The screenwriter and director Tony Grisoni might be best known for his collaboration with Terry Gilliam on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but his discussion at exposures ranged from his writing process to making short films, the practicalities of directing, and his views of the film industry.
 
Tony talked about the nature of his collaboration with Terry Gilliam, describing it not as hard work but “hard play”, saying that Gilliam “distrusts it if it feels like homework.” The screenplay for Fear and Loathing was a deliberate attempt not to write anything new, drawing dialogue from the novel itself as well as from Hunter S Thompson’s other works. Tony described the Vegas of the film as a dark magnet in the vein of Dante, the protagonist Raoul Duke’s attempts to escape repeatedly drawing him back into an increasingly hellish city.
 
In response to a question about his career, Tony argued that he rejects the idea of a conscious career plan within the film industry. He compared filmmaking to rock and roll, saying that he and his peers were simply “trying to play forever”. After going to film school, Tony got his first job as a runner in the early 1970s, working on BBC-produced films. This led to directing and producing short films, before eventually becoming a screenwriter. Refreshingly, throughout the evening Tony talked about how much fun the film industry is, saying that this is down to the people involved; film people “are like circus people”. Filmmaking has a social, collaborative nature, with the director as the focal point for everything and everyone involved. Tony said that he sees filmmaking as a strange combination of extremely practical decisions and the intangible magic that it can create.
 
Discussing his old fear of public speaking, Tony shared an anecdote about how Terry Gilliam had helped him overcome his fear; “it’s because you think you’ve got something important to say,” Gilliam had told him. Once you realise that you actually don’t have anything important to say, Tony suggested, you’ll be fine.
 
Talking about his writing process, Tony said that the best place to start is in not knowing, and writing should follow the journey of finding out. You have to be able to play and to pretend, and you need to be able to visualise the finished film, complete with cuts, music, lighting, and everything else that goes into creating a scene. You must always stay true to your characters, and let them take you on the story; don’t try to impose anything external. Tony suggested that the first draft should always be written fast; make notes as you go along, so that you’ll have something to go back to when you’ve finished. Similarly, you should end every day of writing while you still have something to do tomorrow.
 
Returning to one of the themes that had run throughout the evening, Tony stressed the collaborative nature of film; after all, you can’t make a film by yourself. Going to film school is a strong foundation, in part because it’s all about surrounding yourself with other people who are doing the same things as you, and building the network of people you’ll collaborate with throughout your career. Over the course of the discussion, Tony gave an inspiring account of filmmaking as exhilarating, fluid, collaborative, and, perhaps above all, fun.

And fellow digital rerporter Dan Shannon manged to grab a quick few words with Tony after the event....

Laura Swift - words and photo
Digital Reporter

Dan Shannon - audio
Digital Reporter

Do you define yourself as an artist or filmmaker? Is there a place for artists’ films in cinemas, and how do we position filmmakers’ works in galleries?

Last nights panel looked at these issues and explored the directions emerging filmmakers and artists may take to develop a successful artist film practice.

If you missed it catch up with the disscussion here on the live blog we wrote…

Katia Porter
Digital Reporter
@katiaporter
http://www.katiaporter.com

So the festival kicked off today with the BBC Writersroom Workshop led by Jo Combes, New Writing Development Manager at BBC Writersroom. The sell-out event covered both the theory and practice of storytelling, with Jo adding the personal touch to proceedings by giving some of her own tips on mastering the art.

Her advice for the budding writer? "Ask yourself - would I believe this? You have to be able to buy it or it won't work." Citing the 'grit in eye' incident that causes Brief Encounter's protagonists to meet for the first time, she went on to explain how many inexperienced writers seem to try too hard when it comes to narrative devices: "You don't have to throw everything at a story - an inciting incident can be the smallest thing." In her view, good writing will always seed turning points - "nothing should come from nowhere, but it should happen in unexpected ways."

The BBC Writersroom aims to work with writers who are new to the BBC and discover and develop new talent. Visit their website for more details.

Dan Shannon
Digital Reporter

The festival starts tomorrow and do we have a line up of guests for you...and it's only the first day! Advance tickets are going really fast so make sure you get booking to guarantee a place. Throughout the festival we'll make sure we document as many events as we can via this blog, video and audio to give you a little taste of what happened if you miss out. But nothing beats being at the festival itself!

The day will start with Jo Combes, New Writing Development Manager at Writersroom for the BBC Writer's Workshop, who will help you develop your story skills through an informal and practical guide to narrative structure.

Phil Hawkins (Director);  Paul Kondras (Production Designer); Mercedes Crescenti (Producer); Richard Bodgers (Composer) and Olly Pillon (Runner/AD) will then be on hand to give you the low down on what life as a freelance filmmaker is like and answer all your questions (at 15.30)

• Phil Hawkins directed his first short film when he was 13. Since that time, he has continued making shorts and promos regularly. It was through the experience of writing, directing and editing his own films, that he has honed his skills as a filmmaker. After writing and directing a short film for BBC Manchester, Phil fell into the commercials industry. He worked his way up the ladder from Runner to VT Op, Camera Assistant, 3rd Assistant Director, 1st AD and then Director. His first commercial won a Roses Advertising Award and his work since have won over ten advertising awards. His first feature THE WOMEN OF TROY won Best Director at the New York Independent Film Festival and his second feature, Philip Pullman's THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO, won Best Adaptation at the same festival in 2008 (and Phil won Best Director for the second time). Phil was also the only filmmaker from the UK to appear on Fox/Dreamworks reality television show "On The Lot" for filmmakers. Phil was personally selected by Steven Spielberg to appear on the show and was controversially voted off to the surprise of the show's producers, critics and fans!
  

• Richard Bodgers (Composer) has composed and produced music for over 1000  commissions, including global TV and cinema ad campaigns for brands such as Bentley motors, Mercedes, Tomb raider and Hoover. He has also written original scores for computer games (WORMS and TOMB RAIDER) and films TRIPLE EXPOSURE, SNAPS and THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO. During 1998/99, he was appointed Musical Director at Manchester's Library Theatre, where he composed original scores for ANGEL’S IN AMERICA and THE GLASS MENAGERIE. More recently, he has composed serious music for EMI and KPM music libraries and is

• Mercedes Crescenti is the funder of Mercedes Crescenti TV. Mercedes began her career as a runner at the BBC and graduated to head up production for the Current Affairs department, producing a wide range of programme, from BAFTA nominated documentaries to live broadcast including Panorama, Real Story, Liquid Assets and The One Show. Over the past few years, mercedes has worked for independent companies shooting award-winning companies shooting award winning television commercials for multinational brands 

We will then welcome Alex Connock (Chief Executive, Ten Alps Plc); John Robb (Musician, Music Journalist, Broadcaster and Author); Liz Molyneux, (Academy Partner, BBC North and Nations) and Jon Corner (Director, MediaCityUK, University of Salford) for a panel chaired by award-winning broadcaster and journalist  Terry Christian. Creative North (at 18.30)  will explore what is shaping the creative landscape of the region and the opportunities it offers for aspiring creatives.

• As one of the UK’s leading media professionals, Jon Corner is responsible for delivering the University's unique 103,000 sq ft, teaching, research and business hub at MediaCityUK and for forming the commercial partnerships to enhance student experience and engagement with industry .Jon is the founded River Media, the highly successful Liverpool production house that has contributed films for the City’s European Capital of Culture and World Heritage Site bids. His knowledge and expertise spans broadcast, post-production, interactive and advertising. Jon is also Chair of the Liverpool Digital and Creative strategy committee and is a non-executive director of Liverpool vision.

• Liz Molyneux has been a film maker in Current Affairs and Factual TV throughout her career. She has worked mostly for the BBC though her credits include programmes for C4, ITV and Discovery. Liz's career started in the newsroom in Plymouth, she has inevitably spent time in London where she was Director of Development for the Specialist Factual and Editorial executive within the BBC Commissioning group but has spent a good deal of her life and career in Manchester.  Liz was Head of Network Current Affairs TV in Manchester and is now BBC Academy Partner North and Nations.

 We also have very special guests throughout the day as most of the filmmakers whose films were selected to be shown at the festival will be around. We can't wait to meet them and we hope you'll give their film a warm welcome!

Full programme can be found on the exposures website

On Thursday 18 November, 5 documentary makers will go head to head in a suspenseful live pitch in front of a public audience and  panel of professionals. The prize: £2000 to make a high-quality trail for their documentary as well as mentoring and support.
Making the ultimate decision are Steve Boulton, former editor of flagship current affairs programme World in Action; Cat Lewis, director of the production company Nine Lives Media, exposures co director Beth Hewitt and  Andy Glynne, Chief Executive of the Documentary Filmmakers Group (DFG) - the UK’s national organisation for documentary.

The 5 students and recent graduates shortlisted were selected from over 70 entries received from all over the UK.  Come and cheers them on!

Which one will get your vote?

• A History of the Indian Moustache (William Hartley, University of Salford)
  This film will provide an unusual history of India by looking at the Indian moustache. Once an important part of the Indian male’s appearance, what status does it have now? And what does that tell us about how the country is changing?

• God Save the Punk (Onyeka Igwe, Goldsmiths, University of London; Sofia Bouzidi, graduate of University of Bradford)
  There is now an emerging movement of young people who use Islam and punk as a way of defining their lives. In this film Sofia Bouzidi – who is British, Algerian, and punk – will take us inside this growing culture in Algeria and the UK.

• Life in a Capsule (Luo Yi, graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London)
  ‘Capsule Studios’ is a new way to live for cheap in China’s rapidly developing capital city, Beijing. But what is it like squeezing three people into each capsule, with no windows and one bed to share between them?

• Radio Benin (Anouk de l’Ecluse, graduate of The Metropolitan Film School, London)
  The radio has become a vital part of people’s lives in Benin, West Africa. This documentary will hear people’s accounts of what their radio means to them – and find out what happens when people switch their radios on.
  
• The King of Bandra (Philip Pendlebury, University of Salford)
  This film will tell the story of Mr. Sandeep Bacche from Mumbai, a man of extraordinary generosity who is devoted to raising money for those in need. But Sandeep is not a rich philanthropist – he is one of Mumbai’s 55,000 autorickshaw drivers.

The One World Media Live Pitch is on Thu 18 october, 16:15, Cornerhouse Cinema 2
One World Media events at exposures are supported by UKaid from the Department for International Development <> 
The Live Pitch supported by the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, in collaboration with DFG

OK so we are getting very excited - it's only one week to go until exposures. It's the UK's largest festival of student moving image work and takes place in Manchester every year. Not only does it offer a platform for talented emerging filmmakers but also gives a unique insight into how the TV and film industry works.

We've got 3 jam-packed days lined up for you so get Tue 16th - Thurs 18th November penciled into your diary now.

For more information on the festival check out the exposures website
And book your tickets for all the great events and sessions here.