Ben Walden

"Research"

2012-02-20T09:51:00.001-08:00

Festive Season

2012-01-08T04:20:00.000-08:00

Music Video

2011-12-21T03:51:00.000-08:00

Music video for band 'Fly This For Me'.

Shed Seven, Shepherd's Bush Empire

2011-12-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Mr Oliver Bostock for bringing me along to this. We both had press passes for the photo pit for Shed Seven's gig last Saturday. Here are some of the results:

Coming Soon...

2011-10-27T05:35:00.001-07:00

Secret Cinema

2011-10-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Psst. Have a sly look at these.. A few pics from inside the cinema for wence I did once work. Some of these bits are only accessible through hatches and some involve pigeon-shit ladders. Worth it. Hush hush now.

Photo Develops

2011-10-07T06:44:00.001-07:00

Just when you thought you'd seen enough pictures from mine and Ollie's airbase trips...

Mr Bostock develops some rolls I had tucked away. Very leaky some of them, it was from when there was still a screw missing on the ol' Zenit. Some are shot on that, some are from the Olympus courtesy of said Bostock. If anyone s reading this you can see more from the base and much much more over at Ollie's blog: http://olliebostock.blogspot.com/

Peas out.

P.s. If anyone recognizes those legs, own up. I have no idea.

Tom Vek Bestival

2011-09-17T11:36:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to be covering the visuals for Mr Tom Vek's performance at Bestival on the Isle of Wight back on the 10th. After a wee search I found a few clips, this has the most projection in. I made one cock up and had a flash of a terrible effect which just so happens to have been captured by this clip. Super.

Blackpool in August

2011-09-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hyde Park

2011-06-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

Double Negative

2011-05-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

The Date

2011-04-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few stills from short film "The Date". The director and I have had about two days editing and have just about finished. There's a blue effect that was going to be for the opening/closing but I'm having some issues remembering how I did it.

All that's left is the titles and tidying up the sound, which isn't appalling, considering the only mic was the one on the camera. I'm pretty pleased with some of the footage and looking forward to having a finished piece.

Cinema Moan

2011-04-19T02:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a cinema day which included a showing of "Meek's Cutoff" at the Greenwich Picturehouse. The screening was in the 4:3 aspect ratio and not wanting to miss anything I didn't go and complain.

Ridiculously I got to thinking that maybe the ratio was a creative decision made by the director to cut against the grain of other Westerns which typically make great use of the 'normal' wide ratio of 1.85:1 or Cinemascope (2.35:1). Or even just going 'old school' by using the original square framing of 4:3.

But no. Apparently the server in screen one had "gone down" causing the projector to restart in screen 4 (showing Meek's) without keying itself in properly? I'd heard that digital systems didn't need any supervision thought the picture as there are no reel changes but assumed they at least set the thing running to check it was working! What the hell?!

I'm a strong believer in having an absolute perfect screening, completely free of any distractions or errors. You'll never see a film for the first time again and anything that takes your attention away (technical difficulties, noisy shits, emergency lights washing out the screen) can get you so riled up you can't fully engage and get the proper experience.

It's not just Picturehouse, (who are usually pretty good) but I'd say at least half the times I have visited VUE or Cineworld there has been some daft problem that could easily have been sorted if someone had just checked. These guys not only hire Projectionists but also Senior Projectionists and/or Projections Managers. WHAT ARE THEY DOING?! Because it sure ain't checking the projection!!

Light bleeds are a big issue. I get emergency lighting; health and safety blah blah blah, but it doesn't need to flood the screen to a point were you can't see anything in dark scenes! This is usually a pretty easy fix, sometimes it's just spilling out the side of the Exit sign and could just be covered without being 'unsafe'.

It drives me insane that there are people like me who want to work in this area and there are people already there who couldn't give two figs about getting it right. Sort it out or I'm taking over.

END.

"I Love Richard" Shoot

2011-04-16T05:21:00.001-07:00

Hayley Mk II

2011-04-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Some pics from America

2011-04-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hayley Portraits

2011-03-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

Hayley with her Booker

2011-03-08T02:00:00.001-08:00

..and some more. Last ones for a while.

2011-03-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

Bored yet? A few more from Thursday....

2011-03-06T03:34:00.000-08:00

Sexy Walls

2011-03-05T05:48:00.001-08:00

Derelict Gold

2011-03-05T04:20:00.000-08:00

Just when you think you've seen most of this amazing place, you find even more!

A few pics from the latest explore:

Spontaneous Family Portraits

2011-02-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Got Wood

2011-02-26T03:01:00.000-08:00

Final Batch

2011-02-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

A few more from the Boogle base

2011-02-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

12th Feb

2011-02-13T06:35:00.000-08:00

Superbowl 45, 2011

2011-02-06T17:29:00.000-08:00

What the hell was that half time show all about?! As a spectacle it was pretty great, the choreography of so many people (where do they rehearse?!) the technology; including costumes with flashing lights and a Tron rip-off design.
The Black Eyed Peas are terrible. First off, they mashed in a bunch of songs, most of which I know for sure are not theirs (including a slaughtering of "Sweet Child of Mine" by the woman "singer" who sounded like a drunken pensioner imitating Axl Rose, accompanied by a bizarre appearance by Slash). Also some guy called "Usher" swings down on a rope to join the shambles below. What sort of a name is 'Usher'?! Does he point you to your seat? Nope. Does he sell snacks? Maybe.

Aside from the atrocities above the coverage is pretty good. I've not seen an American Football game before now and this one is a good one to start with. The Green Bay Packers Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. Enjoying it so far...

Canon 550D

2011-01-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

I went out with my shiny new camera, down the pond in Hampstead Heath town centre. Me and the water fowl concentrated mainly on shutter speeds. Below are some of the better results,

Dead Sanity/ The Boogle's Back!

2011-01-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

'Deportivo' Music Video, White City, London

2011-01-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

"Final Exam"

2010-11-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

Just found a lovely pre-cert VHS on the Embassy label called "Final Exam". Appears to be the exact same story as Whores of Residence.
Oh well.

Recent Pictures

2010-11-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

Once again thanks to Ollie for processing these, and for trying to salvage the dozens that didn't make it!

Whores of Residence Part 2

2010-11-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

"Whores of Residence" Trailer #2

Here we are then. The second 'trailer' from the mock slasher film from three years ago. Many thanks to Jax for laying so buckled and gory in the shower for so long while I used my oh-so professional lighting on her. Karolin was great at getting strangled and hopefully there'll be another cut of the scene as there's so much footage left over. There are some nice green-lit angles that could be used.

Last, but no means least; Jonny Holbrey returning as 'Clive', the demented teacher trying to save his class by picking the bad apples.

Going through all this footage I've found lots of little gems which might make a nice little 'best-of' making of type thing. Once all the trailers are done we'll see.

So, next is probably a re cut of #2 then I have all the footage for the telephone scene with Cat McLellan and Jonny so maybe that will be the next one up. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the rest of Roxy's [see 'coming soon' post below] footage from Jonny and make that. Then it's on to the big trailer, with bits of EVERYONE.

Well, that's it for now. If you would be so kind as to check out Trailer #2 and give any feedback that would be lovely. The video can be found in the usual place on my Youtube channel (and in risky HD). How for now.

Saw 3D; The Final Chapter

2010-11-03T16:50:00.001-07:00

Is it really the end? It was great to see Cary Elwes back as (a slightly chubbier) Dr. Gordon in the new Saw (VII) whom having finally put Hoffman to bed is still hobbling around! As we all know though, just because a character dies does not mean they won't be back for more. With Perez back in VI, Amanda showing up whenever (is she dead?!) and obviously the main man John Kramer popping up in bolted-on flashbacks and "Oo look! a new tape we didn't know about!", moments, nothing is final. But the Doctor is still well and truly in. If not slightly crippled.

Some things really got my goat in Saw VII. First of all, why bother with 3D? Was it just a way of titling the film without having to use a number so as to avoid the annual "bloody hell, what number are they on now?" comments? The 3D seems fairly pointless otherwise. There are a few nice coming-right-at-you moments with impending blades and spikes etc but not really enough to justify a whole film. Films like the not-too-shabby "My Bloody Valentine" remake was one of those 3D films that felt like they'd sat and written a list of what would look 'cool' in 3D and then worked them into the film. A pick-axe at a window or a fist smashing glass are little additions that remind you you're watching a 3D film. Saw 3D is the opposite.

Other than the approaching weaponry, which would look just as good in 2D, and certain set elements the 3D is pretty useless. If anything it makes everything a bit sharper which isn't so great for a film that doesn't shy from the gore. The effects aren't too convincing in crystal-clear prolonged cuts. Which may be why probably the most squirmy sequence in my opinion was the fish hook trap. Spikes in the face; fine. Burnt alive; fine. Hacking your own limbs off; fine. But a length of string down the throat? Pretty gruesome.

One last point. The character of Jill, Jigsaw's ex wife, was a little disappointing in this outing. Although in a cliched dream sequence we get the full impact of Jill's ample bosom, in glorious 3D no less, it's not enough to redeem her sudden wimpyness since Saw VI ended. Always a pretty strong character in the other films she flips to the average fleeing damsel in VII, completely weak and feeble.

Didn't the tag line for Saw V say something like, "In the end, all the pieces will fall into place"? Wasn't that supposed to be the end? Well, here's hoping that VII isn't the final chapter. My guess is it'll be a couple of years at least, before we see an 8th but it would be nice to get one in before Doc Gordon gets too fat.

Despite all the faults of the series it's always good fun. Since III it's just been more of the same but it's a nice tradition to go and see the new Saw film.

Coming soon...

2010-10-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

"Whores of Residence" Teaser #2

Whores Of Residence Part 1.

2010-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

At last. Some sign of a finished article. About three years ago, I and some folks tried to make a series of fake film trailers in the style of the old Grindhouse films. Seemingly easier than getting a full story and script together we set about shooting a bunch of death scenes, utilising what was around. Actress friends, cheap blood, a jazzy college-owned camera and desk lamps for lighting. This was the setup for "Whores of Residence" (set in the halls of residence of a girls college) a mock slasher film with screams aplenty and gore galore.
The initial plan was to do a teaser style trailer of each scene we filmed and then a longer trailer which would be a mash up of all the scenes, picking the most visual elements.
And now..
The first attempt at a teaser has been made! It's not perfect and it's certainly not even close to the mighty Hewitt & Walker History of Cinema but it's a start.
The reason it took so long to do anything was that there was lots of confusion and problems with the original footage which was full HD and imported on a Mac. I rock a PC and this was before we'd ever heard of a 'codec'.
But..
Here it is..
The first of 3 or 4 trailers for "WHORES. OF. RESIDENCE." (Please leave criticisms. I need them to make the rest!)

[Kudos to anyone that can name the stolen soundtrack...]

Or.. view here at my Youtube page:

http://www.youtube.com/BenjaminSW

Videocollector.co.uk

2010-10-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

Like videos? Collect videos? Why not try out Videocollector.co.uk?
This site is a great place to view the wonderful art of the VHS cassette and keep track of what you own, and want to own. You can also add titles that aren't on the database and browse the many that are. There are dozens of beautiful pre-cert items and tons of rare titles.
Check it out!

http://www.videocollector.co.uk/

A few more pictures.

2010-10-09T05:52:00.001-07:00

Ilford B&W C41

2010-10-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

Processed and scanned by Ollie Bostock.

Great news Bolindo!

2010-09-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

I have it on good authority that the long-awaited HEWITT & WALKER HISTORY OF CINEMA is complete! If anybody else is reading this blog (other than Ollie and Jonny) then you should definately check out the fantastic trailer of the now-complete:

HEWITT & WALKER

HISTORY OF CINEMA

at: http://www.myspace.com/hewittandwalker

Clips

2010-09-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a link for one of the videos I made for the bands tour. I don't know if they'll actually use it but it was fun to do. They asked for Kong/ Godzilla type clips but not Kong or Godzilla as these were too well known. Also clips of any mammoths from school cartoons from the 60's 70's or 80's. This is what they got:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewhdeJ51FJM
This is an unlisted video so please don't spread the link everywhere as the band obviously own the music and the video is for the upcoming tour.

Here is my first Data Mosh on an old rough cut of a dodgy slasher film I nearly made a couple of years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d8CVTB0RKA

Data Mosh

2010-09-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've been given the task of making the visuals for up-and-coming band; EVERYTHING EVERYTHING to be used on their tour. They kick off at Bestival next weekend and I've been creating footage to a brief supplied by their management. For some of the clips I have used the Digi Effects: Damage plugin for After Effects, creating distorted and broken images. The band appeared to approve of the first to test clips but they requested some "Data Moshing". What?! After researching this "Data Mosh" business I immeadiately loved the effect and set about learning how to do it myself. All this work is through video company MESMER so I was originally Data Moshing on their Mac gear. NOW I can Mosh from home, rocking out Windows 7 on my Sony Vaio.
Happy Days.
I'll post a Data Mosh test here when I get round to tidying it up.
Peace out brothers.

Frightfest 2010 part deux.

2010-09-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

The rest of Film4's Frightfest weekender was a rollercoaster of excitement last weekend. Some stonking films were shown at the Empire such as Hong Kong late nighter; DREAM HOME about a woman trying to get her ideal flat, no matter what it takes. Billed as "Friday the 13th meets Location, Location, Location", it didn't disappoint. Some great effects and a nervy unpredictability made this film stand out from the DEAD CERTs of the weekend.
http://dreamhome.asia/content.html

Another favourite was THE LOVED ONES. This Australian horror comedy couldn't have been better. It blended genuine scares with great performances from the lunatic girl in the lead and her father, who rounds up boys for "Princess" to befriend and brutalise.

http://www.thelovedonesmovie.com/#

A conterversy did a raid FF this year. The infamous A SERBIAN FILM was due to be shown Sunday night but after having been questioned by the Westminster council in the preceeding week it had to be cut from the festival. Distributor Revolver where fully up for making the cuts suggested by the BBFC but the festival decided that the vision of the film would be better not shown rather than be shown incorrectly. BURIED from Icon films was a last minute replacement. This is a Spanish film starring one man... Ryan Reynolds. Okay, Spanish in that it was made in Spain. Reynolds wakes up in a box underground. Why? Does he get out? Watch it. Find out.

The morning after A SERBIAN FILM was due to be shown was the documentary VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE followed by a discussion with Tobe Hooper, the director, producer, a representative of the BBFC and an amazing fellow of whose name I have forgotten. Martin -someone- fought for the extreme horror films known as "video nasties" in the 1980's. The discussion along with the documentary was dynamite, illustrating just how daft the extreme censorship of the 80s was. "Harmful to children and dogs" states one ridiculous facist. In light of what has happened with A SERBIAN FILM the documentary really struck a chord, showing that grown adults still cannot decide what they want to watch, and have art witheld from them by those "who know best".

Eli Roth presents "THE LAST EXCORCISM". This film, soon to be released in the UK after a storming open in the U.S. is a documentary style film, really well done. Ashley Bell plays a girl that is either possessed or mental. Well worth a watch. The cast and crew stayed for a Q&A and signing after which rounded the weekend up nicely; meeting the bear jew himself.

Here's some highlights of the weekend.

Eli Roth, director Daniel Stamm, actress Iris Bahr and actress Ashley Bell at the Q&A/ European premiere of THE LAST EXORCISM

The panel discussing censorship and the video nasties era.

Music genious David Arnold popping in to plug his charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall in October!

Tobe Hooper, legendary director of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, POLTERGEIST and SALEM'S LOT talks to some guy from Total Film magazine. If only it'd been Empire.

Kane Hodder who played Jason Voorhees among other great monsters. At FF promoting HATCHET II.

Tony Todd; better known as CANDYMAN. At FF promoting HATCHET II in which he plays Rev. Zombie.

Frightfest 2010

2010-08-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'm getting old. It's night two of five of the annual Film4 Frightfest at the Empire cinema on Leicester Square, London. The last film of the day has started and I'm already at home sipping a frothy hot chocolate. A great lesson I learnt last year was that if you're tired at the start of the festival you're screwed for the rest. So, I decided to end Friday on a high with excellent Australian present-day Western vengeance thriller; RED HILL and forgo the delights of ALIEN Vs. NINJA, thus being fresh for day three.
RED HILL is definately my favourite so far. It's hard not to draw similarities to last years great Oz film THE HORSEMAN. Well, similar in that they're both Australian with a vengeance theme. RED HILL includes great Western motifs such as sweeping landscapes and an equally panoramic score. Check out the site at www.redhillmovie.com
Probably the close second for me would be F; a great British hoody horror set in a college at night. Strong performances from the cast in their believable characters and bags of suspense make this gritty-looking flick well worth a watch.
As for early today; Mr Tobe Hooper, director of POLTERGEIST,and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE to name two, showed up for a Q&A as well as a screening of the latter film; still a masterpiece over three decades on, and EGGSHELLS his rarely seen debut feature from 1969. I loved EGGSHELLS but it seemed to divide the FF audience. As a fairly experimental an 'artsy' film it's easy to see why people would put it down. Visually it's superb. You should track it down. Now. Legally.

As for yesterday; the festival opened with the world premiere of Adam Green's HATCHET 2. Some great death sequences kept the audience cheering and the reprised (and in some cases expanded) parts kept the story rolling. Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) who appeared for a blink of a voodoo eye in part one has a much fleshier role. Kane Hodder is back as Victor Crowley and also in flashbacks again playing his father.

So. That was the good stuff. As for London 'gangsters' meets romanian businessmen/ vampires film; DEAD CERT... Well, it sucks. Big time. James Friend was the DOP who I worked as camera trainee for on the pickups for THE HIKE and a music video. Some good lighting keeps the club scenes half interesting to look at but it's not enough to save the slow, bland script and acting. A tiny cameo from annoying cockney Danny Dyer wraps up the film in an all-too-late ending.

ONWARDS. Tomorrow I'm going to try to see Christina Ricci and Liam Neeson in AFTER.LIFE. Anything else is what it is. Thank you and good night.

Freeview

2010-08-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

"Freeview" is my film about a stalker girl who thinks she can build a mind control device to capture her prey. I shot it months ago and now I'm finally getting to edit it. Here is a still from the opening scene.

Animation

2010-08-11T03:03:00.001-07:00

Back in July I was hired by MESMER; top video and projection designers internationally and here in the UK to help animate some effects for a couple of projects they were working on.

The first involved using the DigiEffects Damage plug-in for After Effects. Using this I made up a mixture of 'damaged' video effects that could be applied to any clip.

Next I made some stuff for "Beautiful Burnout" a theatre show set in the world of boxing. I made some X-ray effect clips of a hand and an ankle that could have that 'flourescent-light-flickering-on' sound applied to it later. Check them out below. Why not watch in glorious 1080p?

I also did some ripple effects in After Effects which could be triggered when the actor throws something at the screen. The crappy crab clip was just a test to try the effect out.

No Nightmares on Elm Street

2010-05-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Nightmare on Elm Street remake is pointless. Need I say more?
Okay.. I'll say more. Jackie Earl Haley, fair do's to him, but he looks like a cat with Freddy makeup. The flashbacks showing Fred pre-burn were the strongest parts for Jackie. The film seemed to be littered with imagery from the original just because they could. One great bit was the bloody corridor that spills out into a bedroom. This was pretty spectacular but not enough to save the cliche dialogue and wimpy acting. Another nice touch was the snow in the bedroom. Again, not enough.
As entertainment it works. It just about manages to hold interest but brings nothing new to the film at all. A completely unnecessary film.

May News

2010-05-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Right then. Editing for the mind control film has begun! I have two and a half of six scenes as rough edits. The first scene is shaping into a mixed montage/credit sequence and the others need the sound sorting.

Also: GHOST BEARD soon to come...

Inspiration

2010-04-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been re-watching some favourites recently for inspiration. "Toys are not for children" is a great film from 1972 'presented' by legend Harry Novak. It's about a girl with an obsession with toys and her missing father, more proof that the old ones are the best.

"Toys Are Not For Children" (1972)

The BFI are doing a 'Psycho-in-context' season this month which includes some great films from the time of "Psycho", films that inspired it and films inspired by it.

"M" 1931

I went to see "M"(1931) by Fritz Lang this week and was amazed. Absolute 5 star magic. Loaded with metaphors, beautiful photography, humour, suspense and a performance by Peter Lorre to cream for.

"M" got me thinking about the next film after "Freeview" is made. Always good to have ideas around. Something dark and real. It'd be great to do something genuinely shocking. Inspired by something from the "Something Weird Video" collection, like "Toys are not for children" or "The Toy Box". I need to see more!

New Blog for Dereliction Pictures

2010-03-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

So. An electronic way of documenting film projects? Sounds good.
At the moment I'm working on a short film called "Freeview" (working title). Providing I can get a camera it'll be committed to glorious DV early April (2010). I have some lovely ladies lined up as the cast, and am very excited about working with them (again; in some cases).

Beth starred in Anstridge the "arguably brilliant terror-thriller" that we made in 2008 and eventually finished a few months ago. Beth returns for Freeview as a lunatic girl obsessed with a model on Freeview channel; "Babe-Tropolis". Her background as a psychology student fuels beliefs that she can control this models' mind with a device of her own creation. Is she mad?! Time will tell...