| Films | ||
 |
In
his accident in 1987, William Fairbank received a very serious head injury.
He, like so many people featured on this film, has channelled his new brain
state into creativity. People with Head Injuries invariably live within the constraints of short term memory loss. "Head On" features an abstract drama communicating how these people see themselves and the world in a completely different way. Over 100 extracts from 15 interviews focus on Memory, Frustration, Violence, Sleep, Emotions, Epilepsy, Relationships, Suicide, Sex, Faith, Acceptance and Positive Advice. Cover design by Selina Watson |
|
Montage for the film; Living in the Present
| William Fairbank, 76 Whitegate,
Bridgham, Norfolk NR16 2AB 01953 718114 www.williamfairbank.com I have just completed a montage for my proposed new film called, ‘Living in the Present’. It is 18 minutes long and I am offering to send this montage film out to you free of charge. See the endorsements below. I received my severe head injury in a RTA in 1987. On every film or radio program that I have seen or been on, centred on brain injury, I have been left with the question as to whether or not the makers really had any idea what it was like to actually live within a brain bashed state like I have. At art college the base teaching was on how one saw things. One was taught to question the root fundamentals and then interpret them in such a way as they could be communicated out in a painting or sculpture or film. For the last 20 years I have been applying these techniques to myself and working out a structure to this new language that I have had to learn. This is at the root of the proposed new film, ‘Living in the Present’. It will be a teaching film. The ‘Living in the Present’ film will be a sequel to successful Head On film, which has been shown on the Community Channel TV station over many years during ‘Brain Injury Week’. If you want to see the montage for this film, then please send me your name and address, with 5 first class stamps to cover P&P. In anticipation, thank you very much indeed. William Fairbank November 2007 Endorsements: "It will give us a significant resource to move the
understanding of the unaware." Your Montage film is very well constructed. - I think
you need to explain what “living in the present” means in words of one syllable
right at the beginning..... Also I think you should clarify what the movie is
for – I think it would be best if it is a practical guide for patients which has
a secondary effect of teaching lawyers, doctors etc. I think we should be able
to dish this out to people as they leave hospital for the first time. "The film will help bridge the gap in understanding
that exists between two quite different worlds." Dr Casten Soborg "I have spent most of my adult life coming to terms
with memories just fading away." Noelle Gunton "William is part of the vanguard of those who are
finding ways to describe this condition in ways that are meaningful to the rest
of us." Dr Mary Butler
|
|
Head On is an investigative piece of journalism about life after head injury. It is an informative educational type documentary to raise awareness of this condition. In his accident in 1987 William received a very serious head injury. After the accident he has had to come to terms with seeing himself and the world in a completely different way. Communicating out how life is for him, and the other head injured people on the film, is the inspiration for making HEAD ON. In winter 2000, William went to New Zealand and carried out a series of fifteen interviews with head injured people. Before their accidents many of these people had interesting, demanding and skilful jobs and while they may retain some of these skills, it is a common feature that they cannot handle the levels of life pressure that are expected in our society today. These interviews focus on how head injured people manage their disability and highlight the challenges that life with head injury presents. While the film features many people talking about their own unique experiences, it also includes a piece of abstract drama, highlighting the problems of making choices when living within the restraints of limited short term memory. This seven minute piece has been filmed and edited by www.worldvideoproductions.co.uk The film is primarily aimed at people who have received head injuries but it will be of great interest to their friends family and carers. This illuminating work will certainly be of great relevance to those interested in different brain states.
Films and DVD available from the Shop Comments
on the film, HEAD ON The film Head On is available from the Shop
|
|
New DVD: Tour of the
Forest Stations at |
|
|
"Your warmth, humour and
enthusiasm come across so well."
"It's an exact example of the way in
which art can actually bring the gap between the intellect and the
emotions - between the head and the heart. It breaks the barriers
between one reality (the reality of our ordinary, everyday
perceptions) and the reality of our feelings and our
spirituality." |
|
Appeal film for the |
| Marjory van Mackelenbergh Head of Programming, Community Channel 3-7 Euston Centre, Regent's Place London NW1 3JG www.communitychannel.org , wrote on 24/01/05……. Your work has been of great importance to the Community Channel. What makes your films standout from most other filmmakers is the fact that you approach the subjects from a personal point of view. I feel that the fact that you have been through a major tragedy and the subsequent road to recovery, has made you see many subjects in a different light. This point of view makes your work fascinating and compulsive viewing. The openness in which you approach the subject matter and the openness with which you interview people, makes their reactions more intimate and emotional. This is a rare trade to find. I sincerely hope that you will continue your film making for a long time and that you will keep the Community Channel in mind as a platform for your art. |
Heart of Yew
Heart of Yew is a 10 min video film of the building of this sculpture. Most of the shots are speeded up and the only talking on the film are two short clips of Dr Geoffrey
Farrer-Brown, one when he is holding the yew wood in early days and the other when he sees the completed sculpture for the first time. Not only is there footage of how 900 fibre optic
lights were set in but there is some remarkable shots of Metal spinning. his film is available in the
shop. The remarkable music for this film was especially composed by Jo. A video is available in the
Shop.
One Thousand Million BC was one of the Turner 2000 Prize entries. Every clip on this film has been speeded up so that one can see the whole sculpture being built in 7 mins. There is great footage of this unique way of setting in the 450 fibre optic lights and how the pine wood is burnt black without destroying the thin glass fibres. Available as a lecture.
AD0BC was also one of the Turner 2000 Prize entries. This is another speeded up film (10 mins) and shows how the 8 thicknesses of ash were laminated together, the five black thornes were built and then joined to the crown, and great footage of Felix Russell laying the gold leaf around the crown jewels. Available as a lecture.
2000AD
2000AD was also one of the Turner 2000 Prize entries. Wood is the only material that could be used to build this 2m structure, housing 950 fibre optic lights and exactly how this was acheived may be seen on this fast moving 10 min film. Available as a
lecture.
THE FOREST WAY
The Forest Way is a 30 minute video, scripted by William Fairbank, and filmed by
www.worldvideoproductions.co.uk The film starts with William in his workshop saying how he came to be making the Forest Stations. There follows a beautifully filmed
tour down THE FOREST WAY,
moving along each of the Forest Stations looking at the spiritual,
environmental and technical issues raised during the seven years
creating this work. Through film one can see close up the
extraordinary fine detail of each of these wood sculptures. The music to this film comes from Songs of the Forgotten People by Nigel Shaw and Carolyn
Hillyer. www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk
The film is available from the
shop
This 1/2 hour film was shot throughout the project. William discusses ideas, selects the timber at the woodyard, designs the sculture, explains the technical side and we see June seeing the completed sculpure for the first time.
This film is only available as part of a lecture presented by William Fairbank.
