88 – LaCie #PushPlay 2017 Competition Winner Ben S. Hyland

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by Ben HylandOctober 24^th, 2017

My name is Ben S. Hyland and I am a filmmaker and the winner of the LaCie #PushPlay 2017 competition. My film 88 explores a chance encounter between two fathers at the site of a hit and run. I have previously also explored the topics of domestic abuse against men, human trafficking and childhood abuse. I am a passionate storyteller and tend to lean towards subject matters of marginalised voices within society.

Name and age: My name is Ben S. Hyland and I’m 36 years old.

Currently based in: London, England. 

Language(s) spoken: English.

Occupation: Filmmaker. 

How did you get started in our industry? I studied film from 2000-2003 and upon graduating, I fell into a creative job in marketing so moved away from the industry for a little while. It wasn’t until 2007 that I entered a 24-hour filmmaking competition and fell back in love with cinema. Since then, I have been making shorts and screening them all over the world. I haven’t met many people in this industry with a straightforward story, which is why I think it’s such an interesting world to be a part of.

Current assignments: I’m shooting two short films in conjunction with UK charities. Next month, I’ll be shooting Safe Space with UK human trafficking charity, Unseen. Making films with charities was something I fell into and was never an intentional route, but I find it really rewarding because of the rich and interesting subject matter. I am also developing a couple of feature films with a production company, so watch this space! 

What types of productions do you mostly shoot? I mostly shoot short films and, as mentioned, I have a couple of features in development planned for 2018. 

What is your dream assignment / job in our industry, and what are you really passionate about? As a writer and director, my interest leans towards marginalised groups and stories that are rarely seen. This is what drives me: making stuff that I haven’t seen or experienced before. 

In the work that you are presenting us, now that it is done, what would you have done differently throughout the production? Well, the film that won the LaCie #PushPlay competition was written, shot and edited in only 60 hours, so there is quite a bit I would have approached differently. However, sometimes it’s nice to apply restrictions just so you make something and really have to use your creative energy within a strict period of time. It allows you to make impulsive decisions that might not happen in something that was planned. 

What current camera, lenses and sound equipment do you use? This particular film was shot on a Sony F55 with prime lenses. While I’d love to invest in my own collection of lenses and cameras, and put time aside to play around with them, rentals are definitely the easier and cheaper option. Each production is different, and I like to have the variety and flexibility. Honestly, though, being more of a storyteller, I have these discussions with my DP and we make creative decisions that best serve the story. 

You chose to shoot your project with a Sony F55. Can you please describe why you chose to use it, what was your workflow, were you happy with the results and will you ever go that way again? The camera is relatively lightweight, and we were shooting on the fly with a restricted timescale. The DP knew his way around the camera so it was quick and easy on set but, from my experience, it also offers great picture quality and flexibility on a shoot with plenty of functions to choose from.

What’s your favorite light equipment and why did you choose that kit over other solutions? These are discussions that I would have with my DP personally, but it’s all about the story and how lighting can complement that most effectively. 

Do you use drones or gimbals in your productions? If so, what is the most effective way you’ve found to deploy them? I fly drones for other people but I don’t really use them in my own work. My style is to focus on smaller, more intimate stories, and leave the lavish drone shots for other filmmakers. However, I did recently receive my own drone from LaCie so, if the story required it, I would definitely consider firing up the drone. 

What editing systems do you use?I like to use Premiere Pro.

How much of your work do you shoot in Log and what is your preferred way of colour correcting? I try to get involved where possible but, in truth, I tend to leave colour grading to the experts. I had the chance to speak with Daniel DeVue, a grader at Glassworks, during the #PushPlay winner’s workshop and it was a brilliant experience. I’ll definitely always be one to outsource my colouring work to professionals – and I’m usually pleased with the results too!

How frequently do you travel, and do you have any tips when it comes to packing your gear? I rarely travel for work.

To see more from Ben S. Hyland, head over to his Vimeo page.