Bell Jar will not be showing in Rotterdam or Berlin.
Sigh...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
SYNOPSIS FRENCH
Une fille questionne ses sentiments par rapport à un garçon. Alors qu'elle parle, nous réalisons que son voyage émotionnel commence à se confondre avec l'espace dans lequel elle est, et est suivi par le spectateur dans un plan séquence à travers le tunnel.
DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Janita Han is now in London.
Born in Malaysia, she studied architecture at the National University of Singapore, then at the Delft University of Technology, completing her masters degree with honours in June 2008, under the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. She has made 2 documentaries and was involved in the production of a full-length feature musical. Bell Jar (Netherlands, 2008) is her first experimental short.
Janita Han is now in London.
Born in Malaysia, she studied architecture at the National University of Singapore, then at the Delft University of Technology, completing her masters degree with honours in June 2008, under the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. She has made 2 documentaries and was involved in the production of a full-length feature musical. Bell Jar (Netherlands, 2008) is her first experimental short.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As an architect, I am interested about how space can be manipulated to create effects. The camera becomes a single perspective where the parameters of its operations were determined- namely a single panning shot with constant speed in one direction, while the actors dance around the camera, acting in front and out of camera. The repetition of actor A and B throughout the tunnel sets the rhythm of the conversation and gives a surrealistic notion of space and time which can only be successfully achieved with the camera. The tunnel becomes a dream world. The idea of the technique of filming came about from discussions with Ren Horng, who helped conceptualise the movie.
Another important aspect of this film is the body language of the actors. The story is expressed through the postures of the actors as the camera rolls past them. They are almost akin subconscious movements when is dreaming or thinking about something. The GIRL is expresssive and thinks with her body, while the GUY is listening and the tension and minimal movements reflect an introvert personality.
In terms of content, various events in my life became the material for the screenplay. The GIRL is pseudo-autobiographical and the BOY is a combination of different people in my life. The use of metaphors is very much inspired by Günther Grass’ writings.
As an architect, I am interested about how space can be manipulated to create effects. The camera becomes a single perspective where the parameters of its operations were determined- namely a single panning shot with constant speed in one direction, while the actors dance around the camera, acting in front and out of camera. The repetition of actor A and B throughout the tunnel sets the rhythm of the conversation and gives a surrealistic notion of space and time which can only be successfully achieved with the camera. The tunnel becomes a dream world. The idea of the technique of filming came about from discussions with Ren Horng, who helped conceptualise the movie.
Another important aspect of this film is the body language of the actors. The story is expressed through the postures of the actors as the camera rolls past them. They are almost akin subconscious movements when is dreaming or thinking about something. The GIRL is expresssive and thinks with her body, while the GUY is listening and the tension and minimal movements reflect an introvert personality.
In terms of content, various events in my life became the material for the screenplay. The GIRL is pseudo-autobiographical and the BOY is a combination of different people in my life. The use of metaphors is very much inspired by Günther Grass’ writings.
SYNOPSIS
Title: Bell Jar
Language: French/Mandarin
Length: 16:13
Location of filming: Maas Tunnel, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
This is an experimental, single-shot, scripted film.
SYNOPSIS
A girl ponders about her feelings for a BOY. As she talks, you realise her emotional journey begins to correlate with the space that she is in. Her journey to liberation is followed by the viewer in a single shot through the tunnel, where the shot alternates between GIRL to GUY in a linear space.
Throughout, GIRL and GUY converse, but they are almost in their own world respectively- they speak in different languages and they do not appear in the same shot until the end. Bell Jar refers to Sylvia Plath’s work The Bell Jar, where the GIRL perceives the BOY as insulating himself in a bell jar, unreachable by her.
Language: French/Mandarin
Length: 16:13
Location of filming: Maas Tunnel, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
This is an experimental, single-shot, scripted film.
SYNOPSIS
A girl ponders about her feelings for a BOY. As she talks, you realise her emotional journey begins to correlate with the space that she is in. Her journey to liberation is followed by the viewer in a single shot through the tunnel, where the shot alternates between GIRL to GUY in a linear space.
Throughout, GIRL and GUY converse, but they are almost in their own world respectively- they speak in different languages and they do not appear in the same shot until the end. Bell Jar refers to Sylvia Plath’s work The Bell Jar, where the GIRL perceives the BOY as insulating himself in a bell jar, unreachable by her.
Rome International Film Festival
Bell Jar has appeared on the archives of the Rome international Film Festival. Click here.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
ROTHKO
I went to see Rothko at the Tate today. It is to my utter embarrassment that the "smudge of liver red on a huge sea of brown" in the beginning of Bell Jar should have been a "smudge of liver red on a huge sea of maroon."
And maybe smudge might not be the best expression for a Rothko either.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Dear Friends in Singapore
I will put some effort to get the DVD sent to the SIFF. I think it is only fair and probably quite entertaining (especially for Aunt May!) that you get a chance to watch this fantastic production!
Love
I will put some effort to get the DVD sent to the SIFF. I think it is only fair and probably quite entertaining (especially for Aunt May!) that you get a chance to watch this fantastic production!
Love
Friday, December 5, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
