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towns that can easily be substituted for any UK district… except the Lake District.” Finding funding to make
fi lms has become increasingly tricky, especially for feature length productions. Jan Dunn, the award-winning East Kent director and founder of Maeve Films, has done it three times. I asked her for tips on pursuing a career as a producer or director. She says: “I would say fi rstly
explore all the other areas of working in the fi lm industry. In the current landscape, I’d probably look into going into the art department if I were starting out. Producing and directing is an uphill battle. Even when you are established, you still have to start from scratch each time with raising fi nance for the next fi lm.” Despite the recession, advances in technology allow fi lm makers to achieve impressive results with smaller budgets. Digital cameras which were originally intended for stills photography now have excellent video options, creating
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a vastly cheaper alternative but still providing high quality fi lm. The fi lm and TV director Tim Leandro recently made an independent documentary about The Goods Shed, the Canterbury restaurant and farmers’ market. He spoke to me about making documentaries and the benefi ts of digital cameras.
He says: “Film makers have to be very practical. The Goods Shed documentary was a fi lm I wanted to make, but crucially it was a fi lm we could make. The building has fantastic natural light. We shot on a Canon digital SLR and the rushes are sensational. These cameras are a great tool for documentary fi lmmakers.” Despite the limitations on
fi lm makers today, the passion for shooting fi lms in East Kent is alive and well. With the cultural landscape evolving in the area through new and emerging outlets for the arts, despite the recession it seems Canterbury’s heritage for fi lm making is set to continue.
cartoon
If you thought that animation in Kent started and fi nished with Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s Bagpuss, think again. A vibrant Whitstable company is proving that animation doesn’t just happen in Bristol and London. Animate & Create Studios was set up by creative director Dan Richards in 2007 while he was lecturing in animation at Canterbury Christ Church University to meet a high demand for animation workshops. It has since grown into a team of fi ve full-time staff in a 1,000 square foot purpose-built studio for animation production. The team runs the annual Canterbury Anifest animation festival. “Our services are in high demand at the moment, as online video
content is proving to convert sales and engage new clients. Animate & Create is proud to be producing animation here in the Canterbury district,” says Dan, who graduated from the Bristol School of Animation. Animate & Create Studios
produces traditional stop- motion, as well as computer motion graphics animation for businesses and organisations that are looking for innovative and exciting ways to promote their products and services. To fi nd out more about the studio, visit
www.animateandcreate.com.
13
Glen Laker - The Painting shoot
Glen Laker - The Painting Still Simon
The INDEX magazine January 2012
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