F.A. You describe 'Feel Me' as a music video and a remix of a scene from your feature film 'Us.' What made you go back to this particular scene in the film and create a piece of work that would stand on its own?
C.T. Last November, I started MICRO FILMS Web TV on Film Annex to showcase my films in micro format. Since then I’ve been able to look at every film I directed for the past fifteen years with a new eye, making remixes or showing excerpts from my features like a DJ who uses samples. Around November, I was showing some of my films in London on VHS Basement’s "Bring your own shorts" night. My friend Jiska Morgenthal (who’s one of the dancers in the film) and I presented the film to the audience. Martin Love (from independent record label Botchit & Scarper) also saw the film and called me two days later to say that he was producing a new release for Flore (ft. Shunda K) and asked whether I would like to make a music video using the images from my film. That was the trigger to make “Feel Me.” I always wanted to make music videos and this sounded like a great challenge! I didn’t have access to the original footage (shot in super 16 in Portugal) so I had to work with the edited version of two scenes from the film, which I sort of ‘pirated’ from my own DVD. It was quite a challenge to sync it up with a new song because all the choreography and editing had been made for a Lydia Lunch tune in the original film. I had to find a new pace and vibe in the images, a new way to cut them, which would suit Flore’s music. We then sent it to MTV who banned it as the content is quite sexy. So we are quite happy with the War of Films award and to be able to show the film on Film Annex. It’s great to be able to bring images back to life which otherwise wouldn’t be seen.
F.A. What was the production process like? What was your budget and how many people worked on the film?
C.T. US is a full-length feature film shot in super 16, which I wrote, directed, and edited. Everything you see in these images was made for the film from scratch, from my drawings: the set, the clothes, and the choreography. We were filming the scenes in a warehouse around Lisbon, which opereated as an independent theatre company. We were there for about two weeks and worked six days a week, twelve hours a day. The crew consisted of about 30 people when we were filming the scenes you see in Feel Me. The actors, dancers, trapeze artists, and extras were all dressed up. The scenes were pretty demanding and we were working with a single camera, so I had everything storyboarded. The dance was pretty much choreographed for the camera and the camera positions. We put the clothes together ourselves, and I worked with an amazing make-up artist. The film had financial support from the Portuguese Film Institute (about 400.000 Euros were given to the film).
F.A. How is this video tied to your new project LONDON GROUND?
C.T. LONDON GROUND is a web series consisting of short experimental films about the underground artistic scene in London. The films are about the work of these artists and their creative encounter with me. For example, Botchit and Scarper is an underground record label producing dance music (http://www.botchit.com), and it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to work with them. We help each other out, and there’s no money involved. For instance, they let me use their music in LONDON GROUND’s trailer and helped me with the votes for ‘War of Films.’ With the award money, we are planning to make a film about the label and another music video for a new release by Jazzsteppa. As a matter of fact, I started LONDON GROUND because of my curiosity and admiration for other people’s artwork in London. You can examples of this by visiting http://microfilmswebtv.com
F.A. How have you been promoting this video in the War of Films? What kind of tools did you use for spreading the word about your work?
C.T. I’ve been using Facebook, Twitter, my blog, my website, email + IndieGoGo as well as my Web TV. I also made a group on Facebook for LONDON GROUND, because LONDON GROUND is a community project. I think the project will grow organically. As soon as I finish a film, I upload it on my Web TV so the connection always stays immediate. I really like that, it’s a very different contact with the ‘audience’, very direct and often personal.
F.A. Any projects in works you'd like to tell us about?
C.T. Yes, LONDON GROUND is the project at the moment. I’m planning to make 16 short films for it so far. I started to upload the first episodes on my Web TV last week and there are more to come. The financing process for LONDON GROUND is a whole new experience as I am using money generated only through sources on the Internet. MICRO FILMS Web TV is one way. People are contributing for the funding of LONDON GROUND just by watching my films and voting on them, all for free. This month, Feel Me won ‘War of films’ so the cash prize from the contest goes toward the production of the films. That’s the way I hope the project can become sustainable. I also launched the project at IndieGoGo http://www.indiegogo.com/LONDON-GROUND, which is a platform that makes film financing easy through donations. Anyone can make an online contribution and help with the financing of the films. We are also planning screenings, parties, and a DVD release.
