Author

About the Author /

James is DN’s resident horror fan and is inspired by all academic, formal and Ethan Hawke-related aspects of filmmaking. When he isn’t writing for DN you’ll most likely find him on Bluesky, reading a graphic novel or and being sat on by his cat Peanut.

Live Action, Premiere

The Ethics of Great Art Are Challenged in Lisa Clarkson’s Philosophical and Seductive Drama Featurette ‘Muse’

Lisa Clarkson breaks down the photographic aesthetic of her 16mm NFTS drama, about a talented art student and his teacher's questionable methods.

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Live Action, Premiere

A Pair of Arctic Explorers Resort to Desperate Measures in Ben Pearce’s Perilous Comedy ‘A Few Miles South’

Ben Pearce unpacks the process of crafting a dialogue free comedy narrative about two arctic explorers through production design, performance and editing.

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Live Action, Premiere

An Inquisitive Retiree Surprises Her Neighbours in Caroline Steinbeis’ Comedy Drama ‘From A Strange Land’

Caroline Steinbeis breaks down the technical lessons she learnt in her transition from theatre to film for her debut short film.

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Live Action, Premiere

Samantha Scaffidi’s Drama Short ‘The Things We Left Unsaid’ Sees a Writer Fight for Her Emotional Freedom

Samantha Scaffidi walks DN through the decision of capturing her actors in an intense close-up for her revealing short drama.

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Music Video

A Lone Horseman Harbours a Burning Secret in Santiago Posada’s Music Video for Miraclis’ Eerie Track ‘Scienter’

Santiago Posada recalls the multiple trips he took to a remarkable festival in rural Colombia that inspired his ethereal music video.

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Music Video

Yulya Litinskaya’s Dark Video for Tosya Chaikina’s ‘Arrows Have Struck in the Heart’ Shows a World in Decay

Yulya Litinskaya explains how she smoothly incorporated naturalistic movements into the expressive choreography of her foreboding music video.

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Music Video

A Devastating Disease Forces a Couple to Make a Heart-Rending Decision in Ian Roderick Gray’s ‘Survive This’

Ian Roderick Gray describes melding surrealistic visual effects with a humanistic story of love, respect and dignity in his short film/music video hybrid.

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Film Festival

10 Must-Watch Shorts from the London Film School’s 2022 Graduate Showcase

DN dishes out a stacked list of ten distinctively cinematic short films from the London Film School's 2022 graduate showcase.

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Music Video

Jean-Vital Joliat Conveys the Intimacy a Couple Facing Dementia in His Music Video for DE.VILLE’s ‘Water’

Jean-Vital Joliat describes how his grandmother's relationship with dementia directly informed the precise storytelling in his tender music video.

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Live Action

Vira-Lata & Youth Express the Vibrancy of Mexican Culture in Their Co-Directed Branded Short ‘Nuestras Manos’

Vira-Lata tell DN how they collaborated with Youth to capture the colourful authenticity of Mexico's cultural heritage for their short film.

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Animation, Premiere

A Seemingly Regular Hookup Causes a Seismic Shift in David McShane’s Intimate Animated Short Film ‘Come’

David McShane shares the journey from initial spark to being able to screen his tender bedroom-made LGBTQ animation in front of audiences across the globe.

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Music Video

Jesse Leaman Dances Through a Nightmarish Reality in His Compelling Video for Sam Phay’s ‘After Life’

Jesse Leaman tells DN how he and his team rallied together to create a distinctive dance music video with minimal crew and a microbudget.

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