Countdown to Couch Fest #3 - Duncan Cowles’ Lamp Casts Mom As Lead Actress by Accident #indiefilm #seattle #2012CFF

As the 2012 Couch Fest Film Festival creeps up on us, I’m starting to wish that the event organizers added an extended program to the Philadelphia lineup. Don’t get me wrong, the 90 minutes of award-winning short films playing in Philly on Saturday are a treat.

There are downsides to living at home when you're twenty-one. - The Lady with the Lamp

Regardless, I crave the chance to introduce Philly movie fanatics to some of the most entertaining shorts that are playing in Seattle, Washington -- such as Jimmy Weber’s six-minute horror 'Incubator' and Martin Thibaudeau’s six-minute comedy/drama 'Parachute.' 

Luckily, I've had the pleasure to discuss the films as well as other wacky subjects with the very people who made them -- no matter whose house, apartment, office space or garage they are playing at. UK based documentarian Duncan Cowles, whose latest work 'The Lady with the Lamp' was selected for Couch Fest 2012, is one of these people. A week before Halloween, Cowles told me how he used to perform as James Bond, ended up making two short films at once and why timing is everything when it comes to figuring out when you should no longer live at home with your parents.

Madlab Post: How did you celebrate your 21st birthday?

Duncan Cowles: On the actual day of my birthday I had a family meal, and then at the weekend I booked out the back room of a bar in Edinburgh called Dragonfly and had all my mates round for a few drinks.

'Lady with the Lamp' Filmmaker Duncan Cowles and his Mom.

What age should parents require their kids to move out from home?

I'd say that just when the time is right. I eventually moved out just before turning twenty-two, which was fine for me. Apart from dealing with my Mum's enthusiasm for lamps, there wasn't too much that got in the way of my freedom and with going to College and University in Edinburgh, it didn't make sense to fork out for a flat.

Tell me something I don't know about The Lady with the Lamp.

The film happened completely by accident. I was filming a video blog for a different film about the culture of car pooling called ‘Pooling Together,’ when my Mum came barging into my room unaware of the fact the camera was on. I was simply waiting for her to leave so I could carry on my video blog.

How did you convince your mother to be in this film?

My Mum didn't get much of a choice. She chose to be in the film the moment she decided to criticise my bedside lamp. I had no intentions of making a film about her at all. Upon seeing the film apart from some minor embarrassment, she saw the funny side and doesn't seem to mind too much that it's been going to different film festivals.

If you were given 48 hours to make a movie starring Daniel Craig, what kind of role would you give him to play?

I have no idea what I'd do with him in 48 hours. I think I'd like to see him in some sort of comedy role -- maybe bring him up to Scotland and see him in some difficult, awkward situations such as getting on the wrong side of an angry pensioner. Or maybe trying to settle into the quiet life by joining a local tea dance to impress an old woman he met at the deli counter in Tesco. I'd find something to do with him -- maybe film him having dinner with my Mum? Or taking her shopping for a lamp?

Will you be going to see 'SkyFall?' 

Yes I've seen 'Skyfall' already. I've always been a massive James Bond fan since I was little. At my primary school talent competition, on stage in front of all the staff, parents and pupils I walked out to the James Bond theme and proceded to pretend shoot the audience. I then stated, "The names Cowles... Duncan Cowles." I did it two years running.

The Lady and the Lamp is playing on Saturday, November 10th at the 2012 Couch Fest Film Festival. Check the Couch Fest website’s “Attend” section to find showtimes in or near your area.

And yes, I merged today’s Couch Fest post with my King Dong series and for good reason -- Daniel Craig, who now succeeds Jeremy Rener on the throne, is also from the UK. Hey, if Duncan Cowles can make two films simultaneously, then I can cover two topics/series in one blog post, right?!

Has YOUR mother or father ever walked in on you during a surprising or awkward moment?

How old were YOU when you moved out of your parents’ house?

This post is a continuation of my Countdown to Couchfest campaign -- a selection of brief, yet, randomly outrageous and sometimes insightful interviews that I conducted with many of the directors behind the films playing at this year's Couch Fest lineup and will be publishing semi-daily between the regularly scheduled Monday Movie Meme and King Dong programs until Saturday, November 10, 2012!

Countdown to Couch Fest #1 - Swedish Filmmaker Anna Linder Says H&M and Cheap Things Destroy Our Culture #indiefilm

In the coming weeks on November 10th, movie lovers around the world will gather in strangers homes, art galleries and related alternative venues, for the 2012 Couch Fest.

While operating as an annual event that prides itself on showcasing the most mind-blowing selection of short films that the indie circuit has to offer, Couch Fest is being brought to you via a small, yet, dedicated army of 40+ Hosts who are screening the festival's lineup at more than one dozen places across the country and beyond borders -- from San Diego, CA and Cleveland, OH to Moscow, Iceland, Ampsterdam and Staten Island, NY. Yours truly is even bringing Couch Fest to Philadelphia, PA. Since I don't have a couch, however, the Philly screening will take place at a video rental store.

This post marks the official launch of my Countdown to Couch Fest campaign -- a selection of brief, yet, randomly outrageous and sometimes insightful interviews that I conducted with many of the directors behind the films being featured at this year's Couch Fest lineup and will be publishing semi-daily between the regularly scheduled Monday Movie Meme and King Dong programs until Saturday, November 10, 2012!

So sit back, grab some popcorn or your favorite candy, and find out what goes on in the minds of our world's award-winning filmmakers. First up in my countdown is a filmmaker named Anna Linder who hails from Stockholm, Sweden and directed the short film “13 Related Sewing Machines.”

On Sunday, she made it clear to me that contrary to what I thought this movie was about -- mechanical observations or historical accounts of the manufacturing industry or maybe the assembly process of a particular clothing line, her short film is actually meant to touch on something deeper, personal and meaningful -- the work of unseen women battling with insecurities.

Madlab Post: Does this film celebrate sewing machines or the beautiful products (fashions) that they produce?

Anna Linder: It´s a piece for all the women behind it – all my relatives and all other who use it! 13 Related Sewing Machines is a part of an ongoing work about the invisible labour of women; “I can’t hear the sound of your sewing machine anymore” is a tribute to my mother, grandmother and to all the women who suffer from a constant bad conscience for not being good enough.

Can you sew? If so, what was the last thing that you made using a sewing machine?

Yes I can – tomorrow, I will repair my jeans and before that I think I used it in my performance: I'm Making this Sparetime useful by not Making Waste Performance, 2010, 2-8 hours, 4-8 channels. The performance is a way to use time for important work. I am repairing, taking care of my textiles and my clothes. I don´t want to buy new things anymore. I hate H&M and all cheap things that destroy our culture and the worlds economy. It is also a way to show some concentrated work and let people be in my world of focus.

How did you secure your props for this movie?

All the sewing machines belong to the women in the film and it was really important that they chose ongoing projects to work on (nothing fejk) and they also chose the clothes and (it’s) funny -- they look really staged but its not at all – I decided the white look of course but the rest just proves they thought about how to look in front of the camera together with the thing they sew on for the film :)

Thank you Anna Linder, May you have fun while visiting Canada this week!

“13 Related Sewing Machines” is playing at select homes on Saturday, November 10th at the 2012 Couch Fest.

I could probably do some small repairs on clothing but I’m not the one to go to if you want a custom-made holiday sweater or newborn baby outfit. So tell me...

Can YOU sew?

When was the last time YOU used a sewing machine?

Urbanworld Audiences Thrilled about Diverse Lineup of Stories featuring People of Color #UWFF

Some film festivals thrive on controversy while others gain notoriety for their parties or celebrity appearances, all of which seem to detract audience attention from what is supposedly the main point of these events -- watching movies.

Audiences Stay for the "Being Mary Jane" Screening Q&A at the 2012 Urbanworld Film FestivalThe 2012 Urbanworld Film Festival, however, is where I found movie lovers and filmmakers congregating around a myriad of short and feature length works that made us laugh, cry and possibly even gain a new perspective on what it means to be black or bi-polar or disabled or in love with a child molestor or any other fabric of life that is a part of the human experience regardless of whether we understand it or not.

Were there parties involved? Yes. Thanks to the Opening Night after-party, I was introduced to "Candid," a horror film about a voyeuristic stalker who comes across a beautiful model who is also a serial killer. Did famous faces attend the festival? Yes, again. During a post-screening Q&A for the "Being Mary Jane"premiere screening, actress Gabrielle Union made it clear that her bills don't care if a paycheck comes from film or television, because at the end of the day, she's making a living doing what she loves -- acting.

Film remained at the center of attention, which is probably why Urbanworld continues to attract the kind of movie fanatics who will sit on floors and stand along the stairwell of theaters that are packed to the max -- just to watch a movie. Photographer Deb Marcano, who has been coming to Urbanworld since it began 16 years ago told me that there were times in the past when you couldn't even get into the screenings because the lines at the theater were so long.

"Middle of Nowhere" lead actress Emayatzy Corinealdi at Urbanworld Film Festival's Closing Night Screening. "Middle of Nowhere," directed by Ava DuVernay, is about a medical student who puts her dreams on hold when her husband is sent to prison. / Photo courtesy of Deb Marcano.While making my way between several film screenings during the 2012 Urbanworld Film Festival, I interviewed a few audience members at AMC Theaters on 34th Street, whose experiences confirm how eager people are to see something new -- and that something doesn't necessarily have to always correlate with movie scenes featuring shootouts, explosions or fancy effects.

Madlab Post: Is this your first time attending the Urbanworld Film Festival?

"It is my first time -- I wanted to see 'Middle of Nowhere' but after seeing the trailer for 'Wolf,' I was really compelled to come see it and it was everything I thought it would be. It was monstrous, beautiful and everything you needed to say." - Julian King, 34, Philadelphia, PA

"No, I believe I did it once before, a couple of years back. My experience was very positive. I'm always interested in supporting these young actors and directors, so I try to support as much as I can. When my friend told me about this one, I definitely jumped to the opportunity to come and check it out." - Janelle Telesford, 41, Brooklyn, NY

"No. I've been coming for the last four years. Growing up in New York, I knew it was very popular in the city. I'm also an aspiring filmmaker myself." - Mykwain Gainey, 29, Bronx, NY

Which film are you most excited to see?

"Definitely 'Middle of Nowhere.' The next film I'm going to see, however, is 'Getting Up' -- It's a beautiful documentary about a graffiti artist who is stricken with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). It looks beautiful. 'Wolf' blew my mind and I'm very proud to be a part of [the audience] seeing the screening." - J. King

"'The Bluest Note.' I'd be excited to check out the others as well but at this moment, 'The Bluest Note' is the one I'm most definitely interested to see." - J. Telesford.

Actor Jordan Cooper, leading actor in "Wolf" at the Urbanworld Film Festival. "Wolf" directed by Ya'ke smiith, is about a family shaken to the core when learning their child has been molested and loves his abuser."Well, I came to support a lot of the short films but I was really excited to see 'Wolf' last night. Yake's film was definitely incredible. The performances were very intense. I've been hearing about it over the last few months on the festival circuit, so I really wanted to come out and support it." - M. Gainey

How would you describe the Urbanworld Film Festival to the average movie fan who hasn't been here before?

"I would say you're NOT a movie fan if you haven't been here, because this experience -- just seeing movies from the ground up; No hype, no 'A-list' person to blind [your attention from] the movie itself with their own stardom -- This is what it's all about. This is true storytelling and you should come out and see it, support it and find yourself a new favorite actor." - J. King

"I would describe it as an opportunity to pack in as many movies [as you can] in a short period of time and get a variety of an experience as you can -- There's so many different movies that play at these events -- comedy, drama, musicals, etc. in a short space in time without sitting for three or four hours to see two movies." - J. Telesford.

"I think that for people who are tired of seeing misrepresentations of ourselves in the media, I would definitely recommend coming to Urbanworld because you get to see a varied perspective on what it is to be 'urban' -- not just black or Hispanic, but really just to see how we are -- 'cause you know, we're not monolithic. So, what I really appreciate about the festival is that you can come and see yourself on the big screen." - M. Gainey.

So, there you have it... some notes from my travels and coversations over movies, drinks, food, bright lights, big screens and pretty pictures. If there is ever a time to visit New York City, it's during the Urbanworld Film Festival!