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Title: FIRST REELS INTERVIEW: Michael Kelly, Serious Fun

Reference number: 8212

Date: 1993

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Description: First Reels - a joint short film initiative from Scottish Screen (and its predecessor body the Scottish Film Council) and Scottish Television. First Reels was launched during 1991 by Scottish Film Council in response to a perceived need for small grants to help young and first time film-makers to make or complete their first film or video project. Scottish Television came in as co-sponsor at an early stage and as well as contributing to half the funds they have given the scheme a tremendous public relations boost by running three half hour documentaries showing excerpts from the First Reels. Applicants were invited to submit projects in any format and on any subject they chose. All entries were considered by a jury and thirty five projects were given grants varying from £50 to £2000. On show at the GFT are a representative selection of the best of the films and videos supported by the scheme. [Editorial from Scottish Film Council held in paper archives]

Shotlist: Raw interview footage with director Michael Kelly, concerning his short film SERIOUS FUN, made under the Scottish Film Council and Scottish Television's First Reels scheme.

Discusses: Plot:- The story is about a joyrider. A young boy goes out and steals a car. The film tries to capture the alienation and the boredom which motivate him to steal the car. It also follows his feeling of excitement when he is at the controls. Storyboarded and shot to be a narrative film, but when he reached editing stage, he decided it wasn't suited to being tied down to any particular story. Impressionistic, doesn't really have a resolution. Got a lot closer to the psyche of the main character of the film. Underlying themes - doesn't try to make judgements. Captures emotions - fear, excitement but paranoia and alienation, boredom in his lifestyle that provokes him to do these things. Film's strength is its editing - the sense of excitement created when boy steals the car. Film-maker started making this film a long time ago - Glasgow District Council & Trust Funded, First Reels funded it to shooting stage. The film had languished uncut for quite a long time. It's strange having a distance between filming and cutting - had a chance to cut it quite ruthlessly.