University of Hertfordshire
University of Hertfordshire
06/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/27/2024 17:24
Herts lecturer collaborates with Hollywood legend Walter Murch for new film
Herts lecturer collaborates with Hollywood legend Walter Murch for new film
27 June 2024A University of Hertfordshire lecturer has collaborated with an Oscar-winning Hollywood legend on a unique documentary about the history of film editing.
Howard Berry, from the University's School of Creative Arts, directed and produced Her Name Was Moviola, which was written by film and sound editor Walter Much, famed for his work on movies including The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and The English Patient.
Howard is Principal Lecturer and Head of Post-Production for the University's Film and Television courses. Herts students are learning directly from his experiences working alongside pioneering filmmaking talent and several students had the opportunity to work as crew on the set.
The film itself chronicles the history of the Moviola, an editing machine used on almost every Hollywood film between the 1920s-1990s. It received its premier and second screening at Sheffield DocFest, the UK's leading documentary festival and an international showcase of films, virtual reality exhibitions, industry marketplaces and live events.
In its four-out-of-five-star review of Her Name Was Moviola, The Guardian described the film as "a geekgasm for analogue fans" and praised the "radical" approach to reconstructing an editing room to edit a film scene one last time on a Moviola.
Howard Berry, Principal Lecturer and Head of Post-Production for Film and TV at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
"At the University of Hertfordshire, we put the industry at the heart of teaching. Students are learning directly from staff with real-life industry experience, working alongside some of the leading names in film and television. For editors, there is no name bigger than Walter Murch and this collaboration has been truly special.
"I have been delighted by the reception to Her Name Was Moviola, particularly at Sheffield DocFest where it screened for the first time. It's been a labour of love and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we have."
Her Name Was Moviola is going to be screened at further festivals worldwide for the next year, with screenings in Los Angeles and Paris already lined up.
More information about courses in animation, games, film and creative media at the University of Hertfordshire, including BA (Hons) Film and Television Production, is available online.