COLIN GREENALL - AN UPRISING STAR
TEXT: SAGA WEST
PHOTOS: ADAM PETER HICKS
and COLIN GREENALL
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If you could choose anyone to work with/for, who would it be?
If I could work with my friends more, that would be great. But one person in particular, I'd have to say Roger Deakins. He's an amazing cinematographer who worked on films such as True Grit and The Assassination of Jessie James, I'd love to learn from him.
What is the most fun about filming?
The most fun about making films, or even shooting them. Is seeing all these ideas and visions that you have in your head magically appear in front of you. Usually, films always turn out different to how you imagined. But in a good way. Also, when you have the ability and luck to be able to work with your friends. It make a great way to spend time with the people you admire the most.
Three great movies/directors?
My favourite directors are Michel Gondry, because he made Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind and also Spike Jonze. I love their surreal and strange ideas and concepts, its not something you see much from other people. The third is a hard choice, I love Wes Anderson, but who doesn't? Its either him or Richard Ayoade. The guy who has just recently made the film 'The Double'.
Since I know you, I know you like spending summer in Sweden - what is the best thing about Sweden?
Best thing about Sweden? MORE LIKE, best things. Firstly, most people there are beautiful. Everyone dresses well. The culture there is so weird, on one hand you have these stuck up reserved depressed adults. Then you get this younger generation who have so many interests. Most people there come from families with money so people tend to eat, dress and live well. Some of the best people I have ever met come from sweden. So apart from everyone looking and being cool and beautiful, I love things like mid summer, getting together with everyone, getting drunk and swimming in a lake when the sun rises.
Check out some of the work Colin has shot:
HERE (music video, Wolf Alice)
HERE (music video, Wolf Alice)
HERE (music video, Summer Camp)
Colin Greenall from London has many things going on at the moment. Last year he graduated from Westminster University, TV production. This spring he has film projects, clothing projects and even tree house projects going on at the same time.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I love shooting films and music videos, shooting pretty girls. I technically work as a free lance camera operator/director. I have lots of ideas, mostly about things I want to build and make. Like a tree house that you can live in like a real home.
Describe how it looks at the block where you live.
I used to Live in a big gray concrete block of flats, filled with racist middle easten people. The floor in the elevator was always sticky from where people would spit, and let their kids pee on the floor. Now I live in a nice flat, near hampstead heath. London.
What kind of projects are you working on atm?
I'm currently under a lot of stress concerning my projects. I want to do and make everything, from films, to clothing companies, tree houses, bike trailers which carry a portable outdoor cinema, to personal art work. I have a lot of stuff I need to finish. I get in a bad habit of starting lots of things at the same time and find it difficult to get stuff finished.
On your youtube channel you have a concept video of “the B movie”, what is that?
The concept 'B movie' footage, is some stuff I put together to get funding to make a film. Instead of a film though, I'm turning the idea into a 3 part episodes. It's a film thats supposed to look really crappy, like it was made in the 70's by a bad director. Its about a detective who is trying to solve a murder case in which 7 people have all had their heads cut off. It turns out its a giant mutated crab monster.
In that video you also act yourself, is that something you enjoy doing?
I enjoy acting actually, not as a career. But its fun when you can act stupid with your friends and watch it back and laugh about it later. I couldn't be a serious actor, I get bored too quickly.
What goal are you working towards?
I'm currently working towards a goal of being able to afford to make all the cool stuff I can think of. Having enough money just to do what ever the hell I want. I don't want to spend my life working, that's for idiots. Life isn't about a 9-5. Its about having fun and doing what you love. And if you can get paid to do it, well that's the absolute dream. I think everyone should have that goal.
" I want to do and make everything, from films, to clothing companies, tree houses..."
A picture from "B movie".