In recent years, I have been offering creative advice to those who approach me. This is informal, yet focussed and professional advice on your film or creative project. I approach each project from the perspective and intentions of the author, without expectations of genre, format, or so-called industry standards. I have no preconceptions of ‘film language’, ‘acceptability’, ‘commercial viability’, ‘audiences’ etc. What I do is to bring my experience of two decades of creative work with time-based media, in particular moving-image work, in looking at what you have made or prepared.
I have extensive experience and knowledge of the diverse histories of film style and expression, many years of fruitful collaboration, many years of watching and enjoying different films. I will tell you what I see and what I see as the creative possibilities for your next steps. This work is not editing, it’s not mentoring, it’s probably best described as midwifery.
If you are seeking advice and you think you could trust me to involve me in your creative process, I will honour that trust. Feel free to get in touch and read some testimonials underneath.
Rastko Novaković
September 2025
TESTIMONIALS:
‘Rastko helped me realise a long-term research project that I had been struggling to finalise as a moving image work. The most beneficial aspect of the process was his consistent encouragement, which pushed me to trust my instincts. This was enormously valuable in shaping the timing, pacing, voice, and tone of the piece, as well as in navigating the dynamic with the curators who hosted the video as part of an exhibition.
This was my first moving image work completed to such a high specification and involving multiple collaborators. Rastko’s advice and attentive commentary drew out the elements of the project that I felt were most integral, rather than imposing an agenda or a didactic narrative. When sharing work in development, this kind of guidance is essential, as one can easily sublimate their creative drive in moments of doubt or insecurity.
Rastko was like a guardian angel of determination—encouraging me to remain steadfast and supporting both my confidence and skills. Crucially, he also helped me recognise when the video was truly finished, allowing me to reach a sense of closure with pride and delight.’
Jude Browning, author of Letters from Vivienne (2025)
‘A shining constant from shooting to post-production for ‘The Tobacconist’ was Rastko’s reminder to follow my instincts. In between takes, he proposed the actor tinkle with a spoon, helping accentuate narrative tension. It was a helpful first two days to remain attentive to such primal details.
Very hands-on during post, he devised paper edits, blueprinting the film’s manifold structural potentials. This helped outline and (re)discover the film’s tone, pace and the main perspective to be conveyed. More than a professional guide, Rastko helped myself and the producer find our feet again after, at times, mentally taxing post-production process and festival demands.’
Keifer Nyron Taylor, writer and director of The Tobacconist (2024)
‘I sent Rastko a short film that was faltering in post-production. I immediately sensed he could see its essential intentions and without any preconceptions, he offered me simple and encouraging notes. These were precise and technical points of adjustment and words of appreciation that I very much needed. What more can you ask for than the reassuring feeling that an advisor figure can see the essence of what you are trying to make, whatever it is. From that point, all of Rastko’s advice nudged my film towards being what I wanted it to be, even when I had started to forget.’
Eric Gilmore, author of Dinas Emrys (2025)