IT WAS TRUE PUNKROCK!
IT WAS TRUE PUNKROCK!
Alec Empire interviews London filmmaker and musician Zan Lyons
Alec: “I think most of our readers might only be aware of your music, but you
have been almost more active in making films in the last years. Could you
please give them a brief introduction to your work…”
Zan:
“When I started making music the thing that excited me most was that I could do it all at home with just a sampler and computer. It was true punk rock. I’d have an idea turn on my machines and Jam.
I wanted to bring the same energy to films and then combine it with my sound!
All my films are shot, lit and edited by my me on my laptop. I also do all of the visual effects and post production. This means I can take my camera, shoot something and start trying ideas immediately.
It’s a powerful and liberating experience!”
Alec:” Many people say that video games will replace film one day. Do you agree?
Can video games ever achieve the same effect that films can?
Does it even make sense to put both in relation to each other?”
Zan:
“From an industry standpoint video games have already replaced film. Even in our current economic climate video game sales keep growing while film sales are shrinking. I think the reason is a simple one. Value.
Even though games are significantly more expensive than films the experience is much more involved. What happens on the screen is happening to you, not a character you passively empathize with. Film distributors need to start giving audiences more with their DVDs. The same lack of value destroyed music – even though the industry blames downloads. When you buy a game you are buying something that will absorb you for days – even months.
From a personal perspective, nothing will ever replace the magic of cinema and although Games offer a truly interactive form of entertainment, they are not yet able to compete with film in terms of story. Games like Metal Gear Solid and the Final Fantasy series have scratched the surface. I think we’ll start to see the two worlds collaborating in the near future. Brilliant storytelling not better graphics will really take gaming to the next level.”
Alec: “How influential is Asian film right now? It seems that Hollywood steals
more ideas from there than from anywhere else…”
Zan:
“Asia is without a doubt leading the world of cinema. Films like ‘The Ring’ and ‘Oldboy’ have completely changed films and have left Hollywood playing catchup. South East Asia always gets mentioned but India is also producing thought-provoking dramas as well as the colorful entertainment of Bollywood. Also a lot of people don’t realize that Bollywood is the biggest film industry in the world with Hollywood coming second place.
People working in Asia really know their craft and as a result, they make better films for much, much less money than Hollywood. Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle has worked most of his life in South East Asia. He’s easily the greatest cinematographer working today but I doubt he would have reached this point if been swallowed up by Hollywood or even Europe.
Asian cinema keeps getting better and better and I think it will play a much greater role in years to come.”
Alec: “How important is authenticity or realism for you as a director ? Do they
both even matter?”
Zan:
“My films have lot’s of small details so realism is very important. I always use lighting to create a film’s atmosphere because it’s means the image comes to life in front of me and I can react to it. All of my effects are very simple and usually involve more camera work than computer effects. I want people to believe what’s on the screen.”
Alec: “Can you recommend 3 films to our readers? And explain why they should
watch them?”
Zan:
“The first is ‘In the Mood for Love‘. The way color and music are used to create atmosphere is amazing. It manages to feel like a classic 1960’s film and a modern one at the same time.
The second is ‘THX1138‘. I think this is one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. It has a sense of claustrophobia that I don’t think I’ve experienced since. There’s an impending doom from start to finish and it’s themes of government control feel more relevant today than ever before.
The final film is ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit‘. It’s a perfect example brilliant family cinema. Children will love the cute charater animation and adults will enjoy all of the film noir references. Most importantly though, it’s 90 minutes of pure mind-bending fun!”
Alec: “Has technology left human imagination behind? Anything can be created
with the help of computers these days, but still most films out there lack
ideas? Why do you think that is?”
Zan:
“Technology can be great when used well but too many people seem to use it to make short cuts and cover over weak ideas. Films like Star Wars and 2001 were at the cutting edge when they were released but the initial ideas were good in the first place so the effects were just enhancements. I think we need to return to this way of thinking and use new technology as a creative tool.”
Alec: “Or is the problem rooted in our society, in which everything , even art
itself, has to serve only one goal: profit making?”
Zan:
“When Hollywood gets it right the results can be amazing. but unfortunately money often gets in the way. There are too many people who see film making purely in financial terms and they are usually the reason for bad films.
I think this will change though. Audiences aren’t stupid, if a film isn’t good people can just download it!”
Alec: “Are you thinking of doing a full length film one day?”
Zan:
“My new album will be a collection of 9 songs with a short film for each one. It will flow together running at about 45 minutes so it’s actually a full-length film.
You’ll be able to either watch it as a complete film or select individual chapters – or just listen to the music. Each viewer will experience it differently.
The music is all instrumental and the films have no dialogue. The sounds and images are heavily synchronized – I wanted to create a world that people get can lost in.
I also have two story-based feature films that I plan on making at some point. I can’t say too much at the moment but they’ll be made in a similar way to my shorts.”
Alec: “You did visual remixes of some scenes of Blade Runner. How did the
audience react to that? This film is often seen as the masterpiece that
nobody is allowed to touch…”
Zan:
“There was a strong reaction to it here in the UK for that exact reason. Audiences loved it though! When it began they thought it was just a live soundtrack but quickly discovered I’d re-edited the film as well. I used heavy synchronization between my own music and various scenes. I remember BBC Radio interviewing me asking if I was trying to make Blade Runner better! I was never trying to improve the film – that would be impossible. It was more like my own version. I had some clips on youtube but was asked to take them down by Warner Brothers:)”
Alec: “Do you think that most film scores push the audience far enough?“
Zan:
“Not at all. The last good film score I heard was ‘There Will be Blood’ It created an almost unbearable tension throughout the whole film.
Otherwise Most film scores sound either made-to-order or like a cynical way to promote a bands music.
Film scores are in real need of a a change!”
Alec: “Where do you think films will be at in 10 years? The same stories told with
different/younger actors?”
Zan:
“I think a revolution is coming! There will, of course be the same old money-making films but I think Digital Technology has put film making in the hands of everyone so I hope we’ll start to see new visions and different methods of storytelling.
There will definitely be less money to make films so people will have rely on ideas instead of funding to make good work. We’re already seeing this with people like Warp Films and Philip Virus.
I think we’ll also start seeing more films that take advantage of the internet rather than treating it as an enemy. Maybe interactive films where the viewer has a say in what happens next.
Like I said, tools that used to be exclusive to Hollywood are now in the hands of everybody. In ten years we’re going to see more films made faster, cheaper and for the RIGHT reasons!”
check out Zan’s films and infos here:
http://www.zanlyons.com
http://www.youtube.com/thisisourpunkrock
http://www.myspace.com/zanlyons
Topic:alec empire's journal, caught on film, did you know that ?, just cool, music articles, strong mind, studio gear, talking heads
Tags: 2001, Alec Empire, Asian film, BBC Radio, blade runner, Bollywood, Christopher Doyle, Final Fantasy, Hollywood, In the Mood for Love, Metal Gear Solid, Philip Virus, punkrock, Star Wars, There Will be Blood, THX1138, video games, Warner Brothers, Warp Films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit', zan lyons
Stumble It!
January 27th, 2009 at 3:26 am
Zan Lyons is one hell of a dude
never saw you guys playing together. I missed it. heard it was really good.
never thought about film before. This interview makes me think. What am I watching sometimes ?
demon
January 27th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Roger Rabbit ?????????????????? LOL
never heard anyone referencing Ring and that Walt Disney crap togetha.
THX is bloody awesome
stay breakcore, folks
:=)
electroXXX
January 27th, 2009 at 3:32 am
zan lions rulez!
krasse Filme. total hammerm??ig future style. der man ist auf drogen , da kannste nicht diskutieren.
aber ziemlich geiles Zeug
gibts das auf DVD bald?
knutsch,
Euer Java
January 27th, 2009 at 3:34 am
takes some guts to fuck with the blade runner.
respect
artists will lead the revolution – not the workers. they are too stupid. artists will free them after all.
that’s my point
DJ Danger
January 27th, 2009 at 3:38 am
loving the photographs
does he do exhibitions as well? he should
deep images. they work as stills
been a fan since ages!
good read!
more interesting than the usual bla we are allowed to read in magazines
January 27th, 2009 at 3:41 am
Lyons videos are more digital hardcore in 2009 than anything else.
pure digital revolution
DJ Danger
http://www.myspace.com/djdanger
January 27th, 2009 at 4:07 am
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January 27th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Bullshit!(well…not the title)
One interesting catch is that girl who has the sun under her belly…
January 27th, 2009 at 4:59 am
angry EllaKitty is back. we are scared.
Zan! Your work is AWESOME!
can’t wait for the new album to hit the stores
vOOdOOxdOOl
January 27th, 2009 at 6:00 am
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January 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I’m not angry.I’m watching a movie with Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson…
January 27th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Just to add to the ‘films with amazing soundtracks’ discussion, anyone who has yet to see ‘Tetsuo the Iron Man’ needs to do so immediately.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Tetsuo was really influential since it came out. good stuff!
nothing beats Planet of The Vampire though harharhar
http://www.transducers.the-hellish-vortex.com/
best wishes,
Alec
January 27th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Great interview.. Zan, your stuff is moving, grandiose and spookier than hell at once.. the perfect mix. Need that album SOON !!
And so true about soundtracks not taking the watcher far enough. the same old bloody tricks to overemphasize some tacky feeling that is sure to please all crowds (and that the director could not manage to get across without the music) is at best boring and often pathetic.. but when the movie’s powerful and has to guts to disturb, then by all means, bring on the disturbing sounds! Greenwood’s There Will Be Blood sountrack was definitely mindblowing.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I agree!
anyone knows the link between There will be Blood and LOST ? often the both get compared…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
It’s nice to think back to films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, as Zan’s right. There’s all the cuteness to it in the animation but also the underline noir element.
Man I used to watch that film many times on VHS. It still shines as a classic!
Also, from your performance at the Roxy a few weeks ago and the Q&A session (which I feel kinda embarrassed I asked lots of questions!). I’m still surprised that you only used a basic mini-dv camera and basic equipment to get your film stock!
That proves people can just use small amounts of equipment and a lot of imagination to make something as wonderfull as what you’ve put into your short films.
Anyways, like everyone on this page has said. Looking forward to your new album when it drops!
Dave o
January 28th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
..There Will Be Blood and Lost? do you mean a link between the soundtracks or the movie/show themselves? apart from the fact that they both put human nature’s fucked-upness under heavy pressure and til breaking point, i can’t really think of anything..
maybe they should mix the two..
imagine Daniel Day-Lewis running around on a dysfunctional paranoid island with Penderecki’s Threnody amd shrieking Ondes martenot playing over his contorted “i’m crazier than anyone here, watch out” features .. wouldn’t that kick some serious ass?
sorry, digressing here.. hehe
January 30th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Naaaa, Heavy balls you are!
Revolution
Advertisment
Phillip Virus
Lost
Blade Runner (God bless me!)
East-west problem
Same program in your mind, fellaz.
It’s naive to suggest dat digital technology will give the opportunity for growing & spreading fresh ideas. Instead of your foocking fallsrevolutionary proclaiments (time has already prooved my point of view(laughing!!!)) dis opportunity will burst the whole to throw more fake, absolutely untallented rubbish to the whole global market. “Blade runner” is masterpiece coz its analogue with intention to be digital but…
There’ll be a closely related connection between stitwriters & shit critics titlied like “NEW-WAVE revolutionary digitalizm” ??? Is that what you expect ?
[Sorry for emotions - there's a lot of examples in russia of you revolutions]
January 30th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Heather.
Blade Runner was actually Hollywood trying to cash in on the Science Fiction ‘wave’ of the late 1970’s. It was Ridley Scott’s vision that transformed it into the classic it has become. Also, at the time it was made, Blade Runner would have been considered at the forefront of digital technology.
I wasn’t saying that every single person who buys a DV camera is going to make amazing films. I was making the point that at least the opportunity is now open to everyone.
The reason I mention Philip Virus is because he was making music videos digitally 15 years ago and long before anyone else realized the potential.
I’ve sat through film festival after film festival, I’ve seen digital films just like the one’s you’ve described: untalented rubbish. But! I’ve also seen some amazing examples of what can be achieved.
So I stand by what i said. A revolution IS coming!
January 30th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
When the revolution comes, Heather will look the other way…it seems…
a revolution of the arts is something totally different and positive to the “revolutions” of the various political systems.
Any revolution can turn into something bad for people, it’s down to us to create something which is better.
The music and film industry is vanishing…when would be a better time to develop new ideas?
January 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
If modern generation guzzle even a little possibilty to publish “ARTS”(product!) without a censorship whereever, however publically it’ll mean dat the whole “2000 years of culture” will be destroyed.
You proclaim your “revolution of the arts” freedome just because you have ROOTS, consciousness & culture values.
Only experts not amature establish values.You have no right to create fresh product untill it’s been tesded & approoved even by yourself AS HISTORICAL SUBJECT.
What is going to be a platform for next generation – ANARCHY ???
What you are doing is just trying to earn money by alternative to conseravative way
I wish i could say that you’re building EMPIRE, Allas!!
Please, forget this word “revolution” (It’s already become funny)
Or be responsive if you use that
Yours
January 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
It’s always a time for new ideas – it’s always a time to earn, lend…
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Video games vs. Films. I saw My Bloody Valentine3D and although it’s far from good (i.e. it’s shit) I enjoyed the effects. Finally a horror movie and not some kind of family picture starring Antonio Banderas with a bunch of his spy offsprings. I do think that soon we’ll be able to experience movies the way Huxley dreamed of? synthetic-talking, stereoscopic feeling and most importantly synchronized scent-organ accompaniment.
I like films without (or with reasonable amount of) CGI. Too much CGI can be disturbing. I really like what Michel Gondry does in his videos and films?that he tries to bring more craft kind of feeling into it ? even if the result is doubtful as a whole sometimes. Yet, I really like Chris Cunningham’s music videos as well.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
A few more things (I’m on a roll, dammit haha)
I think European filmmakers are blessed and cursed with the lack of proper financial support. Cursed, because it makes them harder to get the visuals they want, and blessed cos it forces them to come up with amazing, creative (simple) ideas. Also, European directors have more freedom than Americans. They don’t have the big studios panting into their necks with their expectations and worries about the number of the audience. Zan mentioned Oldboy…well, just imagine the American remake of it. Pfft! (Yet Verbinki’s The Ring seemed more powerful to me than Ringu. Rare exception.)
I think the reason why Hollywood turns to Asian movies more and more often, cos they are more spiritual. Bin-jip is an amazing film too btw.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Naaaaa, dis is it!! I agree. Who doubts dat East is more sensitive & consciously-oriented culture.
)))
HellyWoo D is cool when you need to jerk off & not blur up your panties
We’re all like same layer of commercial art.
Loggedin, which Alec’s video among official do you find worst one ???
My shitrank shows me that #1 worst Alec Empire video is “Addicted to you”!
February 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Heather, I bet your little heart beats faster from Kiss of Death. hahaha -smacks her sarcasm hard-
Well, I’m afraid I have to disappoint you. When I started to watch Addicted to You for the very 1st time, I thought the colours were too intense, but as the video went on I changed my mind. I like the editing…it’s brilliant. It follows the music and the rhythm perfectly in (how to put it?) waves along with the crowd and the band and the slowness stresses it even more. I like the contrasts in it. For example when the lyrics start and the crowd stops and only the dancers and the band keeps on moving, then to the gesture with the microphone the audience starts moving again. The black Marilyn Monroe and Elvis were great too and the unexpected visuals (the guy with 1 extra finger etc.). John Hillcoat made a great job. (And his film, The Road comes out later this year with Guy Pearce who I love since Ravenous and Memento.)
Yet, my so called favourite AE video would be On Fire.
ps: There are good independent American films, mostly because they are independent. Watch Choke for example if you haven’t yet. It’s funny.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I’ve fucked totally up. I wasn’t drunk yesterday’s night but there’s still some spiritual force that made my path wrong. By “Addicted to you” I mentioned “The ride”.
‘d better go to whower & cry.
Alec will never sense that I’m his fan #1. Shit, it ruins.
What’s about “the ride” as masterpiece, Loggedin ????
(”Choke” has already on my HDD)
February 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
So you wanted to write The Ride originally? -evil grin- I guess it was a major freudian slip from your part then, Heather. Perhaps you should ease on your addiction. I don’t have any particular problem with The Ride. It’s a video.
So you’re the numero 1 AE fan? Holygoddamn! How does it feel like? -laughs her ass off- You shouldn’t have said that and you shouldn’t be talking to me then, cos I’m not a loyal fan material.
While pretending to work today a friend sent me THIS . I’m sure you’ve heard about Christian Bale going American psycho mental over a guy from the Terminator crew. Click on the Bale Out. It’s hilarious.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Naaaaa, I’m male. The Ride is little more than just a video – it’a tragedy
What concers Bale – let god bless his cash.
Zombies unter canibalen ^)))))
February 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
A “male”? Oh, good. Heather, The Male. Those animal instincts, huh?
Tragedy, you say? Well, The Ride teaches you an important lesson: if you’re on a rooftop waiting for a helicopter make sure you’re covered.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I have been reading about Zan Lyons right here on eyho and the second I read descriptions of both Warring Factions and Desolate I managed to find and buy 2 brand new copies of both cd’s sound unheard. I am excited becuase I love gothic, distorted, desolate, dark, futuristic, etc. sounds!
February 10th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I had come across the information about the 2 cd’s on the internet upon learning more about Zan.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Zan’s films are something I want to explore. Blade Runner and Alien are my favorite films so after reading that Zan did visual remixes of some scenes of Blade Runner I can’t wait to check that out, that is cool! His description of the new cd/dvd being 9 songs with a short film to go with each song, how very interesting.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
[...] Alec Empire interviews Zan Lyons here [...]
January 21st, 2010 at 8:12 pm
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