Creative filmmaker of Hot Butter Collective speaks on his upcoming video installation...

Rehan Mudannayake is part of a new generation of creative beings who are pushing the boundaries in taking creativity to the next level. His chosen creative genre is filmmaking. A member of the Hot Butter Collective, Rehan and his contemporaries present In Space, An Immersive Exhibition (Thursday June 4) at the Barefoot Gallery from 7-11pm.

Who are the other artists taking part in this exhibition?

The artists displaying work at the show are Imaad Majeed, Elsz, Shanika Perera, Poornima Jayasinghe, Larry T Hill, Kavan Balasuriya, Venuri Perera and myself. We're all a part of the Hot Butter Collective!

What made you get into filmmaking?

I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker from a young age as I always had a passion for cinema and writing. Dinner was (and is still) spent in front of the television, viewing Hollywood’s latest offerings. I developed a love for cinema and filmmaking through watching an abundance of films and being inspired by classical and contemporary directors.

How long have you been doing this for?

I got my first videocamera on my 9th birthday. It was a mini-DV camera, the size of my palm. I’ve been making films ever since.

What formal training have you had?

I attended the University of Kent and the University of Amsterdam – where I studied film, theatre, musicology and literature. My degree focused on film theory and practice: the former educating me on film criticism, film theory and the different eras and genres in cinema. The latter involved constructing scripts, fiction films and documentaries.

What's Elsz: Blue Scar about?

Elsz: Blue Scar is an abstract exploration of the last two years in the life of singer/songstress Elsz. The name Blue Scar was derived from Hinduism, wherein Shiva drank King Vasuki's venom in order to protect the seas. The poison burnt his throat and left a permanent blue scar. This story of self-sacrifice is one of the themes of Elsz’s upcoming album, Blue Scar and will take the form of a video installation in the Barefoot Gallery space.

Do you see yourself as a filmmaker or a social commentator who uses film as a medium to get your message across?

Both. My hope is that the stories I tell in my films will not only educate but entertain the public. This has rarely been done before; the Sri Lankan film industry has always either produced highbrow arthouse fare for foreign festivals or mainstream action efforts for the general public. I plan to hit the middle ground, creating a cinema that is accessible to all, but is critically acclaimed, too.

What other projects are you involved in?

My latest fictional short film, Elephant, is a harrowing drama about the Colombo elite. It deals with the challenges of living in a bubble where it is near-impossible to lead one’s life without others prying into it. The film follows an upper class family in the city, negatively affected by this lack of anonymity. I am currently submitting Elephant to film festivals whilst co-writing my first feature, which focuses on a group of young affluent citizens in their late 20s, living in Colombo.

By Tina Edward Gunawardhana