HER(E).
Made by Her. Here.
Rachael Jones
The Artist and the Moon
Where are you from?
Although originally from Cornwall I grew up in Hong Kong and have lived in Spain and Australia. I decided to move back to Cornwall 3 years ago to continue studying film, after starting a course in Australia. I chose Falmouth because it felt like home, partly because I’d done my foundation course there 15 years earlier after I left school in Hong Kong.
What got you into filmmaking?
I got into film when I was 12 when my parents told me that I had some inheritance money (the grand sum of £200!) and all I wanted was a camcorder. It became an obsession to document everything, from daily events to family holidays and even try my hand at making commercials and music videos. Over 20 years later, but with a long gap in between, I am still making those kind of films. I do promos and music videos, however my particular interest is in documentary.
How did the idea for "The Artist and the Moon" come about?
My favourite documentaries tend to be ones that don’t take an obvious approach, rather they incorporate artistic techniques, bringing attention to form. That is why I wanted to make “The Artist and the Moon”. I felt a strong desire to make a film that documented an artist, but that expressed him in a way that reflected what he was talking about, namely art. It was also an opportunity for me to re-exercise my own artistic skills and collaborate with artists. In this way it is an experimental documentary and largely reflects on me as the filmmaker, or rather, makes obvious my interpretation of the artist’s sources of inspiration.
Generally, how important are Devon & Cornwall to you in your filmmaking/film inspirations?
Although it’s a film about a Cornish artist, I feel like it’s the sort of film I could have made anywhere. This said, there is a special energy about Cornwall that allows creative people to unlock what it is that makes us tick.
How important is it to you that females get a voice in filmmaking? Do you think females in the film industry are doing enough to get their voices heard?
I think it’s incredibly important that female filmmakers have a voice as we see the world differently to men. This way of seeing the world needs to be expressed. There seem to be more opportunities for female filmmakers today, however the balance still leans towards male filmmakers and a male audience.