into the white: Evelyna

Back from Camerimage Festival in Lodz. Here is a summary of what went down. The following was written a few days during the festival.

* I have added links to the film makers names as I am aware most people don't know who these people are, but you will from the body of work they have done.

If I didn’t need to sleep during the festival, I probably wouldn’t. Saying that, I haven't been getting much sleep. As part of the festival, there is a disco they organize for the duration and is nearby. I have been everyday bar one. I get back to the hotel about 7am and have some breakfast while still drunk and then go to bed until 2pm. Watch films, attend workshops and Q&A's and then back to the club again. I have met some new friends/colleagues and even some of the volunteers.

Steven Goldblatt gave an excellent Q&A and also a good lighting/DIY grade check workshop. Funnily enough, I have been doing the same thing for years (digital stills and grading in Photoshop). Ang Lee gave a touching, rambling, insightful and intelligent Q&A yesterday. The man is full of humanity. I asked a question and even got to shake his hand. Michael Seresin and Alan Parker were like a comedy duo. Saw Vittorio Storaro on stage, and he talked A LOT although we have to respect the man. He shot a text book Cinematographer’s film, The Conformist. The highlight of one day was meeting Harris Savides. Me and some new friends got to ask many questions. I asked the most out of everyone. It was just Harris and no moderator. He is one of my favorite Cinematographer’s and it was a luxury to get to ask questions I wondered about. For instance a shot in the Café in American Gangster (dir. Ridley Scott) the faces are so dark you can barely se them and I wondered that it was so bold to do that but it was actually because Ridley told him to turn the light off! He said he wouldn’t have chosen to light it that way. The surprise today was that Roman Polanski turned up to collect an award. And apparantly he has never been in the 15 years this festival has been running. Saw a great doc about camerawomen around the world and the struggle and celebration of being so. So inspirational I actually cried.

The food is cheap and I have never eaten a bad meal. The alcohol is also cheap. It has been snowing for a few days. There are many attractive women but, not only that, they are also friendly. There is a free club everyday. There are some great films to watch. There are some great talks, workshops and Q&A’s. We get to meet and speak to the Cinematographers and some Director’s we admire.

It hasn’t been without feeling a little strange wandering around not knowing anyone sometimes but at most I feel fine about it.

Steven Goldblatt and also Ang Lee made an impassioned statement about how great it was that this is a rare place where all us Cinematographer’s/ Filmakers come together and share. There was also a good discussion hosted by Mike Figgis with Steven Goldblatt, Billy Williams and Vilmos Zsigmond regarding the future of film and digital. To see some of the top notch Cinematographers of their generation together really caring about their craft and the future of it was truly inspiring, touching and made me reform my appreciation of this art I practice.

When people say, ‘I hope you have an amazing time!’, You rarely do have an ‘amazing time’. This though, aren’t one of those times.