Malisa Chafer, volunteer chairwoman of Portsmouth’s only independent cinema, says “film making is one of those most incredible creative processes.”
Her thinking at No 6 Cinema … if you can showcase some of the best filmmakers it gives people the chance to experience it change their minds on a variety of topics, open their minds to a variety of things. “I think its really important”, she says.
Chafer seems very aware on what films can be. She highlights particularly film that is part entertainment, part education, when you have a fantastic documentary about something you know nothing about its an opening to another world. “I think that’s what I love about cinema”, says Chafer. “It is a window on other places and other ideas.”
But were here to talk about independent cinema specifically…
“I think the motivation behind the making of the film is often completely different, not just in it for money, for expression of an idea or to share something”, says Chafer.
To first year film student of University of Portsmouth, Kearin Green, independent film is more intriguing for the lessons and authenticity the filmmakers bring to the table.
“In reality as an art form I think independent film is just much more real and it makes you feel a lot more, it’s very profound,” says Green.
Especially, with everything that happened in recent years, with artists having to fight to save the arts, it has been increasingly recognised how important this industry is to people and the ways in which it can benefit society.
Green sees that young people bring an ability to be brave when it comes to new ideas and because of this the UK film industry has become a lot braver when it comes to social issues.
Although she acknowledges projects tackling these issues gets a bit much for people Green says “go for it.”
“It’s never been a better time to raise your voice on the things that you think are important and use your preferred medium as a way to express it, I think its really important and there’s a lot of creators that are doing so well when it comes to expressing it.”
These new young filmmakers such as Kearin Green, currently being inspired by courses at the university and opportunities with Making Waves Film Festival and No 6 Cinema is something that is needed in the industry.
“The more people that come in the more ideas that you never even knew existed will come in” says Green.
“The idea of being so brave about representing things such as mental health or even sexual assault doesn’t just come from a person who’s been in the industry forever, that comes from someone who started at the bottom.”
This is the kind of development that Making Waves allows today, enhancing the film industry as well as societies perspective on what film is.
Green says cinema is the closest medium to viewing someone’s life and the most direct way to express a message to someone.
“When you see someone talking, feeling and experience that I think that’s the most personal you can get when it comes to expressing art through a medium.”
By Louisa Clarke
