‘From The Carnival Cinema Archives’ Series

So I’m expanding the concept of the ‘From The Carnival Cinema Archives’ series by experimenting and adding myself as a ‘host’ to put context around the clips and link them together into what they are – all part of one massive life project.

Its different for me to be stepping in front of the camera and adding my voice to the mix and I got reminded how confronting that can be (it took many takes but hopefully it will become easier 🙂 ). It also reminds me of the level of openness and trust all the people who I have documented over the years have shown me and I want to say thank you to you all for that.

Bucket of Love

This episode is a ten minute video of my dear old mate Derek Ives‘s solo show ‘Bucket of Love’, which I edited 10 years ago, just after his season at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2007 but it was never put out in the public eye.

When I found this edit on a hard drive recently my initial thought was to re-edit it and make it short and snappy but after watching it I wanted to leave it as it was – a time capsule of both Derek’s work and mine. It also hopefully gives you more of a sense of what the show was like (although I hesitate to say that as, ironically, I do believe that the circus/vaudeville/sideshow/cabaret world is fundamentally a ‘live’  art-form and can never truly be captured on film).

Rock n Roll Circus 1990

Bucket Of Love was directed by D’s long time collaborator and partner in crime Azaria Universe and was very much an amalgamation of routines, characters and themes that he had been playing with for most of his performing career – with the likes of Rock n Roll Circus, The Candy Butchers & Circus Monoxide to name a few.

Beautiful, sad and darkly funny…

I had always been drawn to Derek and his work ever since I first met him when I was 14 in 1995, doing work experience with Rock n Roll Circus in Brisbane and we have been mates ever since. He was big in my life, an inspiration and in the beginning an example of the possibility that you could spend your time learning how to balance 2 eggs on a chopstick for a living (whilst being super chilled and covered in Tatts!).

Mullum Circus Festival 2001.
Pic by JW McCormick

Bigger Documentary

I have started the process of cutting a documentary about Derek and his work, using only the footage I have captured of him, his work and his collaborators – taking footage from over 10 years of documenting him! I’m giving myself that restriction both as a creative choice and as a heart choice – I don’t want anyone to be talking about him in past tense, not this time round, maybe there will be another film made that incorporates the impact he had on our community. For now I’d rather hear his story from his own mouth and his colleagues at the time…

I’m hoping through people supporting this life project and magazine, by becoming Carnival Cinema Members it will enable me to free up time to be able to finish that doco, as well as other longer form ones I have started such as The National Circus Festival doco which I’ve been trying to make for the last 4 years – shout out to all those who supported Carnival Cinema to capture last Tasmanian Circus Festival back in 2013!

 Mr Ives…

Below is a little taste of the volume of different footage I have of Derek. I made this video for D’s wake and I visit it often….

HOLD FAST: International Bucket of Love Day

On the anniversary of D’s passing this year I put up these words from the man himself and pronounced that the 27th of the of April will forever more be International Bucket of Love Day.

DEREK IVES

 20/03/1968 – 27/04/2016.

Dream Menagerie 2013
Pic by JW McCormick

RIP old friend – Hold Fast

I hope you enjoyed seeing those glimpses of Derek and Bucket of Love, a slice of our communities history which will never be repeated.

Thanks for your time.

Be kind to each other.

Peace & Respect to you all,

Hamish x

*If you’ve enjoyed this post (and this magazine) and you believe its adding value to our awesome subculture and community please consider supporting it by becoming a Carnival Cinema Member for as little $1 each month.