Epic, beautiful, mindfucking and of course, camper than a row of fluffy pink tents, it blew me away and I’m sure it will you too.

Just go see in the cinema for maximum effect – that’s where the magic happens folks!


Certified Copy
A guaranteed head-scratcher, Abbas Kiarostami’s first feature to use professional actors is a poetic, beautiful experience. Juliette Binoche is perfect, as per usual, and you won’t take your eyes off her.

CERTIFIED COPY is like the film equivalent of a Chinese thumb puzzle – the harder you try to understand, the less you will.

Don’t read any more about it – it’ll ruin the surprise – just watch it.


Buried
A (relatively) low-budget gem masquerading as Hollywood blockbuster, BURIED by Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés takes the old ‘one room’ format (à la Hitchcock’s ROPE) and instead shrinks the setting down to coffin-size proportions.

Yep, this unique thriller is entirely set in a box. Six feet underground. With just one actor (the not-unpretty Ryan Reynolds).

Completely claustrophobic and edge-of-your-seat all the way – this is imaginative filmmaking which uses its low budget as an advantage rather than an obstacle.


The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Almost verging on the same ‘one room’ format as BURIED, although not quite, Brit flick THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED is something of a thrill ride, with the nail-chomping tension and gay subplot that echoes the brilliant BOUND.

Being a beautiful Kentish girl, I was always going to admire Gemma Arterton. Just as long as she stays away from the Hollywood shite more often, we’ll get on just fine. Thankfully, ALICE CREED generally avoids the formulas.


Leaving
I love Kristin Scott Thomas, always have. She has that sad glimmer in her eyes that keeps her bobbing between vulnerable and strong, which is a great quality on film. Plus, anyone who can seamlessly switch between English and French-language films is always going to be a winner with me (and yes that does include you Charlotte Rampling).

LEAVING chronicles the torrid affair and subsequent marriage break up of a seemingly reserved, middle-class British ex-pat, living in the south of France. Dreamy, sexy and sometimes shocking, LEAVING is a real grower that you’ll want to revisit.


Another Year
Divided into four seasons, this melancholic passing of a complete year is a real tour-de-force of simplicity.

Mike Leigh’s latest film is his best in a decade, owed in part to his regular actresses Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville. The latter’s performance as Mary – a single, needy, over the hill lush is heartbreaking – more so because you’re sure to know her, some way or another.

Definitely my favourite British film of the year.


Le Refuge
Ah Francois, Francois. How I love him so. And I swooned once more when I went to see LE REFUGE.

I can’t deny I love his moody, urbane films much more than the comedies, and this one shows him at the top of his game. Filmed when the lead actress really was pregnant, and using her changing shape within the plot, this is another understated gem. Oh, and the impossibly sexy Melvil Poupaud is in it, albeit briefly – what more could you want?


Dogtooth
What I know about Greek cinema you could write on a postcard (notwithstanding ‘ISLAND OF DEATH’) but I’m determined to find out more after being captivated by DOGTOOTH in the summer. Once again, it’s probably best not to read too much about this one, but let’s just say it’s about isolation, sexual naïveté and being fearful of the modern world.

The most Hanekesque film not directed by Haneke I’ve ever seen, this one recently emerged on the free-to-air Film4 channel just weeks after its UK DVD release – so keep your eyes peeled – it’s well worth two hours of your life.


Rabbit Hole
As someone who loves HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH like a religion and who also went to some unforgettable cinema screenings of SHORTBUS (hardcore porn on the big screen with an audience of open-mouthed OAPs would stick in your mind too) I was nearly foaming at the mouth to see John Cameron Mitchell’s newest film.

Although it’s just his third feature in ten years, I’m getting the feeling than it’s quality rather than quantity that really counts for Mitchell.

And yes, this one does star Tinsletown upstart Nicole (does she deserve a mononym yet?) and is definitely more Hollywood that his previous films – but inside it feels like nothing has changed.

A modern avant-garde weepie with a message of hope, RABBIT HOLE is the conclusion of a victorious hat trick for Mitchell.


Inception
I know, I know. A film costing more than the GDP of a small country wouldn’t normally make it onto my list, and the total cost of all the Roundeye films probably comes to what they spent on Mr DiCaprio’s mascara alone – but this genre-defying cinema ride by Chris Nolan really did impress me. A lot.

Less a film and more like a pseudo-drug, I can’t deny it, INCEPTION is mind-bogglingly brilliant. In fact, I think I like it more than MEMENTO, and that’s saying something…

Ben Barton

SCREENSHOTS FROM OUR NEW FILM!

Above are some (of the best) screenshots from the first reel to come back from the lab. Fantastic aren't they?

This 50ft reel of super-8 was supposed to be the romantic ending of our new Roundeye opus, 5,000 Miles From Hollywood. We hired the magically retro Silver Screen Cinema in Folkestone for the scenes - and Benny B and Jimmy D made great big tits out of themselves, praying to the icons of old Tinsletown and munching on popcorn all loved-up, and much more besides. But the sad sad thing is - you'll never get to see it!

Lab error, faulty film, broken camera - we don't know what's gone wrong here folks. But we are crossing every crossable part of our bodies and hoping that the remaining three colour reels (currently at another lab) will be ok. So maybe we'll be able to salvage something and still have a film to show you... If not - suicide or something else suitably dramatic will be on the cards...

Please leave us alone to go have a wee cry.

See you soon.

The Roundeyes

HI-HO, HI-HO OFF TO THE LAB THEY GO!

That there be the undeveloped film for the latest Roundeye work-in-progress, 5,000 Miles From Hollywood. I gave them a wee kiss for good luck before packing them off to the lab, so fingers crossed my compadres!

Ben Barton

KENNETH ANGER RISING

Last night I attended a talk and screening from legendary filmmaker, visual magus and raconteur, Kenneth Anger, at the Tate Modern in London.

I have been eagerly waiting for Dr Anger to return to the UK, and let’s face it, he’s 83 now - even though he’d swear blind he’s only 80 (he’s not) - so the chances of him making frequent visits seems pretty slim these days.

Held in the Tate’s tiny cinema, it was a great night. True, some of the classics were left off the bill – most notably Fireworks and Scorpio Rising, but I still enjoyed it.

First up was Mouse Heaven, Anger’s ode to the darker side of Disney, back in the early days when Mickey Mouse had a more devilish grin and evil glint in his eye. Although Anger claimed to have shot some 16mm footage in the 1980s, this version is strictly digital. A kaleidoscope of dancing Mickeys coupled with gaudy chroma-key backgrounds, this is the best Anger film of the 21st century, so far. Along with Rabbit’s Moon, it is probably the only Anger film you could label ‘fun’.

Then came Red Witch, a truly great piece of film. This one wasn’t actually by Anger, but a found footage piece constructed by his ‘producer and collaborator’ Brian Butler (who was also in attendance). Red Witch is a re-cut 8mm home movie of Marjorie Cameron, but not like any homespun footage you’ve ever seen before! She sits like a cat in her living room, surrounded by her grandchildren, who watch as she applies layer after layer of magickal make-up. As this mystical process progresses, the kids laze around and climb over their grandmother, who seems to be in a trance, as the soundtrack and thumping visuals build to a psychedelic climax.

Cameron – who preferred to be known by the mononym – was a fascinating character, who surely deserves a biopic all of her own. A real life witch, artist, underground movie star, wife of the famous rocket scientist Jack Parsons (who blew himself up in the shed one day) and friend of Kenneth Anger, she is the original ‘Scarlet Woman’ and the best part of the classic Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome.

It’s strange that the most memorable film of the night wasn’t actually by Anger, but it was this film I kept on thinking about as the evening wore on. Cameron is such a big part of the Anger legend, so to see a completely different side to her, and to see how very old she looked, was more than fascinating. The soundtrack (also by Butler, I believe) was pretty good too. If you want to see more of Cameron – albeit just a glimpse – then I highly recommend Night Tide, a little-known cult classic by Anger’s chum Curtis Harrington – in which Cameron has a creepy little cameo role. It’s also a good little reminder that Dennis Hopper was actually really sexy back in the day (look out for the not-so-subtle homoerotic subtext in the ‘massage scene’).

Invocation of My Demon Brother was next on the bill. Visually, this film is unique, with a dark streak that makes it just a little disturbing. Like all of his work, Anger had a number of dubious stories concerning how this film came about: he has always claimed that the original footage for this film was stolen, and so what we have here is ‘scraps from the cutting bin’. Whether or not that’s true – and it seems doubtful, as some of the film’s striking images are hardly stuff you would throw away – it’s just another part of the Anger legend which I love. Also, Mick Jagger’s bizarre and headachey synthesiser soundtrack has a way of keeping you alert and fixed on the screen.

Next up on the film programme was Brush of Baphomet, which is basically a sequel to Anger’s 2002 film The Man We Want To Hang. Another straight rostrum camera-type catalogue of Crowley paintings. Not exactly my cup of Chai, but there you go.

Finally, we were ‘treated’ to the Jimmy Page version of Lucifer Rising. This version is slightly shorter and was never officially released, giving it star status in the eyes of many Anger fans. Sadly though, I am not one of them. I don’t care for Page or Led Zeppelin or anything like that, so although I’m glad I saw this curious piece, I wouldn’t rush out to see it again. Page’s soundtrack is truly ear-splitting. And it’s no poetic simile to say the ‘music’ sounds like nails scraping a blackboard – it actually DOES sound like nails scraping a blackboard – all 25 minutes of it! It was something to be endured rather than enjoyed – and I kept thinking of those experiments on my fellow homos in the 60s, where they were tied down in medicinal viewing rooms and forced to watch porn while being electrocuted – a cinema experience dealing in pain rather than pleasure. What a shame, because Lucifer is a truly excellent film. It has a polished look and such great locations, you can’t help but be mesmerised by it. But give me the ‘real’ Bobby Beausoleil version any day. At least you can enjoy that one without Advil.

In the Tate cinema I noticed that some of the (very young) crowd seemed a little boorish, a bit distracted. I got the impression they had read the Hollywood Babylon books and not much else. They weren’t proper Anger mainlining smackheads like me. That’s why I wish the great man had put Fireworks up there on the screen. That would surely have given them a shake.

During the obligatory Q&A which followed the screenings, there was a rather uncomfortable wall of silence from the audience – save for the sound of their backs sliding down into the chairs. But thankfully it was all kept very brief, so wasn’t too painful, thank Thelema.

I had brought with me my prized promo editions of the Fantoma DVDs for Anger to sign, if I got the chance to ask. I also had a DVD with a couple of my films on it – now I don’t know if Anger has a DVD player, even if he does I’m sure he couldn’t give a rat’s arse about my films, but hey, it was worth a shot. So while I was planning how to approach this subject and cajole him into autographing my DVDs without looking like some fawning fan, I noticed that the talk was over, and Anger was stomping up the staircase with the agility of a nubile moonchild half his age.

So realising that my idol was very soon to exit stage left, I made a beeline for the doors. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet him – as I entered the lobby I just saw him stepping into the lift while some pretentious gallery assistant flitted around with a clipboard and poked at the buttons. So that was how my night ended – with the elevator doors sliding shut, then Kenneth Anger rising… up into the towers of Bankside.

Ben Barton

BARGAIN BIN BENNY

I personally believe that you haven’t made it as a poet until you’ve landed in the bargain bin, so you can imagine my absolute JOY when I discovered that Waterstones have finally put me there. A couple of my Red Books were stacked in the paper graveyard, thankfully looking very well thumbed and read – just the way I like it. They must have been on the shelf a good three years...

So what if no one decided to dig deep and buy these orphaned copies – they took the time to have a read – which is validation enough for me. Treat the large chain bookshops like free libraries, that's what I say. For all their inflated prices they deserve it!

Now this creased copy is up for the grand total of 99p! Utter bargain! I was so happy I had to record the moment for posterity...

Sorry for the fuzzy snap – you know I’m a technophobe, and that includes newfangled camera-phones I’m afraid!

Ben Barton

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.