Scene from Time Code
Lightfooted satire on Hollywood. The film is made up of four takes each lasting 90 minutes taken by four cameras. The recordings can be seen simultaneously on a screen divided into four. Gradually the storylines come together.
The digital video camera made it possible for Mike Figgis to try out a revolutionary concept. With four cameras shooting in synchronisation, he recorded four non-stop takes of 90 minutes. On the screen, divided in four, the images from the four cameras can be seen simultaneously. Each camera tells – of course in real-time – the story of four people who are trying to get their film production or film career off the ground in Hollywood. The four storylines gradually come together. The dialogues by the strong cast are largely improvised. Despite the technical tour de force, the story is strikingly lightfooted, filled with satirical witticisms and stereotypes. Figgis shot the story 15 times in a period of two weeks. While previous directors had claimed to have used the concept of one-take/real-time – Badham with Nick of Time (1995), Hitchcock with Rope (1948) – Time Code is the first commercial film in which this mission was verifiably completed.
Time Code – 2002/UK/98min Directed by Mike Figgis
Mike FIGGIS (1948, UK) was born in Carlisle, England, but moved that same year to Nairobi, Kenya, where he lived until he was eight years old. Back in England he started playing trumpet and guitar with various rock-‘n-roll bands. Figgis studied music in London for three years. In 1980, Figgis formed his own theatre company, The Mike Figgis Group, and began creating multimedia productions, making extensive use of film. Figgis directed his first feature film The House in 1984. His feature film Leaving Las Vegas (1995) won several awards, including an Academy Award for Nicolas Cage for Best Actor.
notes courtesy of International Film Festival Rotterdam
This screening has been made possible with the support of Mike Figgis, Red Mullet Productions, Hsieh Chin Lin and LUNA FILMS
Details (to be confirmed)
- 19 June Saturday, 1-3pm The Picturehouse, Singapore
- Entry with SFS Membership. Membership available at the door. Please check http://www.sfs.org.sg
LUNA FILMS 