Poetry in Black and White

About

An event exploring the intersection of poetry and film. Lewes Live Literature presents an intimate, conversational event, focused on two unique collaborations that emerged out of the strange otherworld of the pandemic.

John Agard's 'filmpoems' made with young documentary filmmaker Millie Dobres and playwright Mark C. Hewitt's super-short video pieces created with digital artist Matt Parsons. 'Lewes to London Post-lockdown' by Millie Dobres charts Agard's first train journey in 2021 from Lewes to London Victoria, while his chilling poem 'Wall Speaks' gives anthropomorphic voice to Wall and its message of separation and boundaries.

In conversation with guest interviewer, writer Catherine Smith, Mark C. Hewitt will reveal the unusual working processes that led to his collection of noirish black and white micro-movies, each of less than 90 seconds duration and each voiced by a different actor. Made using found footage, these enigmatic filmpoems – with the overarching title, 'Les Coffrets' (meaning the boxes) – have now variously been screened at over 40 short films festivals in 19 countries, earning 4 category winner laurels along the way.