Profile: Sebastian Steward

Sebastian's film Flashback: Hammer Attack is a vivid re-enactment of a violent attack on his friend.

Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?

I see documentary as a window into the unknown

I picked this subject because I believed it was a story that was worth bringing to light and I was in a position capable of doing it well. The event happened to a very close friend of mine and we agreed it would be positive for him to share his experience.

What motivated you to make this film?

The story was one that affected me greatly and I felt inclined to create something on the subject. Benjamyn wanted to share his story and, both being media students, it was natural that we would come to the idea of a documentary.

What equipment did you use to shoot and edit the film?

I used a Panasonic GH2 attached to a steady cam rig to film most of the shots and a few were simply handheld. The edit and grade was completed all in Adobe Premiere Pro and the audio was mixed in Pro Tools. I wanted to have direct control on how the story was paced so the editing process so was completed by me.

Who/what inspires you?

I see documentary as a window into the unknown, finding out interesting and real life stories that are happening to real people somewhere in the world is something I think everyone enjoys. Events that are so far removed from our own lives intrigue us and it is the process of telling such stories that I enjoy and that continues to inspire me.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to continue to make films such as this and create content that people will want to watch. As a first step towards this, I started a media company called EBM (Essential B Media) with my long time friend Benjamyn Hutchings and TJ Dairo, who I met on my course at university. Since the completion of this documentary, we have assembled a small team of editors, photographers and camera operators and hope to continue making interesting and varied content for television and online viewing.

What is the most important thing you have learned so far?

Making a film requires you to be sensitive to the subject matter but also bold in your big decisions. Much can change over the course of filming and editing so it is important to keep to your vision and have faith in your idea.