As I sit here gently sipping a delicious Bombay Sapphire Ultimate Gin & Tonic ® I'm reminiscing back to last Wednesday, when I was invited along to Soho House for an exclusive early look at the five winning short films from the 2014 Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition - ahead of their world première today, Tuesday 22 April at Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
If you are a regular reader you may know that I went along to the London launch of the first Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition hosted by Bombay Sapphire's Lindsey Charlesworth and Oscar winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher.
We are all born with imagination it's just that life gets in the way a lot of the time,”
- Geoffrey Fletcher
The Establishing Shot: BOMBAY SAPPHIRE THE IMAGINATION SERIES: FILM COMPETITION LAUNCH - ACADEMY AWARD WINNER MR. GEOFFREY FLETCHER
Fortunately in London there are many film making competitions that anyone wanting to pursue film making and willing to put some work in - can find, but much like their brand the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition is a premium competition. It has the fewest barriers to engaging your imagination and requires very technical know how of filmmaking to enter - allowing aspiring filmmakers to focus on the things that matter. You see all you need to enter the prestigious Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition is to apply your imagination as half the work is done for you already.
To enter the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition all you have to do is get hold of the skeleton script written by Oscar winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, you can see this year's script below, and flesh it out into a short film story.
If your story is chosen you'll work with Bombay Sapphire creative partner Gravity Road to bring it to life as a six minute short film. Simple! Or as UK winners Anthony Khaseria and Chris Cornwell let us know in a short QA afterwards it really isn't all that easy.
On the judging criteria... the brief was to just pick the most imaginative project,”
- Mark Boyd - Gravity Road
MARK BOYD ON THE GENESIS OF THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES: FILM COMPETITION
When we sat down with the Bombay Sapphire team nearly 2 years ago we discussed how we would communicate this idea of imagination to a wider group and there was a feeling that we could do something more interesting than saying it through the usual advertising channels
Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition Imagination Distilled
Imagination was important to the Bombay Sapphire brand and product because it has always been part of its long history. From the original vapour infusion process to make gin through to how they package their bottles in it always been a key value.
So the thought developed along the lines of why couldn't we create a competition that would spark the imagination of people who were interested in film? So that was the origin of the project.
MARK BOYD ON PREVIOUS ENTRANTS OF THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES: FILM COMPETITION James W. Griffiths one of last years winners, couldn't be here tonight because he is working on a big budget ad campaign.
James' career has taken off in a big way, last year he was shortlisted and then went on to win a BAFTA for Room 8. He is doing fantastically well, he took this opportunity and was able to give up his job and is now a fulltime director and doing really well.
Room 8 - Winner of the BAFTA for Short Film 2014
MARK BOYD ON THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES: FILM COMPETITION JUDGING CRITERIA
We had a panel in Tribeca made of great directors, writers and producers and talented actors - the panel included Academy Award winning actor, Adrien Brody; screenwriter and film director, Lucy Mulloy; screenwriter, Naomi Foner; actor, Peter Facinelli; and senior curator at Vimeo, Sam Morrill.
The brief was to just pick the most imaginative project and we would work out the production solution after, so they weren't constrained. It was really tough and it was like that scene from 12 Angry Men.
There were 20 films at the end with very vocal champions that had to filter it down to these last 5. It was really exciting to be honest to get a sense of what people came up with with a limited amount of stimulus, just a springboard really.
But before settling in to watch the shorts Bombay Sapphire had one more surprise to get us in the mood Bombay Sapphire UK Brand Ambassador (and master Mixologist) Sean Ware introduced us to a pleasure? a mix? of Gin based cocktails, each bespoke to enhance the mood and flavour of the unique short films.
DRINKS TIP: Sean Ware assures us that Campari and the warm red drinks will be making a comeback this season.
I'm not sure of how much an influence the delicious cocktails had on the evening but I was summarily blown away by the 5 short films. It is truly astounding to grasp the scope and variety of the films imagined all derived from the same source - Geoffrey Fletcher's skeleton script. Especially when you consider that these are the 5 finalist chosen from 1,300 entries from across 64 countries.
Exclusive First Look -- The Imagination Series 2014 Films
The 2014 Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition winning films we saw are:
The Other Side of the Game from Kiara Jones
A newly married couple are battling to get out alive from an unfamiliar hostage situation in this taut
psychological thriller. You won’t expect what happens next.
The Other Side of the Game by Kiara Jones -- The Imagination Series
Graffiti Area from Maite Fernandez
A mesmerizing look at the inexplicable and unpredictable nature of our own fears. When two young
graffiti artists start painting, the graffiti takes on a monstrous life of its own. Can they escape their own creation, or even themselves?
Graffiti Area by Maite Fernandez -- The Imagination Series
Need for Speed (Dating) from Allyson Morgan
Nate and Polly have the perfect relationship. A nice house, a white picket fence. There’s just one problem – the relationship is just a dream. In this light hearted comedy, Polly tries to find her dream date at a speed dating event. But will anyone live up to her dream boyfriend?
Need For Speed Dating by Allyson Morgan -- The Imagination Series
Reflections from Anthony Khaseria
A beautiful couple in beautiful surroundings - it should have been the start of the ultimate love story. But a romantic meal turns dark and fantastical when they discover a hidden mirror which shows their true reflection.
Reflections by Anthony Khaseria -- The Imagination Series
Exit Log from Chris Cornwell
In 2249, two space engineer’s journey through deep space takes a dramatic turn when they discover an emergency message from the past. They’ll have just three minutes to decipher the message and decide their fate forever.
Exit Log by Chris Cornwell -- The Imagination Series
To choose one favourite would be difficult as each clearly had merits of its own. I enjoyed the dark wit of Kiara Jones' The Other Side of the Game. The streetwise special effects employed in Maite Fernandez's Graffiti Area were a winner on their own.
Allyson Morgan's Need for Speed (Dating) brought the emotion whilst Reflections from Anthony Khaseria is twisted and a neat riff off an Tales of the Unexpected or The Twilight Zone style darkness. Chris Cornwell's taut sci-fi Exit Log is reminiscent of Heavy Metal or early 2000 AD Future Shocks which enthralled throughout.
In the short QA afterwards James King explored the London based winners experience of the competition as well as their process process to come up with the stories.
Anthony Khaseria, who had just seen his film Reflections for the first time on a big screen said:
I really want to say no and just be cool. But I had nothing for ages as you can see there isn't much to go on - but it is oddly deceptive as there is clearly drama in the dialogue, there is a location and there are two people that aren't getting on with each other or the situation they're in. I used that as a starting point and worked backwards from there. Once the mirror idea came to me I figured out that A must be the one that doesn't want to be doing this, so for me it was more that persons story. So in the situation I made that was Alice and it was more her journey. Yeah but it was tough.
I did I sat with a pot of coffee and I had nothing man. I nearly didn't enter. But something happens, there a little bubbles, suddenly one pops up to the surface and you want to grab it . You don't want to destroy it so you watch it for a while. And then it fell into place.
I also drew little diagrams of the mirror and the two characters to make sure it made sense.
Chris Cornwell the man behind Exit Log explained:
I found it kind of scary, but it's actually liberating to have certain parameters to work within.
So it was kind of fun to have these few lines which are open to interpretation. When you have something you can kind of enjoyed pushing it and having as much fun with it is possible I think with short film you can have an idea that is imaginative and can run with it for six minutes and have great fun with it. I think when you are trying to get 90 minutes out of an idea it might lose steam but with a six minute short you can go at a breathless pace."
Mark Boyd added: We had a wave of almost every genre you can imagine and every time period from romantic comedies set in ancient Rome through to futuristic sci-fi themes. I'll go back to a comment Geoffrey made about imagination - "We are all born at imagination it's just that life gets in the way a lots of the time".
We we felt that if we made it a competition about creating a theatrical feature it would appeal to a much smaller group. It's hard to carve out the time to apply yourself ... but a short film of only six minutes long - then that's the kind of thing people could tackle in a much achievable period of time.
In the first year we had entries from 34 countries this year we had we had more than 1300 entries from 64 countries!
Thousands of people registered online, downloaded the script and considered it, they took their own journey of imagination and they didn't necessary enter but we had people from all over the world engaging with it.
For more info and to view the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition short film winners head over to:
The Establishing Shot: I GOT A PREVIEW OF THE 5 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES: FILM COMPETITION WINNERS SHORT FILMS - YOU CAN SEE THEM RIGHT HERE - FILMMAKING COMPETITION
Craig is a retired superhero, an obsessive hobbyist, comics fan, gadget lover & flâneur who knows an unhealthy amount about Ian Fleming's James Bond.When not watching or making films he takes pictures, eats, drinks, dives, tries to connect to nature whilst mentally storyboarding the greatest film ever made. He also & sometimes utilises owl-themed gadgets to fight crime. A list of his 133 favourite films can be found here! If you would still like to contact Craig please use any of the buttons below:
Mathieu Kassovitz has directed a feature film, his first since his 2008 Vin Diesel starrer Babylon A.D. He has been busy in between acting in a number of films - as he is one of those rare talents that is just as good behind the camera as in front of it. I enjoyed his new film Rebellion immensely and will have a full review up soon.
If feels a bit odd mentioning Babylon A.D. in the same post as the brilliant Rebellion - even though they are on opposite sides of the scale, they both share themes that run through all of Kassovitz's work; man against a broken system, corrupt state versus citizens and civil disobedience, the old school Thoreau kind of disobedience not the mindless destruction that is increasingly on the increase.
While looking into what he had been up to lately I discovered his music video for French rapper Kery James's song XY had finally made its way onto the net.
Well kind of. The teaser bellow has popped up promising a full reveal in May. Rumour has it that Honda has roped Todd Phillips the Director of The Hangover into making a short film for them featuring Matthew Broderick loosely reprising his Ferris Bueller character showcasing their cars.
This time it looks like John Hughes’s Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) will be switching the Cameron’s dad’s 1961 250 GT Spider California Ferrari for a Honda CR-V as his mode of transport for a day off in Chicago. But we’ll have to wait for Super Bowl Sunday 2 May, 2012 to see the full short and find out for sure. I’m hoping that he brings Cameron and Abe Froman with him.
The mother of all short film making competitions is back and it's BIGGER than ever before. In the run up to SCI-FI-LONDON 10 and amidst rumours of what could be featured at this year's Festival - SCI-FI-LONDON has unleashed it's best 48 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE yet.
It really doesn't get much better than this. This year's winner gets a development deal with Vertigo Films. Meaning you get to turn your short film into a feature film or another project approved after you pitch Vertigo. Yes, you actually get the opportunity to make a feature film and all you have to do is make a film in 48 hours.
SCI-FI-LONDON founder and Director Louis Savy introduces the challenge:
Not only is the winning prize spectacular but the panel that will be watching (and judging) your short film is comprised of some major talent.
Jury head is none other than the legendary Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim) and along with; Directors Mary Lambert (Pet Cemetary, Dark Path), Gareth Edwards (Monsters), Todd Brown (Editor, Twitchfilm.net), Allan Niblo (Head of Vertigo Films) and Rosie Fletcher (News Editor, Total Film) will be evaluating the potential in your efforts.
I'm sure you are aware by now that Gareth Edwards' famously won the SCI-FI-LONDON 48 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE with his short film Factory Farmed in 2008 that led to MONSTERS.
Now in it's 3rd year the Jameson Done in 60 Seconds short film-making competition is back!
If you haven't heard about the Jameson Done in 60 Seconds short film-making competition I would be very surprised as it is fast becoming the premiere (and fun) short film making competition of the UK calendar year. And the next one promises more of the same! But just better. The gist of it is you remake a film in just 60 seconds. I make it sound easy but for a more insightful description - see the video clip at the bottom of this page.
As before, Jameson have teamed up with Empire Magazine (the UK's greatest film magazine - or so they say) to discover aspiring film directors in the annual film-makers’ competition Done in 60 Seconds.
Even though it's a very glam affair with the winners usually receiving their prize at the prestigious and star-studded Jameson Empire Awards ceremony. It's really a fun opportunity for aspiring film-makers and funsters to show their skills and get some important exposure. Not only are the UK's top film talent at the Jameson Empire Awards but the shorts are judged by a panel of notable talent. Last year's panel chose Mark Wong's Top Gun as their favourite :
Here is some info on the pretty damn fine prize you could win, stolen from I mean inspired by the official JAMESON DONE IN 60 SECONDS COMPETITION website:
“All eligible countries will hold a local final (with the exception of the UK, where Empire will pick the cream of the crop) and the best filmmakers from each nation will receive an all-expenses paid trip to a fancy London location for the DISS final on March 25.
This year's event is kind of a big deal, with more guests than ever before gathering for a what is sure to be a visual feast. Here, the cinematic mini-masterpieces will be judged by a celebrity panel, who will pick 5 nominees.
Those finalists will go on to attend the star-studded Jameson Empire Awards on March 27 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, where the ultimate winner will be announced. As winner, you'll have the chance to rub shoulders with the movie elite, and perhaps make that all-important connection with a Spielberg affiliate who will launch your career into the stratosphere. After all, this is a big showbiz event, and anything is possible in showbiz.”
Now I know it's not easy turning your vision into flickering frames - so to help, this year Jameson and Empire have created the Jameson Film Academy - an online resource full of helpful tip and hints from people in the know (which could really just be clips filmed in a backroom at Moviecon 2010 with an ambient crowd soundtrack laid over the top). See below:
The Jameson Done in 60 Seconds short film-making competition is back closes on Monday the 31st of January.
Jameson Done in 60 Seconds short film-making competition is back
Fallen tells the story of a beloved hero Ephraim (Brian Kavanaugh), who has turned his back on the people that he swore to protect. He must contend with the scared population of the city that vows for his return, including a lone police officer (Errol McLendon), a vigilante (Andrew Staton), and a frightened boy (Harrison Boxley).
When a mysterious catastrophe rocks the city of Chicago, the scared citizenry react in various ways that force Ephraim to make a heavy decision.
CAN YOU MAKE A FILM IN 2 DAYS? Use your creative circuits, wit and talent to make a short film and you could win some neat prizes, let alone kudos from our jury - which includes Mick Garris (Freddy's Nightmares, Psycho IV, Sleepwalkers, The Stand, The Shining) and Vincenzo Natali (Splice, Cypher, Cube)- the festival and of course our audience.
Why? Well, winning films will be premiered at the festival! Our film challenge is FREE TO ENTER - well, it seems wrong to ask you for money, you will be working hard enough as it is!
It's really easy. We'll give you a randomly generated film title, some dialogue and maybe a prop list. You'll then have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a complete five minute film... hard work but fun!
Check out Factory Farmed by Team: Rebel Alliance - winner of 48 Hour Challenge 2008
When Register on www.sci-fi-london.com by Friday 9 April 2010. Attend the briefing on Saturday 10th April 2010. Submit your entry by 13.00hours (1pm) on Monday 12th April 2010
I've just got back from The Parallel Lines launch event and I'm a mixture of tired but still buzzing from the event. We got to see all 5 of the Parallel Lines shorts (El Secreto de Mateo, The Hunt, Darkroom, Jun & the Hidden Skies and The Gift) the way they should be seen on a big screen with superb sound.
All I can say is AWESOME! I know I say that a lot, but seeing the 5 different yet very connected and well made films was quite an experience. At the time I couldn't quiet put my finger on why I might be enjoying each of the films as much as I was, but it all made sense a bit later when Director of Darkroom Johnny Hardstaff said something during a QA session.
He said something to the effect that one of the primary factors that drew him to the project was the creative control the Directors had when making their respective films. Bam! Their it was I had just seen 5 films that although driven by commercial motives they were examples of what can be created when imagination is allowed free reign.
I have much to tell about the Phillips event at BAFTA, chatting with Director Johnny Hardstaff (bookmark his name name because you're going to be seeing some great stuff on the screen from him in the future), seeing all 5 of the films in one go as well as witnessing first hand some awe inspiring tech in the shape of an wiiiiiiiiiiiidescreen TV that has to be seen first hand to be believed - but more about that later.
Phillips dropped a real surprise towards the end of the presentation when they announced an amazing opportunity for filmmakers with their Tell It Your Way competition. I missed the beginning it really was a suprise! But he started by saying ... the chance to have your worked judged by Sir...
The programme card he is referring to:
From the press release:
Become the next Ridley Scott : Philips announces global filmmaking competition In association with ridley scott associates
Today, Philips launches an exciting global competition giving aspiring filmmakers the chance to have an original work judged by one of the world’s greatest film directors – Sir Ridley Scott, director of Hollywood blockbusters including Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Gladiator (2000).
The competition, called ‘Tell It Your Way’, will also give one lucky winner the chance to gain a week’s work experience at Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) offices in Los Angeles, New York, London or Hong Kong.
The contest involves creating an original sixth short film to accompany Philips’ ground-breaking Parallel Lines series of short films, directed by RSA talents, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Carl Erik Rinsch, Jake Scott and Hi-Sim. The five short films, released on www.philips.com/cinema, are part of a cinematic project whereby each director created a film in a different genre, with a different storyline, but all following the same six line dialogue.
The Parallel Lines films bring to life the cinematic capabilities of Philips TVs – unique Ambilight technology, award-winning picture quality, and superior sound - and are a cinematic interpretation of the campaign idea: “There are millions of ways to tell a story. There’s only one way to watch one.”
”I’m delighted to be involved with a project which supports aspiring directors and I’m looking forward to seeing how the entrants interpret the single dialogue brief,” comments Sir Ridley Scott.
“At Philips, we are committed to delivering a cinematic viewing experience at home. Through our partnership with RSA, we’re excited to be able to offer the public the chance to create their own film and have it be promoted globally as part of such a ground-breaking project as Parallel Lines.” comments Gary Raucher, Head of Integrated Marketing Communications, Philips.
Competition entries are open to anyone globally and should be submitted via the official Philips Cinema YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/philipscinema). Entries close at midnight 8th August 2010. Three rounds of judging will be held including public voting via YouTube. Finalists will be judged on criteria including creative storytelling, use of dialogue, and technical achievement. The top ten finalists will be selected by RSA directors and British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) Chairman, David Parfitt. The overall winner will be selected from the top five finalists by Sir Ridley Scott himself.
Runners up prize packages include an invitation to a RSA film premiere in London or New York including travel, accommodation; and a number of Philips Cinema 21:9 Televisions.
Full terms and conditions for the ‘Tell It Your Way’ competition can be found at www.philips.com/cinema
Dark Room is a sci-fi noir thriller short by Johnny Hardstaff, it one of the five short films from the Parallel Lines project made by Ridley Scott Associates for Philips Cinema
The Parallel Lines project is a unique film project - each of the 5 shorts from burning new talent at RSA represents a different genre but all 5 of the films use the same dialogue: "What is it?", "It's a Unicorn", "Get away, Get away", "Never Seen one so close before" and "I'm sorry". We may have missed a line of dialogue, let us know if you know it.
Fortunatley we will be seeing the 5 shorts this evening in all their big and widescreen glory so I'm fighting the urge to watch the clip below till after - so I comment as yet.
The Parallel Lines shorts have been devised to launch (and demo) Phillip's new range of 21:9 Widescreen Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.
Johnny Hardstaff is a director and designer. Represented by Ridley Scott Associates (London) and Little Minx (Los Angeles), Hardstaff has directed and designed innovative moving image work across a broad spectrum of both commercial and non-commercial strands of the visual arts. Mass media clients include Sony, Radiohead, Orange, Toshiba, Sony PlayStation and the BBC amongst others.
Amidst rumours that Ridley Scott has already mapped out Robin Hood 2 his Parallel Lines project for Phillips has an online preview screening this Wednesday. Parallel Lines is officially launched on Thurs 8th April.
We reported on RSA's Parallel Lines back here and are quite stoked that we are finally getting a chance to see the end result. RSA and Phillips teamed up to create 6 short films each using the same 6 lines of dialogue to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.
Sign up to the Philips Cinema Facebook group over here to RSVP your place for the exclusive preview screening event on Facebook.
Non multiplex cinema.com's popular Films In The City networking and short film screening event will take place on Tuesday 6th April at the Deloitte Auditorium in Central London.
Due to popular demand, this event will be a horror special! They have teamed up with the Abertoir Film Festival to bring you a special Horror event.
There'll be the chance to network with 100+ people afterwards but we'll be screening the best shorts that Abertoir have screened. There will also be a special panel discussion with two feature film directors and horror experts about the horror industry in general.
Entry is guest list only so email info~at~nonmultiplexcinema.com to get on it or find us on facebook. Entry is a £5 donation at the door for the Haiti emergency fund.
From Bat in the Sun comes the latest Batman fan film - Batman : City of Scars. Below is the trailer preceeding the releasee of the 30 minute film on June 20 via Dailymotion.
Batman: City of Scars takes us into the mind of the Dark Knight, who questions the choices in his life after a startling event rocks the core of his being.
First Look: Fan-made - Batman City of Scars Trailer
To support the launch of I am Legend back in 2007. A series of animated clips were released onto the web. The clips gave some context to the worls and the characters of I am Legend. It looks like we can expect the same thing for Repo Men
The 6 min clip below is pretty brutal but gives some insight and context for the world of Repo Men as well as Jude Law's character Remy. If the clip is anything to go by my anticipation of Repo Men just shot up twice fold. Keep an eye out for the nod to Saul Bass' Anatomy of a Murder poster.
Hot on the heels of the announcement that Hugo Weaving will be playing Captain America's nemesis The Red Skull we thaw this fan made teaser for The First Avenger: Captain America and bring it to the future.
Based on the Marvel Comics character from World War II. A brave, yet mild-mannered young soldier named Steve Rogers volunteers to undergo a series of experiments for a US army Super Soldier program. The military succeeds in transforming him into a human weapon, but quickly decide that their Super Soldier is far too expensive a creation to risk in combat. So, they decide to put him to use as an army celebrity and parade him across Europe to boost morale by performing in USO shows for American troops. He is even given a costume that bear the colors of Old Glory for the stage.
Then, when a Nazi plot reveals itself Rogers must rise up and and become the First Avenger, in order to save his country. Steve Rogers becomes Captain America and he earns his way into the hearts and souls of every American, bringing hope and justice to a war-weary nation. Later, during a mission to Germany to stop his archenemy - the Red Skull, from launching rockets at the allies, Captain America sacrifices himself and winds up frozen in ice for almost six decades! Revived, Steve Rogers now must join forces with new heroes and become an Avenger of the modern age.
More SXSW goodness - filmmaker Judd L. Tilyard is currently at SXSW and hosting some private screenings of his Cyberpunk short film Frame 137.
Frame 137 is a short Sci Film directed, produced and written by Judd L. Tilyard. It's based on a comic by James O'Barr (creator of The Crow).
The teaser below shows just how kick ass this 14 minute film is going to be.
James O'Barr's original Frame 137 is 4 pages in length and was featured in an issue of Dark Horse Presents. The comic introduces to a dark future world (very similar to a William Gibson future in tone and language) where a chemical living and child trafficking are commonplace. The story takes place in a bar, where a teenage assassin called Johnny Z is waiting to meet Leo who is in the "baby flesh" business. Mayhem ensues. The teaser expodes the comic onto the screen! Sounds like the intention is to turn the short into a full feature film.
The filmmakers synopsis of the teaser is as follows - Jonny Z waits at the underground tech saloon run by Mac, one of the few people he trusts. When Jonny realizes the presence of a Grey might scare off Leo, his expected client, Jonny is forced to start a massive bar fight before personally "persuading" the Grey and her followers to leave. Anxiously awaiting Leos arrival, Jonny receives a surprise pick me up from his dealer Big T, just before Leo shows. Pondering his past and the requirements of his job, Jonny heads to the back room to confront and kill Leo.
Tilyard explains
“The film is a sci-fi action piece based on the work of James O'Barr creator of the Crow, and made with his permission.
The film was shot on the RED using Lomo Anamorphic Lens over a weekend. Sam ransom the ten year old boy who plays Jonny Z, the films hero, notably performed all his own stunts including the fire breathing and wire-work, some of which is showcased in the Teaser.
The music used in the teaser, was also very generously recorded for the film by Nick Oliveri and Dave Grohl my sincerest thanks guys.”
Last week I was lucky enough to receive an invite to the much talked about Absolut screening of Spike Jonze's new short film "I'm Here". I'm here premiered at this year's Sundance Festival and will be available online on March 7, 2010.
In case you aren't a regular reader (shame on you, if it's easier sign up for my effort free email updates on the side bar) I'm Here is a 30 minute film directed and written by the ground breaking and Oscar nominated Spike Jonze, whose talent is responsible for amongst others; Being John Malkovich, Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation, Synecdoche, New York and some of the most cutting edge music videos of all time. You can view another of his excellent recent pieces "We Were Once a Fairytale" a collaboration with Kanye West over here on theestablishingshot.com
I'm Here was produced in collaboration with Absolut and is at the heart of their ‘In An ABSOLUT World, Ordinary Is No Place To Be’ campaign. A nod to creativity that takes the road less travelled. In this spirit the screening was to be held in the centre of London at the NCP (National Car Parks) car park in Soho.
I had already heard grumbling on the social media network vine that the venue was putting some people off? Oh! The irony.
Last week it came to light that Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) have been working on a series of short films for Phillips.
The project named "Parallel Lines" has been devised to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.
Ridley Scott on the Parallel Lines project:
“My production company receives hundreds of ideas every day, but this was something unique. The idea created a massive amount of enthusiasm from RSA directors around the world.”
Philips asked members of RSA to submit their short films, 45 submissions made, and five were picked as the finalists each representing a different genre. The chosen film directors and their films are:
Greg Fay - El Secreto de Mateo, described as a touching drama.
Johnny Hardstaff noir sci-fi thriller Darkroom.
Jake Scott's mystical horror The Hunt.
Hi-Sim's animation adventure Jun & the Hidden Skies.
The futuristic action thriller The Gift from Carl Erik Rinsch.
This is not the first time Phillips are using the medium to enhance their products - last year Adam Berg and Stink Digital made the awesome Carousel for Phillips. A 2.20 minute short that combines elements of The Matrix, Watchmen and The Dark Knight into a seemingly single gliding long take of mayhem and carnage.
Carousel
Making of Carousel
You can expect interactive trailer to be launched tomorrow Fri 26 February and The 5 Parallel Lines short films will premiere online on 8th April at http://www.cinema.philips.com/ .
Update #1 - 16 March
The Trailer for Parallel Lines is now online.
Update #2 - 20 March
Apparently each of the 5 films, uses the same dialogue. Whoa! This is going to be interesting.
Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines project & Carousel short film
The Griswolds are hitting the road again. Amid speculation of a new National Lampoon Vacation movie - the one where Rusty tries to get the whole family together again for a visit to Wally world before it shuts down.
Homeaway have released a short film called - Hotel Hell Vacation. "Ride along as The Griswolds hit the road again. This time theyre on their way to see Rusty at his vacation rental. They stop at a hotel and typical Griswold madness ensues". The trailer for the short was screened at Superbowl and can be seen below. Further belowyou'll find the full film.
Video: HomeAway / Griswold Super Bowl Teaser
Video: HomeAway / Griswold Short film
The Establishing Shot: National Lampoon's The Griswolds are back!
Spike Jonze’s robot love story I'm Here is a creative collaboration with ABSOLUT vodka.
"ABSOLUT believes that doing something differently leads to something exceptional. Recently we collaborated with cult director spike jonze to do just that. The result is the film ‘im here’, which combines spike’s unique style and perspective with the ABSOLUT vision of making ordinary life more interesting.
In an ABSOLUT world, ordinary is no place to be.
Experience the UK premiere of Spike Jonze’s collaboration with ABSOLUT, ‘Im Here’.
Join us in our 3 locations and find out for yourself how ordinary can become extraordinary with a little imagination.
CLICK HERE to book your tickets to one of our screenings today.
The week long programme of activity will commence on Monday February 22nd, with smaller intimate screenings in seemingly ‘ordinary’ and ‘everyday’ locations such as a bike shop, a greasy spoon and hairdressers which ABSOLUT will use instead to showcase its collaboration with Spike Jonze ‘I’m Here’. These events will take place in London, Manchester and Edinburgh building momentum over the course of the week, moving to a final bigger screening still in an unconventional screening to which you are invited….
Seemingly ordinary car parks, a place we often give no thought to, that people pass by on their daily commute, for one night they will be turned into’something different’. We hope that you will see for yourselves how In An ABSOLUT World Ordinary is no place to be and how life can be more interesting.
I’m Here stars British actor Andrew Garfield (Boy A, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) and Sienna Guillory, (Love Actually). The 30 minute film, honours the creative history of ABSOLUT, while embarking on a new and innovative alliance with one of today’s most original filmmakers. The result is a film which combines Jonze’s unique style with the ABSOLUT vision of making ordinary life more interesting.
See Spike Jonze's new short I'm Here
Thursday 25th Feb – NCP Car Park, Brewer Street, London
No Ordinary Premiere: 19.00hrs
No Ordinary Premiere: 21.00hrs
Friday 26th Feb – Shudehill Car Park, Shude Hill, Manchester
No Ordinary Premiere: 19.00hrs
No Ordinary Premiere: 21.00hrs
Saturday 27th Feb – Sovereign House, 10-12 Young Street, Edinburgh
No Ordinary Premiere: 19.00hrs
No Ordinary Premiere: 21.00hrs
Thanks to Slash Film for pointing this out. The well worth watching Oscar nominated short film Logorama can now be viewed online.
Logorama is the first short film by the french collective H5. Previously they made music videos for the likes of Alex Gopher, Massive Attack, Goldfrapp and Röyksopp.
Logorama visualizes and explores the way that logos are increasingly embedded in our existence. It has won a raft of awards including the Kodak Prix at Cannes last year and is currently in the running for an Oscar.
The filmmakers website (http://www.logorama-themovie.com/) promises "Spectacular car chases, an intense hostage crisis, wild animals rampaging through the city... and even more in LOGORAMA !"
"Logorama presents us with an over-marketed world built only from logos and real trademarks that are destroyed by a series of natural disasters (beginning with a hurricane, cyclone, tidal wave...). logotypes are used to describe an alarming universe (similar to the one that we are living in) with all the graphic signs that accompany us everyday in our lives. this over-organized universe is violently transformed by the cataclysm becoming fantastic and absurd. it shows the victory of the creative against the rational, where nature and human fantasy triumph." See Oscar nominated Logorama here now!
As I sit here gently sipping a delicious Bombay Sapphire Ultimate Gin & Tonic ® I'm reminiscing back to last Wednesday, when I was invited along to Soho House for an exclusive early look at the five winning short films from the 2014 Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film Competition - ahead of their world première today, Tuesday 22 April at Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
