I have been overwhelmed by the response that Cotton Stones has been given by the Vimeo community! It has revitalised my thoughts on how to use the web as a platform for ‘theatrical’ content. I am so pleased to now feel like a part of the Vimeo world as well as some of the other online opportunities that have arisen since it was uploaded. I hope that I can give a little back and help other film-makers with this site where I plan to discuss my current practice in detail as well as film-making in a wider context.
I would love it if as many people as possible could subscribe to the Editopen RSS/Atom feed so you can keep up to date and join in the discussion! (also a link on the right hand side)
Hey Jon,
I commented on vimeo that I really like the style of Cotton Stones. I have become a fan of the European film industry. Nothing against what Hollywood produces, they produce some great stuff. Being from the states I see that Hollywood likes to put the business and money first before the art and before the creative process. For some reason I have the impression that Europe is much different in that it is almost the opposite. The art first, the business second. It just seems like the films that come out of Europe have a greater artistic vision that doesn’t try to replicate the Hollywood cliches. What are your thoughts on this?
Also online content is becoming very popular. I know independent directors who are posting short clips from their films to help promote it. Bigger studios are doing this now too. Not only are they posting the trailers but also maybe the first 7 min or so of the film. It’s a good marketing tool.
Congrats again on producing such a great piece.
— Tim · May 29, 04:14 AM · #
Hey Tim, thanks for the comments and for joining us at editopen. You pose a massive question about Hollywood and European film!! In a nutshell I think that the main reason for the differences is that Hollywood is an industrial process whereas in Europe it is often purely independent – without a constant turnover of cash within a ‘film industry’ (although it invariably does)
The UK tends to lean more towards the US in the style of it’s big films. France for example has a much better representation for the arts and its films are often more heavily state funded than elsewhere. In my opinion this is good as it shows that there is a genuine need for cinema recognised by the government.
I could go on about this a lot longer and may in fact turn it into a post.
— Jon · May 31, 07:24 PM · #
Hi Jon, this is Samuel from Italy.
Well, I just saw “Cotton Stones” and I really loved it…for real, such a surprise!
Sorry for my English, I can’t express my self as I Would, but I just wanna express all my appreciation; your style, the colours, the short story, everything’s so perfect…I really would like it to continue for another hour.
I love the U.K. and I’m really interested in discovering aspects of contemporary British young people, so maybe this is another aspect of your work that attracts me, even if it’s a short story!
Sometimes it’s a hard to see and find this kinda work or even “real” movies from abroad countries; a lot of times they just stay inside the national circuit system so I’m sure I’m missing a lot of good stuff, sometimes it’s just a translation barrier, I really hate to see dubbed movies but this is a normal thing here in Italy and also in other non-english speaking countries.
Maybe, thanks to Vimeo and similar sites, there are or there will be more possibilities for videomakers and viewers.
Ok, I think I write enough things.
It’s so strange to me, to crash, to find other so far realities just clicking a mouse…ending watching such a good work just for case…it’s so incredible…I’m still kind of schocked…..
I really feel lucky in this moment.
This is one of the positive aspects of internet.
Ciao.
I hope to keep in touch.
Ciao Samuel
— Samuel · Jun 11, 01:44 AM · #
I’ve just come across this. I think it is absolutely brilliant. Simple as.
— Rich · Jul 7, 07:12 PM · #