|
Article dated: 21st January 2010
*Update* Premiere Success for RH11
Picture: Felbridge-based producer Jonty Eggington and local young director Callum Johnstone at the Premiere.
Film Review by Sharon Terry
The premiere took place last sunday night at The Hawth, Crawley with an eager audience queuing up for the last remaining tickets.
Jonty and Callum began the evening by taking to the stage and thanking everyone who had supported them throughout the two years spent making the film - it's no mean achievement to see a project of this size through it's highs and lows to a very satisfying conclusion.
A mixture of local live music and rap artists played a sequence of sets, with Bandit (feat. Niaomi Parker) setting the tone of the evening with the line 'you gotta fight for your dreams'.
After an interval, when the stage was changed to a cinema screen, the excited audience resumed their seats to enjoy approximately one and a half hours of extremely well considered and imaginative directing.
The dialogue was as gritty as we had been told to expect, but avoided straying into laboured sentiment or meaningless 'padding'. The writers (Callum and Jack Gadd) put together a witty, sharp and thoughtful dialogue, with every word carefully chosen.
All the cast were confident but never 'acted up'. They seemed comfortable with their role in front of the camera - lets face it, they were playing parts in a subject they understood very well, of being teenagers growing up on an estate.
The editing was spectacularly good - I know this because most of the time I couldn't see it. Good editing is very powerful but shouldn't draw attention to itself - only the viewpoint. It can enhance the energy, the pace and the mood of a visual sequence.
Most came to see a film about their own community and were potentially the fiercest of critics. Yet when the film was over everyone cheered, showing long and appreciative applause.
The mood in the foyer afterwards was triumphant, and justifiably so, as all the cast reaped the rewards of their individual (and collective) commitment and self belief.
Jonty and Callum were visibly euphoric and described the evening as 'an experience' and 'unbelievable' respectively.
As a (much older) creative person, I was inspired by these young people who demonstrated just what talent and passion can achieve.
As I spoke briefly with Callum I recognised a trait that all creative people share: the moment when they start to think 'if only I'd done this' or 'I should've done that'.
In response I would urge Callum, Jonty and all the cast to not see such thoughts as negative but to see them as positive evidence of the creative spirit wanting to keep producing the best work they are clearly capable of. These are pointers for 'the next time'.
And I really hope there is a 'next time' for all of the emerging talents I witnessed during the RH11 project.
After all, if we creative types feel that there is nothing left to improve on or learn from then we should stop trying.
A DVD of the film is available at £6.99. See RH11 website link above for details
Emerging talent puts estate life in the frame
Article dated: 20th October 2009. Updated: 1st November 2009.
 Felbridge-based filmmaker Jonty Eggington is producing a new work with local young director Callum Johnston. The film is called 'RH11' and it tells the story of six close friends living on a tough estate.
Excerpt from film. Duration: .30''
Developed from a very successful 'A' level play it was originally co-written by Callum with fellow student Jack Gadd. The three friends then worked towards the screenplay version which deals with such subjects as gang violence and street culture.
Meridian FM's Sharon Terry met up with Jonty and Callum to find out more:
Duration: 5'00'' (incl. excerpt of film soundtrack by local artist Rippa ft. Envy)
The film aims to reflect the realities of growing up, where young people can experience some very tough rites of passage. The writing is inspired by the challenge to break free from a potentially bleak existance to a more hopeful future - something which those unfamiliar to some estate cultures might take for granted.
In the film, the pivotal moment is when the friends have to face this stark choice, following a tragedy which affects them all.
Jonty and Callum set up an audition process and a mixture of professional and amateur local actors stepped forward to be a part of the production. Many involved know first hand the sort of experiences estate life can bring to those growing up.
The crew and cast are obviously keen to recreate a realistic, gritty and compelling drama, yet there seems also to be a shared commitment to bring something positive back into their community.
Production cost have so far been met by Jonty and Callum dipping into their pockets, along with their friends, and this alone speaks volumes about the aims of a film which seeks to encourage those who, on the brink of full adulthood, can grasp life with passion - and believe that their goals can be reached, even beyond the location of their postcode.
Filming is due to finish soon and the screening of the completed 'RH11' is set for 17 January 2010 in Crawley. Advance tickets are now available.
MERIDIAN FM: GALLERY
Who we are and what we do.
Check the picture gallery
|
