Monday 28 November 2011

Interview with director Fabrizio Federico




  
 
Did you have much experience in film before you made Black Biscuit ?

Nothing but a love for movies. I’ve always been into underground cinema, stuff like Andy Warhols early Edie Sedgwick films, Tarnation, Julien Donkey Boy, Buffalo 66, The Last Movie by Dennis Hopper which is my favorite film. I wanted to change the rules of cinema. To improvise like Jazz, and to be adventurous.
To get rid of professionalism, actors, plot, story boards, traditions and create a film that stands alone and new.

How did you finance the film ?

I didnt sit down one day and say ‘Im going to get a budget together, then Im gonna find some actors, then locations…’ no, I just did it on the run.
Filming took about 1 year. If I met someone who was interesting, or charismatic I’d ask them if they wanted to be in a movie with me.
Whatever. Some of the cast were people who aspired to be actors but I had them play themselves. We’re surrounded by superstars and we don’t even see it.

I was working as a life model, and I just fed that money into the project. I also went from door to door asking people to donate 1gbp.
The film cost about 500gbp to make. It was shot on my mobile phone, and some childrens cameras. I was going through a Jim Jones cult, vampire, psychedelic 60’s faze when I made it.

It’s a very distinctive film, what gave you the concept ?

I just thought that there were a lot of unwritten laws, rules, and targets that filmmakers subconsciously have tattooed on their brains about cinema.
That cinemas should look and be a certain way.
All this film dogma come’s from critics, film teachers, internet trolls, and some of the film festival submission rules. And for a young filmmaker all that can really kill your style.
I don’t like being told what to do when it comes to being creative, so I made a film that would burn all these misconceptions on how to make a feature film.
You don’t need experience, technology, money, or even a plan to do it, just let the love of being creative take over you on the spot.

Theres a lot of footage ?

There’s a lot of life out there.

What is the plot of the film ?

The film is more about a spirit than a plot, I guess I wanted to capture today’s zeitgeist.
I see a lot of disappointment and isolation. Young kids who cant find direction or work, mass social surveillance with CCTV, celebrity culture, governments you cant trust.
We’re living in an untrusting world, we’ve almost got too much freedom, but no freedom.
This century is going to be a Catch 22 I can feel it.
I chose to look for the most common character of our times. Lost misfits.
People that don’t belong anywhere, a Black Biscuit. They live way, way out on the outskirts of society.
Whether your homeless, or a internet media whore your still missing.
I wanted to show the world these characters, and to get rid of some of the myths that surround’s the lonesome drifter anti-hero. The Film director as the new modern rebel.


The films technique is very diverse, what led you to this style ?

I just work off the cusp, I don’t plan at all. I sit down and follow a path. Some days I’ll feel like Im from the 1920’s, another day I might be choppy or in a cinema-verite mood.
Im constantly changing, shedding my skin, Im like a rolling stone not gathering any moss. I don’t follow trends, I live in my own strange universe.
I guess Im a bit like that character from American Beauty, the one who films the plastic bag….Ricky something.
I see beauty in a lot of trivial things, stuff that gets lost in this fast world we live in.
The types of films I love often get called pretentious, but I feel that’s just from people who don’t have an open mind and are scared of the unknown.
Try something new, and be a creator not a critic.






Thursday 13 October 2011

Fabrizio Federico - Libertine of Film

I dont think film has enough troublemakers any more, but what is the definition of a 
troublemaker ?

A person who interrupts or interferes with peace and quiet - someone who causes disorder and commotion - a rowdy or mischievous person - someone who deliberately stirs up trouble


But in my book, troublemakers also move things forward, and in the film world that can definitely be said about people like Lars Von Trier (who has been silenced by the police), Abel Ferrara, 
Trantino, John Waters, Gaspar Noe.
But where are the new breed of L'Enfant terrible ?


Recently I was listening to BBC radio and they mentioned an incident that happened when they brought  an independent filmmaker onto their morning show, and he pulled out a water pistol and started shooting the other guests on air.
The director was Fabrizio Federico, I looked him up and got in contact by email and asked him about his views. This is what he mailed back:

Hi

Lets see.......................................
For my next movie Im going to accuse the god-damn government of turning entertainment into the new religion. The computer is now our new God, it used to be the television.
I have kicked the Ideals of cinematography right in the balls because it has made cinema old.
Im the king of anti-pretension, anyone can do what I do if u have the guts. 
Theres more meaning off the stage, all we gotta do is sweep away elitism, the same goes with standards :::: which are an old boring man.
I want film to b born out of a dug deal. 
Black Biscuit is about people facing their contradictions. I dont want film to go sterile and scared of change.
Whats wrong with wanting to immortalize everybody, everyones got magic in them.
Do you want me to say it ?  Money has killed us!!!!
My libertine Whitechapel heart screams: change, exploration, subconsciousness, polarity, and more bullets.
Cultural heritage curators are like child whores.
Why are things beautiful only if their polished ?
What do you think about the look of broken glass ?
England is going through a cultural cringe, and we need to be less polite to get what we want ===== Hello........Libya anyone.
I've been reincarnated from (1966 - 69) and Im going to bring film into the future.
I tries.

I think England's lucky to have this one.





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