As the 2012 Couch Fest Film Festival creeps up on us, I’m starting to wish that the event organizers added an extended program to the Philadelphia lineup. Don’t get me wrong, the 90 minutes of award-winning short films playing in Philly on Saturday are a treat.
There are downsides to living at home when you're twenty-one. - The Lady with the Lamp
Regardless, I crave the chance to introduce Philly movie fanatics to some of the most entertaining shorts that are playing in Seattle, Washington -- such as Jimmy Weber’s six-minute horror 'Incubator' and Martin Thibaudeau’s six-minute comedy/drama 'Parachute.'
Luckily, I've had the pleasure to discuss the films as well as other wacky subjects with the very people who made them -- no matter whose house, apartment, office space or garage they are playing at. UK based documentarian Duncan Cowles, whose latest work 'The Lady with the Lamp' was selected for Couch Fest 2012, is one of these people. A week before Halloween, Cowles told me how he used to perform as James Bond, ended up making two short films at once and why timing is everything when it comes to figuring out when you should no longer live at home with your parents.
Madlab Post: How did you celebrate your 21st birthday?
Duncan Cowles: On the actual day of my birthday I had a family meal, and then at the weekend I booked out the back room of a bar in Edinburgh called Dragonfly and had all my mates round for a few drinks.
'Lady with the Lamp' Filmmaker Duncan Cowles and his Mom.
What age should parents require their kids to move out from home?
I'd say that just when the time is right. I eventually moved out just before turning twenty-two, which was fine for me. Apart from dealing with my Mum's enthusiasm for lamps, there wasn't too much that got in the way of my freedom and with going to College and University in Edinburgh, it didn't make sense to fork out for a flat.
Tell me something I don't know about The Lady with the Lamp.
The film happened completely by accident. I was filming a video blog for a different film about the culture of car pooling called ‘Pooling Together,’ when my Mum came barging into my room unaware of the fact the camera was on. I was simply waiting for her to leave so I could carry on my video blog.
How did you convince your mother to be in this film?
My Mum didn't get much of a choice. She chose to be in the film the moment she decided to criticise my bedside lamp. I had no intentions of making a film about her at all. Upon seeing the film apart from some minor embarrassment, she saw the funny side and doesn't seem to mind too much that it's been going to different film festivals.
If you were given 48 hours to make a movie starring Daniel Craig, what kind of role would you give him to play?
I have no idea what I'd do with him in 48 hours. I think I'd like to see him in some sort of comedy role -- maybe bring him up to Scotland and see him in some difficult, awkward situations such as getting on the wrong side of an angry pensioner. Or maybe trying to settle into the quiet life by joining a local tea dance to impress an old woman he met at the deli counter in Tesco. I'd find something to do with him -- maybe film him having dinner with my Mum? Or taking her shopping for a lamp?
Will you be going to see 'SkyFall?'
Yes I've seen 'Skyfall' already. I've always been a massive James Bond fan since I was little. At my primary school talent competition, on stage in front of all the staff, parents and pupils I walked out to the James Bond theme and proceded to pretend shoot the audience. I then stated, "The names Cowles... Duncan Cowles." I did it two years running.
The Lady and the Lamp is playing on Saturday, November 10th at the 2012 Couch Fest Film Festival. Check the Couch Fest website’s “Attend” section to find showtimes in or near your area.
And yes, I merged today’s Couch Fest post with my King Dong series and for good reason -- Daniel Craig, who now succeeds Jeremy Rener on the throne, is also from the UK. Hey, if Duncan Cowles can make two films simultaneously, then I can cover two topics/series in one blog post, right?!
Has YOUR mother or father ever walked in on you during a surprising or awkward moment?
How old were YOU when you moved out of your parents’ house?
This post is a continuation of my Countdown to Couchfest campaign -- a selection of brief, yet, randomly outrageous and sometimes insightful interviews that I conducted with many of the directors behind the films playing at this year's Couch Fest lineup and will be publishing semi-daily between the regularly scheduled Monday Movie Meme and King Dong programs until Saturday, November 10, 2012!