“I don’t believe that the responsibility
of protest lies on the artist but I think
it can definitely help as platform”
F
CHARLIE LYNE
ilm is currently the only
art form to undergo state
censorship in the UK. The BBFC
have a set criteria that footage must
adhere to or else the film may be
cut, censored or disproved entirely,
however, it comes at a price.
The BBFC have a set criteria that
footage must adhere to or else
the film may be cut, censored or
disproved entirely. One young
film maker has challenged the
censorship process in the best way
possible: by submitting a 10-hour
time lapsed film of paint drying.
22-year-old
Charlie
Lyne
produced the acclaimed protest
film, Paint Drying, to make a point
about the exorbitant censorship
process. Using the crowdsourcing
site Kickstarter, Charlie gathered
the worldwide support of 658
people and raised a total of £5912
which he then used to p ay for
the submission fee to the BBFC.
You see, the brilliance in this move
is that although the censorship
certificate may limit the creative
freedoms of filmmakers by
ruining all of the raunchy, political
outlandish scenes from films- they
are also required to sit through
EVERY minute of footage. Which
means yes- somebody had to
cancel their dinner plans, and
clear their calendar in order to
sit and watch Charlie’s 10 hour
consecutive shot of paint drying.
The talented artist first became
aware of the inconveniences
that young independent film
makers must endure after
he shot his first feature film
Beyond Clueless in 2015.
“The costs can really add up
because I had to pay for the
production, for transport to
various Q&A’s and then the
distribution. So by the time it
is due for submission to them
[BBFC] you have to come up with
another £1000,” Lyne said. “I was
having to come up with the costs
myself so it really set me back.”
“I know that it won’t necessarily
change anything directly within the
industry but if it gains recognition
and encourages awareness of
the hardships that we have to go
through then that is all I can ask.”
BY ABI GILSON
MADELEINA KAY
A
lba White Wolf Young artist
Madeleina Kay from Sheffield
believes that a laugh is the best
way to challenge destructive social
attitudes. Together with her white
pet wolf Alba, the protagonist of
some of her work, she writes and
performs satirical songs and creates
satirical comic books, which
reach both adults and children.
Author of two comic books that
were successfully funded by crowd-
funding projects, Madeleina
says that it was the Brexit result
which started a fire under her.
“A lot of people are feeling
angry and upset but this is
often inappropriately expressed
as insults and violence. We
need to show kindness and
compassion and we need to
maintain a positive mentality.”
Her latest comic book, ‘Theresa
Maybe’s Adventures in Brexitland’,
is a political satire parody of
Lewis
Carol’s
masterpiece.
As part of these conversations,
Madeleina’s first book ‘Go Back To
Where You Came From’ is today
read in some schools to promote
the integration of refugees and
the acceptance of LGBT people.
“We need to have a culture conversation
with people and inspire them to actually
stand for what they believe in”
“Alba inspired the story because
she is a rescue dog” explains
Madeleina. “The family who could
not look after her took her back to
‘where she came from’. The story
is designed to promote attitudes
of kindness and compassion
towards refugees forced to leave
their homes, friends and families”
BY GRETA RUFFINO
June 2017 | Actus | 21