Ben Soper

London Short Film Festival 2012

2011-12-13T15:55:00.003Z

I'm pleased to announce that To Ardent by Black Devil Disco Club has been selected for the London Short Film Festival. It'll screen as part of New Shorts #16 Music & Video on the 12th January at the Roxy Bar and Screen. Big thanks to Blue Iris Films, Lo Recordings and Alter K for their support.

Autumn Update

2011-10-31T13:44:00.004Z

Lots of exciting projects in the works. First up is a music video for Canadian indie rock heroes Woodpigeon and the track they’ve given me to work with is a belter. It’s too early for me to say anything about the nature of the video or the special guests that are being roped into it but it’s looking like its going to be pretty special.

I've also got a couple of - very exciting - music video projects bubbling away and a new short script I've just sketched out tentatively titled ‘Werewolf’. Watch this space.

THE EDGE OF THE PARK

2011-09-25T18:08:00.006+01:00

Just finished revising a new short script called 'The Edge of the Park'. It's a mystery about a guy who starts to suspect his girlfriend's been unfaithful and decides to investigate. I'm submitting it to Collabor8ate, a new scheme run in conjunction with Rankin Film, Dazed TV and The Bureau. Fingers crossed. As usual I've thrown together a mood board to help keep focus. And here it is.

Director's Showreel

2011-08-20T21:46:00.011+01:00

Here we go, hot off the press: a 90 second director's showreel showcasing my music videos for FaltyDL, Black Devil Disco Club and Dam Mantle as well as my award winning short film 'Night School'. None of this would've been possible without the innumerable collaborators I've had the good fortune to work with, especially the wonderful Katie Crook & Olivia Gifford at Blue Iris Films. Big thanks also go to my friend and frequent collaborator Jonathan Ley at Useful Content for editing the showreel. You can see more of his handiwork here.

Not a Word

2011-07-01T00:07:00.008+01:00

Here’s my latest music video fresh from its debut on Pitchfork’s Forkcast. Thanks to Katie Crook & Olivia Gifford (the unstoppable Blue Iris Films), DOP Marek Borkowski, editor Jonathan Ley, superheroes Lucas Kao & Colin McQuillen and actors; Nathan Byrne, Catriona MacInnes and Ross Mann. 'Not a Word' is the first track to be taken from Dam Mantle's excellent new 'WE' EP out on July 25th.

EIFF TALENT LAB

2011-06-25T23:28:00.008+01:00

Just emerging from a week or so partying and learning a hell of a lot at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Thanks to Corinne Orton and Holly Daniel for the excellent EIFF Talent Lab I met an inspiring bunch of emerging writers, directors and producers as well as some top industry figures. Saw some good films too: Bombay Beach, Our Day Will Come and Tomboy are all definitely worth a look.

To Ardent

2011-05-27T19:44:00.007+01:00

Here's my new music video for BDDC feat. Nancy Sinatra. Thanks to everyone who worked on it especially DOP Grant McPhee, editor David Lumsden, star Irina Nedelcu and last but not least Olivia Gifford and Katie Crook from Blur Iris Films. The EP is available to buy here and features remixes by Horse Meat Disco, Logo, Grosvenor and Vitamin Wig C. Enjoy.

Busy Times

2011-04-29T13:45:00.008+01:00

It's been a busy couple of months. I've been developing projects with friends I met at the Berlinale Talent Campus, working on my feature Persons Unknown in preparation for Digicults promising Incubator scheme and preparing to shoot a music video for electro pioneer Bernard Fevre's Black Devil Disco Club (featuring vocals from the legendary Nancy Sinatra!). All this and Night School got a belated screening in the USA courtesy of the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival. With another ambitious music video and a couple of short film projects in the pipeline it looks as though i'm in for a busy few months ahead too.

Gospel of Opal

2011-03-03T11:15:00.008Z

My debut music video for NYC producer FaltyDL is now online. Thanks to everyone who worked on this. It really was a team effort. Also big thanks to FaltyDL and Planet Mu for giving me the chance to do it. 'Gospel of Opal' is now available to view on Stereogum and Pitchfork.

Night School to screen on BBC HD

2011-02-04T19:58:00.007Z

Billed as ‘a reflection on teenage love and illusion’ Night School has been included in HD Short Films, a selection of shorts to be aired on BBC HD 12:00 Midnight 19th February. The channel is available through Freesat channel 109, Freeview channel 54, Sky channel 169 and Virgin Media channel 187. Publicity still courtesy of Neil Cammock

FaltyDL

2011-01-31T14:14:00.009Z

I’m currently working on a music video for FaltyDL. The track is from his second LP for Planet Mu Records - 'You Stand Uncertain' out on 14th March. I'll keep you posted... In the meantime here’s a publicity still from the shoot courtesy of Lucas Kao.

Berlinale Talent Campus 2011

2010-12-30T15:21:00.003Z

I've been invited to attend the Berlinale Talent Campus 2011. Billed as a winter school for "up and coming film-makers" the talent campus runs alongside the Berlin International Film Festival and features lectures and panel discussions with well know professionals addressing issues in film making today. I've heard loads of great things about the Talent Campus. Can't wait...

Mood Board

2010-11-24T15:00:00.007Z

I've been toiling away on an outline for a new feature entitled 'Persons Unknown'. Should hopefully have a decent first draft of the screenplay early next year. Here's the mood board I've been using to help keep me focused. Think of it as a very lo-fi trailer for an unmade film.

Hidden Door

2010-10-16T11:46:00.005+01:00

Night School is to screen at the Hidden Door Festival 2010. Hidden Door showcases some of the most creative Scottish talent around, with live music, art installations, poetry, film and interactive events. The festival takes place between the 22nd and the 24th October at the Roxy Art House.

A Walk in the Dark

2010-09-03T13:44:00.008+01:00

I made A Walk in the Dark on a rainy summer afternoon last year. You can watch (and rate it) over on Shooting People.

Night School on Vimeo

2010-08-10T18:49:00.002+01:00

Night School is now available to watch in HD on Vimeo.

Edinburgh Fringe 2010

2010-07-30T17:17:00.004+01:00

There's only a week to go until the Edinburgh debut of Carnival Of Souls! Tickets are available here.

A Night Of Films + Music

2010-06-27T16:48:00.005+01:00

Night School is screening in Glasgow on the 9th July as a part of an innovative new film/club night:

"MAKE 1, 2 present a wee party that will show 3 short films along with some DJ's playing before, in between and after each film.The Southside of Glasgow is on the up and up and the idea is to throw a party that combines films and music. So we've enlisted a few friends to play records they see fit and asked some amateur filmmakers to come along and show their work. Anyone living on the East Coast should know about Jamie Coull and his penchant for playing all sorts of gems and after he has been smashing clubs out East, it's about time he played Glasgow. On the West Coast, anyone who knows their onions will have either been to a Huntleys & Palmers party or have heard one of Andrew's mixes featuring some obscure nuggets fitting seamlessly with modern belters".

The event will take place at the Pollok Ex-Servicemen's Social Club. Doors: 7.30-1 am

Carnival Of Souls

2010-05-30T14:22:00.007+01:00

I'm currently working with Sample Theatre to devise a multimedia stage adaptation of Carnival Of Souls for this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Inspired by the cult cinema classic, the production weaves physical language, VJ-ing and sound improvisation to create and immersive and original horror experience. A blog dedicated to the production is now up and running. More details to follow...

The 3rd Babelgum Online Film Festival

2010-04-09T14:18:00.005+01:00

Night School is now availble to watch as a part of the Babelgum Online Film Festival. You can watch and vote for the film here. The Babelgum Online Film Festival was created to celebrate and reward the very best in international independent short filmmaking by providing exposure and cash awards for emerging talent.

Dailymotion

2010-03-12T19:57:00.003Z

Night School is now available to watch in High Definition on Dailymotion.

Scottish Digital Shorts 2010 Talent Pool

2010-03-08T14:32:00.008Z

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been selected for the Scottish Digital Shorts 2010 Talent Pool. I’ve already started my development process with Digicult, have travelled to London for a couple of days training with The Script Factory and have just returned from The Story Room, an inspiring workshop tucked away on the Roseneath Peninsula. In April, I’ll find it if my short film ‘Alone With You’ is one of four projects to be commissioned. Scottish Digital Shorts 2010 is co-financed by the UK Film Council, Scottish Screen and BBC Scotland and is supported by RSAMD and South West Screen Commission.

Film Of The Month

2010-02-23T19:21:00.008Z

Night School has been awarded Shooting People's Film of the Month for January 2009. Here's what Ted Hope (21 Grams, In the Bedroom, Happiness) had to say about it: "My vote goes to Night School. It utilized a simple situation in a way that kept us always off balance and used all the creative elements to enhance the mood and situation that felt unique to the work. The elements all felt in service to its common vision and very effectively captured both the confusion, pleasure, and energy of youth".

Thanks Ted, Shooting People and to everyone who watched and rated the film for your support!

International Shootout

2010-02-18T18:30:00.006Z

'Keep Calm And Carry On' has won third place in the 48 Hour Film Project's International Shootout. More details to follow...

Shortlisted For Film Of The Month

2010-02-04T12:33:00.017Z

Thanks to everyone who rated Night School over at Shooting People where we’ve been shortlisted for Film of the Month. We eagerly await their decision… In other news Night School is now available to view in high quality on the BBC Film Network.

Watch Night School Online

2010-01-19T20:22:00.011Z

You can now watch Night School online over at Shooting People.