Now 2014 has slid comfortably into gear amid the bustle of January, and my MA thesis is at long last nearing the end of it’s gestation, it seems I’m overdue for a 2013 roundup.
So here are some favourite moments:
January was about spending quality time with a full Resolve panel, fxPHD and ever more pages of my own intense scribbling.
Spring saw me pitching to BBC Learning and shooting around Chester Zoo with my colleague Dan, for a series of three short films, a project which I absolutely loved. Orangutans, in particular, are amazing, playful, intelligent creatures, and it was a privilege to spend time with them and watch the new additions to the group grow. Working with wildlife never gets old and there’s something wonderful about sinking into an environment and waiting patiently to get that one shot, in a way that doesn’t happen with staged drama.
Easter saw me working at two of the country’s top post houses, Framestore and Envy, talking to some fantastic colourists and generally chatting to folks about exciting projects, in so far as inevitable NDAs allow, Gravity being a particular case in point. By contrast, early summer took me back up north the exciting realization of a pet project I’d been contemplating for a while. Typically, I decided that the best way to create a suitable grading challenge would be to shoot in the most difficult conditions possible; in other words filming underwater. This meant luma and chroma fall off, a distinctive blue-green colour cast and bleached out skin tones. Producing and directing was a huge logistical challenge exacerbated by zero budget, but with the help of great people, two long evenings in a pool, and a model who didn’t question my sanity on wrapping her up in large amounts of gauzy fabric, a heady sense of achievement and a harddrive full of rushes was mine to play with.
Summer also saw a return to York based award-winning One&OtherTV, who are doing great things with a wonderful ethos and have since been awarded their local television license for TX. Highlights included filming a stunning abandoned factory, frequent discussions about Bladerunner, and catching up with friends. I hope to see many of their beautiful films on air over the next couple of years.
Sadly, I didn’t get to make IBC again due to work commitments but autumn had other compensations. Short film, Concrete Sleep, from the folks at Invite LTD was featured in film festivals across the globe, premiered on German television, and was profiled by BBC Fresh. Whoops, the feature length so called serial-killer comedy I worked on in 2012, hit Raindance and garnered a nice chunk of attention including spots on a number of top 10 must see lists.
Lastly, Winter saw the release of the music video for Suzuki Method’s Sherbet, continued post work on my underwater piece and a special photography jaunt to Liverpool.
Looking ahead to 2014, exciting things are on the horizon. The itch to travel again, ever present after Sydney, is growing stronger and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.
Happy New Year, folks! I hope it’s a good one.
