Arts & Entertainment
British Filmmaker Has Local Family Ties
James Schlesinger brings his first film, "I Am Not Someone Else," to the Palm Springs ShortFest.
For British filmmaker James Schlesinger, having his film in the Palm Springs International ShortFest is a long-awaited chance to reconnect with family.
Noted photographer and local celebrity, Michael Childers, is Schlesinger’s uncle, by way of his long partnership with Oscar-winning director John Schlesinger, who passed away in 2003.
Their family reunion is an opportunity to celebrate the world so familiar to both of them: filmmaking.
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Childers beamed as he remembered the moments he and Schlesinger spent with their nephew.
“John was fascinated by James. He was very interested in his future career. And he would be so, so proud, as I am,” Childers said.
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There is a lot of buzz in the festival about James Schlesinger's film, "I Am Not Someone Else."
“Hopefully, I’ve got the directing gene,” Schlesinger said.
The film screens at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs in a program of dramatic short films called “The Family Way.”
Schlesinger’s film was shot in Australia, a graduation project for the film school he attended there. It premiered at the Perth International Film Festival.
The story exposes the heartache of a father who has been convicted of looking at Internet child porn. After a prison term, he tries to reconnect with his family.
Although Michael Childers sits on the Board of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, he said that Schlesinger’s film appeared on its own merits.
“I have nothing to do with the selection committee. In fact, I was on pins and needles waiting to hear if he might be admitted. And this is so thrilling for me,” he said. “James’ film is beautifully made.”
Schlesinger is very hands-on as a filmmaker, and he’s working on several new projects. He is writing a screenplay and editing another short film, this time a darker tale and one very different from his first project.
“More along the lines of David Lynch,” he said.
In addition, he works full-time on set as a floor-runner (an assistant to the director) on the award-winning British television comedy series, “Rev.”
For tickets and festival passes, go to: www.psfilmfest.org.
