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MF Tomlinson 'Last Days Of Rome' by Freddie Leyden

Rob Ulitski - 6th Mar 2020

MF Tomlinson explores the duality of life in Freddie Leyden's vision for Last Days of Rome. 

Shot in London and Australia, the visual focuses on the dichotomy of everyday life, represented by contrasting locations and clever transitions. The use of two different DoPs, Will Pope and Kevin Khang, elevates the theme, presenting two unique styles that effortlessly come together to form a unified concept. 

FREDDIE LEYDEN:

MF was terribly dressed for all locations - freezing in London and boiling in Australia.

"MF Tomlinson and I were both in Australia over Christmas and thought we'd make the most of it. We bring you this international, underwater, visual feast that slips between inner and outer worlds.

"Scenes from around MF's studio in Limehouse to Kondalilla Falls in Queensland. We shot there just a few days before Christmas. At this time the fires were burning all over Australia, and it was not long before the hellish red skies at Mallacoota on the 31st. It was a profound experience to be in the bush at that time, especially given the message of the song.

"It was a far cry from the scenes in the gloomy foreboding arches near my studio in Limehouse, London. We wanted to give the impression of something like Gotham. MF was terribly dressed for all locations - freezing in London and boiling in Australia. What you wouldn’t expect is the tank where we shot (Under The Water Media) was kept a very toasty 33 degrees centigrade. Swimming in a thick felt coat with weights strapped to him was even hotter/tougher than running around the National Park in the height of Aussie summer!

"We chose the environments for their symbolism, using the language of dreams. They both have a duality. The forest is at first an alien inhospitable place - is it the world after the anthropocene, or before it, or the natural world in which we belong? The water is at first calming, womb like - living in a bubble, an algorithm. You can play here, but if you stay too long you'll drown."

Rob Ulitski - 6th Mar 2020

Tags

  • Director's notes
  • New Director
  • Performance
  • Alternative
  • Indie

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Freddie Leyden
Producer
Freddie Leyden
Production Company
Drumcliff Films

Camera

Director of Photography
Will Pope
Director of Photography
Kevin Khang
Focus Puller
Francis Boyter

Grading

Colourist
Marty McMullan
Colour grade company
Silk & Bubble

Misc

Local Fixer
Ani Wilson

Rob Ulitski - 6th Mar 2020

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