Most of my projects are low budget and self-funded and although primarily I am a director, I often work as the cameraman, sound recordist or editor. I embrace low budget filmmaking, as it has forced me to develop a comprehensive working knowledge of the filming process and, is an artistic challenge that has enabled me to build a pool of ingenious, resourceful and talented
co-collaborators.
Below is a selection of projects I have been involved in and often initiated.
A CLOSE UP ON THE SOUL - Shakespeare On Film
In April 2018, I devised and directed a film workshop, exploring, emotion and isolation in the speeches and soliloquies of Shakespeare.
The workshop took place over four days at La Chausée, Footsbarn Travelling Theatre's base in the Allier, central France.
I designed the workshops themes and content and directed, filmed and edited the final pieces.
Each participant was invited to bring something they knew well and I also provided material that I wished to tackle myself. I was brilliantly assisted by Fredericka Hayter, June McGrane and Naomi Canard
LADY MACBETH - Out damn spot! Out, I say!
2am, day three, just finished filming
TITANIA - These are the very forgeries of jealousy
LEAR & GLOUCESTER - Ay, every inch a king
PORTIA - The quality of mercy is not strained
CLARENCE - O, I have passed a miserable night
TWELFTH NIGHT
or
WHAT YOU WILL
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH PROMO
Maria - He does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him
Feste - Come away, come away, death
Viola - and call upon my soul within the house
Sir Andrew - Methinks, sometimes I have no more wit than a christian
Olivia - Your master knows my mind, I cannot love him
I first came across Shakespeare's plays as a teenager in the NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE and something just clicked.
For me he is the most unbelievably beautiful painter of words and creator of character. The clarity of image and the range of emotion that he is able to express within the spoken word, I find extraordinary and inspiring.
Before I shuffle off this mortal coil, one of my dreams, is to make a punk film version of my favourite SHAKESPEARE, comedy, TWELFTH NIGHT.
In realisation of this ambition, I invited a group of actors to work on a promo for the project and we assembled for four days to rehearse and shoot at THE CHATEAU DES LYS, in Northern France.
I was assisted once again, by the LA TRAVERSEÉ members, cameraman, JON RATIGAN, and TIM and MARGARET ALEXANDER, who allowed me free reign of their lovely Chateau.
So far, I have developed a shooting script, which keeps much of the plays essential dialogue intact but to place the play more in the realm of film I have added many visual elements and dispensed with unnecessary plot exposition. I am constantly working on ideas and have developed an archive of reference material, to create the world I imagine, more fully. If you're interested in helping me with this project, please get in touch.
Malvolio - Go hang yourselves all, you are idle shallow things
Orsino - No woman's heart so big, to hold so much. They lack retention.
Sir Toby - How do you, Malvolio? How is't with you?
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH THE FILM
I filmed Melanie MacHugh's stage monologue BUNGALOW, as a straight to camera piece in a kitchen in LONDON. I was so struck by MELANIE'S, writing and performance, that I asked her if she would be interested in adapting it into a short film. She agreed and we made BUNGALOW in FRANCE, assisted by the LA TRAVERSEÉ, team with the incredible, LLOYD HUTCHINSON, playing her husband and JON RATIGAN on camera and JULES MAXWELL composing the score.
It's a great little piece and MELANIE and LLOYDS, performances are fantastic and we are now developing the idea further and planning to shoot a much bigger project in Ireland.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
DOG KENNEL HILL PROJECT
I have been engaged in an artistic collaboration with, DOG KENNEL HILL PROJECT, for many years. It is a journey covering a multitude of disciplines and in my time with them, I have built sets, produced publicity photos, created stand alone videos pieces and documented their often bizarre and glorious projects in theatres, forests, power stations, galleries and on the UK's canals. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, is a taster promo for a larger as yet, un-realised documentary, about the groups floating dance theatre project, TUG, which toured the UK canals on RENFREW, an old coal barge restored to it's former glory by canal boat enthusiast, PETE BOYCE. I documented the project from the early stages and have amassed some great footage, which I hope one day will see the light.
LA BONNE HEURE
THE WALTZ
Choreographed and performed by HENRIETTA HALE and CHARLOTTE DARBYSHIRE, The waltz is music video for French based folk fusion trio LA BONNE HEURE. I have become more and more interested in shooting music video's and The WALTZ was a great opportunity for me to try out some travelling camera sequences. The band had no budget, so we cobbled together a few props and a couple of sets of curtains, for costumes and once again shot at the CHATEAU DES LYS. The video was edited by, HENRIETTA HALE.
THE WALTZ - FINAL VERSION
THE WALTZ - BAND CUT
GAWKEY
IF I HAD MY TIME AGAIN
I was contacted by musician, NIGEL WALKER, enquiring if I would be interested in lip syncing a song his band, GAWKEY wanted to promote.
I loved the dark story and the visual feel of the song and instead proposed that I make them a narrative video. I handed over lip syncing duties to, JULES MAXWELL and constructed a basic prison cell set in an old storage shed at the CHATEAU DES LYS and asked a neighbour, LESLIE PION, if she would play the nagging mother in law and TIM ALEXANDER, if he would play the warden.
WARNING - THIS VIDEO IS A BIT GORY.