Tom Haynes on mubi.com, the social network for people who love film.

Jon K

26Aug11

Alright mate, hows it going? What are you doing with yourself nowadays? Got any new discoveries of Weimar cinema I should know about? :)

Tom Haynes

26Aug11

Hey Jon, great to hear from you, Things are good thanks. Nearly a year into my PhD at UCL. I'm writing about visual style in the German crime film before 1933. Was living in Berlin for a few months working in the film archives, got to watch loads of 35mm from the 1910s - good times. Got a few Weimar bangers you may not have come across: Von morgens bis mitternachts, Der Bettler von Kölner Dom, Berlin Alexanderplatz (1930), The Hands of Orlak, Nerven, Westfront 1918... there's more but I cant think of them right now. How's everything with you, still up in the Midlands? Would be cool to catch up sometime.
Jon K

14Oct11

ah, cool thanks. I'm downloading some of them now, the others don't even seem to be on surrealmoviez, don't suppose you'd know any other place I could find them would you? Anyway, I'll try and watch one this weekend and let you know what I think. :) You're really lucky to get such a cool job, what did you do exactly? I visited Berlin for a few days last year, I thought it was very youth/alternative culture kindof place, maybe some rebellion left over from the days of the wall and all that, did you think so? Definitely a cool city, I will be visiting again. Me and a friend are planning on doing a trip from Berlin down to the black forest area, maybe via Dresden and Nuremberg or something. You know this site doesn't give you any notification or e-mail or anything when someone replies to your messages? that's why its took so long for me to notice you've replied! Anyway, yeah, would be cool to meet up. If you're back in Hurst, its not that difficult for me to get there by train or driving, let me know. Have a good weekend. :)
Jon K

14Oct11

Did you get to watch 'People on Sunday' in the end?
Tom Haynes

14Oct11

Yeah this website's a bit of a nightmare for that. Good to hear things are going well. I was researching for my thesis in the archives (not working for them, but still technically being paid to be there as I'm funded by the uni). You're right, Berlin's an amazing city: scruffy, alternative and with loads of cool cultural/film things to do. I plan to go back in June for three months, so if that coincides with your trip I'll be able to put you and your mate up for a few nights if you like. I'm currently living in Hurst, with the intention to get a short-term let in London early next year, then off to Berlin. So if you're ever about, just let me know. On an unrelated note, I saw Yi-Yi at the BFI, on your recommendation from about three years ago. I thought it was absolutely sublime - making me wish I'd checked out more of Yang's films at this retrospective. People on Sunday is amazing, saw it when I got back from Berlin. Works as a good double bill with Ruttman's 'Berlin: eine symphony...'. Also I'm getting worryingly obsessed with Lubitsch. Not sure where you'll find the other films, but if we meet up at some point I can give you copies. Take it easy!
Jon K

16Oct11

Nice one, glad you enjoyed them. I've watched Yi Yi a few times now, and its creeping up my 'top films' list, into top 20 contention now. I've seen a couple others from Yang, The Terrorizers and Brighter Summer Day. They were both good, but didnt affect me like Yi Yi did. I know quite a lot of people consider BSD to be his best work though. I noticed they were showing the films at the southbank, I was considering going down for one as well, but didn't make it in the end. But I know someone who helps in getting the films in for the arthouse cinema in Leicester, he said he would try to get a run for Yi Yi there, so that would be pretty cool. I've only seen one Lubitsch, 'To be or not to be', have you been watching the older silents and German productions? What are you planning on doing after you finish your PhD? Have you got something lined up? I'm strongly considering quitting my job and just going travelling for a while from next summer, I need some kind of a change at least and I've got some money saved up, I'd love to come visit you in Berlin if I get the chance. Just recently I've been sorting out and editing my pictures from my last trip. Have a look if you want: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47165197@N07/sets/72157627894451480/
Tom Haynes

22Oct11

These photos are great; especially like the ominous TV tower! As for Lubitsch, been watching most of his stuff that's available. It's all great, but I'd start with 'The Oyster Princess', then watch 'The Shop Around the Corner', they're my two favourite. After the PhD I hope to get a year's placement as a teaching fellow in a film studies department (hopefully in the US), with the intention of becoming a senior lecturer after that, but it's still early days. You should defiantly go travelling - especially if you have the money. Will be awesome if you're about in Berlin this summer. If you are, then we're gonna have to hit up the Babylon cinema - best place for silent movies in the world.

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