We welcomed back two NFTS graduates – Nicolas Chaudeurge, Editor of the 2015 Oscar-winning film Still Alice, and Cinematographer Oliver Stapleton (The Grifters, The Cider House Rules) who spoke to students about making Oscar-winning Hollywood movies and independent films.
Nicolas Chaudeurge gave insights into working with major America actors including Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart on Still Alice and stressed the need to ‘…let the characters find their own rhythm.’
Chaudeurge, who is respected as one of the most talented editors currently working in film, talked about 17 year career editing drama and documentary including Kevin McDonald’s feature documentary My Enemy’s Enemy, The Crimson Wing for Disney and a thriller The Two Faces of January.
Both Chaudeurge and Oliver Stapleton emphasised the importance of working with good directors. Chaudeurge worked with Andrea Arnold on Wuthering Heights, Fish Tank, Red Road and the Oscar winning short film Wasp.
Oliver Stapleton (The Grifters, The Cider House Rules, My Beautiful Launderette) worked on eight films with the award-winning director Stephen Frears, said: "The director is the key relationship; it's like a marriage. You need to hook up with someone who is going to take you up in the world where you will get to work with good actors and scripts. The director is the person to get you there."
Oliver Stapleton also showed clips from his latest film, Hot Pursuit, a comedy directed by Anne Fletcher and starring Reece Witherspoon. He said comedy was ‘…much harder to act, write and direct,’ and praised Anne Fletcher’s comic ability:
“I like to work with Anne because she is such a good comedy director; she’s a ball of fire who wakes up the room as soon as she enters. She’s funny and works with actors in a very physical way. Most directors don’t understand the rhythm of comedy but Ann does; comedy isn’t something you think about – you feel it.”
Hot Pursuit is on cinema release in May 2015.
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