Sunday Best trailer online

Writer/Director Clive Tonge's new film trailer is up on vimeo - and it's looking good! Here's a link:
http://vimeo.com/33277715

Here's a synopsis of the film in Clive's own words:

"A woman's thighbone has been found by police, the latest victim of brutal serial killer 'The Bone Stripper'.

When a stranger covered in blood arrives unexpectedly at Gladys and Albert's house, like good Samaritans, they invite him in.

But the Lord God moves in mysterious ways and, when all three end up wearing their Sunday best, His deadly word is final."


My involvement on this was slight, but sort of made it into the trailer... I worked with Tanya and Tina to create a skull-bash-in-able candlestick prop, which would look very much like the one seen at 35-6 seconds... I suspect that's the actual candlestick mind, as it's not stoving in anyone's skull.

I have previously acted with Clive in a sixty-second horror film, along with Jen Nelson and Sean Collins. Although I was apparently killed, it was offscreen and therefore I like to think there's an ambiguity as to whether or not I in fact took the axe off the madman and killed HIM with it. Clive was unavailable for comment.

Clive will be coming to Cleveland College of Art and Design in January to give a talk to students about the film making process. He previously visited the Entertainment Design Crafts students earlier this year and was brought back by popular demand.

       

Distraction Jackson on the shortlist of the Top Fifteen entries - In The WORLD!

Great news just broke from James Harris: Distraction Jackson has carved through the 124 entries to earn it's place on the shortlist for the top fifteen contenders... And we're the ONLY UK entry!!!

Here's what we know:

"James,

The results are in! Our first round judges have completed their voting which determined the 15 finalists for the 2011 National Film Challenge. There are so many great films this year, many more than just 15. In total, 124 films were finished by the deadline and are eligible for awards.

This is really the most difficult part because there are always more disappointed filmmakers than happy ones. We know how much time and energy went into the creation of your film and what the sting of rejection feels like, but remember, it is really just non-selection. Please keep in mind, film selection is subjective and what the judges have selected only represent a small number of the many quality films we received. We want you to know that many of the films were rated highly and it is a narrow distinction between being a finalist and missing the cut. So if you’re not on this list, keep your head up and keep making films.

All finalists will go to a second round of judges who will determine the Grand Prize Winner. These 15 films will also be posted on our website (in the next week or so) for Audience Award voting. The Grand Prize Winner will receive $1,000 and the Audience Award Winner will receive $500. Both films will screen with the 48HFP City Winners at the Taos Shortz Film Festival next March.

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order by film name):

A Slow Night in Vegas by ASH
Genre: Dark Comedy
Las Vegas, NV

Blush by ISO Pictures
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Reno, NV

Click. Flash. by Trifecta / HeatStroke
Genre: Fantasy
Albuquerque, NM

Death Bed by MDHS Productions
Genre: Dark Comedy
Los Angeles, CA

Distraction Jackson by Heavy Petting
Genre: Mockumentary
Middlesbrough, UK

Elixir by Tadaa Team
Genre: Fantasy
Beijing, China

Good Morning, Mrs. Tucker by Unrendered Productions
Genre: Romance
Denver, CO

Melody by Too Many Cooks
Genre: Horror
Des Moines, IA

Portal by Thumbcat
Genre: Horror
St. Louis, MO

Recycled by The JLIB Film Crew
Genre: Dark Comedy
Tom's River, NJ

Run by Mutaintuta Productions
Genre: Film de Femme
Rome, Italy

Serious Stuff for the Runners by Jo-Jo the Dog Films & Tokem
Genre: Period Piece
Tornio, Finland

The Labyrinth by Clockwork
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Rome, Italy

The Night Rider by Street Cheese
Genre: Detective/Cop
New York, New York

Twins by NOVAUREA
Genre: Period Piece
Rome, Italy

I will be in touch about when audience voting opens and how long it will run.

NOTE: Non-finalists are still eligible for some awards such as Best Use of Elements, special effects, etc.

Congratulations to all of the finalists! And to all of the other filmmakers who finished their films by the deadline – a heroic feat in and of itself.

Cheers,
Kat Touschner & Doug Whyte
Film Challenge Producers"

Oh I do hope we win, it'll make the pub quiz seem like chickenfeed! (and that felt just right on the night!)

Best of luck everyone; I'll post a link to the film when it's officially up for voting; stay tuned.

'Ho-Ho-Ho' said John, 'Now I have a machine gun!'

Christmas is fast approaching, the goose is getting fat, shopping centres are moderately busy and it's time to watch all the best Christmas themed movies, such as 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'Jingle All the Way', 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' and 'DIE HARD'.

And this year, to make it that much better, Press Play and Tyneside Cinema are holding a Die Hard themed party; watch the film, then run around dressed as John McClane, ably played by Bruce Willis in four films since 1988: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/)


Here's a link to the event:
http://www.pressplayfestival.org/programme/2011/press-play-present-die-hard-

Oh, and here's some holiday snaps from last year when Jen and I visited Fox Plaza whilst on a sight-seeing tour of West Coast USA... and yes, maybe I did deliberately take the costume with me..!

"We'll put the fireball in later..."

Too awesome to fit in my viewfinder

Shoes? Never!

Sound It Out - In Stockton

Last year at Leeds International Film Festival we met Writer/Director Steven Sheil - a judge on the film competition panel. He told us then about a film his wife Jeanie Finlay had made, that would one day be screened near us at The Arc, in Stockton.

Well that day has arrived; there's three showings this month and I hope to meet up with Jeanie on the night to congratulate her on her accomplishment and all the great reviews she's had.

Steven won't be at the screening mind, as he's 'working hard' in Indonesia, shooting a new horror film. It's a hard life!

Here's a link to the event:
http://www.arconline.co.uk/detail.php?id=2695

Ho Ho, said 'John Noble' - and NOT because it's Christmas!

A rich and varied skillset is essential for getting work these days and thank goodness I learned to juggle back at college...

I've just been cast as a clown in a CCAD Creative Film and Moving Image Production student film.

As far as I can tell, I just dress like a clown and juggle for a minute or so.

John Noble: Clown.

I cry myself to sleep every night..!

Good work Lee, both for photography and makeup...

And well done ME for all that juggling!

I've always a fan of Caesar Romero's Joker

Dumped into the toilets to remove my own makeup... This was after five minutes of scrubbing too!

Super 8: Full Tilt..!

We're off the blocks and going strong.

Onto location three and lost out daylight...

Then we lost one of the lights...

Then I accidently shot one second of my chest whilst moving the tripod...

Oh, and I took a chunk of skin off Craig's finger.

And dropped a curtain pole on his head.

We smashed a bulb...

And left my home in a disgraceful state..!

It's a wrap! Job done. All in a days work...

Test day: 4 hours
On the day: 9 hours!!!

Good luck Jo, I hope we're in the running!

two cameras per shot - and LOTS of light!

Somewhere, if you look really hard, you will see the risk assessment for this shot!

Up for an Oscar?

My contribution may have been limited but I'd like to think a necessary cog in the wheel to convince Hollywood's finest to consider 'our' little film worthy of an Oscar nod...

According to tne Northern Film and Media newsletter:

Monday 07th November, 2011
Variety is reporting that the Weinstein Co. is on the verge of agreeing a deal to distribute the Northern Film & Media/Northstar Ventures’ funded A Song for Marion in the US.

Here's the full story link:
http://northernmedia.org/?mod=news&pageid=38&id=1422

Good luck to them I say...Now where's my crew screening invitation..?