Slow on the restart

Hey guys real sorry, been slow on the blogging lately, I really wanted to pick it back up but I have been filming or editing almost non stop for the last three months or so. Finally got some down time where its just gentle editing to do so I'm hoping to get back on the blogwaggon. What do you want to see me write about? Think im gonna do some news, american tv reviews/ recaps and maybe some behind the scenes stuff with me. Sorry nothing I have done has really been released all that well but check out the Eat Defeat live video I did, most of the rest of my stuff is either still in post or not mine to reveal to you lovely poeple, you will see it as soon as I can let you. Anyway, what do you think I should cover? Let me know!

Production!: 2 Projects in post, 2 Projects in Pre

I have spent the last month or two shooting almost a 1tb of footage! All documentary type stuff. Firstly I worked with Kismet (a local drama company) and the RSPB to film their Marsh Songs dramatic production. I am in the middle stages of editing a short promo of it for the RSPB, a full performance dvd and a short documentary about the drama production. Hopefully to be completed within the next fortnight! Lots to do.

As if that wasn't enough I decided it would be fun to go around Europe with my brothers band Eat Defeat and film all of their shows and a lot of their journey. Lots of fun but very tiring work, I haven't even begun to edit yet, but theres no deadline so at least theres no hurry.

I am finally working towards directing my first short in years, since outbreak file2! Sin (working title) is a sneak peak into the universe of my science fiction pilot Return to Earth. Set on a post apocolyptic world inhabited by rebels, scientific experiments and "utopian" cities I cant wait to actually start filming next month. Its going to be a tricky job to set the scene right but I'm up for the challenge.

And the fourth and final project is so early in pre production that at the moment its just a few brain storms on paper. So I'm not going to tell you what it is just yet other than hopefully it will be a web series co written with Ari Carr!

So thats what I have been up to, I would go more in depth but I have to get back to it...

Marsh Songs Performance

The first showing of Marsh Songs was on last night and it was a great performance!

get tickets here: Telephone 07756 500292. Five pounds full, three pounds concession

Check out some images of the dress rehearsal below:

MarshSongs

Marshsongs is a community led RSPB funded project including the prestigious Kismet drama group and countless creative members of the community. The aim of the production, as well as to entertain of course, is to raise interest in the recently renewed Beckingham Marshes Nature Reserve. What does this have to do with me? Well roughly a month ago I was contacted by the group to do some film work for them, principally to edit some wildlife footage for projection throughout the play. This grew into a short doc type film as well, chronicling the practice and progression of the project.

It has been great fun and practice so far, with just one week left before the performance everything seems to be falling into place. The script, written by Michael Hatfield, is being wonderfully performed in rehearsals and the music written by Russell Booker is being played by a select for students from The Gainsborough Academy fits the performance perfectly. The play, based around the Beckingham Marshes themselves, jumps through time to describe how humanity treats such land, its comical, dramatic and, through the personification of the Marshes, surprisingly dark. KISMET's physical style and the live music really bring the play to life, I am looking forward to seeing the live performances with the added energy from the audience.

The show is on next weekend in Beckingham and the following weekend at the old hall get tickets here: Telephone 07756 500292. Five pounds full, three pounds concession

Really do it, it should be a great show. 

I am hoping to have enough footage and story to do a slightly longer documentary, maybe around 10mins so keep your eyes out for that too!

Inbetweeners 2 (Damon Beesley, Iain Morris 2014)

The boys are back!

The Inbetweeners once again road trip out of the uk and off the telly onto the big screen once again breaking bex office records for UK comedy. There is a really easy way to review Inbetweeners 2, if you like the show, you like the film it is more of the same. Different enough to keep it interesting but expect all the same "bants" (banter... that wont catch on like "friend") as usual, poop jokes, failure to attract women and quite a lot of cock.

Supposedly the boys last outing, according to the stars anyhow, it is a fairly fitting end, dont worry though, no spoilers here. I think the film really works, I think I was the only person in the cinema over 20 apart from my dad but it was a great laugh and a pretty good cinema experience. I am curious about the cut scenes and cut actor, Daisy Ridley of recent Star Wars casting fame, but hope that the crew come back to do more. With the writers of the show and films now directing I think they have done a great job of letting the characters grow up in age without growing up too much as people... As someone who is roughly the same age of the characters I could identify with a lot of the less ludicrous scenes and it would be interesting to see that continue. Not to mention the somewhat lackluster careers that have spawned for the group, channel four comedies with them spawn left right and center but none are particularly well received, why not keep going?

Anywhoo to reiterate if you have laughed at the immature kind of humour and scarily accurate language for teens today then you will love the film just as you have the show.

7/10

Guardians of the Galaxy (James Gunn 2014)

Opening last weekend with an eye watering box office high (for august and 3rd highest for the year so far) Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel's latest hit. Mixing the superhero genre up again, this time with space opera, achieving a Firefly/ Star Wars kind of feel Guardians is great fun, it feels like the high concept fun classics of the 70's, 80's and 90's like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, big budgets, big laughs and a great cinema experience.

The performances are all great, the CG tree (Groot), and raccoon (Rocket) are both completely convincing and maybe the best characters in the film. A special mention needs to be given for Peter Serafinowicz and John C Rielly (and the writing of course) for turning their bit parts into sincere characters. Written and Directed by James Gunn, known for cult spoof body horror Slither, the quirky humor is perfect, you suspend all disbelief and laugh along with the film, it might not be as dark or serious as say Captain America The Winter Soldier, but it might be the most fun I have had in the cinema in years, I want to go back!

Like many Marvel fans, when Guardians was announced I wondered exactly who they were and why Marvel would bother making a film about them. Many people think the same about the upcoming Ant Man film and if Guardians is anything to go by we should just let Mr Feige (exec producer) do whatever he likes because the Marvel Studio's movie machine continues to pump out high concept, fun engaging blockbusters, and I dare say this one almost tops the lot.

Needless to say it is quite simply a pleasure to watch, if you haven't seen it you are missing out! Go... Now... Go on...

9/10

I'm back!

I know it has been a long time since posts graced this blog, Uni life kinda took over, but thats all done now so expect to see my news, reviews and behind the scenes information on a weekly basis once again. I have really missed this, its good to be back. Guardians of the Galaxy review coming this saturday!