The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival: Sam Taylor Wood Talk

The highly acclaimed artist and filmmaker comes to the BFI to discuss her career transition from gallery to cinema with Tim Marlow.



Whilst creating her first major artwork Killing Time in 1994, and the subsequent 1996 multi-screen works Travesty of a Mockery and Pent-Up, Sam Taylor-Wood gained valuable experience working with actors, and she has applied a cinematic sensibility to her still photographic work as well as her films ever since. Her diagnosis and recovery from both colon cancer in 1997 and breast cancer in 2001, influenced her already melancholic work, exploring and reflecting on the theme of mortality in such works as Still Life (2001) and A Little Death (2002) while experimenting with the distortion of time and motion. Pieces from 2005-2006; David, Prelude in Air and The Last Century, focus on moments of vulnerability and intimacy and remind us of elements now lost from our culture. Taylor-Wood's impressive short narrative film Love You More (LFF 2008) has much in common with her artwork, in as much that it is a simple idea, beautifully executed, and as with all of her work, it is the visual expression of the idea that is so original. We are proud to present the World Premiere of Sam's first feature Nowhere Boy as our Closing Night film, and very excited that she will be in conversation to discuss her work. Timothy Smith








Where
BFI NFT1

When
18:30 Tues 27 October

Pinewood Studios to host Water on the Lens exhibition

Entitled ‘Water on the Lens’, the exhibition comprises images of underwater shoots for film, TV, commercials and pop videos, celebrating the heart of Britain’s creativity with breathtaking art. Keira Knightley, Jared Leto, Sharon Stone, Matt Lucas and James Blunt are amongst those captured performing underwater, alongside sets from Casino Royale, Da Vinci Code, Eastenders, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Dr. Who

‘Water on the Lens’ will be sponsored by Hunter Boot, the quintessentially British brand renowned for wellington boots. Peter Taylor, MD for Hunter Boot comments “Hunter Boot are delighted to be the official sponsor of such a unique and beautiful exhibition. There is an obvious association for Hunter with such a strong water related theme and this exhibition showcases the creativity and skill involved in producing these breathtaking underwater images.”

This capsule collection provides a rare, behind-the-scenes view into one of the world’s most prestigious film and television studios and its Underwater Stage (U Stage) - a globally unique water-filming facility. The scene of a thousand iconic images, U Stage opened in 2005 after 5 years in concept and design by Dave Shaw of Diving Services UK, who manage the facility on Pinewood’s behalf. It houses a permanently filled water tank sized 20m x 10m x 6m deep, holding 1.2 million litres of water.

These inspiring pictures have been captured by Phoebe Rudomino, commercial diver and underwater photographer of Diving Services UK. "U Stage provides such a secure and comfortable water filming environment that we're able to produce almost any type of underwater production shoot” says Phoebe. “From working with horses and fire to the world’s top actors and models, the scenes are truly fascinating to capture."

‘Water on the Lens’ will form part of The Movieum of London in the Riverside Rooms, County Hall, Southbank, London SE1 from 1-28 October 2009.

Pinewood Studios to host Water on the Lens exhibition

Where
The Movieum of London
Riverside Rooms, County Hall, Southbank, London, England SE1

When
Thurs Oct 1 - Weds Oct 28, 2009

Exhibition Bridget Bardot and the Original Paparazzi.

Coinciding with the 75th Birthday of Brigitte Bardot on 28th September 2009, James Hyman Gallery presents an exhibition of 75 vintage photographs by some of the most famous paparazzi photographers.

Presented at the same time as London Fashion Week (18-22 September) Brigitte Bardot and the Original Paparazzi focuses on one of the greatest fashion icons of the twentieth century.

Brigitte Bardot . In her day she was quite something, as this exhibition of vintage photos shows. She had a very different relationship to the paparazzi than today; no peeping nips here, she oozed coquettish sophistication.

The word paparazzo in fact is derived from a character in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, and in this context it’s redolent of a time when the paps mixed with the likes of Sinatra and Bardot on the Côte d’Azur. Come see some marvellous photos of Brigitte in her prime and also some amazing candid shots from films such as Le Mépris – one of the top ten movies ever – in which cinematic glamour went hand in hand with art-house cool. Runs until 3 October.

Where
James Hyman Gallery, 5 Savile Row, W1

When
10-6pm Monday-Friday, 10-2 Saturdays

Withnail & I... 20 Years On Screening

To mark the 20th anniversary of one of British cinema's best-loved films, we are delighted to present a special screening followed by an on-stage reunion of the cast. The adventures of two ‘resting' actors are detailed in this gloriously funny tale. The protagonists take solace from unemployment with a country retreat and a cocktail of booze, pills and fags. The screening will be followed by a unique event: Richard E Grant, Paul McGann and writer-director Bruce Robinson will be joined by broadcaster Sue MacGregor. Their discussion will be recorded and broadcast at a later date as part of The Reunion series on Radio 4.

Murray Close Exhibition
Internationally renowned photographer Murray Close is exhibiting at BFI Southbank a selection of black-and-white stills taken during the filming of Withnail and I to coincide with the 20th anniversary celebrations.

Withnail & I... 20 Years On Screening

Where
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, London, England SE1 8XT

When
6:30pm, Mon 8 October 8, 2007