2012 Review of the Year

2012 was one of my best ever years, from the point of view of a film maker, prop maker and actor; I really got back on the horse one might say!

From early acting work with Writers' Block and a double night-shoot on Harrigan's Nick (where I met James Kent, a way-out crazy actor dude), to making a smashing little film with Billy Cessford in the early summer (currently known as 'Hy-Brazil' and awaiting a soundtrack from another new collaborator, Micky Cockerill) to writing, producing, propmaking, costume-ing(!?!) for my upcoming final major project at film school - 'Championship Hunt'!

I had a trip to Hollywood (although I still didn't make it to right up to the famous sign)...

But I was close!

 

 

I was in the crowd for the L.A. premiere of 'Expendables 2...

 

A split-second later and Sly came over and said 'Hi John, how's your blog coming along...' - I wish!

All the cast were there except Bruce Willis and Jet Li... I would have gladly taken their seats!

 

 

I had a trip to Universal Studios that was the most amazing part of my time in the USA, state-of-the-art rides and experiences, I highly recommend it to anyone with the opportunity to go.

 

 

 

One of my favourite things about 2012 is that the world did not end. That sounds silly now the time has passed, but it had given me great impetus for pushing myself harder than ever for twelve months and quite frankly, beyond completing 'Championship Hunt (and hopefully promoting it at Cannes 2014), I really don't have a plan from this point onwards...

 

Tune in throughout 2013 and we'll discover together what the future holds for 'John Noble - The Movie!'

 

Happy New Year Everyone!



 

21st December 2012 - Post 100!

What a milestone day today has been; rather than the end of the world, it's been the end of a hard slog and the start of a glorious new dawn... The first semester has finished at college and I feel I've got everything tucked in just nice, in time for the holidays!

This time last year, I was making my Die Hard/John McClane fancy dress outfit; this year I've been making a prop/set piece for The Grand Hotel in Hartlepool. It's the last week of term and many people are winding down - some have been winding down for longer than that, but I've been at it, a million miles an hour until now. So, please forgive me for having a moment of reflection and a pause...

I'll get back to film making tomorrow (meeting one of my actors in Newcastle) but tonight I just want to rest, and if the world ends, at least my desk was tidy!

Take care all,

john

Port of Tyne's Reflect photo and film awards

Last night Laura Degnan, Jay Moussa, James Harris and I travelled to the Baltic art gallery in Gateshead to attend the Port of Tyne's Reflect photo and film awards, in which we had been shortlisted for the final four in our category.

Their film, 'But a Dream', features a man imagining a boat trip along a river, without ever having left his armchair. Here's a link to the video:
http://reflect.portoftyne.co.uk/film/

The film was a runner up but it was still well-worth taking part.

After the event, we had the pleasure of meeting one of the judges, David Parfitt, producer of such British hit films as My week With Marilyn (2011), Shakespear in Love (1998), Frankenstein (1994) and Henry V (1989); here's a link to his IMDB profile:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661406/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Here's the writing and camera crew - indeed, Laura did take one floor-level shot on the night!

We're all greatly looking forward to the next competition - whatever that may be!

 

Bad Samaritain, Good Times

Yesterday evening saw the cast and crew screening of 'The Bad Samaritain Must Die', the 'accidental' first feature film from the Producer/Writer/Director/Actor team of Andrew Leckonby and John Raine - Hydra-X.

This is the first footage I've seen from the film I worked on back in June and finally all that banging and crashing, stomping and shouting makes sense.

The story is set against a backdrop of one man rising up in the face of a national crime-wave, becoming an icon to the disillusioned masses, and a vigilante, wanted by the police. A young girl wishes to join his movement, but his cause is more fuelled by drug-addiction and lunacy than and real political agenda.

I'm not sure what the budget was for this film but there was a real crew at each shoot and a real buffet in the green room... Using all the tricks in the book the film makers have stretched whatever budget they had to tell a small story on a grand stage and we look forward to seeing the full, feature-length trilogy get off the ground soon - before the world ends!

Here's a link to the Facebook page, I suspect pictures of the event will show up soon:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/104155326383237/230060040459431/?notif_t=group_activity

It was great to catch up with the cast and crew and a shame we had to leave early... A film premiere on a school night - who's crazy idea was that!?!

RTS Yorkshire Student Awards 2012

It's not long since the 2011 awards as they were postponed to earlier this year, but once again, tonight is the big night and, we here on the Cleveland College of Art and Design table, are all rooting for...

Andy Harrison of York St John's University!?!

Andy is a graduate of the FdA Creative Film coutse at CCAD, so this year, in the absence of any final year students ourselves, we're backing our greatest rivals!

Andy's film is called 'Hello, My Name is Simon' and all of our fingers are crossed that he picks up the win tonight.

Song For Marion Crew Screening

More than a year after I'd been on the set of SFM, I was finally back in the company of some of the craftsmen, technicians and film akmers who brought this to the big screen. There were some standout performances in this feelgood movie about a grumpy old man who joins the local OAP choir following the death of his wife. I'm sad to say that I was not in the film at all - having only been a lighting stand-in - but four of our students saw their names in the credits: Billy Cessford, Rachel Lee, Sarah Gaunt and Christina Powell - great work guys! Song for Marion opens early next year.

Soaked To The Skin? It's All In The Mind!

This week Laura Degnan from Writer's Block NE asked me to star in her short film about the River Tyne, but not to worry, I wouldn't even have to leave the house!?! The whole shoot took just a couople of hours - almost as long as it took to put my house back to the state it started in! I play a man on an imaginary river boat rowing session in his living room, although this film features a classic James Harris style twist - and a typical John Noble 'stunt'! Well, Writer's Block have painted me green, dunked me in a river, and made me hug a tree in public... Bring it all on I say! Special mention must go to Laura for snatching the camera, from the utterly competent Jay Mussa, and climbing under the furniture to film a couple of 'up the nose' shots! Here's a link to the film on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtVwvQgY8LQ&sns=em The film, 'But A Dream' is a competition entry for the Port of Tyne Reflect Competition. Results will be in soon - watch this space!