Talk To Me: Steven Flynn

I’m cultured me. I really am. Just because a dude likes watching dudes kick other dudes in the testicles until they’re a smear across their ass, doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy some romance and drama and other girly crap.

So with this in mind, this episode of ‘Talk to Me’, I wagged chins with a man in touch with his girly crap side – Steven Flynn. He  wants to expose Taiwanese cinema to the world – starting in London. So open your mind, yeah?

Mike Banner: Tell the Far East Films readers about yourself. Now.

Steven Flynn: I am a Scottish born, 10 year veteran of the advertising industry working on the commercial side of the business.  4 and half years of this i worked in Shanghai in the ad industry for a British agency.  I have a Masters in Asian Politics for the School of Oriental and African Studies.  Currently just launched Arkwright Studios – a design firm and film production company in London and also the main founder of the Taiwan Cinefest [London].

MB: How did you become involved in Asian cinema and, specifically, Taiwanese cinema?

SF: I guess that I am an unashamed affectionado of East Asian culture – the people, their stories and their own unique mythology. Very few places on the planet have such a dense talent pool as Taiwan. For such a small island off the coast of Mainland China – they have brought forth some of the world’s best filmmaking talent.  Yet in the UK they seem very unrepresented among international film product- dwarfed by the growing popularity of Mainland Chinese cinema – they have somehow been marginalised, especially for the new Taiwanese talent.

MB: Why should we be interested in Taiwanese cinema?

SF: Naturally, some people will not engage in Taiwanese film for whatever reason – and thats fine.  But in many cases lack of distribution in western Europe (outside of major festivals) means that we don’t even get a choice.  So hopefully through having more opportunities to view the Taiwanese film – especially from fresher talent – can help stimulate the debate among a wider audience and not just the elite festival juries.  The cinema of Taiwan is constantly evolving its style, identity and focus – perhaps more so than any other territory – the whole industry is creatively very dynamic.  Something to celebrate I think.

MB: Why organise a Film festival?

SF: Its a fantastic opportunity to work to help support a filmmaking community that are under represented, as well as helping share the value of Taiwanese cinema with old and new audiences.  Taiwanese cinema is unique among Mandarin speaking films and while there are mounting cultural co-productions within Asia- there is an identiy and view point that comes from the island and their inhabitants that deserves to be heard in context of Taiwan and not simply as something generic ‘Chinese’ or ‘Asian’.

MB: Can you give us some information about the 2009 Taiwan Cinefest?

SF: Our festival will run from April 15th to April 19th 2009 and will cover documentary, features and a large component of student short/feature films. It will also host several educational seminars with academics, talent and industry professionals around central London.

MB: Will there be any ‘special guests’ at the event?

SF: We certainly anticipate there will be filmmakers of the films screened at the festival as well as producers and some well known commentators of the Taiwanese film industry.

MB: Taiwan has a long history of producing kung fu films, please tell me you’ll be screening some. (Mike says what no-one else is thinking – Ed.)

SF: That’s certainly a good idea.  We are hoping to have a balanced line up of genres from a mix of new and established talent.  Who knows you may just find a Kung Fu film in there.

MB: Can we have some free tickets?

SF: Of course. We will do anything to accomodate the internet’s most cleverest, charismatic and, indeed, hardest Asian cinema critic. (Steven didn’t write this answer, did he, Mike? – Ed.)

Far East Films would like to thank Steven Flynn.