About Max Sobol:
“I’m a filmmaker – from Devon – currently working in London as a freelance Editor/cameraman/1st AD… anything that pays and plenty that doesn’t. I’m primarily a director of Drama. I’ve shot around 60 films of varying degrees of quality and interest; two through the Phoenix Media bursary scheme, another at Brief Encounters – as it was then called – several at The Arts Institute at Bournemouth where I studied Film Production and, more recently, three self-funded HD projects; two half hour and one of 70 minutes.
“The reason I am here in Germany is to have some meetings about a feature project that I am trying to get made.”
Devon filmmaker Max Sobol is reporting on the Berlinale (that’s the Berlin film festival, to us) for D+CFilm, while he attempts to raise the funds for his feature.
Introduction:
Why Berlin? Of all the film festivals out there, what makes Berlin special for those looking for cutting-edge cinema and a marketplace for ideas
Haircut:
Tonsure may not be top of your list when it comes to pitching your film, but you need to look the part to hob nob with the great and the good.
Images: 06.02.09
Pictures from the German capital during the first day of the film festival.
Friday at the Berlin film festival:
‘Arthouse’; Tilda Swinton; Herzog and Lynch, Tom Tykwer and emailing in search of £400,000
Saturday at the Berlin film festival:
How to choose which films to see at a festival? You’re sure find turkeys as well as gems. And how do you crack the film Market?
Sunday at the Berlin film festival:
These kind of film festivals are all about meeting people and sharing ideas, of brilliant and bustling events… and of events that are less so.
Monday at the Berlin film festival:
“It’s great to see someone at the top of the industry with a sense of perspective; people can get a bit too carried away with how important this whole shenanigan is.” The sobering sight of Tilda Swinton.
Tuesday at the Berlin film festival
“So, I’ve reached the halfway point of my stay, the rain has started to come down and there are only two days of the excellent Talent Campus left. That might sound a little downbeat but the truth is that things are just dandy!”
Wednesday at the Berlin film festival
“These events are always a bit odd, there’s always a lot of pretence; producer types trying to look ‘money’, overdressed rich girls taking pictures and filming themselves, blah blah blah. The point is though, it’s a great chance to meet people and due to the alcohol, everyone is in a pretty sociable mood – you just have to hope they’ll remember you in the morning.”
Thursday at the Berlin film festival
“The resounding advice for me, I think, is that timing is everything – don’t try and pitch a project before it’s ready.”
Friday at the Berlin film festival
“This is a lot like what my heaven would be I suppose. I think as a young director as well it’s important to get your face out there, eventually people are going to start to recognise you and assume you must be someone or something.”
.
READ: Max Sobol’s Filmmaker’s Guide to Preparedness at Film Festivals
.
Check out Max on his site, or see his films on The Best Days of the Week YouTube page.
.
.
.
.
Recent Comments