Movie (p)review - Ride, Rise, Roar
Tuesday, 30/04/2013
Hillman Curtis, 2010
Remember "Stop Making Sense"? It maybe be one of the greatest concert movies ever, in which the director Jonathan Demme showed what a genius on stage David Byrne really is. Remember the big suit?
Ride, Rise, Roar - scene from the movie
Fast forward 24 years and we have two musical legends, David Byrne and Brian Eno, working on a new album "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today". Byrne got an offer for some live shows later that year, so this legendary musician, event organizer and publisher, and once a lead vocalist of his former band Talking Heads, decides to do a tour but a bit differently. Called "The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno", this tour didn't include Eno (this was their first collaboration since 1981), but it did incorporate some moderns dancers and interesting choreographers. But it wasn't just dancers, David and the backup singers also got dancing roles in the show!
"The fact that they decided to combine modern dance with a rock show was risky, it could have backfired quite easily. But it fits with David, since he is involved in many forms of art. They managed to pull it off through trust in collaboration."
Hillman Curtis, movie director
"Ride, Rise, Roar" is a film that shows us how it all looked like, onstage and ideas behind this cool production (some just brilliant things there, e.g. rules at the dancers audition: think of some short moves, repeat them; if the dancer besides you has stronger moves, copy his; the practice stops when all the dancers in the room are doing same moves). In that sense, I really liked the mixed live footage from the tour with black & white behind the scenes material, because live concert movies tend to get a bit boring after some time, especially if not done right. Luckily, this one nailed it with the aforementioned mix!
For all fans of David Byrne, Talking Heads and the ones that like the good mix of modern dance with pop music - I know I really enjoyed it! I have to say that given the fact that my two biggest photographic interests at the moment are live music and contemporary dance, this show would be a total blast to shoot! :)
Ride, Rise, Roar - official trailer
PS: The film was a first feature long movie for Hillman Curtis, who directed few short movies before that. Sadly, this New York movie maker passed away last year, age 51.
Product info
Ride, Rise, Roar
Directed by: Hillman Curtis
Starring: David Byrne, Lily Baldwin, Layla Childs, Mark De Gli Antoni, Graham Hawthorne, Kaissa, Brian Eno
Cinematography by: Ben Wolf
Editing by: Matt Boyd
Get your copy at:
Festival Platforma 2024, part 3
Festival Platforma, Maribor (Slovenia), 28/08 > 31/08/2024
18. Platforma sodobnega plesa (18th Platform of Contemporary Dance)
All good things must come to an end, and after four incredible days of performances, this year's edition of Festival Platforma has officially closed its curtain.
Festival Platforma 2024, part 2
Festival Platforma, Maribor (Slovenia), 28/08 > 31/08/2024
18. Platforma sodobnega plesa (18th Platform of Contemporary Dance)
Although few events have already taken place, the official opening of the 18th edition of Festival Platforma was reserved for the Italian performance titled "Graces" ("Gracije"), choreographed by Silvia Gribaudi.
Festival Platforma 2024, part 1
Festival Platforma, Maribor (Slovenia), 28/08 > 31/08/2024
18. Platforma sodobnega plesa (18th Platform of Contemporary Dance)
Maribor was once again alive with contemporary dance performances, as Festival Platforma took over various venues around the city for the 18th year in a row!
On the movie set of Bitch, a Derogatory Term for a Woman (Prasica, slabšalni izraz za žensko), debut feature directed by Tijana Zinajić
Tuesday, 12/10/2021
Working as a unit still photographer
Roughly two years ago, in a pre-COVID-19 world, I was very privileged to work on the movie set of a feature movie called "Bitch, a Derogatory Term for a Woman" ("Prasica, slabšalni izraz za žensko" is the original title in Slovenian) filmed on various locations in Ljubljana, Slovenia. With the movie premiering this Saturday, I’m very happy to finally post some images! :)
Still photographer on a movie set of a short film Polarity by director Tomaž Praunseis
Thursday, 21/12/2017
I was recently involved as a still photographer on a movie set for a short film "Polarity", that was filmed in Maribor (Slovenia), directed by a buddy of mine, Tomaž Praunseis.
On the movie set of The Constitution (Ustav Republike Hrvatske), new movie by legendary Croatian director Rajko Grlić
Friday, 26/02/2016
Or how is to be working as a movie still photographer
As a note of warning, this blogpost contains high quantity of personal thoughts, aspirations & emotions, not really connected to the photography per se, but more to the life in general. If you don't mind, do read on, please!
Movie (p)review: Finding Vivian Maier
Monday, 16/03/2015
John Maloof, Charlie Siskel, 2013
Amazing story of a great (street) photographer Vivian Maier that was discovered and gained recognition just after she passed away in the old age of 83.
Movie (p)review: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Thursday, 11/09/2014
Wes Anderson, 2014
Latest movie by Wes Anderson is a visual masterpiece that should be watched by photographers and cinematographers worldwide. Period.
Festival Lent 2014: (Contemporary) dance + children theatre
Festival Lent, Maribor (Slovenia), 20/06 > 05/07/2014
During this 16 days of Festival Lent, I also shoot some (contemporary) dance performances and theatre for children - find some of those images in this gallery :)
Movie (p)review: Everybody Street
Saturday, 18/01/2014
Cheryl Dunn, 2013
A great documentary film about New York City street photographers and a bit of street photography in general by a NY based filmmaker and photographer Cheryl Dunn. A must for all interested in street photography.
Movie (p)review - McCullin
Wednesday, 30/10/2013
David Morris & Jacqui Morris, 2012
A powerful documentary about Donald "Don" McCullin, internationally known British photojournalist, mostly known for his war photography, and a war junkie, as he states himself, but a true humanist in every way. With some heavy images, this movie is not for those with weak hearts, because to see some of the stuff he saw, can make you loose hope in humanity altogether.
Movie (p)review - Searching for Sugar Man
Tuesday, 02/04/2013
Malik Bendjelloul, 2012
Amazing movie! Seeing this kind of story makes you believe in the human kind once again.
Premik v Maribor / Move to Maribor
Premik v Maribor / Move to Maribor, Maribor (Slovenia), 20/09 > 30/09/2012
Contemporary dance festival
Ten days contemporary dance festival called "Premik v Maribor / Move to Maribor" in, well, Maribor! :)
The Moving Gallery - group photography exhibition plus contemporary dance
Thursday, 30/08/2012
Murska Sobota, August 31st and September 1st 2012
Some of the photos that I took at the recent dance photography workshop with Chris Nash, along with the ones from my fellow photographers, will be shown as part of The Moving Gallery project in the next two days, as part of Front@, contemporary dance festival.
Impressions from Dance Photography Workshop with Chris Nash
Thursday, 30/08/2012
Great photography workshop with one of the worlds leading dance photographers
Two days photography workshop with great energy and fun!
Movie (p)review - The Obama White House: Through the Lens
Wednesday, 11/04/2012
National Geographic, 2010
Although not really connected with concert, theatre or stage performance photography in any way, this National Geographic documentary tells a story about White House staff photographers and could be interesting for all documentary photographers out there.
Movie (p)review: Rock Prophecies
Friday, 17/02/2012
John Chester, 2009
A really cool and inspiring documentary film about rock'n'roll photographer Robert M. Knight, not just for music photographers, but also for emerging and even established musicians.
Platforma sodobnega plesa 2011
SNG Maribor, Komorni oder, Maribor (Slovenia), 07/09 > 09/09/2011
Platforma sodobnega plesa 2011 was a three day festival of contemporary dance with the emphasis is on local artists who have their starting point in Plesna izba Maribor.
Ljubi kruhek
SNG Maribor, Velika dvorana, Maribor (Slovenia), 24/06/2011
