Vera Neubauer

Vera Neubauer 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][3]

Vera Neubauer
Born
Prague, Czech Republic
Alma materState Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (BA)
Royal College of Art (MA)
Occupation
  • Animator
  • Artist
  • Educator
Spouse(s)Phil Mulloy

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[4] 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.[5] She struggled to survive and squatted in central Brixton. During this period 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.[6][7]

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, Keith Griffiths, and Thaddeus O'Sullivan.

Neubauer's collected works are distributed by the BFI,[8] LUX[9] 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.[10] She has won multiple awards for her work including two BAFTA Cymru Awards.[11]

Animation

She is a key figure in the History of British animation and is linked to the Second Wave of British Animation (1979–1996). Neubauer 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.[12] (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.[13]

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)[14]

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[15] 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').[16]

Retrospectives

Filmography
YearFilmRoleNotes
2019Fields of VisionDirector, Animator 4 min.
2019The Mummy's Curse ReturnsDirector, Animator18 min.
2016A Tragedy of No'Importance' Director7 min.
2015You AreDirector15 min.
2014Scarred SkiesDirector4 min.
2014Life StoryDirector3 min.
2013One Day In MayDirector20 min. live musical performance, in collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Bălănescu     
2010All Done and DustedDirector, writer, animator 3 min.
2010Fly In The SkyDirector, writer, animator20 min.
2004Woolly Town - Woolly HeadDirector, writer, animator 5 min.
2002HookedDirector, writer, animator 10 min.  Channel Four & Arts Council of England   
2002Wolly WolfDirector, writer, animator 4.15 min. Sianel Pedwar Cymru Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Animation & Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Short Film  
1999La LunaDirector, writer, animator26 min. Channel Four & British Film Institute 
1999I DanceDirector, animator2 min.
1997The Dragon and The FlyDirector, animator1 min. LUX (British film company) London Film-Makers' Co-op
1996Wheel of LifeDirector, writer, animator16 min. Arts Council of Wales & Sianel Pedwar Cymru Awarded at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.
1995The Lady of The LakeDirector, writer, animator20 min. Winner Ankara International Film Festival winner Best Experimental Film Mediawave, Audience Award Filmfest Dresden. 
1993Live TVDirector, writer1 min. The Arts Council of Great Britain and the BBC
1990Don't Be AfraidDirector, writer27 min. Channel Four Youth Jury Award at International Short Film Festival Oberhausen & Winner Melbourne International Film Festival 
1988Passing OnDirector, writer30 min. Channel Four
1987The Mummy's CurseDirector, animator25 min. Arts Council of Great Britain
1986Mid AirDirector, writer, animator16 min. Channel Four Winner Melbourne International Film Festival
1984The World of ChildrenDirector, writer, animator15 min. Channel Four
1981The DecisionDirector, writer, animator33 min. British Film Institute
1978Animation for Live ActionDirector, writer, animator25 min. British Film Institute
1976FateDirector, writer, animator1 min.
1972/73Vision OnDirector, AnimatorTelevision series for BBC Bristol
1973/75Pip and BessieCreator, director, writer, animatorTelevision series for Bayerischer Rundfunk
1972Animation - AllegationDirector, animator25 min.
1972GeneticsDirector, writer, animator1 min. Royal College of Art
1871Cannon FodderDirector, writer, animator1 min. Royal College of Art
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gollark: This is much shorter and actually tries all possible keys.
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References
  1. Google Books "The Women's Companion to International Film by Annette Kuhn and Susannah Radstone", 1994 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  2. bafta.org, "Vera Neubauer BAFTA Cymru Animation Winner 2002", British Academy Film And Television Awards, 2002 (Retrieved 12 Aug 2020)
  3. bafta.org, "Vera Neubauer BAFTA Cymru Short Film Winner 2002", British Academy Film And Television Awards, 2002 (Retrieved 12 Aug 2020)
  4. Google Books "Animation: A World History Volume III: Contemporary Times (chapter Vera Neubauer) by Giannalberto Bendazzi", 2015 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  5. Google Books "British Film Culture in the 1970s by By Sue Harper, Justin Smith", Published by Wallflower, 2013 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  6. 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)
  7. 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)
  8. bfi.org.uk, "Vera Neubauer Filmography", British Film institute, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  9. lux.org.uk, "Selected Works by Vera Neubauer", LUX, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  10. Google Books "Women in Film An International Guide by Susannah Radstone", 1991 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  11. homemcr.org, "Clare Kitson interview with Vera Neubauer", Home MCR, 08 Nov 2008 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  12. Google Books "Animating the Unconscious: Desire, Sexuality and Animation by Jayne Pilling", 2012 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  13. onlinefilm.org, "'Pip and Betssie' by Vera Neubauer", On Line Film, 02 July 2020 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  14. http://www.britishanimationawards.com, "'British Animation Awards profile of Vera Neubauer", British Animation Awards, 2004 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  15. peliculas.itematika.com, "Nick Moran Biography in Spanish Language", Peliculas Itematika, (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
  16. http://www.imdb.com, "Vera Neubauer - Das ganze Leben im Trickfilm", IMDB, 2012 (Retrieved 02 July 2020)
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