Mark is directing a portrait documentary of the American composer John Adams. The film will be financed by ARTE France, produced by Marie Balducchi of Agat Films in Paris for delivery in March 2012 to coincide with a number of John Adams events in Paris, including a new production of “Nixon in China” at the Théatre du Châtelet. Shooting will take place mainly in the USA in December 2011.
Calliope Media are co-producing a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis Costello with Les Films d’ici (Paris) and others. The project is in development with ARTE France and likely to be co-financed by the BBC, in collaboration with Universal Music and other partners with whom discussions are currently under way. The project has been in development for over a year and shooting will take place in November 2011 and during 2012. This will be the first authorised portrait of one of rock music’s most original writers and performers.
Mark’s latest project, ” Colouring Light: Brian Clarke – An Artist Apart” will be shown on BBC4 on 17 October at 22h00, The film was shot over the summer, in the North of England, London, Munich and Switzerland. The 60-minute film is a portrait of the painter and stained glass artist whose work Mark has been following since 1992. Brian contributed to Mark’s Omnibus about Norman Foster and to the “The Window”, in the series “The Architecture of the Imagination”. Mark edited the film in Bristol with Rick Holbrook. The soundtrack was composed by Sam Kidel. The film will be finished on 7 October. The production is financed by the BBC, Calliope Media, AVRO (Netherlands) and SBS (Australia). TV rights and sales are handled by Poorhouse International.
More about Brian Clarke
Taster of the documentary
“An extraordinarily intimate portrait…sweet and touching” (Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian)
“One of the most fascinating films about pianists ever made (Michael Church, The Independent)
“Set the Piano Stool on Fire” was recently shown on ARTE France and Germany and also in Switzerland and Austria. The DVD of the film was released by Artificial Eye earlier in the summer. Further TV sales are expected in the next few months. The DVD rights for the rest of the world are available.
Press links:
Alan Rusbridger on Alfred and Kit (The Guardian)
Michael Church on the film (The Independent)
Mark Kidel on the making of the film (The Arts Desk)
“Set the Piano Stool on Fire” an intimate film about Alfred Brendel’s relationship with the young pianist Kit Armstrong will be premiered at the Curzon, Mayfair at 6pm on Saturday 4th June. There will be a Q & A following the screening with Alfred Brendel, Kit Armstring and the director.
The film is also being shown at the Curzon Mayfair at 2pm on Sunday 5th June, and at the Watershed, Bristol at 2pm on Sunday 5th June. There is a Q & A with the director at the Watershed.
“Soweto Strings” (nominated for a Grierson Award in 2008) is now available on DVD, alongside the film of the Buskaid Orchestra’s 2007 Paris concert. The DVD is available via www.buskaid.org.za
“Soweto Strings in Peformance” is also available as a download from www.plushmusic.tv
