Eileen Botsford
Greece
—>
biography
—>
Interview: 10 questions
1.Tell me something about your life and the educational background.
I was born in Athens, Greece and brought up between Athens, Syros Isle (Cyclades) and the U.S. Due to my artist mother my upbringing was dominated by creativity and self-expression and as a natural evolution I went to study at Chelsea College of Art & Design (BAhons Public Art & Design) and the Slade School of Fine Art (MFA in Theatre Design) in London.
2.When, how and why you started filming?
I started filming because I was primarily attracted to the art of projection and moving light, together with the transformation of space and the aspect of illusion. As I am a Public Artist my first point of reference is the space, and I am very attracted to the transformation of a space through video projection.
3.What kind of subject to your films have?
At the moment I work mostly with the human form, and the subject of psyche and intimacy.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
I search for beauty through being up close and personal with my subject.
5.Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
I keep everything simple, I am a believer that talent does not need fancy equipment. I learn and collect the latest of the latest but in the end none of that plays an important role. The idea/concept, hard work and truth always dominate.
6.What are the chances of new media for the genre film/video in general and you personally?
Today film is new media, I don’t think there is any way of separating them unless intentionally you choose to work with older filming equipment.
7. How do you finance your films?
I usually get funding through sponsors, but I have also financed many of my works on my own, especially in the beginning of my career.
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team? If you have experience in both what is the difference and what do you prefer?
Because of the nature of my films I don’t need to incorporate many people in the production apart from my subjects/performers, if I am using any. I also prefer to work on my own during the creative process. I believe it’s easy to have too many cooks!
9.Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?
Emotion. Everything I have created and create is driven by the analysis of certain emotions depending on what I aim to achieve audio-visually and also get across to my audience.
10.What are your future plans/dreams as a future video maker?
Everyday I work towards my goal to be better at what I do, this sometimes consists of being truer at what I do by going back to ‘primitive’ steps and thought processes. As all artists I strive for recognition though my talent, but above all I strive for communication with my audienece.