Interview with Filmmaker Leigh Bloomfield (THE NIGHT SKY)

THE NIGHT SKY was the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the April 2018 Experimental Film Festival in Toronto.

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Leigh Bloomfield: I had just used time lapse photography, for one of our clients. I really enjoyed the process and the results were amazing.

Then i came across Tom Lowe’s film TimeScapes. I think seeing that work, made me realise what these DSLR stills camera’s were capable of, so with long
exposure’s and fast lenses you could capture the stars, the same way i had seen them in Sci – Fi films, so that got me really fired up about going out capturing the night sky.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this short?

I would say it took about 5 weeks to get to the the final product.

3. How would you describe your short film in two words!?

Star Light

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Not getting enough sleep, and filming in the dark alone from midnight to the early hours of the morning, in temperatures of -20 degrees.

Also after a time of shooting out in the cold temperatures, the lenses would fog up, so that was a whole other problem to deal with.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I’ve never had anyone talk about my films in public before, so it was a bit strange at first. Most of the feedback was very complimentary, so someone must have told them to be easy on me.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

6. How did you come up with the idea for this short film?

I’ve always been a fan of sci-fi films, and in Astronomy in general. The science in outer space is amazing and can be more imaginative or mind bending, than most sci-fi fantasy’s.

What i wanted to do was capture the wonder and the exciting reality of the night sky.

I also thought it could be good for people who have lived in the city, and have never had the opportunity to look up at the stars and wonder whats out there.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Grease, my sister was always playing it on VHS in are living room, most mornings.

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, what are you feelings of the submission platform from a filmmaker’s perspective?

Hmm, from a filmmaker’s perspective I can most definitely say it’s been very helpful platform indeed, gone are the days of sending VHS copies in the post.
It’s a really great platform for submitting films to festivals all around the world.

9. What song have you listened to the most times in your life?

Flash – By Queen

10. What is next for you? A new film?

I’ve just finished my second Astronomy time lapse film called Starlight.
I’m also working on various TV projects at the moment, and I will be directing a narrative short soon.  

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.