Battle with cancer inspired a project
LOCAL film-maker John Katsoulieri (formerly Farrington) is the writer and director of the film And She Cried, inspired by the work of Sylvia Lancaster following the hate-crime death of her daughter Sophie.
He is currently winning his battle with cancer and told me: “My diagnosis has given me a fresh pair of eyes and a new perspective and I’m keen to create as much as I can with the time I have, however long or short that may be.”
In this vein, he has just released his latest film, Aelia Laelia, the name of a track on the 2016 album Je Suis Le Tenebrous by Cristopher Chaplain, a Swiss-born English composer and actor.
He is the youngest son of film comedian Charlie Chaplin and his fourth wife, Oona O’Neill.
I asked John how he came to make this film. He said: “I saw CC’s activity on Facebook and appreciated the links to music that he listens to.
“We both share an admiration of Tom Waits and, after he responded positively to a link I sent him regarding a TW piece, I gingerly corresponded more with him.
“When my vinyl album arrived, one of the tracks jumped out.
A film for the track was going to be my first project in my ‘new life’.
“I ran by him an outline of a visual idea that I had and he was positive in his response.
“I then approached Pete Tomkies, who was my cinematographer on And She Cried, to co-direct with me.
We set about planning the project and Panalux (supporters of And She Cried) again offered lights gratis and Sony provided a camera, while Pete and I organised and paid for the rest.”
They asked Mat Johns, a Manchester based, awardwinning cinematographer, to shoot. He agreed ‘as he appreciated our vision.’ Charlotte Maclaine (make-up artist) was then recruited from Hopwood Hall College where she’s studying film make up, and Mike Craig, And She Cried veteran, brought in his crane which they ‘used to good effect’.
They engaged the performers Jade Buxton and Christian Don Spears and produced a stunning piece of work that doesn’t just complement the original track but enhances it.
Christopher Chaplain himself was very impressed and said: “Wow, it looks amazing. I like it a lot, the image is very beautiful.”