PAINFUL FLAVOURS, 22min., UK
Directed by Julian Hand
There was no plan. I found some pages I had written over twenty years ago. I read the words whilst Oli and Joe slipped deep into an improvised, ambient jam - a cognisant, responsive soundscape conjured up to bring the prose to life. It was all recorded live in a few takes. We gave the recording to Julian Hand who spent a few months creating the visuals. We hope you enjoy the trip.

Get to know writer/producer Felix Bechtolsheimer:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

There wasn't really any motivation to make a film to start with. It all happened by accident. We were in the studio finishing the last Curse Of Lono album and we had a bit of studio time left over. So we decided to try something a bit different and experimental. Our producer, Oli Bayston, and our pedal steel player, Joe Harvey Whyte, got into an improvised, ambient jam and I read my poem, Painful Flavours, into a microphone. We were all in the same room. It was all very natural. We did 3 or 4 takes and that was that. Our filmmaker friend Gregg Houston AKA Babysweet, was there so he filmed the recording process. When we listened back to it, we all felt that it needed some visuals to compliment the soundtrack. Joe played the soundtrack to his friend Julian Hand, who was into the idea of creating some visuals for the project.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The initial recording was very quick. Less than a day. Julian then went off with some 8mm film stock and it took him about three months to put the visuals together. Once that was done, we didn't really know what to do with the project so it sat on the shelf for a while. Then last year I bumped into an old music producer friend called Tom Allom, who had worked with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, The Tourists and many more. Tom was working at Mark Knopfler's studio (British Grove) with the UK's top TV and film sound mixer, Nigel Heath (Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Killing Eve etc.). I showed them the film and they offered to do 5.1 and Dolby Atmos mixes using the Penteo system they are working with. So we got to spend a day at British Grove, watching and listening to the masters at work.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Painful Flavours says it best but, if you want a description in 2 words then I suppose you could call it an agitated dream.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle was working out what the film was and what to do with it. Once we realised that it was a film rather than a song or a piece of spoken word, we suddenly realised that we were finished.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It's really cool to hear that people connected with the words, sounds and images. And I love the fact that people think it's a unique piece.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I've always been into music documentaries so I have made a few of those but, when I watched Adam Curtis's 'All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace', I realised that I wanted to take things further.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably The Big Lebowski

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think it would be great to have more contact with other filmmakers. It would be cool if you could watch the other films in your category in full so you can see what other people are making.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It was great. Easy as pie.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Vietnamese Green Papaya Salad

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes. I'm working on a few different projects but I very much hope to make a sequel to Painful Flavours.