ABOVE THE NOISE, 6min., UK
Directed by Adam De Silva
Above The Noise is a documentary short that explores how athlete Maja Kuczynska uses her sport to escape the chaos of the modern world.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

To put it simply, I wanted to make a film that inspired people and showed my capabilities as a director and story teller. I was keen to do this with a story from the action sports world as I have always had an affinity to these kinds of films.

I had been keen to make personal project for a while and had been looking around for a great story to tell, but was stuck in a rut trying to find an engaging story with a subject matter that excited me and felt somewhat unique. It was around this time when was I sent a link by my regular collaborator and DOP, Josh Monie, with a note that simply said 'watch this!". It was a captivating 30s video of a girl falling through the sky but it wasn't just someone falling in a mad panic. It was a skydiver performing the most graceful type of dance I'd ever seen, with flips and spins that would make any gymnast dizzy. It genuinely blew my mind and I responded to Josh with "WE NEED TO MAKE A FILM WITH HER!"

After spending some time with Maja - and experiencing the rush of the sport for ourselves through a tandem skydive - myself and Josh (DOP) collectively agreed that rather than making a film that focussed on the risks associated, we would instead shine a light on the positives of the sport: the all-encompassing joy and elation of flight and the escape that it provides Maja.

As a filmmaker who has spent most of their career working in commercials, I knew from the very start that this needed to be a true personal project - a film that had zero input from anyone outside of the small team involved, and one with which we could tell the story exactly how we wanted to. To say this would be a challenge would be an understatement and I knew that in order to be truly personal project, it would need to be entirely self-funded so that we weren't needing to bend or adjust our vision. Who the hell decides to make a self-funded film that involves hiring planes and then jumping out of them?! Not to mention filming in the world's second-deepest pool and a wind tunnel that costs an astronomical amount to run.

However, upon reflection, it was the best money I ever spent. For me, this film is - and always will be - more than just a short film. It has helped me discover exactly the kind of filmmaker that I want to be and for that, I will be eternally grateful.

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

From the initial inception to the finished film, it took us 14 months.

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

Joyful Adrenaline

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

From the outset, it was an incredible project to be part of with some extremely challenging production hurdles. For example, we knew that we wanted the skydiving footage to be shot on a cinema camera and to get away from the typical GoPro acquisition approach. However, to do this, we had to create a camera package that was a specific size and weight for our flying camera operator Mairis Laiva so that when he deployed his parachute, it wouldn't snap his neck or get tangled in his shoot. This was just one of the countless challenges & problems we encountered throughout production.

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

As a creative, it is always nerve wracking when you put work out into the world. However, with this particular film being such a personal project that I put so much into, it genuinely means the world to hear positive feedback. So to receive the audience feedback videos and hear them discussing the project in such a glowing manner and to hear that they connected to it on a deep level really was brilliant to watch.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

From as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to work with cameras. I remember playing with my Dad's old Contax SLR and being obsessed with it. So I knew that I wanted to do something with cameras even back then. I also spent some time on television sets as a child actor and I remember being in awe of everyone in the crew. However, I vividly remember being 14 years old and telling a teacher at school that I wanted to make music videos for a living. The teacher quickly shut me down and told me that it wasn't a real job. I fell in love with still image around the same time and went on to study Photography at University and eventually become a professional photographer. However, I always had an urge to work in moving image and slowly I began to migrate over to making films from my mid 20's. Once I dipped my toe into filmmaking, I was hooked!

So in a round about way I guess you could say I always wanted to work with visual media, but making films itself came a lot later in my mid 20's.

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

Top Gun. The original that is. I was obsessed with that film as a kid...I still am now haha.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

An opportunity to network with people commissioning work and introductions to producers and production companies that might be interested in working with award winning filmmakers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It's great. I cant fault FilmFreeway.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Being British, I have to say that a traditional Sunday roast is my favourite meal. But I guess thats not because of the food per se, but its more about the people you share it with and the occasion of it all.

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

I'm keen to find a new story to tell, but I'm also trying not to force it, as I find the best ideas and projects are the ones that come organically. I am in the process of developing a feature film idea that explores some similar themes to 'Above The Noise'. But it's far more ambitious - watch this space....