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Vera Neubauer

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Vera Neubauer
Born1948
Prague, Czech Republic
Alma materState Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (BFA)
Royal College of Art (MFA)
Occupations
  • Animator
  • Artist
  • Educator

Vera Neubauer (1948) is a Czech born British experimental filmmaker, animator, feminist activist and educator. She is known for her jarring, provocative and anti establishment approach. Her life's work spans genres, from cinematic short film to television series for children.[1] Neubauer has received two BAFTA Cymru awards[2].

Early life

Vera Neubauer was born to Dr. Helene and Dr. Karl Neubauer in Prague.

In December 1965, several years before the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, Neubauer fled the totalitarian regime with her parents and siblings. Arriving in Vienna, Neubauer gained refugee status and traveled on to Dusseldorf. Here she studied Print-making at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart[3] under professor Gunter Bohmer.

In 1968 Neubauer journeyed to London. She continued to study printmaking at the Royal College of Art and in 1970 switched departments to study film-making[4]. She struggled to survive and squatted in central Brixton. During this time she worked in a local Brixton Youth Centre and taught print-making at Isleworth Polytechnic.

Career

Neubauer’s experiences of life as a refugee and the loss of her family, often inform her works. As do her personal takes on the themes of birth, death, abuse, femininity, myth and existence.[5][6]

In the UK Neubauer became one of founding members of the film collective 'Spectre' that included Stephen Dwoskin, Phil Mulloy, Simon Hartog, Anna Ambrose, Michael Whyte, John Ellis (media academic), Keith Griffith, and Thaddeus O'Sullivan.

Neubauer's collected works are distributed by the BFI[7], LUX[8] and New York based The Film-Makers' Cooperative.

Neubauer is known for her work in multiple moving image disciplines and for her nuanced feminist stance[9]. She has won multiple awards for her work including two BAFTA Cymru Awards.[10]

Animation

She is a key figure in the History of British animation and is linked to the Second Wave of British Animation (1979–1996). She has been active as a filmmaker, animator and instigator of social reform for five decades.

Vera Neubauer's films are the terrorist branch of the art form, the Red Brigade of the animated film.[11] (Animating the Unconscious: Desire, Sexuality and Animation by Leslie Felperin)

Her first animated series after graduation was 'Pip and Betssie' that was commissioned for three years by the Germany television station Bayerischer Rundfunk. [12]

Neubauer’s oeuvre of animated works is often considered experimental and ‘cutting edge’.

Vera Neubauer is one of Britain’s most innovative and provocative animators. Her highly idiosyncratic style uses an array of techniques, combining animated sequences with documentary and live action drama, provoking and entertaining in equal measure. (British Animation Awards)[13]

She is frequently sighted for her ability to combine her personal stories of pain, loss and rebirth, underpinned by a wider societal commentary. Her canon of work mixes various techniques such as 2D drawing with photography, scratching into film emulation, cut out collage and giving character to found objects.

Live action

Neubauer's works often center around, and are created within her own neighborhood. Many of her films are short and meditative. Neubauer often uses the camera, much as a painter would use a brush to create broad poetic strokes.

Neubauer’s first drama film “Don’t be Afraid” made in 1990 starred a young Nick Moran[14] in the lead. It was based on the life of a squatting white couple who gave birth to a mixed race baby. The film gave an insight into issues facing young urban youth, both political and personal, whilst confronting audience’s expectations and prejudices.

Her narrative and experimental films make use of guerrilla production techniques and are often socially critical and focus on social issues, poverty, women’s rights, abuse and the homelessness.

Education

Neubauer lectured for close to three decades teaching at Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins and Goldsmiths College.

In literature / film

Neubauer is the subject of Maria Anna Tappeiner's 2012 45 minute documentary for 3sat 'Das Ganze Leben im Trickfilm' ('An Entire Life in Animation')[15].

Retrospectives

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2019 Fields of Vision Director, Animator  4 min.
2019 The Mummy's Curse Returns Director, Animator 18 min.
2016 A Tragedy of No'Importance' Director 7 min.
2015 You Are Director 15 min.
2014 Scarred Skies Director 4 min.
2014 Life Story Director 3 min.
2013 One Day In May Director 20 min. live musical performance, in collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Bălănescu     
2010 All Done and Dusted Director, writer, animator  3 min.
2010 Fly In The Sky Director, writer, animator 20 min.
2004 Woolly Town - Woolly Head Director, writer, animator  5 min.
2002 Hooked Director, writer, animator  10 min.  Channel Four & Arts Council of England   
2002 Wolly Wolf Director, writer, animator  4.15 min. Sianel Pedwar Cymru Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Animation & Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Short Film  
1999 La Luna Director, writer, animator 26 min. Channel Four & British Film Institute 
1999 I Dance Director, animator 2 min.
1997 The Dragon and The Fly Director, animator 1 min. LUX (British film company) London Film-Makers' Co-op
1996 Wheel of Life Director, writer, animator 16 min. Arts Council of Wales & Sianel Pedwar Cymru Awarded at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.
1995 The Lady of The Lake Director, writer, animator 20 min. Winner Ankara International Film Festival winner Best Experimental Film Mediawave, Audience Award Filmfest Dresden. 
1993 Live TV Director, writer 1 min. The Arts Council of Great Britain and the BBC
1990 Don't Be Afraid Director, writer 27 min. Channel Four Youth Jury Award at International Short Film Festival Oberhausen & Winner Melbourne International Film Festival 
1988 Passing On Director, writer 30 min. Channel Four
1987 The Mummy's Curse Director, animator 25 min. Arts Council of Great Britain
1986 Mid Air Director, writer, animator 16 min. Channel Four Winner Melbourne International Film Festival
1984 The World of Children Director, writer, animator 15 min. Channel Four
1981 The Decision Director, writer, animator 33 min. British Film Institute
1978 Animation for Live Action Director, writer, animator 25 min. British Film Institute
1976 Fate Director, writer, animator 1 min.
1972/73 Vision On Director, Animator Television series for BBC Bristol
1973/75 Pip and Bessie Creator, director, writer, animator Television series for Bayerischer Rundfunk
1972 Animation - Allegation Director, animator 25 min.
1972 Genetics Director, writer, animator 1 min. Royal College of Art
1871 Cannon Fodder Director, writer, animator 1 min. Royal College of Art

References

  1. ^ Google Books "The Women's Companion to International Film by Annette Kuhn and Susannah Radstone", 1994 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  2. ^ www.bafta.org, "'BAFTA Awards database of Vera Neubauer", British Academy Awards, 2002 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  3. ^ Google Books "Animation: A World History Volume III: Contemporary Times (chapter Vera Neubauer) by Giannalberto Bendazzi", 2015 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  4. ^ Google Books"British Film Culture in the 1970s by By Sue Harper, Justin Smith", Published by Wallflower, 2013 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  5. ^ Google Books"The Undercut Reader, Critical Writings on Artists' Film and Video an Interview by Claire Barwell with Vera Neubauer", Published by Wallflower, 2003 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  6. ^ Google Books"Animating the Unconscious Desire, Sexuality and Animation - Vera Neubauer's Wheel of Life Interview", Published by Wallflower Press, 2012 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  7. ^ bfi.org.uk, "Vera Neubauer Filmography", British Film institute, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  8. ^ lux.org.uk, "Selected Works by Vera Neubauer", LUX, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  9. ^ Google Books "Women in Film An International Guide by Susannah Radstone", 1991 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  10. ^ homemcr.org, "Clare Kitson interview with Vera Neubauer", Home MCR, 08 Nov 2008 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  11. ^ Google Books "Animating the Unconscious: Desire, Sexuality and Animation by Jayne Pilling", 2012 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  12. ^ onlinefilm.org, "'Pip and Betssie' by Vera Neubauer", On Line Film, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  13. ^ www.britishanimationawards.com, "'British Animation Awards profile of Vera Neubauer", British Animation Awards, 2004 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  14. ^ peliculas.itematika.com, "Nick Moran Biography in Spanish Language", Peliculas Itematika, (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  15. ^ www.imdb.com, "Vera Neubauer - Das ganze Leben im Trickfilm", IMDB, 2012 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
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