Hier findest du weiteren Content zu unserem Interview mit Selina Miles im Graffitibox Magazin #3.
Hier eine Auswahl ihrer sehr dopen Videos und Trailer zu ihren Projekten:
Das original Interview aus unserem Mag in Englisch:
The original interview from our Mag in english:
– Hi Selina, when did you hold a camera in your hands for the first time and did you instantly know that you would make a liviving using it, sooner or later?
Hi Graffitibox! I actually discovered filmmaking quite late. I was always interested in computers from an early age, and after trying to few different courses at university I ended up studying Multimedia Design, which was great because it was a sort of buffet of different multimedia disciplines. But it wasn’t really until I shot and edited my first video that I really clicked that this was something I really enjoyed, and it just developed from there. It was actually 10 years ago today that my first ever video came out!
– Did you also focus on video production, right from the start?
It was quite an organic development, I started editing, and after a few months bought my first DSLR, and from there began to work on bigger projects, and at some point started employing crew to help, moving me more into a directing role. I’ve definitely done my fair share of self-producing, but production is not my strong suit, and these days I much prefer to focus on the creative elements and leave the production component to others
– Your tv series “The Wanderers”, follows different street-artists , in a beautiful documetation style, on their adventures. Is your approach to these kinds of projects the same as to graffiti videos or does it differ?
“The Wanderers” was a really important project for me, as it was my first time working with a major broadcaster and thinking about having an audience outside of the graffiti subculture. This made me a lot more aware of the storytelling aspect, and thinking about my audience, and how they will experience and understand what we are making. With my graffiti projects, I’m making those for myself and my immediate community, so I’m less concerned about how it will be received by others.
– You are known in the graffiti-scene for high quality graffiti videos. How did get interested in graffiti? Have you been a graffiti-writer yourself ?
My entry into graffiti started in my hometown of Brisbane, through writers from crews like DTS and WTCS. When I first met these guys they were already very active with many years of experience in what they were doing, and so I never really felt it was my place to try and paint alongside them, but I did see an opportunity to document them. Very early on I got a job editing online content for Ironlak, and that had a huge impact on my understanding and interest in graffiti. I would get sent hard drives from all over the world and get to watch all the raw footage from all the best writers, everything from legal walls to crazy metro actions. It was really like having an unedited, front row seat into the inner world of these people. After a few years of editing these videos, I started traveling overseas to shoot graffiti, and people were very kind to me having already seen my work with Ironlak. That’s when I really fell in love with the culture, because I saw it as a gateway to new friends and adventures all over the world.
– In a short Video of you , Sofles recommends the Canon G15, as the perfect camera for writers. Would you say this statement is still up-to-date, or would you tend to recommend a different camera by now?
This video was shot many years ago so I’m sure that things have changed! I’m not sure what the writer’s favourite camera is these days! I own so many different cameras it’s just not funny. It really depends on the kind of job you’re using it for. And just like any other tool, the result comes from the hand that wields it, not the quality of the tool. So having a good camera is nice, but not the most important thing.
– Which impact made Sofles on your creative career? Would you be where you are without „Infinite“ and „Limitless“ or would your life look different?
It’s impossible to know where I would be without the work that Sofles and I made together. It was definitely a really special time working on those projects with him. Limitless in particular really helped get my foot in the door with amazing opportunities all over the world.
– Will there be another one of your legendary Sofles-Videos?
No plans for any more of these videos. I’m not sure we could ever top Limitless!
– At the moment, your feature documentary film, “Martha: A Picture Story”, about the work and life of Martha Cooper, is shown in competition at different film festivals. How did you get the idea to film a documentary about the legendary Photographer?
It was quite an accident, I had been making 10 minute pieces about artists, firstly on Guido van Helten, and another on Felipe Pantone, and Martha was meant to be the third in this series. This quickly escalated into a feature film, which neither myself or Martha expected! But she was very patient and trusting with me and I am very grateful to have been able to spend so much time with her.
– How was it, being in a train yard, with Martha and the 1UP crew?
The night I met those guys happened very quickly, I had just flown 25 hours from Australia to Berlin, and without much sleep had met them at an opening, and a few hours later I found myself driving on a German autobahn to go film Martha shooting them. Both Martha and the crew were extremely trusting and welcoming which I was very grateful for. I’m sure I would have been very tired if I wasn’t so excited. They are truly lovely people with a really good attitude and super helpful and respectful, which I was really impressed with immediately.
– How much preperation went into the “Graffiti Olympics” video in Athens? How many persons were involved in the realization of the video and did it all workout at the first try, or did you have to change your plans spontaneously?
There was 4 days of preparation, with more than 50 people involved. Again, I had just flown 25 hours to be there, so the jetlag was real! It was a very stressful but fun adventure.
– How is it for you to, move and act in a predominantly male graffiti scene, as a woman?
My personal experience has been very positive. Even though I’m often the only female in a group, I easily forget that fact, and don’t feel that I’m treated any differently, and don’t ask to be given any special treatment. I do know some women have different experiences and I don’t want to say that sexism is not an issue, but in my case, I’ve been fortunate. I think it’s a different dynamic because I’m a filmmaker, rather than a writer. I think graffiti has come a long way in being inclusive of peopel’s differences, and these days I think that most people in graffiti operate under a system of merit, and if you’re good at what you do, people will respect you, regardless of your appearance / sex / race / identity, which is definitely how it should be.
– When will “Martha: A Picture Story”, be finally shown in german cinemas? Sorry, but we are so eager to see it…
Soon I hope! There’s a wonderful team working hard on the distribution deal, and we hope we can share some screening dates soon!
– What would you recommend to young people that want to work as a photographer or director?
Find your voice, don’t be afraid to be different and have a point of view, and take risks. Try not to allow yourself excuses of “why not,” just get out there and have fun and make things!