Creative Thursday - Paul Fegan

The Southside Film Festival highlighted all the great film making talent we have this side of the River and this weeks interview with Pollokshields based Film maker, music promoter & part time beekeeper Paul Fegan shows thats likely to continue.

SSH: What kind of work do you make?

My recent work has mainly focused on creating music videos. I try to approach each one by listening to the track, speaking with the artist & then coming up with a low rent tale that could fit the music & be a mildly entertaining for the viewer. Recently most of the ideas I've come up with have been inspired by locations in and around the city. Glasgow has a wonderful & bizarre mix of new and old architecture and a population of individuals to match which provides an unlimited amount of potential for stories & content.

Born and raised in Oban, I tried my hand at several professions as a youngster - Ice Cream Van proprietor, Undertaker, Fireman, Animal Wrangler but turning 20 I found the allure of the the big city lights irresistible.

A chance meeting in the toilets of a Hairdressers I was working in led to a part time job as Cloakroom attendant in the Sub Club. I moved up the ranks and ended up promoting weekly nights there for around 5 years. During this time i met my former business partner, we established our company Better Days which created &  produced the Triptych festival from 2000 - 2008. I moved to the Netherlands after the demise of Better Days & spent the following 2 years teaching myself techniques to use camera equipment and editing software. I returned to Scotland in Jan this year & opted to stay in Oban for a few weeks, while there I made a short film about my dad & his work, he's 80 & has been barbering since 1945. His shop is a right hoot, no end of stories and good patter (Tommy's on Stevenson Street if anyone is up the west coast & needs a trim) Off the back of this film I ended up being asked to do a music video which then led to being asked to do another and another and so on. 

Stevie Jackson 'Feel The Morning' from Paul Fegan

SSH: Tell us about your favourite piece of your work?
The Triptych festival is my proudest involvement in terms of achievements although my favourite piece of recent work is the video I did with Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells for the song Copper Top. Its technically not my best but the story worked particularly well with the music. Knowing Aidan & Bills previous work which often combines darkness with humor we set about making something that would cross from deadpan - melancholy - tender - weird & humorous but ultimately be convincing that the artists were actual Funeral Directors. I think we pulled it off as Aidan has been approached by various individuals to arrange there send offs when they depart this mortal coil.

SSH: What have you got coming up?
At the moment I am working on two music videos one for Stevie Jackson of Belle & Sebastian fame who's new solo album 'I Can't Get Know' is out now. As well as a video for Scotland's very own Sun Ra - Mr Bill Wells who's new album Lemondale will be out in Dec. I am also venturing into the world of documentaries, of which I have 2 in progress, one being a collaborative effort which is an era based Scottish music story the other looking at on one of Glasgow's oldest traditions Doo Fleein & the people involved today. I've been asked to do DOP work on a couple of shorts films also so fairly busy. But if anyone reading this needs theirs a family members, or a friends Wedding / Birthday / Christening / Christmas party filmed then I am available.

Bell and Sebastian - Come on Sister from Paul Fegan

SSH: Where do you get inspiration?

Online Vimeo is probably my main daily source of creative inspiration but I spend a fair bit of time trawling various blogs for new ideas & technical know how. The city has to be my main source at the moment, its dreek weather contrasted with its generally good spirited population gives a rich pallet of inspiration for the type of ideas I like to come up with.

SSH: Is there anything you wish you could have taught your younger self?

I am not sure there's much I wished I'd known, you just learn as you go, trying to pick up new techniques & ideas so hopefully you'll not make the same mistake twice. I watch and read about other peoples work and processes, it's so great to have a world of information at your finger tips as so many people are happy & willing to share there experiences which helps cut down on your own blunders.

 Pony Boy - Saints & Liars from Paul Fegan

SSH: Where is your favourite place in the Southside?
Outdoors I'd say Pollok Park, I take a wander round most mornings with my dog. Its a really great park to have on your doorstep, parts of it feel like your roaming in a forest miles from anywhere. I also really like the Tramway, although being council ran it tends to have a fairly non commercial approach to evening socialising, unless theirs a show on they're closed by 6pm which is a bit boring given its one of the city's main arts venues.
(This interview with Paul took place at the end of 2011)