Mix&Mash Winner- Benjamin Dawson
Benjamin Dawson has won the Creative Commons UK film Remix Competition, Mix&Mash, with his entry 'Britain...'
As the overall winner Benjamin receives the Avid Xpress Pro Software worth £1059.
His film will also be included in a screening in the near future. The film will featured on Google Video UK and Creative
Commons UK.
We interviewed him to learn about his veiws on remixing and his inspiration for the film:
CCuk: When did you first become interested in Remixing?
Benjamin: I first became interested in remixing when i started VJing about a year ago ago under the name of blonde, with friend and colleague Doug Newman. We've been involved with up and coming London based artists and DJ's creating music videos, documentaries and promos, and felt that VJing was a natural progression to take our audio/visual relationship to the next stage. It allowed us to get involved with the artists on a performance level which, in a way, amplified the creative relationship and overall experience of the gig, for us and everyone in the venue.
CCuk: Why do you like remixing?
Benjamin: It's an exhilarating experience, especially in a live environment. It's also good fun and really enhances the trip. You're like a scratch DJ, taking what you need and throwing it into the mix. You feed off so many influences - the music, the audience, your experience, the clips etcetera - it all works it's way into the narrative; you never really know what direction you're heading into next. The way this effects the audience is off the scale. People unfold the same song a thousand ways, so when you experience alien interpretations projected behind the band or DJ, there's this absorption that takes over and suddenly you're not on your usual cruise! The edit suite is just the same, throw it all in; remold, refashion and regurgitate.
CCuk: How did you find the materials you used for the remix? Would you
wish there are better archives?
The majority came from the Internet Archive. It's an excellent resource. The remaining clips originated from the BFI. Waiting to see what will emerge from their archives in the future is really exciting.
Recently it felt like there was a slight lack of decent resources. Now with the BFI, Open University and the BBC opening-up their collections, there will hopefully be greater diversity of material and more organisations following suit.
CCuk: How did you pick the particular interpretation of your film?
Benjamin: I wanted to recreate the lyrics of an iconic british song like London's Calling (Britannia Sucks) and interpret it through the sound and vision of yesteryear Britain (Britannia Rules). This however proved a bit difficult when trying to phonetically create words that were not spoken in the films chosen and time was ticking. I wanted to create something simple, but concise and to the point. I kept remembering past conversations with older members of the family who loved to reminisce about the good old days. Then I thought if the people of the past could speak through these films, the films they made when you could leave your front door open without worry, walk down the road without being stabbed; what would they say..
CCuk: Are you, or do you want to be, professionally involved in film
making?
Benjamin: Most of my time is spent being involved with blonde, where along with Doug, we continue to develop music and film related projects. We are also both freelance Directors and Final Cut Pro/Avid editors.
CCuk: Did Creative Commons help you to know what you can do while remixing?
Benjamin: The 'legal stuff' section of the website was really handy in demystifying every angle of usage possibility.
CCuk: What is on the horizon in the realms of re-mixing?
Benjamin: blonde co-produce 'Nova Lujon' (novalujon.com) alongside JazzDJ, a monthly Jazz / Funk / Nu-Jazz event which is also being included in this summers Festival Five. We will also continue to VJ on the underground music scene. More info on blondefilms.com or myspace.com/blondefilms
Mix&Mash Finalist- Kim Keilhofner
Kim Keilhofner is one of the three finalists of the Creative Commons UK film Remix Competition, Mix&Mash, with her entry:
'Hail the Faliure of Urban Planning'
- The three finalists receive a Avid Liquid Software Pack worth £309.
- A screening of the films will be organised in the near future.
- They will also be featured on Creative Commons UK.
To have a look at all the entries go to www.mixandmash.cc
We interviewed Kim to learn about his veiws on remixing and her inspiration for the film:
CCuk: When did you first become interested in Remixing?
Kim: I became interested in remixing in my video practice because I wanted to create a visual style that complemented my interest in literary and artistic traditions of pastiche. I am interested in how identities interact with culture, and remixing is a technique that addresses this question quite well.
CCuk: How did you pick the particular interpretation of your film?
Kim: I wanted to create a work that was very clearly constructed, I wanted to create a nice movement that built into intensity into a conclusion. I matched the images and soundtrack to do this. I contrasted the smoothness with "the shock of the moment" including sounds that are often harsh and the strong text.
My interest in this comes from ideas about representation, what is possible to represent, and what comes of creating a representation of something abstract.
CCuk: Are you, or do you want to be, professionally involved in film making?
Kim: Yes, I do want to be involved professionally. I am most interested in developing my practice in experimental video/film.
Mix&Mash Finalist- Stuart Wood
Stuart Wood is one of the three finalists of the Creative Commons UK film Remix Competition, Mix&Mash, with his entry:
- The three finalists receive a Avid Liquid Software Pack worth £309.
- A screening of the films will be organised in the near future.
- They will also be featured on Creative Commons UK.
To have a look at all the entries go to www.mixandmash.cc
We interviewed Kim to learn about his veiws on remixing and her inspiration for the film:
CCuk: When did you first become interested in Remixing?
Stuart: That was only my second attempt of remixing other peoples media, I have also entered the StrayCinema competition , which I also enjoyed it's amazing what different interpretations can be made from similar media.
CCuk: Why do you like remixing?
Stuart: I like remixing because it allows me to take part in the editing part of film making, it is not always possible to create your own footage. It allows me to tell the story as I imagine it which is quite often different to what others see.
CCuk: How did you find the materials you used for the remix? Would you
wish there are better archives?
Stuart: I spent a lot of time going through internet archive and also on FlickrStorm. I found that there was very limited quality open source video which was why I chose to form the majority of my film using pictures. Having better archives would be very useful.
CCuk: How did you pick the particular interpretation of your film?
Stuart: I chose to base my film on the them "Britannia Rules" because I feel that England is a great country and although we have made some mistakes there are a lot of good things about it.
CCuk: Are you, or do you want to be, professionally involved in film
making?
Stuart: I would very much like to be involved in film making in the future, I make mini movies with friends and edit them at the minute, but it would be fabulous to actually make a feature length film.
Mix&Mash Finalist- Joe F
Joe-F is one of the three finalists of the Creative Commons UK film Remix Competition, Mix&Mash, with his entry:
- The three finalists receive a Avid Liquid Software Pack worth £309.
- A screening of the films will be organised in the near future.
- They will also be featured on Creative Commons UK.
To have a look at all the entries go to www.mixandmash.cc
We interviewed Joe to learn about his veiws on remixing and her inspiration for the film:
CCuk: When did you first become interested in Remixing?
Joe-F: About 2 year ago when I decided to put together some video footage for my own music
CCuk: Why do you like remixing?
Joe-F: Its very creative. its staggering the difference it can make to a storyline by remixing the edited footage
CCuk: How did you find the materials you used for the remix? Would you wish there are better archives?
Joe-F: I found most of my stuff on archive.org the other material came from a royalty free stock footage disc I have.
CCuk: How did you pick the particular interpretation of your film?
Joe-F: The Jerusalem song was perfect and a lot of the images were of the American influence in our society today(all bad) gun culture etc. Are the Americans building there on little Jerusalem on British soil?
CCuk: Are you, or do you want to be, professionally involved in film making?
Joe-F: I would love it . but we can only dream!
CCuk: Did Creative Commons help you to know what you can do while remixing?
Joe-F: I had a good idea of what I was up to but creative commons certainly gave me an avenue to explore something other than videos for my own music
Mix &Mash Film Remix Competition
Creative Commons' UK film competition "Mix & Mash" in association with Google UK invites short video submissions mixing and mashing digital content. Submissions can be made from the 8th of February to the 10th of March. The winners will be notified by the 12th of March and screened on the 16th of March at the Optronica National Film Theatre in London.
Remixing digital content is the basis for this competition. Digital pictures, sound or films licensed through Creative Commons and Public Domain material need to be used. Entrants can use their creativity to remix the work of others with their own. The result will be a collage of original and re-used material.
Submissions
Submissions can be made under the theme: Britannia Rules / Britannia Sucks
– No work should be longer than three minutes.
Films will be made available online under a Creative Commons Noncommercial license. For terms and conditions, and more details go to:www.MixandMash.cc
Prizes
The four best entries will be awarded professional film editing software and hardware, be included in a special Optronica screening at the National Film Theatre on the 16th of March and be featured on Google Video UK.
Judges
Panel of Judges will include
– Cory Doctorow; Author and Co-Editor of BoingBoing
– Greg Hall; Film Director
– Hari Kunzru; Author
– William Fowler; Curator - British Film Insitute
– Jess Search; CEO BritDoc Festival/Shooting People
The competition will be managed by Creative Commons UK. The sponsors include the Arts Council, Google UK, and Avid. Media partners are Shooting People, Open Democracy, Mute and the British Film Institute.
