Tindersticks Film Project

Tuesday 10 May 2016

On Friday 6th May 2016 Tindersticks came to the Cambridge Corn Exchange as part of our cornex:discover series to perform a special “cine-concert”. Following its world première at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in February, their show featured their 10th studio album The Waiting Room with a specially commissioned film to accompany each song.

The film-makers were given two free workshops as part of the workshop

To accompany the show Cambridge Live gave four local film-makers the chance to take part in a film project to create a short film inspired by Tindersticks: The Waiting Room. The film-makers, of mixed abilities, were given one of Tindersticks early tracks, two free workshops lead by professional film-maker Ryd Cook, and 3 weeks to film and create their own short films. These films were premiered in a private viewing before the Tindersticks show to people from the Cambridge Film scene, local press and friends and family and Tindersticks themselves!

The film-makers with Tindersticks

All the films shown were given a massive round of applause and approval from the band themselves!

The Films

Film 1: Marbles by Brenden Ewan

Working on this project has been challenging but very interesting and enjoyable. The workshops were great and the other filmmakers involved are super talented and inspiring! I was assigned the song Marbles by Tindersticks and what struck me when listening was a sense of a loss of identity and fragility. The singer talks about a woman going to extreme lengths to appear attractive, and "in the process losing something". I decided to focus on a character who is trapped in a very lonely world and who eventually, briefly, comes out of her shell. Although I am shy about my own work, I'm really looking forward to screening our films together this Friday and hearing everyone's feedback. I hope the band themselves see them and enjoy them too!

 

Film 2: Travelling Light by Jahmal Crowe

I'm an aspiring filmmaker from Cambridge and I studied Film at university. I enjoy directing and writing screenplays, and I'm currently looking for funding to get one of my scripts made into a film. As soon as I heard about this project I applied straight away and was very happy to be given the opportunity to take part in it. It has been a great project to be involved in, the workshop leader Ryd Cook has been very helpful all the way through and I have met some other brilliant local filmmakers. I have actually held the idea for my film for a while now and when I heard the Tindersticks song chosen for me I knew I had to make it for this project! What I'm looking forward to most on Friday is to see my film screened in front of an audience. I'm looking forward to what's next and I hope this project leads to more opportunities!

Film 3: Tiny Tears by Amiya Nagpal

I'm a second year anthropology student, and have always been interested in film, but have never really done any filming or editing before. This has been a great chance to try my hand at the whole process of filmmaking, from producing to creating. The end result is very much borne out of the song, and it's been a great experimental opportunity for me, I've developed a vivid appreciation for light and colour in creating the film!
 

Film 4: City Sickness by Jonnie Howard

I’m a 24 year old independent filmmaker who has been developing the media production company JHFilm in Cambridge since graduating with an English Literature with Creative Writing degree in 2012. The Tindersticks Project with Cambridge Live has been a great opportunity to meet local filmmakers, chat creatively and learn professional insights from an experienced tutor. As lactose intolerance-inducing as it sounds, my short film took its inspiration directly from the source material and the images it formed as I initially listened to the track on repeat. I then threw in an awkward dating anecdote for good measure and, violà, I had a narrative. I am excited to see all of our films premiered together and hope the audience enjoy the show as a warm up to Tindersticks’ unique cinematic performance later that evening. 

cornex:participate

This project is part of Cambridge Live’s cornex:participate programme. Cambridge Live is a registered charity that inspires shared cultural experiences. We want everyone's lives to be enriched by a creative experience. The work we do through cornex:participate supports:

  • Young and disadvantaged people getting involved in the creative sector

  • Nurturing up and coming creatives as they craft their futures

  • Giving older people opportunities to enjoy shared social experiences

  • Free events across the city that bring diverse communities together

If you would like to become more involved with Cambridge Live please contact Matt Deacon, Head of Development on 01223 791 755 or email matt.deacon@cambridgelivetrust.co.uk