University of Dundee : External Relations : Press Office

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12 May 2009

Lightsabres...camera...action for Dundee filmmaker

A lightsabre battle in Baxter Park was the unlikely setting for the directorial debut of a Dundee student who has since completed six films, and whose new 19-minute drama will be among the highlights at the 2009 Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show.

However, John Fairfield (30), may not be around to see visitors enjoy the final project of his Time Based Art and Digital Film course, entitled Camera Obscura, as his wife Katrina is more than eight months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

John, originally from the Fintry area of Dundee, has faced a frantic final few months of his studies as he juggles impending fatherhood, a film to make last-minute edits to, and a 25 hours-per-week part-time job.

'Katrina’s due date is June 22, just before my graduation, so we've discussed all the possibilities and the logistical nightmare that an early birth might bring,' he laughed.

A self-confessed movie geek, John’s transformation from fan to filmmaker began eight years ago when he and some friends decided to film their own homage to Star Wars.

It was afterwards, when they set down to edit the footage using a friend's computer that John began to realise how technology had opened the doors to budding filmmakers.

'I guess you could say that the digital age came in right at the right time for me,' he explained. 'I couldn’t believe how much we could do on our own, with no guidance and no experience. We did all sorts of things that just blew my mind, not because of how great the final version was, but just the fact we could do these things at all.'

'We started to make films, just for fun to begin with. As we moved on, I wanted to write something original and I made my first, self-funded film, The Helix in 2004.

'It came in at 49 minutes long, and I quickly realised was a lot longer than most short films made by first-time directors, and that I still had a lot to learn! The reception was really positive though, and I managed to get it shown at the DCA. It also taught me a lot about the begging process involved in raising funds for films!'

In addition to overwhelmingly positive reviews, The Helix also picked up awards after being shown at local film festivals and convinced John that film making was more than a hobby for him.

Having obtained an HND in Graphic Design some years previously, John - who was at this time working for a local computer games company - decided the time was right to return to full-time education.

Since then, John has thrown himself into work, completing a further six films and four music videos, whilst helping to produce and direct the degree show films of fellow students.

He has produced music videos for several local bands and, along with fellow Duncan of Jordanstone students, he filmed The View’s homecoming gig at the Caird Hall in February.

John’s final university project, Camera Obscura, will go on display at the Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show, which opens to the public on Saturday, May 23. The film centres upon a man who stumbles across a 35mm camera containing a roll of film left behind by its previous owner.

Upon developing the film, the protagonist discovers all the pictures are of newspaper pages from the future. He is then forced to agonise over what the correct course of action is, especially when he learns that a friend’s prospects are bleak, and deal with the potential fall-out of trying to alter the future.

'There’s a Nietzsche quote which I used in the film, 'the future influences the present just as much as the past', which sums up what I was trying to achieve,' John explains. The film deals with the unexpected consequences of suddenly having knowledge of the future thrust upon us, and how we would react in that situation.

'I’ve been throwing myself into work as a scriptwriter, editor, producer, director, anything to get me more experience of the process of making films really,' continues John. 'It’s been hard work, but it’s worth it and I’ve learned a huge amount over the past four years.'

While most students can let their hair down and put their feet up for a bit after graduation, John is unlikely to enjoy any such luxuries and can look forward to a life of changing mats rather than champagne.

He added, 'I’m sure that I won’t be getting any more rest come the end of my studies, but what better way to celebrate than by becoming a father for the first time?'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

DEGREE SHOW 2009
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee

Weds 20th May - VIP Preview night with fashion icon Erin O’Connor, Chair of the British Fashion Council and V&A trustee .