Born in Paris in 1979. Moved to Copenhagen in 1982. Upstate New York in 1984. Manhattan in 1986. Copenhagen in 1987. New Jersey in 1988. Boston in 1989. Rennes in 1998. Paris in 1999. Boston in 2000. And back to Denmark in 2003.
Despite moves, despite change of scenery, despite goodbyes and discoveries, renewal, rebooting, or education, or even re-education, it’s always been music and film.
EDN had their annual "Maraton Dok" last night, and what a mixed bag it was. Of course, when speaking of any film(s), we always confront the clichés of "beauty being in the eye(s) of the beholder", and the truth of "your trash is my treasure", the latter being very much true, as my newest hifi stereo is built up of parts abandoned by persons who see no use for fully functioning, handmade components worth thousands-- nay they were simply too "old" and put to the curb (metaphorically close to the careers of many an artist). And so my tainted lenses were subject to a barrage of documentaries, both short and long, and widely ranging on the scale of quality versus filler. The first half of the day was filled with "promise" I word that gives us a spectrum of meaning to play with, I just thought they were of the like we all did first year in art school/film school. Worthy of international screening? I was just pleased that the curators saved the best for last, as this did leave me with a positive impression, my short term memory filled with the Anthony Dod Mantle'esque imagery of Leonard Retel Helmrich from "Stand van de Sterren". And so, in the aftermath of 8 hours featuring documentaries from most continents, It's time for me to deliver a micro-epos or two within the next few moons, as I'm now 31, and funding is, according to the selections of EDN, either for the young (Under 29) or the prize-winning. Which quickly leaves me in no mans land if I don't deliver in the latter category. Cheers to you 2011, A third in and the vices are tightening... :)
Thank you 2010! Prematurely giving thanks for Thanksgiving... Thank you for giving me 1 month in Cuba, 1 month in France, 1 month in England, Venice, Funding from Filmværkstedet and Danske Instruktører, for teaching me who my REAL friends are, for meeting with Jan Harlan and learning that it NEVER gets any easier, not even if you're Kubrick, for giving me 1 on 1 with the BFI director and experiencing the London Film Festival, for showing me that I must soldier on even hanging off the side of a boat on one foot and one hand filming impossibly beautiful scenery from a narrow boat on the canals the British Black Country, for my 1 month of sun filled bathing on a 90m2 terrace in Sluseholmen, for reminding me that I am but a brick to be mortared before joining the wall... for un-funking me and giving me back my mojo! This I will celebrate with Jack Stevenson and two chefs-a-flyin' in from San Francisco on the 25th, at Planeten in Huset. My knife and fork will feast upon the delights of Michelin caliber cuisine while experiencing Jack's curated Jazz screenings... It'll do me some good to be thankful for giving thanks on Thanksgiving.
Have been busy writing! Hopefully the auteurs will one day feature something from my pen and camera. Until then, you can read my latest essays here, http://firetrial.tumblr.com/ on these recently seen films: "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime" "Kirschblüten Hanami" "Gigante" "The Cranes are Flying"
