30 seconds with... Gary Thomas
It's two weeks until this way up 2017 and gary thomas from our partners, british council, tells us his views on some things in just 30 seconds...
Name
Gary Thomas
Profession
Film Programme Manager, British Council
Three words to describe your feelings about film and culture
Essential. Essential. Essential.
What inspires you daily
My colleagues. No. Really. And the power of film to challenge and engage.
What’s the most challenging thing about being in the film and culture right now
Maintaining relevance.
And, the biggest opportunity
Impact through relevance.
What was the last film you saw
Alan Warburton’s Goodbye Uncanny Valley on Vimeo. It’s a brilliant – as one of the Vimeo comments says - “full on state of the VFX union”.
Video on Demand: forces filmmakers to think differently or ruining the cinematic experience?
It’s possible to enjoy watching films in a cinema and on other screens.
Positive discrimination: essential for the film sector or the wrong approach to gender equality?
On screen, it seems fundamental to me that members of a society should expect to see themselves reflected in the stories that society’s culture tells. A story telling art form that can’t do that should be ashamed of itself. And the same goes for a culture where only some sections of the population has access to or control of the stories being told.
Choose your own adventure films: an exciting development or will destroy the shared cinematic experience
Kill. Me. Now.
VR in film: enhances the experience for the viewer or negatively impacts traditional storytelling?
Well, I think there’s VR film, and there’s film film. They’re different experiences. A bunch of people simultaneously experiencing VR in the same space is all to silent disco for me.
What are you looking forward to most about TWU 2017?
I am fit to bust that we’ve brought the Vintage Mobile Cinema bus to Hull and thrilled we’re showing some great shorts.
Read more about the Vintage Mobile Cinema schedule by clicking here.
What part of the TWU 2017 debate are you most interested in and why?
Global Community. I work for the British Council, but that’s what I’d say anyway.