Nick Mastrini reviews the documentary revealing the fascinating career of Kubrick’s right-hand-man.

Tony Zierra’s Filmworker is a documentary that celebrates the hidden craftspeople of filmmaking by exhibiting the career of Leon Vitali, the actor-turned-right-hand-man for Stanley Kubrick, who relinquished a burgeoning career in front of the camera to work behind it.

A filmmaker as creatively independent as Stanley Kubrick can’t be defined by a genre, movement or single film. For Kubrick, the opposite is true: his work came to define the second half of the 20th century. As if by cosmic coincidence, the director’s career fits exactly into those five decades; Kubrick produced his first film, a boxing documentary short titled Day of the Fight, in 1950, and screened the final cut of Eyes Wide Shut six days before his death in 1999.

Vitali enters this timeline exactly halfway through, playing Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon in 1975. It becomes clear Kubrick wanted his actors to live as their characters, to learn every piece of dialogue by heart. While this caused issues for some cast members, Vitali prospered, and connected with Kubrick as a collaborator. Vitali coins the film’s title as a catch-all term to describe the breadth of tasks he would complete in service of Kubrick. What the documentary reveals is that – by sheer dedication to a laborious career – he ultimately became an understated cinematic polymath.

Filmworker does well to exhibit the two sides of the Kubrick-dedication coin. One voice notes that ‘he always had the energy for other people,’ confirming Vitali’s sincerity and selflessness. The late R. Lee Ermey (whose defining role in Full Metal Jacket was developed with Vitali’s support) and Matthew Modine highlight that they, or anyone else, would be “too selfish” to take on the role the filmworker did. And through a number of intimate interviews Zierra reveals the toll this took on the man who “became the arms and legs” of an iconic director.

From acting through editing and printing to casting and foley design, Filmworker takes us on a journey through cinematic departments and showcases Vitali’s expertise in each one. As this path unfolds, the weight of Kubrick’s career takes its toll. “Stanley kind of ate you up,” remarks one voice, and eventually, it is the global span of the director’s appeal that forces Vitali to live and breathe not a single role but a number of films. Every print inspected, every frame and every trailer, every marketing move and shopfront window concerns him. Filmmaking is a business above all, which makes Vitali stand out even more. He recalls asking “Stanley… do I look corporate?”

Filmworker is a great watch for the cinephile, especially one more interested in the human impact of filmmaking as a lifestyle than intense analysis of the films themselves, as in the Kubrick doc Room 237. Conspiracy theories and subliminal messages aren’t to be found here. Instead, this is the remarkable story of a craftsman whose curiosity led to mastery, and whose legacy deserves to be printed on film.

Filmworker was released May 18 and is now showing in UK cinemas. Trailer:

Students’ Union UCL has announced this year’s nominees for their annual Arts Awards, as well as this year’s Arts Commendations and Colours recipients. The UCL Film & TV Society has been nominated for three awards this year, with four of our members also being awarded Arts Commendations and Colours.

Arts Commendations
Zara Hussein

Arts Colours
Anton Volkov
Nick Mastrini
Tanya Dudnikova

---

Arts Personality of the Year
Nick Mastrini

Best Collaboration
The Bloomsbury Sessions (in collaboration with UCL Live Music Society)

Best Event – Non-Performance
Tim Bevan In-Conversation/Q&A – FilmSoc Guest Talk

The winners will be announced at this year’s Arts Ball, taking place on Tuesday, May 29 at Café de Paris. Tickets are on sale now.

Join NYU student and FilmSoc member Marley in the final of our A Day In The Life Of clips on the FilmSoc Vlog!

In the second of our three A Day In The Life Of vlogs, Anthropology student Niloofar takes you through her day…

Come back tomorrow for the final edition!

In the next edition of our FilmSoc Vlog, society member Raphael takes us through a day of his life as a physics student…

Stay tuned this weekend for our next ‘A Day In The Life…’

FilmSoc Webseries – 2017/18

When enthusiastic survivalist, Alastair, decides to form his own society dedicated to the art of survivalism, he must try and convince his friends to join him. Testing their skills and their patience, Alastair does what he must to form The Royal Survivalists Club. But will they fall apart before they even begin?

Alastair: Jamie Hardie
Alice: Wafia Zia
Jamie: Tim Bolton
Molly: Keziah Mills
Professor: Eno Carka

Writer: Alban Aubert
Producer: Bori Bernat (Ep 1)
Executive Producer: Tanya Dudnikova
Assistant Producer: Andrea Di Franco
Director: Alex Dewing (Ep 1)
Assistant Director: Lily Ketzer
Script Supervisor: Kelly Frost
Director of Photography: Freddie Rodgers
1st Assistant Camera: Andreea Vladulescu
2nd Assistant Camera: Ben Deschamps
Gaffer: He Ainong
Spark: Mary Ignatiadi
Location Sound: Alex Craggs
Sound Assistant: Cheryl Wang
Production Design: Hannah Stothard
Costumes / Wardrobe Manager: Mathilde Boecker
Runner: Amelia Christofis
Editor: Danlin Yu

FilmSoc’s 2018 Annual General Meeting took place tonight (March 22), with 26 candidates battling it out for 14 available positions on the society’s 2018/19 academic year committee.

We are delighted to announce that following this long but exciting night of speeches and pizza, the currently confirmed members of the committee are (UPDATED with the results of the online President and Treasurer vote)

President: Misan Aviomoh
Treasurer: Demi Hao
Secretary: Hugh Pearson
Marketing & Communications Officer: Sebastian Van Der Ree
Drama Producer: Kelly Frost
Documentary Producer: Lan Shi
Screenings Producers: Amelia Christofis and Thomas Caulton
Workshops Producer: Anna Pelliet
Socials Producers: Alex Dewing and Manisha Thind
Blog & Podcast Editor-in-Chief: Xin Yi Wang
Equipment Manager: Lydia Chilver-Vaughan
Studio Manager: Pihla Pekkarinen
Volunteering Officers: Alexandra Smile and Emma Davis
Welfare Officers: Jiaqin Liu and Patrick Zhuang

On Sunday, March 18, the UCL Film & TV Society celebrated its 70th anniversary with a special evening of events on campus marking the occasion.

Nearly 100 society presidents and members past and present braved the snowy weather to gather in the North Cloisters for a celebratory drinks reception kicking off the evening. The event proved to be a fantastic opportunity for alumni – some dating back to the early 1960s – to reconnect with their peers, as well as find out more about the FilmSoc of today from the current committee and members. Throughout, a selection of the society’s newsreel archive as well as student productions of the last few years and a 2001 documentary on the history of the society from Robert Coren (Archivist 1988-92) was screened at the venue.

The reception was followed by a special screening of Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut ‘Following’ at the Cruciform – previously due to be held outdoors on the Wilkins Terrace. The film, which turns 20 this year, was produced with the assistance of the society: selected scenes were shot and parts of post-production took place at FilmSoc’s studio in the Bloomsbury Theatre building. The Arri 16mm film camera used on the shoot, as well as the Steenbeck editing suite, also remain in the society’s possession to this day.

FilmSoc alumnus David Julyan, who composed the score and went on to collaborate with Nolan on his next films ‘Memento’, ‘Insomnia’ and ‘The Prestige’, introduced the screening; with the lead actor and UCL alumnus Jeremy Theobald also sending in a special video message.

The evening brings to a close a very special year for the Film & TV Society, which kicked off with a visit from the Oscar-nominated director, who was the society president from 1992-94, as he was awarded his Honorary Doctorate of Literature from the Faculty of Brain Sciences. With over 350 members this academic year, the society has so far completed principal photography on five short films as well as multiple webseries episodes; and held several popular events including a cycle-powered outdoor screening of ‘The Big Lebowski’ in collaboration with Project Active and a Q&A with Tim Bevan, the acclaimed producer of ‘Darkest Hour’ and co-founder of production company Working Title.

FilmSoc Term 3 Film – 2016/17

Annabel, fed up with her dysfunctional relationship, replaces herself with a shop window mannequin without her boyfriend noticing.

Directed by Thomas Rebour and Hugh Pearson
Written by Hugh Pearson
Produced by Maurice Anton Brown

Starring Sarah Lauridsen, Nick Tuck, Hanna Harris, Olivia Burgin, Munaye Lichtenstein

Director of Photography – Molly Hwang
1st Assistant Camera – Dhaval Joshi
2nd Assistant Camera – Pietro Sambuy, Andreas Zinonos
Gaffer – Shaun Waldie
Sparks – Lorcan Moullier, Milo Garner
1st Assistant Director – Bori Bernat
Sound – Jordan Harding
Script Supervisor – Kisshor Samyrao
Composer – Jack Selby
Costumes – Maki Morita
Production Design – Leo Bowers
Assistant Producers – Hebe Hamilton, David Cheung
Runners – Annie Maguire, Olivia Burgin

“Smooth Lovin” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

FilmSoc FemFilm – 2016/17

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” – Andy Warhol

Karen moved to London to start University and is immediately swallowed up by the big city: She feels invisible. That is, until an unplanned shortcut sparks her fifteen minutes of fame. Suddenly the quiet life doesn’t seem so bad after all.

Cast:
Jess – Lelia Yvetta
Rachel – Amarah-Jae Harris StAubyn
Mum – Katherine Kerman
Toilet Fan 1 – Louise Waller
Toilet Fan 2 – Madeleine Sharma
Laughing Girl – Sapphire Stutchbury
Journalist 1 – Aude Naudi-Bonnemaison
Journalist 2 – Hebe Hamilton

Crew:
Director – Iris Breward
Writer – Madeleine Sharma
Producer – Natalie Ohene
Assistant Director – Lilly Schlagnitweit
Assistant Producer – Ciara Hablützel
Script Supervisor – Shu-Hua Lin
Executive Producers – Misan Aviomoh and Shelby Weldon

Director of Photography – Melody Ho
1st Assistant Camera – Molly Hwang
On-set Photographer – Imogen Louise

Gaffer – Charlotte Hurst
Best Girl – Jessica Kleyn
Spark – Saskia Melina

Production Designer – Mary Ignatiadi
Costume and Props – Sofia Kourous Vàzquez

Sound Recordist – Hannah Alexander
Sound Assistant – Helen Poon
Boom Operator – Mary Berman

Runner – Zara Hussein
Production Assistant – Pip Jimovna

Editor – Miranda Yu
Assistant Editors – Hebe Hamilton, Lydia Bennett and Hanna Johara Dokal

FilmSoc Term 2 Film – 2016/17

He wants love. She wants to kill. They probably shouldn’t have met.

CAST
Gillian: James Cassir
Nathaniel: Nick Brown
Olivia: Kimi Lysette
Stephanie: Isabel Patterson

Producer: Tanya Dudnikova
Assistant Producers: Demi Hao and Issam Azzam
Director: David Cheung
Assistant Director: Misan Aviomoh
Writer: Francesco Dinmore
Script Supervisors: Chloe Woods and El Mayor of the Bakrania
Director of Photography: Cristian Gathern
Assistant Camera 1: Lorcan Moullier
Assistant Camera 2: Milo Garner (day 2)
Gaffer: Shaun Waldie (day 2)
Spark: Pietro Sambuy
Best Boy: Milo Garner (day 1) / Jordan Harding (day 2)
Grip: Christian Harb
Production Design Leads: Bori Bernat and Sarah Saraj
Production Design Assistant 1: Xinyi Wang
Production Design Assistant 2: Sean Osborne
Costumes: Yara Althekair
Hair and Makeup: Brooke Diamond (day 1) / Kira Amin (day 2)
Graphic Design: Alessandro Rognoni
Sound Team 1: Emily Waldron
Boom Operator: Seb Collinson (day 2)
Assistant: Molly Hwang (day 2)
Runner day 1: Andreas Zinonos (also BTS)
Runner day 2: Mary Ignatiadi

Viewable upon request.

In the first edition of our brand new FilmSoc Vlog, we re-create the iconic clementine cake from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

FilmSoc Term 1 Documentary – 2017/18 | In collaboration with SAVAGE Journal

A famous melting pot faced with a modern issue – the story of Brick Lane is diverse and ever-changing. ‘Brick Lane In Flux’ explores immigration and gentrification by way of this unique setting.

Directed and produced by
Nick Mastrini and Imogen Holland

Research, Filming and Editing by
Zabrina Lo
Alexia Kerwat
Ruby Harrop
Clara Invitado
Lorna Miri
Ay Nassimoldina
Katie Li
Thomas Nguyen
Maya Sughaiyer
Diggy Hill
Alex Anderton
Coco Shi
Duncan Smith
Seren John-Wood
Alex Craggs
Flora Zamula
Drone footage by Marley Fernandes

With thanks to
Rachel Lichtenstein
Sandys Row Synagogue
Stefan Dickers
Bishopsgate Institute
Sajjad Miah
Brick Lane Jamme Masjid
Ashraf Hoque

Find out more about SAVAGE Journal at savageonline.co.uk. You can also find them on FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER.

FilmSoc Term 2/3 Documentary – 2016/17

In one of the most diverse cities in the world, many face challenges of identity and progress. In ‘Heimweh’, Sebastian Egger explores what nationality means to young Londoners today.

Written and directed by Sebastian Egger
Produced and edited by Nick Mastrini
Co-directed by Amanda Maniero and Melody Ho
Special thanks to Tilen Zupan

FilmSoc Term 2 Film – 2015/16

Directed by Ben Haven Taylor
Starring Gabrielle Sheppard and Charlie Crossley
Produced by Keno Katsuda
Written by Benjamin Whitman
Director of Photography: Peter Kehoe
Production Design: Mayanne Soret

Last Friday, the 8th of September, acclaimed film director and former UCL Film & TV Society president Christopher Nolan returned to UCL to accept an Honorary Doctorate of Literature (DLit) as part of the Faculty of Brain Sciences’ graduation ceremony. Later that afternoon, current president Anton Volkov and his predecessor Thomas Rebour were incredibly honoured to host him, along with his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas, at the Film Society’s studio. The visit to the production space was part of a tour of the Bloomsbury Theatre, currently undergoing renovations due to be completed in the autumn of 2018.

Christopher, Emma, Anton and Thomas were joined by Professor Michael Arthur (UCL President and Provost), Lori Houlihan (Vice-Provost [Development]), Veronika Tugendraich Garwolinski (UCL Strategic Philanthropy Manager), and the team from UCL Culture – Head of Operations Frank Penter and Director Simon Cane – on the tour. Showing the group around the Bloomsbury Theatre construction site, Simon and Frank outlined the future vision and plans for the venue. These include increased usage by Students’ Union UCL and its clubs and societies, and a new stream of activities teaming UCL researchers with the creative industries. The group also visited the projection booth, housing a trio of celluloid film projectors – two 35mm and one 16mm, to be replaced with a single digital projection system as part of the renovation works – and a couple of unexpected archive discoveries.

The tour continued on to the brand-new Wilkins Terrace and Theatre Link, which will officially open with the start of term later this month, then concluded at the UCL Film & TV Society studio where Nolan once worked on his debut feature, Following (shot and edited using the society’s equipment, including a 16mm Arriflex camera and Steenbeck editing suite which remain in the studio to this day). During their visit to the studio, Christopher and Emma discussed with Anton and Thomas how the society has changed in the 20-plus years that have passed since their graduation, as well as the society’s current activities and plans for the 2017/18 academic year.

Congratulations to Mr. Nolan on the honorary degree, and a big thank you to him and Ms. Thomas for taking their time out to return to London to visit UCL and the society. Thanks also go out to the team at the Office of the Vice-Provost (Development) for putting the day together.

Photos courtesy of Kirsten Holst. You can read more about Mr. Nolan’s visit to UCL on the official site.

A promotional trailer for the UCL BME Students’ Network‘s series of Black Lives Matter events around UCL in March 2017.

Directed by Sayeeda Ali
Written by Sayeeda Ali and Sandra Ogundele
Produced in association with the UCL BME Students’ Network.

A FilmSoc Affiliate Project.

Directed by Madeleine Haslam.
Starring Laetitia Bouhelier, Sheikh Muizz, Phil Travers Spencer and Thomas Hetherington.
Screenplay by Charlotte Gregory – based on the poem by John Keats.
Produced by Keno Katsuda.

FilmSoc Webseries – 2015/16
Best Project Award Winner – UCLU Arts Ball 2016

Produced and co-written by Thomas Rebour (assisted by James Bloomer).
Directed by Lilla Vindics, Laetitia Bouhelier, Andreas Zinonos, Madeleine Haslam and Noah Reich.

Over the weekend of June 9-11, seven teams of FilmSoc members came together to make seven short films as part of our first major 48-Hour Challenge. The teams had two days to write, shoot and edit their films, having to follow multiple creative constraints including runtime, a line of dialogue, and…the use of a potato.

Watch a selection of the films made as part of the challenge below:

Tuberosum Sanguis

Judges’ Winner

By Thomas Rebour, Thomas Hetherington, Francesco Dinmore and Ivan Nagar

Music: “A Singular Perversion”, “Reign Supreme”, “Welcome to HorrorLand”, “Schmetterling” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Hot Potato

Audience Vote Winner

By Hugh Pearson, Pietro Sambuy, Aude NB, Kisshor Samyrao, Mikayé Yakovlev

Music:

“Interdimensional Lounge Music” by The Polish Ambassador
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

“In Your Arms” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living On The Wedge

Created/Written/Directed By: Andreas Zinonos, Bori Bernat, Diego Armando Aparicio, Tanya Dudnikova, (Molly) You Jung Hwang

Edited By: Andreas Zinonos

Assistant Editor: Diego Armanado Aparicio

Music: “A Singular Perversion”, “RetroFuture”, “Dirty Spider”, “Eyes Zombie”,”Hoodoo” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rot

By Albert Lam, Edward Neville-Cadwallader, Elizabeth Atanassova and Rüzgar Akgun.

Pomme de Terror

Starring Milo Garner and Rosemary Moss

Crew: Sofia Kourous Vazquez, Sarah Saraj, Milo Garner and Rosemary Moss

Music: Amor de Argentina by Américo Jacomino “Canhoto” (public domain)

Special thanks to Lelia Juhr-De Benedetti

Hello everyone,

I wasn’t expecting to write this post so soon as I thought I still had another 2 months of being in office, but alas my presidency ends today, along with my time of being a student at UCL. I’m also not the type who writes super-long-emotional-soppy posts (I barely post at all), so bear with me.

I’ve had a truly wonderful time in the Film Society these past three years, and I don’t hesitate in saying that they’ve been the three best years of my life. Film Soc was one of the main factors in choosing to study at UCL, and it was absolutely worth it.

My first involvement with Film Soc was for the one-week Campus Movie Fest film challenge, and appropriately ends with our own 48 hour film challenge in which I am currently participating in. But sandwiched between these two events I’ve been to countless screenings, guest talks, guest workshops and socials, and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. I’m not forgetting our productions of course, and I’ve had the pleasure of working on Term films, affiliate films and many other projects. Two highlights for me were producing last year’s webseries as Drama Producer (a lot of hard work but ultimately very rewarding) and co-directing the Term 3 film last week. But I’ve loved working on every other shoot I’ve been on, because it’s not only about the filmmaking but it’s also about the people. The members of this society are really passionate, enthusiastic, friendly people, and I’ve had an amazing time working with all of them. I’ve made friends for life.

Although we didn’t quite have the strongest of starts in the beginning during Term 1, I think in the end we’ve had a pretty successful year. The society has been kept afloat! I want to thank my awesome committee this year: Anton, Thomas, Emily, Nick, Andreas, Jonny, Pietro, Bori, Misan, Melody, Alfred, Shelby and Ivan. Thank you for all the hard-work in organising your respective activities or events for the society. It’s been a lot of fun working with you lot! There are still a lot of things and projects and ideas that I wanted to bring to the society, but I guess there’s only so much you can do in an academic year. But I have a lot of faith in Anton and I think he and the next committee will do amazing things next year!

Incoming freshers and current students, I do envy you, as your time in the Film Society has not yet finished, or not even begun! Make the most out of it, as for me these three years have gone by incredibly fast. It feels like I only started university last month.
However, I would say though that my time here is only “officially” over as rest assured I will be back and lurk massively. (I can live in the studio next year, right Lorcan?) I care a lot about Film Soc and I’ll be happy to hang out/help out in any way possible next year.

Thanks again for these three years.

Lots of love,
Thomas “Baby Tom” Rebour

(Am I still Baby Tom now Leiah? Have I evolved into something else now?)

On Friday, April 28, we are delighted to be hosting our inaugural Alumni-Student Social – an informal get together at our Film Studio, where we will be screening some select productions from the UCLU Film & TV Society‘s collection!

For our current members, this will be a great opportunity to meet past society members and Presidents, some of whom are now prominent figures in the industry; for the alumni, this is a fantastic chance to reconnect with old friends, as well as to meet some of our current cohort! We will be screening FilmSoc productions both old and new – so feel free to bring along your own films to share!

Attendance is free, and drinks and snacks will be provided. If you are alumni and would like to come along, please email our President, Thomas Rebour, at filmsoc@ucl.ac.uk to RSVP. Students: the event is open to all FilmSoc members for the 2016/17 academic year.

We look forward to seeing you all on April 28! Stay up to date with event details on our Facebook.

#FilmSocAlumni2017

UCLU have announced this afternoon that the Film & TV Society has been nominated in two categories for this year’s UCLU Arts Awards; with six of our members also being awarded Arts Commendations and Colours. Check out the list of the society’s Arts Commendations and Colours recipients, as well as Arts Awards nominations below:

Arts Commendations
Anton Volkov
Melody Ho
Misan Aviomoh
Nick Mastrini
Tanya Dudnikova

Arts Centenary Colours
Thomas Hetherington

Best Project
The Bloomsbury Sessions (in collaboration with UCLU Live Music Society)

Best Publication
FilmSoc Blog

The winners will be announced at this year’s Arts Ball, taking place on Tuesday, May 30 at Café de Paris. Tickets are on sale now on UCLU’s website, and be sure to join us prior to the ball for a special end-of-year celebration at our Film Studio.

We are incredibly excited to reveal the teaser trailer for Patient 48 – last academic year’s Term 2 Film. Check out the ominous first look below:

The film is now in the final stages of post-production, and is expected to be released in the coming months. Stay tuned for more on Patient 48 and FilmSoc’s other productions soon!

Directed by Ben Taylor
Starring Gabrielle Sheppard and Charles Crossley
Produced by Keno Katsuda
Written by Benjamin Whitman

On Tuesday, March 21, UCLU Film & TV Society held their Annual General Meeting, where this academic year’s society members got together to elect each of the 13 available positions on the society’s committee. The members also voted on the expansion of the Podcast Producer role – itself a recent addition to the committee – to include Editor-in-Chief duties for the newly-launched FilmSoc Blog. Following this exciting evening of impassioned speeches and free food, a brand new committee of 16 (an expansion on the previous year’s 14) was elected for the 2017/18 academic year.

President: Anton Volkov
Treasurer: Lucie Desquiens
Secretary: Mary Ignatiadi
Marketing & Communications Officer: Andreas Zinonos
Drama Producers: Tanya Dudnikova and Ed Dubrovskiy
Documentary Producer: Nick Mastrini
Workshops Producers: Pietro Sambuy and Yara Althekair
Screenings Producers: Issam Azzam and Sarah Saraj
Socials Producer: Zara L R Hussein
Blog & Podcast Editor-in-Chief: Sofia Kourous Vazquez
Volunteering Officer: Amanda Maniero
Equipment Manager: You Jung Hwang
Studio Manager: Lorcan Moullier

The society’s new committee will come into office on August 1.

// His youth is fleeting, his memories fading and failing

In search for a phantom of lost love and innocence //

Written, directed and edited by Melody Ho
Starring Candice Fraisse
Directors of Photography: Mahmoud Shehab El-Din and Melody Ho

This week, Mel and Natasha tackle Bill Condon’s Beauty and the Beast and OJ Made in America. But wait, there’s more! They also make time to discuss Charlize Theron kicking multiple butts in the trailer for Atomic Blonde, get into the nitty gritty of The Matrix ‘reboot’ and take some time to heap praise on the fabulous Aardman Animations.

This week Thom is joined by Emily to decide whether Kong really is King of the monsters, and give the scoop of Alice Lowe’s Prevenge. They also pay tribute to the late, and incredibly great, Bill Paxton, explore Pierce Brosnan’s worrying cinematic offerings and discuss the prospect of an 18-rated Ant-Man movie.

This week, Thom and Misan delve into the Oscars, review Logan, and try to fathom out whether Mel Gibson can ever be redeemed. A week of weighty issues, confused hosts and Faye Dunaway hightailing it away. Tune in for unmitigated and unqualified opinions with a heavy dose of love for Viola Davis.

On this Super Bowl Special episode of the podcast, Thom and Anton break down all the big TV spots and trailers that landed on Sunday’s Big Game – from Transformers: The Last Knight and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 to Stranger Things 2!

You can see all the film trailers from the Super Bowl in this complete compilation from MOVIECLIPS:

And watch the Stranger Things spot below:

This week, Mel and Henry tackle Hacksaw Ridge and T2 Trainspotting. Also this week, Henry passes the test for new recruits with flying colours, the duo tackle coughing through an out of focus Manchester By The Sea, and global politics (in purely filmy terms), all whilst being on first name terms with Ben Affleck.

This week, Paweł and Thom delve into the new releases, tackling Garth Davis’ Lion and Kate Beckinsale’s return in Underworld: Blood Wars. They also take some time to talk to Jeff Bridges about his 40th Oscar nomination, discuss the new Logan trailer and map out the similarities between Lion and Finding Dory.

This week, Helena and Natasha try to keep a lid on their exuberant feelings for La La Land, whilst also giving their two cents on the next Bond (Keira Knightley is a dead cert), discussing Woody Harrelson’s latest venture and being happily reminded that James Marsden still exists.

Mel and Thom count down their top ten (and eleven) films of 2016, racking up some honourable mentions along the way and stopping briefly to throw a little scorn on the worst films of the year. Keep listening for mentions of a neglected Amy Adams, soulful renditions of the Animated X-Men theme tune, and a film worse than Thor 2.

A very warm welcome to the UCLU Film & TV Society’s brand new website and the official FilmSoc Blog!

The FilmSoc Blog will be a space for news about the society – covering our latest events and productions – as well as a place for film and TV reviews, industry news & tips, and more!

Alongside the FilmSoc Podcast, we hope for this to be the one-stop place for the film fans of UCL to find out the latest about the society as well as the world of film and the latest releases.

Stay tuned for more over the coming weeks!

Term 1 Film – 2015/2016

A young filmmaker struggles to come to terms with the loss of his greatest gift: his
vision.

Directed by Ed Bragg
Written by Mesbah Uddin
Produced by Katherine Thomas

Starring Alberto Lais, Charlie Crossley, Mesbah Uddin and Danielle De Vito Halevy

Edited by Ed Bragg
Director of Photography: Berthold Wahjudi
Music by The Esbjorn Svensson Trio

A young woman suspects her new flatmate is more sinister than he seems. Is he a psychopath, or is it… paranoia…

Written and directed by Aislinn King
Produced by Shaun Waldie

Starring Jennie Hillard, Charlie Crossley and Abigail Hooper

Executive Producers: Edward Conder, Elsa Kang and Leiah Yvonne Kwong
Director of Photography: Thomas Rebour
Music by Jonny Southard
Art Director: Genevieve Caulfield
Set Designer: Glen Heng
Edited by Aislinn King

Special thanks to the UCLU Writers Society

UCLU Film Society is proud to present ‘Weird Sisters’, the second entry in our annual FemFilm series.

‘Weird Sisters’ is a mockumentary about three London-based supernatural undergrads’ quest to find a fourth flatmate to complete their household.

Directed by Emma Wagstaff
Written by Hannah Farell, Becky Ellis and Masha May Voyles

Starring Clea Martin Vargas, Indigo Evans, Lao Lee, Ieva Matulaytyte and Ellen Deng

Producer: Leah McGurk
Executive Producer: Victoria Nambi
Director of Photography: Maisie Harrison
Production Designer: Yan Yu
Editor: Mandy Lo

A new collaboration between UCLU Film and Hindu Societies, made by Freshers to both societies over a weekend in October 2015. Part of the Film Society’s ‘World Cinema’ series.

Written and directed by Ankit Bhatt & Tanvi Punatar
Producer: Peter Kehoe
Choreographer: Neha Raithatha

Starring Theresita Joseph, Sai Pendyala, Ciaran Cyriac and Adil Hasham

Director of Photography: Jonathan Andrews
Production Designer: Meghan Bradford
Editors: Ankit Bhatt and Tanvi Punatar

A UCLU Film Society Affiliate Webseries

Couchtime Stories narrates the everyday adventures of 6 students with very different backgrounds sharing a flat in London (a crossover between “Friends” and Klapisch’s “The Spanish Apartment).
From the career-driven intern, to the university drop-out volunteering for charitities, they all go through experiences that you will definitely relate to.
They awkwardly get to know each other, and share their hopes and dreams. They get drunk, they get dumped, they fight and make up, and eventually learn to live together!

Written and directed by Lucie Trémolières
Produced by Julie Joubert, Ivan Nagar and Lucie Trémolières

Starring Aurora Cominetti, Florent Simon, Ottavia Derossi, Cora Burridge, Thomas Fenton and Lucie Trémolières

Director of Photography: Thomas Rebour
Set Design: Simon Carpentier, Julie Joubert and Maialen Maugars
Makeup: Ottavia Derossi and Julie Joubert
Edited by Mallory Blackwood and Mandy Lo

Written and performed by Harry Balfour-Lynn and George Houghton
Sound Mix: Rubin Patel
Production Team: Adam Pinnock, Amandla Bitonga Inhambane, Giulia Simone, Mickey Dekel, Nada Bashir
Producer for UCLU Live Music: Anjelica Barbe
Producer for UCLU Film Society: Ed Conder

Written and performed by Luke Purwar
Production team: Luke Blackett, Giulia Simone & Edward Conder

Context in case you are confused:
http://buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/bellogate#3nuivt5
http://bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-29555344

Mel, Thom and Chris give the skinny on the latest Star Wars movie; Rogue One. As well as presenting their opinions for your digestion, they delve into the ins and outs in glorious spoilery detail. So if you haven’t seen the film head out to the pictures and give it a watch before tuning in!

This week Mel and Natasha tackle the latest releases, talking the talk about Moana, Edge of Seventeen and A United Kingdom.

Mel also grills Natasha about her film life thus far, Amy Schumer being Barbie, Jimmy Kimmel hosting the Oscars and what their go to Christmas films are.

This week Helena and Tom take to the podcast to discuss the Amy Adams double bill of Nocturnal Animals and Arrival and get the skinny on this week’s Bleed for This. As well as discussing all the week’s hottest news and upcoming releases.

The pair also tackle the compatibility of Wes Anderson and H&M, whether it’s still possible to spoil Soylent Green and award Armie Hammer the title of Matinee Idol.

Mel and new recruit Sam bring the Podcast in swashbuckling style after a, somewhat longer, summer break. Chatting the chat about this following…

– Reviews of Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
– Chat about the latest news concerning Han Solo, Adam McKay’s latest project, the Silence trailer and much more.

Reviews:

Ab Fab and Notes on Blindness.

Movie-Vine: