HippCast
By The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival
HippCastMay 15, 2023
'All Faces are Masks': Visible Difference in Silent Cinema
May's episode 'All Faces are Masks' is an exploration of silent cinema's portrayal of visibly different characters led by Changing Faces campaigner Dr Chris Heppell and filmmaker David Cairns. Changing Faces is a charity dedicated to providing support and promoting respect for everyone with a visible difference, and the week of this release (15th - 19th May 2023) is Face Equality Week.
Face Equality Week aims to raise awareness about the prejudice experienced by those with a visible difference. Underpinning 2023's event is the celebration of Changing Faces' ambassadors and campaigners proudly being the role models they want to see more of, and saying: "This is me". You can watch and share the campaign video, donate, or sign up for email updates in order to support the important work that Changing Faces are doing.
Many thanks to Dr Chris Heppell and David Cairns for presenting such a fascinating event at HippFest 2023. If you would prefer to read rather than listen, you can access a full English transcript here.
Young voices on old cinema
In HippCast Episode 3 we hear from young voices on old cinema.
Bringing fresh perspectives and new relevance to archive film is one of the many pleasures of programming a silent film festival, and involving new audiences and younger people in this wonderful world has been at the festival's heart since HippFest began. This episode features a short excerpt from the live Q&A which concluded our recent presentation of New Found Sound at HippFest 2023 - with terrific performances by Megan Marshall, Chloe Gibb, Erin Richards and Anya McCheyne, as well as from the Falkirk Junior and Senior Trad Bands - plus short interviews with Jenny Alexander (HippFest Advisory Panel) and Sara Prentice (Young Scot Reward Winner) inviting some of our young audience members to share their thoughts on this year's programme.
If you would prefer, there is a full Episode Transcript available here.
2023 programme picks from the HippFest team
In Episode 2 of the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival Podcast (HippCast for short) members of the team at Falkirk Council discuss their personal highlights from this year's programme, with a little bit of extra chat about the magic of silent cinema.
Hear from Festival Director Alison Strauss; Online Coordinator, Social Media Officer and 'podcast operator' Christina Webber; Nell Cardozo, Development & Engagement Officer; Paul Eames, Team Leader (Arts), Falkirk Council; Marketing Manager Abbie Dobson; Independent Cinema Office FEDS Trainee James Mennie; and Natalie Allison, Festival Producer.
Interested in an event mentioned in this episode? Browse and book tickets.
If you would prefer to read this conversation, a full transcript is available here.
Queen of Hearts: Mary Queen of Scots in Popular Culture
In Episode 1 of the HippFest Podcast (or HippCast for short), we are delighted to share with you a lively and fascinating talk by Donald Smith, originally presented in March 2022, ahead of our Festival Opening Night screening of The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (1923).
'The Loves of Mary' was a real highlight of the festival, the world premiere of a new restoration of an extremely rare film presented with live improvised piano, plus the famous Scottish storyteller, Andy Cannon taking the role of our very own Film Explainer or 'McBenshi'. This memorable screening event was made even richer by Donald's talk, which set the scene perfectly for this near-hundred-year-old costume drama.
Donald Smith is an author, storyteller and director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival since 1989. His many publications include Storytelling Scotland, A Pilgrim Guide to Scotland, Wee Folk Tales: in Scots and Folk Tales From The Garden. Donald has also staged over a hundred plays and was a moving force behind the Scottish Storytelling Center and a National Theatre for Scotland.
If you would prefer, there is a full Episode Transcript available here. Links to resources mentioned in this episode are below:
The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots (1895) - courtesy of The National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (1923) programme notes - by commissioned for the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival 2022 The Ballad of the Five Marys - written by Donald Smith, Luath Press Archive Film Agency on YouTube Celluloid Tapestry on YouTube
Preview: a HippFest primer
Greetings, silent film fans! We are delighted to release Episode 0 of our new podcast series, the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival Podcast - or HippCast for short. Intended as a brief audio primer, this preview episode is an opportunity to introduce online audiences to the unique HippFest experience. To do so we have assembled a collection of voices, all sharing their impressions of the Festival.
The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) is Scotland's first and only festival of silent film with live music. This brand new podcast features excerpts from a host of HippFest activity: Q+As with performers, interviews with archivists, and other insightful, cross-cultural conversations about archive cinema. We hope you enjoy tuning in!
Many thanks to David Barras (Strange Boat) for recording the interviews with Neil Brand, Mark Kermode and Dr Mike Hammond. These conversations were all recorded between rehearsals at HippFest 2022. Special thanks also to First Impressions: Thinking Aloud About Film, who not only dedicated an episode to HippFest earlier in the year, but who have also allowed us to use an excerpt from this conversation as part of our show.
Happy listening! If you would prefer, a full transcript of this episode is available here.