Jenner in Quarter Finals of Screenwriting Gold

Just found out that my original screenplay, Dr Jenner of Berkeley, has made the quarter finals of Screenwriting Gold, a competition judged by tv and film heavyweights.

Fingers crossed for the semis!

Yes, there are 100 others too. But I must celebrate now before failure arrives...

http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com/quarter-finalists-2012

Edinburgers - My 'First Three Fringe'

'What have you been doing?', I hear you ask. 'Where have you been all August?' 'Why no blog posts?', 'My life has been empty without you...'

No? Well, maybe one day.

So I've been up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe working for Beehive City. I did a daily piece called 'First Three Fringe' where I reviewed the first three shows I got flyered for each day. It was super fun. I saw some absolute crud. And some absolute gold.

Check it all out here...

http://www.beehivecity.com/author/jonathan-rowe/

What did I learn? Well, some stuff.

I like cabaret a lot more than I knew. I got a real kick from those close to the edge characters and up-to-the-minute social commentators in various whacky guises. I will be careful not to avoid this section of the programme in future.

Ticket price does not align with quality. Well, I think we could guess this, but you may believe that an expensive ticket should guarantee a certain level of professionalism and entertainment value. Well, no. Free stuff can be superz. And expensive stuff total crap. But not always. But sometimes. Basically try not to look at ticket prices.

Star ratings are a complete farce. Apparently they are put on by the editors after reading the reviewer's text. So inevitably there is a certain degree of disconnect. But presumably it also can depend on any underlying agenda of a publication. Not that there are any. Of course. ahem. Basically, you're better off reading show descriptions than star ratings.

My hit rate of good shows is better if I read the programme. Thankfully, my human input into show decision actually does help, and I saw a greater proportion of absolutely dreadful shows by the random method. But, and this is a big But - I still saw a great mix of good, bad, ugly, surprising, funny and moving shows in this experiment.

So.

The long. The short. Try the experiment yourself. See what you find. You may see some tosh. But you may be surprised too. But perhaps don't do it this way for your whole stay.

Get Ahead of the Bride

This article refers to Shotgun Wedding Promo 02 - http://theeffortcollective.com/filter/Shotgun-Wedding/SHOTGUN-WEDDING/

I'd thought that Londoners had seen it all, and that no amount of dressing up or acting in socially unusual ways would incite so much as a batted eyelid. But when our Runaway Bride (Victoria Clare) in a full bridal gown and veil from the 80s and running mascara came hurtling down out of Brixton Station it did cause a certain commotion. Onlookers stopped and gawked, commented, shouted, whistled, honked their horns. One lady even pushed her child forwards across the road as she looked sideways at the  running bride (see photo #3 on the Urban75 blog post - http://www.urban75.org/blog/the-bride-of-brixton-tube-station/).

However, it was the pair of police officers that surprised us the most. As they approached Victoria at the bus stop, I made myself very small, and broke down my camera equipment, ready to be threatened with some sort of public order offence. But to my great heart-warming relief they had stopped merely to ask her why she was upset and crying. Was there anything they could do for her, alone and upset, on her wedding day?

Never a dull moment as we made our how-to-get-there video with a difference for Shotgun Wedding on Sat 28 July at The Windmill, Brixton.

Mexican Stand-off followed by Kiss and Make up

This article refers to the video Shotgun Wedding Promo 1

As I stand, arms folded, in the background of a Mexican stand-off between a Vicar, a Bride, and a Groom, it may look like I am calmly in command of this shoot with The Effort Collective - this being for Part 1 of our trash/glam wedding Trilogy for Shotgun Wedding on Sat 28 July 2012.

But, no. I am merely a bystander in a series of press pics being expertly choreographed by The Effort Collective's resident filmmaker, Abel Kohen. He alternately encourages and goads the Shotgun Bride (Victoria Clare) into a series of contrasting shootout scenarios involving intricate family back-stories while our cheery Groom (Nico Argast) flails wildly with his gun as he jumps through the air. Meanwhile, the ice-cold Vicar (Mike Edge) coldly calculates his deadly next move.

A little overexcited by this prelim photography I soon realise we are already running behind time. But as we swiftly move on to the video portion of the day, the expert costume stylings of Ellie Moss and make-up and hair from Sarah Ferguson and Kiera McTigue keep us moving through the day. All that's left is for me to direct about 50 on-screen kisses, 48 more than I have to my name up to now.

However, performers and friends embraced their roles with alacrity, and with a little encouragement from theatre director Vanessa Pope, all came together in a steady stream of organised enjoyment. And what better way to finish the day than to kiss everyone myself.

All that remained (ha!) was to chop the video into a thousand pieces, add a wonderfully loud beach-thedral backdrop and rock out to Mendelssohn's Wedding March. Hats off again to Abel, for his post-production magic.

Look out for Part 2 next week...

Henry IV part one

If you're not already watching it on bbc2 check it out on iplayer later. Superb Shakespeare film. Really worth a watch.

King of Devil's Island

Heart-rending and gut-wrenching film based on true events about a bad boys correction centre on an island off of Norway in the 1910s. Repression turns to revolution as the boys can't contain their hatred for the authorities who not only turn out to be immoral themselves, but seek to hide the fact.

So good it hurts.

Shotgun Wedding Promo Shoot 1

Thanks to everyone for a great promo shoot on Saturday! Just converting all the footage and looking forward to piecing a day's work together into 20 seconds and playing with what to replace the green with!

Richard II TX - BBC2 Sat 30 June 2100

Richard II - First of the Shakespeare adaptations I worked on - is due to air on BBC2 this Saturday. Featuring Ben Whishaw as Richard II and Patrick Stewart as John of Gaunt.

Eagerly anticipating it as I missed the cast and crew screening...

Performers Needed! Shotgun Wedding Promo

Friends and friends of friends! We need performers for the promo video of SHOTGUN WEDDING.

The shoot will take place on Saturday 30th of June.

We are looking for a diverse group of people to appear as multiple wedding couples in a marriage with a twist.

We regret that this is an unpaid opportunity. To express your interest in taking part, please send us your CV and headshots to info@theeffortcollective.com.

For further information please visit http://theeffortcollective.com/

Flir Camera System and Fixed Wing Plane - Available August 2012

UK Glass Eels will be using the FLIR camera system to film the Golf Open again this year at the end of July. So there's currently an opening for filming with the FLIR/Cessna set-up during August.

Remember that fixed wing flying is cheaper and longer range compared to helicopters filming.

We also have the MiniGyro system for even more affordable aerial filming.

See the aerial page for more details and showreels - http://filmro.co.uk/aerial.html

Radio 4 Ulysses

Dramatisation of Ulysses on radio4 has a melancholy and sinister tone that creates the feel something like being party to a clandestine conversation. Absorbing and other-worldly.

More after the 12noon news.

Call for films - Shotgun Wedding!

The Effort Collective presents... Shotgun Wedding (Sat 28 July)

Criteria:
- any genre
- under 6mins
- related to weddings or shotguns or both

Send link to info@theeffortcollective.com

Selected films will be screened at the event and promoted on our website and social media.

Find out more at http://theeffortcollective.com

We look forward to your submissions!

TEC

Filmmaker's must-have tech - Met Office Weather App -

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/services/public/free/mobile/iphone 

Yes that's right. I'm extolling the virtues of a weather app. I just love it so hard. And it's a great tool for call sheets and planning shooting. Time to salivate 2nd ADs...

The app gives a 5 day forecast just like the Met Office website (which most filmmakers use in their canon of weather forecasts anyway) and then you can neatly navigate to the next 24 hours, with hourly changes including chance of rain, windspeed, visibility, temperature etc. All the good stuff. It has sunrise and sunset times too and severe weather warnings to add into your unit notes.

It defaults to your local area and of course you can add other locations if you want to.

There's also a map feature that shows rain-bands, again with hourly updates that you can scroll through and see when the rain is going to hit you and move off again.

It's slick, quick, easy to use and super-informative. But, of course, if you're in the back-end of nowhere in the pouring rain with no internet signal it's less useful than a chocolate teapot - at least you can eat that. Time to call a forecaster...

EFFORT - yes it's small video release - http://theeffortcollective.com/filter/MUSIC/Yes-it-s-small

#yesitssmall EFFORT from The Effort Collective release their second video from the live sessions. Click it, hard.

EFFORT #GetCorrect live session - http://t.co/fRGKLdm5 -

Abel Kohen has pulled together footage of EFFORT (from The Effort Collective) on a trip away to play a live session in Norwich along with the audio recording produced there for Get Correct, to make a new video for their song.

It has a lovely handmade behind-the-scenes feel that both mines out the focused calm of the live session and gives insight into the individual band members' personalities.

Be mesmerised.

http://t.co/fRGKLdm5

Cherry Orchard at Rose Theatre Kingston - http://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/visiting-productions/cherry-orchard - A classic take on a classic play

No frills, just downright quality performances. The adaptation plays heavily on the comic aspects within the characters to create a sympathy that makes their tragic fall hit the audience with all the more impact. Mulrine's translation has a freshness to it which allows the play to reach out to modern times.

On this week at the Rose Theatre, Kingston. Go see.

Oh and did I mention that past (and future I hope!) filmro collaborators Harriet de Winton and Ros Marshall designed it...

Morgan Philpott in summer Shakespeares - http://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/tickets.php -

@theeffortdiy @abelkohen Morgan of Then, Voyager fame ( http://filmro.co.uk/drama.html ) is in Merry Wives and Midsummer Night's Dream in June and July. Let's go.

Apocalypto on tv last night -

Mel Gibson's film is a real thrill ride with all the nightmarish tension of a running away dream. Shame he's such a horrendous human being. But is it any wonder that this story about the ultimate xenophobia - rival races killing each other through fear and hatred - came from the mind of such a consummate racist and bigot.

Apparently his new movie, 'how i spent my summer vacation' is not too bad either.

The Daily Mail (Ha Ha) talk about how he will have to go further than this to save his reputation. Like giving money to charity: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-2142700/How-I-Spent-My-Summer-Vacation-fine-save-Mel-Gibsons-career.html

Irony?

Ave 43 - shit-hot bizarre online sitcom -

http://youtube.com/user/justintanner1964 - Drinking some vino with mike and ameeta watching the recommended online shows in the guardian guide. Ave 43 is so funny, so gross, surreal, horrendously made. Love it. Hate it. Watch it. Less than 1k views so far on each episode.

Murphy's Law -

My usual lunchtime flick onto film4 today trawled up something a little more meaningful than the norm. Murphy's law is set at the end of WWII with Peter O'Toole at the centre fighting German subs with a little sea plane and a houseboat. Quirky storylining and heartfelt performances make it a standout from the crass US lunchtime warfare fare. I'm sure if you watch film4 for a day or two it'll be round again!

An ad wot works -

Loving this geek-rap ad for find a property - http://tinyurl.com/c8n4f53 -
Nice idea, executed with panache.

Effort in the fridge-

Just seen Alexandra Bone's photos of Effort apparently in a giant fridge... with a parrot... http://tinyurl.com/d74r3qm
Intriguing indeed!

Falling Headlong in The Guardian...

Article about the Headlong Theatre promo and the use of social media in getting younger audiences into theatre -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/apr/22/theatre-turns-to-facebook

Tis the season for new websites

Back at ya @theeffortdiy - time for a spring clean at http://filmro.co.uk - come and be dazzled by my whitewashed walls. Tra-la-la-la-la

The Effort Collective new website!

theeffortcollective.com
New website - slicker, sexier, hotter. Like it, lump it or love it. x

Angry dogs

Find out more about The Effort Collective performers at the-effort.co.uk
From angry dogs to angry board games to other less angry peeps.

http://tinyurl.com/6nrfrp7 Love this!

My Dog Tulip - animated film from the book by JR Ackerley. Anyone who has ever had even a passing amusement in the habits of dogs will love this film. Warm, funny, sad. The whole shebang!

JR Ackerley on Tulip the dog:

"It seems to me both touching and strange that she should find the world so wonderful"

'Then, Voyager' actress http://vimeo.com/15592864 Camilla Arfwedson in Secret Escapes tv ad http://tinyurl.com/6m6a679

EFFORT to play New Cross in, Wed March 7 - http://www.facebook.com/events/297450406968882/

http://www.facebook.com/events/297450406968882/
Come on down to see EFFORT play as part of a Women's Aid fundraiser. Other bands and entertainment, £4 in and for a good cause. Bargainus! See you there.

Check out the bumpers from Fight Night at  http://bit.ly/xcSy1I - Short and sa-weeet!