The Sculptor (film)
The Sculptor[1] is one of the first Australian feature films to be filmed using the new Red One camera,[2] (Red Digital Cinema Camera Company) and has been funded entirely by international private equity. The film is described as a Supernatural Thriller.[3]
The Sculptor is described as being about, "a struggling artist who immerses himself in black magic to further his career, but when he has everything he ever dreamed of, the demons come back to haunt his life, his work and his family." The Sculptor' is directed by Australian Chris Kenworthy, who co-wrote and co-produced with Chantal Bourgault.[4] Filming took place in Perth, Australia during early 2008.[5] The film is produced by Skyview Films a feature film production company established in Perth in 2007.[6] This is the first of three feature films to be produced by the company with The Sickness shooting 2009, and "Glimpse" following in 2011.
The Technology
The Sculptor was shot with the Red One digital camera. It is capable of recording image data at resolutions up to 4096 x 2304, directly to flash or hard disk storage. American director Steven Soderbergh has been quoted as saying that "this is the camera I've been waiting for my whole career: jaw-dropping imagery recorded onboard a camera light enough to hold with one hand. Red is going to change everything." Cinematographer Jason Thomas flew over to Fox Studios in Sydney to test out the Red One camera. On his return he said, "The hype is to be believed. The workflow, resolution, weight, camera features and the rest are unmatched. Forget the whole Film vs Digital debate; this capture system is something again and more. The Red One stands alone."
The Crew and Cast
The main cast is comprised of Paul David-Goddard, Melanie Vallejo, Georgina Andrews, Matt Penny and Gordon Honeycombe.
The production team includes cinematographer Jason Thomas, production designer Emma Fletcher and composer James Ledger, with additional music being provided by the Trembling Blue Stars.[7]
Jason Thomas has worked on everything from news gathering to 35mm drama, and has won nine awards from the Australian Cinematographers Society, including 3 Gold Awards. Emma Fletcher has worked as art director and production designer on TV series and features, including Hidden Creatures and Lockie Leonard. She won the WA Screen Award for Production Design. James Ledger is composer-in-residence with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He won the 3MBS National Composers Award in 2004 and has worked on many film and television projects.
Director Christopher Kenworthy said, 'When we first came up with the concept of The Sculptor, I immediately thought of Emma, Jason and James. All three are a blend of originality and experience. They will bring a great deal of passion and depth to the film.”