AN INTERVIEW ON THE NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL BY XAQUE GRUBER .

XAQUE GRUBER’S QUESTIONS ON THE AMANDA ELIASCH’s FILM

The gun the cake and the butterfly for The New Media Film Festival.

1.    How did new media/new approaches in filmmaking play a part in the creation of The Gun, The Cake & The Butterfly?

The new approach to film equipment made the film possible. If I had completely known everything it would have made it much cheaper and I could almost have done the whole production side on my own at home.
I did not.  I have used many cameras but shooting digitally has made the

Film making world come alive with a mobile making a film, tiny cameras doing a good job too and in my case the Canon, the beautiful canon, which everybody thinks you are taking photographs when you are in fact shooting a film. Incredible.  There are many other filmmakers able to make films now for next to nothing and this makes the whole cinematic world come alive.  

Also remember after making the film and editing it, the real costs are the same again to sell it..
I made this film to increase the  number of females making films.  If people will not invest in them, then the film has to be as cheap as possible and look as good as possible so the new equipment enables this to happen.

2.    Your trailer is a beautiful snapshot of your feature – talk about the challenges in crafting an effective trailer.  

This was incredible easy in fact. The trailer is a common sense flow of the story. It moves in circles and is beautifully crafted by the production people involved.  I would have originally just done my face looking out of the window. The trailer definitely makes you want to see the film.

3. What advice would you give to a filmmaker who is about to embark on creating a 2 minute trailer of their first feature film?

For first time film makers my advice would be make sure you all get on, make sure that the script is fairly tight, and make sure you understand every aspect of film making so that you do not overspend.  If you do not understand everything, it leaves areas where you can be taken for a ride. It was an incredible experience for me. You do though need to choose carefully when working with people. for me the most important attributes are integrity, loyalty and honesty. These are very difficult to find.

4. What intrigues you most about new media/new approaches in filmmaking?

As a photographer originally the new formats give me huge opportunity to experiment with the medium. It makes everything possible. One of the best films was made on no budget at all on an iPhone. Mine was made on a smallish budget with a Canon. The film simply could not have been made on original cameras. 
I like to follow the advice of Mr McKenna "This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering its a feather bed.”
– Terence McKenna

WORN OUT SHOES

I have been rushed off my feet for weeks getting my film ready and there still is masses to do.  Today I am showing it for the first time at the BFI although I am planning to re shoot two or three scenes. I do not like them anymore. The people in it seem jaded and my friend Peter Medak made me see with new eyes. He felt the film should only be about the ego and the alter ego, keep it simple. Only two people to tell a story, with masses of music, wonderful appearances, four or five gorgeous men who look incredible and some funny stories.  Soon Tuesday there could be massive sieving. Oh dear...

I strive for perfection as it is  attractive but only a few people can achieve this. In the end it is a two edge sword. This film, The gun the cake and the butterfly, has given me wonderful moments and I have loved making it.
As for love, love love...
My worst fear would be to live with someone that I didn't love. I have done it, but not enjoyed it.  It is better to be on my own than to only tolerate another human in my life. Love is the most wonderful thing. That is what I am aiming for, total adoration. Okay enough about love. With the man of my life I had to be silent and invisible just to stay in the equation..Not for me.

There are things I like, like, charity and forgiveness are top of the list. As we are all small mammals it is easier to forgive than to carry huge sacks on your back.  I like to give things to people, many presents, much love. I like them to succeed. However, although not an accountant, I do like something in return. Acknowledgement, gratitude, forgiveness, love would be good. Some people are incapable of any friendship unless it has a carrot in front of the letter F, usually in the shape of CASH.

This week I was fortunate to see Jeanne Marine host a wonderful event in aid of the terrible calamity in Japan, The Massato and Yukiko Foundation, held at their famous hair salon in Fulham Road, and see  my other wonderful friend,Nicky Haslam's opening at OKA for his new book Folly de Grandeur.  It was a busy week, then I had a fabulous dinner with the outspoken and charming Mark Shand. I asked him how much it would be to save the elephant trails throughout India so they can roam freely would cost about fifty million. You would think that one of the rich Indians would want to do that? It is not just the elephants that would benefit but other animals? He is a man with a heart to fight for such a wonderful beast. He is giving the party of the year on the 9th July.

Success is a decision, a decision you have to take. I have taken it.

TOM FORD "I HOPE I AM NICE". An exclusive interview at Harrods, oops Selfridges

T
Tom Ford is looking good, broad shoulders, small waist, slim arms, perfectly groomed, dishy and masculine, no longer in the skinny jeans and jacket of the Gucci Days. Architect, Fashion Designer, Business Man, he has created and built up quite a few empires. Tom Ford is so many things that he becomes a super hero. Surprisingly he admits to being an introvert, anxious and a lover of being on his own. This he has only found out recently. He was astonishingly good at school, and the students wanted to kill him. He loves his Mother and won't tell her age as she wouldn't like it., but she looks good. His family are normal his sister teaches English in Los Angeles. From this start he has become a demi God, and a likeable one too. At the moment he is doing his first feature film, and has been editing it for the last 5 months.. He plans to do several more too. From riding, manure and sweat he has taken the world by storm. Are you interested in Politics?he is asked. No he says, but if only, I think. He admires Obama as the shining new force in America. He has the ability to be shocking and pure in the same sentence. He has a long term lover.
Wow, and I want to have dinner with him tonight, because he exudes a sexuality, that is a rarity. One bit of advice, he gave is, if you wish to be iconic, find your style and keep to it. He believes fashion does not need changing so rapidly, it is driven by journalists and the society we live in. As for old age, he doesn't intend to look old, he wants to touch his toes at eighty, drive, be fit and look good at all times.

RED SHOES AND SCORSESE