Ben Wilson, Chewing Gum Man – Hidden Worlds Beneath Your Feet

You see dirty, discarded, flattened blobs of gum – Ben sees a canvas!


Ben Wilson, Chewing Gum Man – Hidden Worlds Beneath Your Feet
 
I met Ben Wilson (aka, Chewing Gum Man) in October 2023, just a week away from over 600 of his tiny paintings (on London's Millennium Bridge) being destroyed forever!
 
I spoke to Ben and a few of the hundreds of passers by who stop, watch, chat and shake his hand – I asked them about the work and why it was so important to them, to London and people across the world…
 
Welcome to Ben's world and work.&nbsp;
Next time you're in London I guarantee you'll visit Millennium Bridge and you'll never be the same as a result...

Ben Wilson, Chewing Gum Man: Hidden Worlds Beneath Your Feet

In a near future, Adam's life unravels as eerie visions of his sister Claudia, drenched in seawater and shadows, haunt him. Society teeters on collapse, with chips governing minds and drones enforcing laws. Struggling to grasp reality, Adam confronts dark truths of his past as Claudia nears a dangerous, irreversible cliff edge. Based on the first chapter of my feature"After Adam," this short is a visually stunning, mind-bending exploration of control, sacrifice, and the cost of life.

In a not-so-distant future, Adam lives in a world where technology dictates emotion, thought, and reality itself. Society teeters on the edge of collapse, Adam's life begins to unravel when eerie visions of his sister Claudia, drenched in seawater and shadows, haunt his every step. In a world where chips govern minds and drones enforce laws, Adam grapples with forces far beyond his control. As his grip on reality slips, he must confront the dark truths of his past and the growing storm within, all while Claudia inches closer to a dangerous, irreversible choice. 
This short is based off the first chapter of my script "After Adam" which is a visually stunning, mind-bending journey that explores control, sacrifice, and the terrifying cost of survival in a world on fire.

After Adam

The icy professional exterior of Sahar fractures when she learns of her grandmother's death. Faced with a forgotten box of childhood memories she finds a way to reunite with her....

Sahar is a no-nonsense executive, an immigrant with no prospect of returning to her home country.... not even upon learning of her grandmother's death. At home, as a plumber attends to a problem, she encounters a long-forgotten box. Distracted by it, she opens it to find long-forgotten mementos, among them a photo of her grandmother, and a recipe passed down to her.... a reconnection to her past.

Home-Made

In the new short film by a young director, the experience of war is embodied in an unusual genre – fantasy. The fate of Ukraine and the world is in the girls’ hands. Schoolgirl Slava faces trials and acts despite everything. And the Keeper, who embodies our nature, magical, fragile – and eternally alive, and therefore invincible.

&nbsp;Synopsis In the new short film by a young director, the experience of war is embodied in an unusual genre – fantasy. The fate of Ukraine and the world is in the girls’ hands. Schoolgirl Slava faces trials and acts despite everything. And the Keeper, who embodies our nature, magical, fragile – and eternally alive, and therefore invincible.&nbsp;
Director Bio^
&nbsp;Elina Myshanych – young actress and director, 14 years old, Kyiv. Studied in Virtual Club (London Film School), online-lab “Yellow Bus” (Kyiv), Kids Movie Film School (Kyiv). Author of the four short fiction films and the short doc film, got some festival prizes in Ukraine, Europe, USA and Australia. Elina is an actress in professional industry, recently she acted the leading teen role in Ukrainian 8-episodes TV-series. She is in Kyiv now.&nbsp;
Director Statement if any 
Cinema for me is to come up with a story, characters, and then bring it all to life on screen.&nbsp;

About:&nbsp;
Previously, I always acted in my short films only myself, but for “Mystery of the Keeper” I decided to invite other actors and work with them as a director. &nbsp;
Sasha and Masha, the twins who played Slava’s friends, have been going to the Poglyad Theater Studio with me for six years. We acted in the different plays together. Sasha and Masha are an actors, they played in TV series and adds. &nbsp;

I met Masha, who played the antagonist Liza, when we were 8-9 years old on the set of the series. Masha is an actress, a front girl in the rock band and a director. Recently she made her first short film and it was screening on some festivals. &nbsp;

Sasha who played Misha, Slava`s friend, isn’t an actor. He’s my classmate and a friend. I could invite a boy-actor for this role, but only Sasha seemed very similar to character of my film. &nbsp;

I was making “Mystery of the Keeper” a whole year, in autumn, winter, spring and summer. I didn’t have any budget for filming so I was free and could work for so long.&nbsp;
But a little secret: I shot autumn and spring in one day in Sasha’s scenes. It was in the spring and for the autumn scene I collected and saved yellow leaves.&nbsp;

I played two characters in this short film myself, Slava and the Keeper. So I had to change clothes on the location for a many times. But I tried to play it so that these two characters differed not only by clothes. Slava is an ordinary schoolgirl and the Keeper is a magical creature. &nbsp;

I think, it`s important to share this story with the young people all over the world. Maybe the world is tired or documentary from Ukraine, but this fantasy story would refresh emotions about the war in our country. We still need the help!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mystery of the Keeper

Wartime winter Kyiv. Maryna, a girl detective, is searching for missing people with her partner, an IT expert. This time a little girl has disappeared, and searching for her Maryna has to go through a mysterious quest. This is a mystical detective story about a childhood lost in the war.

&nbsp;Synopsis: Wartime winter Kyiv. Maryna, a girl detective, is searching for missing people with her partner, an IT expert. This time a little girl has disappeared, and searching for her Maryna has to go through a mysterious quest. This is a mystical detective story about a childhood lost in the war.&nbsp;

Director Bio:
Elina Myshanych – young actress and director, 14 years old, Kyiv. Studied in Virtual Club (London Film School), online-lab “Yellow Bus” (Kyiv), Kids Movie Film School (Kyiv). Author of the four short fiction films and the short doc film, got some festival prizes in Ukraine, Europe, USA and Australia. Elina is an actress in professional industry, recently she acted the leading teen role in Ukrainian 8-episodes TV-series. She is in Kyiv now.&nbsp;

Director Statement if any – Cinema for me is to come up with a story, characters, and then bring it all to life on screen.&nbsp;

About:&nbsp;
I made my short film “Adult” when the electricity went out for a long time because of Russian missile attacks. So we had a long vacation at school – a good time to make the film. &nbsp;

Our crew on “Adult” was consisted of me and my mom. She was a cameraman when I worked as an actress. Before filming I draw storyboards, then on the location I set up the camera and asked my mom to shoot, and I was going into the frame.&nbsp;

“Adult” is a winter story. I was always waiting for a lot of snow to fall. We reshot some scenes because there was a little snow at first, but a few days later there was as much snow as we needed.&nbsp;

It was very cold all time because I had to be without a hat: my character Maryna is adult, she doesn`t wear it. After that I promised myself that I would never shoot a film in winter again. But the next film, “Mystery of the Keeper”, I shot mostly in winter too.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Adult

A preteen girl starts at a new school, thinking it would be amazing. Little does she know, that only a few words, can hurt a lot

A preteen girl starts at a new school, thinking it would be amazing. Little does she know, that only a few words, can hurt a lot

Words Hurt

'Be Real' is a poignant short film delving into the depths of social media addiction and the facade we often wear online. Through the lens of one individual's journey, it explores the disconnect between our virtual personas and authentic selves, challenging viewers to confront the masks we don in the digital realm.

Be Real is a poignant exploration of the paradoxical nature of social media – a world where authenticity is often sacrificed at the altar of popularity, and where the lines between reality and facade blur with alarming ease. Through the lens of our protagonist, we delve into the gripping narrative of a young girl ensnared in the throes of social media addiction, struggling to reconcile the glossy personas she presents online with the complexities of her true self.

In today's hyper-connected society, where validation is measured in likes and followers, 'Be Real' serves as a timely reminder of the masks we don to navigate the digital landscape. The film unfolds as a visceral journey, inviting audiences to confront the dissonance between the carefully curated images we project and the raw authenticity that lies beneath.

As Director, my intention with 'Be Real' was to provoke introspection and dialogue surrounding our collective obsession with social validation. Through nuanced storytelling and evocative visuals, we aim to illuminate the emotional toll of living behind the facade of perfection, exposing the vulnerability that simmers beneath the surface of our online avatars.

At its core, 'Be Real' is a call to quite literally be real and reclaim authenticity in a world dominated by artifice. It is a reminder that true connection stems not from the polished veneer of social media, but from the courage to be unapologetically oneself, flaws and all.

I am immensely proud of the talented cast and crew who brought this vision to life, infusing every frame with depth and sincerity. It is my hope that 'Be Real' will serve as a catalyst for introspection, sparking conversations that transcend the confines of the screen and inspire a collective journey towards genuine human connection.

Thank you for embarking on this cinematic exploration with us.

Warm regards,
Kai Phoenix Munton Director

Be Real

Women all over the world are choosing to ditch the dye and embrace their grey hair. This documentary explores the reasons behind the trend through personal stories and expert opinions.

Ever since the pandemic (and even a bit before) there has been a growing trend of women choosing not to dye their hair. This documentary looks at women from all over the world and examines why they have decided to stop dyeing and why women feel compelled to dye in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Your Roots Are Showing 

In 2017 Edinburgh artist Andrew Crummy was diagnosed with throat cancer. He vowed, if he survived, to tell the story of cancer by bringing people together to create something bigger and more globally significant than his other great work, The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

In 2017 Edinburgh artist Andrew Crummy was diagnosed with throat cancer. He vowed, if he survived, to tell the story of cancer by bringing people together to create something bigger and more globally significant than his other great work, The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Supported by Macmillan Cancer Support, this film chronicles the inception of the idea and what it means to those who have taken part so far... most of whom live with cancer or have someone very close to them who has.

A Good Thing To Do: Andrew Crummy's Cancer Tapestry

<blockquote style="text-align:start;">Filmed on Lutriwita (Tasmania) this documentary explores waste as a resource. Filmed at Leander Oakley's Earthship, he shares how he is living in a sustainable building made from tyres, cans, bottles. "This building is designed to go with nature, not against it".</blockquote>

Re-Tyre in an Earthship

Fly is a simple look at how we become less enchanted as we grow

An AI film on how something as simple as a bird can represent that as we grow we fly away from what is naturally beautiful

‘DURANGEN’ means ‘grow’ or ‘growing’ in a number of dialects of the traditional Bundjalung language, and this documentary features six matriarchs speaking about their insider perspectives on plant art.

‘DURANGEN’ means ‘grow’ or ‘growing’ in a number of dialects of the traditional Bundjalung language, and this documentary features six matriarchs speaking about their insider perspectives on plant art.
Discussing our artworks in the film highlights the contribution of women’s work in growing culture, alongside some of the many native plant companions revered in daily living for us as Aboriginal people since time immemorial, but are now under threat from recent floods, fires, drought and pests. It is essential for us to have an archival record and be able to reshare this, especially as it involves the irreplaceable biological heritage of the plant queendom.
As senior artists and cultural practitioners of the matriarchy, we each represent different clan groups that make up some of the Bundjalung Nation and are featured in collaboration with cyberTribe: Euphemia Bostock (Munanjali), Faith Baisden (Kombumerri), Tania Marlowe (Nyanbul), Deidre Currie (Minjungbal), Jasmin Stanford (Githabul), and myself as Artist Curator Filmmaker, Jenny Fraser (Migunburri).
The artists interviewed for the DURANGEN documentary were also part of a world first Bundjalung plant art showcase in Japan, representing Australia at the 2023 JAALA Biennial held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The self-funded group collection featured a range of weaving, textiles, ceramics, photography, film and text, all with a focus on a bio-regional approach to native plant uses.&nbsp;

DURANGEN

This film platforms seven young West Australians in recovery or recovered from chronic anorexia. It takes a deep dive into common misconceptions surrounding what is - in reality - a deadly and isolating illness. It explores body image, fat-phobia, medical instability, physical health complications, relationships, identity, personality, diet culture and more. It hopes to shift the way eating disorders are viewed and leave its audiences with a better understanding of what is a devastating illness.

Forget What You Think You Know

A plea for the lives of Australia's iconic wild horses told from the perspective of their ghosts.

A plea for the lives of Australia's iconic wild horses told from the perspective of their ghosts.

Ghost Horse Plea

A woman overcomes personal barriers in her quest to raise funds and awareness for those living with homelessness.

Craig was inspired to make The Girl Who Sang for Their Supper after his friend, client and star of this film, Nina Salece, expressed concern for the plight of people living on the streets. Nina and Craig called a meeting with the fundraising team at The Wayside Chapel with the idea of raising money and awareness for people experiencing homelessness. A decision was made to obtain a busking licence and take Nina’s love of singing and dancing to the streets of Sydney. This film documents that journey and explores the everyday realities of a woman living with disability, as she endeavours to contribute solutions to societal failings whilst reminding the audience, that wherever possible one should embrace the concept of paying it forward.

The Girl Who Sang for Their Supper

The film is part of the One Minute Category of the Community Digital Story Festival.

Mobile Addiction

Dobeforedie

Poster

The film is part of the Independent Category of the Community Digital Story Festival.

Aarshii

Palabar rasta nei

Clenching of relation

On December 31st, New Year's Eve of 2020, the Plaza de la Dignidad was the place of celebration.

Despite authorities prohibiting mass gatherings, thousands of people from Santiago and their families gathered in the newly renamed Plaza de la Dignidad to celebrate the arrival of the year 2020, symbolizing the awakening of Chile. The festive atmosphere was filled with food, songs, and fireworks.

On December 31st, New Year's Eve of 2020, the Plaza de la Dignidad was the place of celebration.
Despite authorities prohibiting mass gatherings, thousands of people from Santiago and their families gathered in the newly renamed Plaza de la Dignidad to celebrate the arrival of the year 2020, symbolizing the awakening of Chile. The festive atmosphere was filled with food, songs, and fireworks.

Esto no Prendio

Chile woke up on October 18th, 2019. The streets were flooded with people claiming "Until 
dignity becomes a habit". "The right of delirium" by Eduardo Galeano transports us through 
the atmosphere of the struggle for what we would call an Utopia.

Award-wining film by Marcelo Lagreze

Chile woke up on October 18th, 2019.
The streets are flooded with people demanding to be heard, united by the slogan "until dignity becomes customary.” While some people peacefully demonstrate, others, known as the "front line", confront the police to ensure the safety of the demonstrators. This entire situation is metaphorically and poetically depicted through the voice of Eduardo Galeano as he reads his poem "El derecho al delirio" (The Right to Delirium).

<h2>Credits:</h2>
Direction - Camera - Editing
<ul>
<li>Marcelo Lagreze</li>
</ul>
Text and Voice
<ul>
<li>Eduardo Galeano</li>
</ul>
Free Adaptation
<ul>
<li>Poetry excerpt "EL DER DERIRIO AL DERIRIO" by Eduardo Galeano</li>
</ul>
Sound Postproduction
<ul>
<li>Alejandra Oyarce</li>
</ul>
Music / Voiceover
<ul>
<li>Interview with Eduardo Galeano</li>
<li>Program: "SINGULARS" - TV3 - CCMA</li>
</ul>
Subtitles
<ul>
<li>Leticia Esparza</li>
</ul>
Technical support
<ul>
<li>Jorge Diaz / Solucionesmac</li>
</ul>
Images recorded during the social outburst
Recorded with iPhone 7
Santiago de Chile, July 2020

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