Bafta-winning sound recordist Chris Watson - whose work includes David Attenborough documentaries ‘Life’ and ‘Frozen Planet' - will present ‘El Tren Fantasma’, a performance of archive Mexican railway sound recordings at the Skibbereen Arts Festival on Sat 3rd Aug, followed by a sound workshop on 4th Aug.
Creative Director of the National Film School, IADT, Donald Taylor Black, whose artistic documentary ‘Skin in the Game’ also screens at the festival, will also host a workshop on 31st July where he will share his experiences of collaborating with artists and filmmakers.
Chris Watson’s ‘El Tren Fantasma’ will be performed in the amphitheatre in Glebe Gardens in Baltimore at a site where the Skibbereen-Baltimore train used to run, itself a ‘ghost train’ of West Cork.
The experience is based on sound recordings that Watson collected onboard a train travelling across Mexico from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, with some of the last passengers to travel the route.
It thus recreates the journey of the ‘ghost train’, capturing memories of the atmosphere, rhythms and sounds of human life, wildlife and the journey itself along the tracks of one of Mexico’s greatest engineering projects.
Chris Watson is one of the world's leading wildlife recorders, having won Baftas for ‘Best Factual Sound’ for ‘The Life of Birds’ (1996) and for BBC’s ‘Frozen Planet’ (2012).
His workshop at the Skibbereen Arts Festival will explore aspects of sound and sound art, from the groaning of ice in an Icelandic glacier to the wildlife sounds of animals, habitats and atmospheres from around the world.
Donald Taylor Black Workshop
The workshop with Donald Taylor Black will comprise an intimate workshop in which he will share his experiences as a director working on art documentaries and documentaries on artists.
The workshop is recommended for aspiring and experienced film-makers and artists, and the participants will be encouraged to join in a Q&A throughput the session.
Mr Taylor Black’s films have been commissioned or transmitted by RTE, TG4, Channel 4, BBC, the ITV Network, Ulster Television, La Sept/ARTE, YLE, SBS, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, PBS stations in the United States and many other international broadcasters.
His films include ‘David Farrell – Elusive Moments’, ‘Dear Boy – The Story of Micheal Mac Liammoir’, ‘The Joy, Irish Cinema - Ourselves Alone?’, ‘Clongowes - The Greater Glory' and 'Hearts and Souls’.
Places for all workshops and screenings are limited, and booking can be made by contacting the Skibbereen Arts Festival Booking Office at 087 1260327 or the West Cork Arts Centre at 028 22090.
Further information is also available at: www.skibbereenartsfestival.com
