Joan Miró Film for Tate Modern

My latest film is playing on Level 4 at Tate Modern and on their site here. 

The film explores Joan Miró's life and working practice, beginning at his first studio at his family's farm in Montroig.  Guided by Miró's grandson and the curators from Tate Modern, the film visits his complex of studios and workshops near Palma, Mallorca, where he moved after the Second World War and then worked prolifically until his death at the age of 93.  It includes rare material from films by Pere Portabella and Català Roca of Miró at work, and testimonials from friends who remember him as a remarkably generous and humble man.


The film was made to accompany the exhibition 'Joan Miró, The Ladder of Escape' at Tate Modern.  14 April - 11 September.   Directed, filmed and edited by MPH.

FLAT HOME

I've just posted a new film I made for the Not Applicable Festival of Experimental Music and Film this autumn in Berlin here.  

Different groups of musicians including the main N/A gang and special guests, improvised to the film on two different nights, and Isambard Khroustaliov (Sam Britton) mixed the recordings to create the sound track.  The idea was that the film should work as a score, so the shots are long enough for those playing to find the right feeling.  I used some of the material shot for the Gauguin film.  I think I prefer it without my voice/his words...

DP on The Silver Goat

I just shot a feature film, The Silver Goat, directed by Aaron Brookner. It's the first time I've worked as a DP on a full scale feature film.  For someone used to doing most things alone the experience of being part of a crew was fantastic .  I shot the whole thing handheld on my 5D Mark II in black and white using its ability to work in low light where possible, aiming for a strange hyper-natural noire style.  This seemed to fit the bleakness of the script; a dark psychological drama.  Watch the trailer here. 

We shot the entire feature in 10 intense shooting days which is pretty unheard of, all in locations around London.  I had access to some great lights thanks to Ben Liddell.  Thanks also to Anne Haaning who stepped in to shoot some of the steadycam scenes and pull focus.  Katy Zwetsloot-Hyatt kept things sane as cheerful camera assistant.

The film is being edited in Buenos Aires and will be ready for festival release some time in spring if all goes well.  

A film about Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds

I wanted to share this film directed by Kate Vogel for the Tate about Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seed installation. Kate has been commissioning films for many years but I believe this is her directorial debut.  I think its a great piece of work about an incredible project. Shame they've had to stop people walking on it because of the dust...

GAUGUIN IN HIS WORDS @ TATE MODERN

My latest project, ‘GAUGUIN IN HIS WORDS’, based on the letters of Gauguin to his friends and family, is currently playing on the 4th floor of the Tate Modern.  I filmed it with my new 5D Mark II which has opened up a lot of cinematic possibilities for me.


Having read so many of his letters I can't say that I like the man, but you have to appreciate his self-belief and intense focus which he sustained throughout his many travels.  I chose to avoid his moaning letters to his friends and estranged wife, and tried to concentrate instead on the moments when he talks directly about his art.


It was commissioned by Kate Vogel who used to run Channel 4's 3 Minute Wonders and now runs Tate Media. It was made to accompany the Gauguin exhibition which runs till late 2010.

The short film, based entirely on Gauguin's letters from the late 1900s, explores the artist's transition from conventional family man to avant-garde pioneer and maverick leader of the post-impressionist movement.

“Be an Impressionist to the bitter end and be afraid of nothing!”   

(To Emile Bernard, 1889)

Installation up and running

I haven't posted for several weeks as I've been very busy shooting and editing in preparation for the Northern Lights festival which opening this Sunday in Newcastle. 

I am finally showing three films: The first, called provisionally Gentle Oblivion, which is projected large on the wall, describes my half sister's life in France, how well she is coping and enjoying life despite her lack of memory.

Then two other short films are shown on Plasma screens with sound from headphones. Dementia in the Family describes Doug's family's heroic efforts to care for him and his dementia at home.  (See previous post  An Adaptive Family)

The Science of Dementia is a 20 minute piece in which a group of leading researchers attempt to explain what causes dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, but ultimately admit they are still somewhat in the dark.  

I hope that the three films will together begin a dialogue about what it means to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, how we need to rethink our attitudes to memory loss given how likely we are to experience it directly or indirectly through family and friends. 

The films are on show at the Great North Museum in Newcastle.  Information about the installation can be found here:

I hope to post all 3 films next week on vimeo and they will be viewable on this blog.

An Adaptive Family

On Sunday I spent the day filming with an amazing family which has unquestioningly taken on the task of coping with old age and dementia at home.  Ever since Doug (my friend Adem's 91 year old Grandfather) was discharged from hospital after a long stay with for a broken pelvis, he has been living in a bed in the front room of Adem's mother and step father's terrace house.  

Sunday Lunch:

Doug before going to hospital: 

He went into hospital physically well but was showing signs of relatively mild dementia. During his 3 months stay, he became and has remained completely confused, and is now unable to hold a conversation, although he talks a lot and can more or less express his needs. He is incontinent and needs to be changed regularly.

I wanted to film the family in action because I was so impressed by how they were coping with such an unusual set up in their living room.  Adem's step Father Rick no longer works, and has become the full time carer. Adem's mother Carol gets back from work and immediately helps out. They are often kept awake right through the night.  The rest of the family helps whenever they can to give them breaks because Doug can't be left alone in the house.

Although a care team will come three times a day to wash and change Doug's pads and dressings, the family will change him at least another six times in between these visits. It requires some serious nursing skill and is not for the squeamish. ALthough no one gave them any formal training before Doug's discharge they do it all with great humour and look after him with incredible patience. They are reconciled to it being their role, Doug having looked after everyone when they were young.  I wonder how many other families around the country are doing the same thing with the same stoicism.

An edit of the material shot with Doug will form part of the triptic of films in Newcastle if things go as planned.