Jen Speed
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Contact Information*:
San Francisco California USA |
Contact Type: Artist |
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Bio:
Jen Speed is an independent film and video maker in San Francisco. Her short films have screened at festivals from Berlin to Mexico City. She has been invited to artist residencies in Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Her recent video 'Full Support' was awarded a production grant by the Pacific Pioneer Fund. She also works as a producer and editor on long-format documentaries in San Francisco. Filmography/Awards Info: 1. Why did you make this film? I wanted to create a film during the editing process. I shot the footage for this film without knowing how it would be structured, a complete U-turn from how I made my last film. I wanted to experiment with the visual and audio tracks and actually create the "story" of the film in the editing room. 2. How long did it take to make this film? 1 week to shoot, 2 months to edit over a period of 6 months 3. What was the biggest challenge you faced in making this film? Finding the right "voice" for the characters, giving them dimension in post production through the use of text and voice-over 4. Do you have any "war stories" that you would like to tell us about the making of this film? The film was shot during a cross-country road trip driving from Washington DC to San Francisco in one week. Minnesota was our war story. 5. What can you tell us about the technology/equipment that you used? Camera? Editing? Software? Hardware? Film stock? Video tape stock? Sound equipment? Etc. Technology spanned several decades: Super8 film, 35mm slide film, an antique answering machine and an Avid Xpress digital editing system. 6. Do you enjoy one aspect of filmmaking more than any others? I enjoy editing the most. Although you "edit" throughout the process -- during script-writing and production -- you can really shape your film and sometimes create the film during editing. 7. In what country or region do you live? Is it important to your art? If so, in what way? San Francisco, California. It is very important to me to be in San Francisco because there is a strong community of independent documentary filmmakers here. I have access to the equipment, labs, and other practical needs of filmmaking, but more importantly there is a support group of filmmakers who are making films on their own terms and working on films they believe in. 8. What does "Microcinema" mean to you? instant film, accessible, gritty, art for the people, a high-art drive-in movies 9. What does "Independent" mean to you? independent means creating the film for the sake of your vision. 10. What are a few tips you can give to other filmmakers? see films, see what's already been done, and then follow your own vision and get it made 11. Do you have ideas for another film? If so, will you share them with us? I always have the next film in mind. I've just finished a documentary about five visual artists in Prague. Next, I'm working on a short narrative thriller set in Glasgow and Paris. 12. Who is your favorite film director? (no answer) 13. What is your favorite film? (no answer) 14. What else would you like to tell us? (no answer) This Contact appears in this database if Microcinema International has screened a film directed by the Contact, a film directed by the contact is featured in a DVD distributed by the Blackchair Collection Shop, or featured an organization or activity linked with the Contact. This database is used for commercial as well as informational, non-commercial purposes. It is a historical archive of Microcinema International's activities. Inclusion in this database and archive in no way implies a continuing formal relationship or affiliation with Microcinema International or the Blackchair Label nor an endorsement of its activities by the Contact. Contact details are not displayed in order to protect privacy. If you wish to contact this artist please see their website as listed above or write Microcinema International and we will be happy to forward your e-mail.
Microcinema Interview/Article:
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