New Screening ahead

Hello. Just like buses, hey?

Quick update. Another Film in The Woods is going to be screening at the Canterbury Arms, Brixton, as part of Exploding Cinema (the monthly film showcase) on Friday 8th November.

Looks like a great night kicking off at 7:30pm with DJ's, Film QnA's, and lots of other Bonfire Night festivities.

Gutted I can't make it, but I'm gonna try and get some of my London peeps to pop their heads in.

Hope to get some feedback if possible to.

See ya on the flip side - Danny

Cahiers du Short Flick Review

Hey again!  Bet you never saw this one coming.

We've been hit by our first review folks.

The blog SHORTS AND SHIRTS reviews shorts on a regular basis.

Lee Hamilton watches a LOT of shorts and gives brief, sweet, and honest reviews by request. This time he gave his once over on Another Film in the Woods.

What did it say? Well, head HERE to read it in full with the film embedded into the blog.

Skipping to the end...he gave it a respectable 3 stars out of 5. Basically hit that Michael Bay/Paul WS Anderson benchmark they get from your mainstream critics. And with that comparison it would probably be a 2 star review if it were from the Guardian or troll movie website.  Tee-hee.

Anyway, as for its content...well, its very honest. As me and Chris knew, it notes the technical downfalls mainly from the sound recording of the dialogue. Personally, it seems fine but I'm that attached to it I can't separate myself from it. I know every line, so when a line is quiet I hear it clearer that normal (if that makes any sense). I think its more down to the fact its not clean enough than being decipherable.

It gives Amber Brookes a good overall review. It says she's very natural but notes her "lack of confidence on screen". For her first ever short film, its pretty good and she takes positives from it. She's already mentioned to me that she was nervous etc and takes the review on board. End of the day, this was my fault as there are only so many hats me and Chris could wear. We regret not taken more time with her and the other actresses more but the fact the acting overall is very good, this is a testament to how good they are themselves. The fact they stepped up, understood the characters, the direction and the rush for time - I can't thank them enough.

The biggest part I took from it was just clarity of the story. There's a fine line between very exposition centric, on the nose, or very subtle to explain plot points. I think I went too subtle. The review says the audio didn't help it, which can distract viewers, but I think that the big plot points aren't focused enough when presented.

Case in point from the review is why Mandy end's up in the woods and is chased. The reason was that she cheated on her fiancé. Its her sin. It's not on the nose, its a brief one line in her dialogue. This should have been focussed on, clarified more. Maybe a few more lines or dialogue to give it emphasis before she hits the woods.

The other point was how Mandy gets back home. Well, she begs forgiveness and says she's sorry. Repenting gets you home it seems. There's too big a gap from when she says this to when she gets back home. I think the Vicar character could've explained a theory about wanting forgiveness but they have to mean it (which the Vicar can't). That would've just added to the plot more.

Overall, for its faults he seemed to enjoy it. I take encouragement from that. I see it more like loving The Evil Dead. You can slate that film for its continuity, FX, etc some big technical basics but the film is great because its an experience - its fun, outlandish, and something different.

I tried to make our film fun, something from left field in terms of style (a dance music fuelled, 90's European tongue in cheek horror), as well as a change from dark, moody, horror/thriller's I tend to make. There was some ambition. 1 day shoot, 90+ shots, actions scenes, 2 man crew etc so with it came pitfalls. But also learning curves for next time.

And with that...some reminders.

-MERRIN- and the music video HENRY KANE.is going to get a screening at the SUPERNORMAL FESTIVAL the 9th - 11th August (clicky the link) in Oxfordshire.  Keep your mince-pies open drop us a message if you're going.

And don't forget you can still vote for the online festival that its currently doing the rounds here at the Shorts Non Stop Online Festival. Click the link, skip to the end, and click VOTE. Helpful tip...do it twice. Once over your phone data and once on your internet connection (it'll recognise your IP but not from your phone). Pass it on for others to vote and give it a push online via Twitter or Bookface.

Till next time. See ya on the flip side

Cushion for the Pushin'

Easy now, rude-boys (and girls).

The weather seems to be about as reliable as George Michael behind the wheel of a vehicle in old Blighty. Cracking sun one minute, drizzle of rain the next as though mother nature decided to spit down from the sky like a piss-head after too many Lambrini's.

Away from the bantrix and attempts at "wit", here's a few updates for your consideration and interest if you are that way inclined.

First up - Festival bashing. As you know I've been hitting the short ANOTHER FILM IN THE WOODS to a few festivals. The hitting is still ongoing and the wait for responses will still take its time. I'm sure there will be some hits and misses (more likely misses) but at least I'm trying.

Anyway, there is an online festival that its currently doing the rounds on here at the Shorts Non Stop Online Festival. Please feel free to vote on it, it would put a big old smile on my face and hopefully push it on further. The last winner had around 30 odd votes but I believe the judgement isn't around the votes. But either way, vote and pass it on for others to vote and give it a push online via Twitter or Bookface.

Next up - As that is a work in progress, what came and went last month for the Kino Shorts Experimental Short and Music Video night. A read of which you can find HERE. Below you'll see a excerpt of the interview QnA that took place last night with Jason Wingard. A top bloke who cleared house at the Virgin Media Shorts competition in 2011. A few chuckles and personally speaking I don't come across as a complete arsehole. A whinging arsehole, maybe, but not a complete one. Enjoy.

 

 More updates will get spat at cha'yall soon.

 See ya on the flip side. Danny.

Woods Screening

Why,  hello there.

Well, the screening on Tuesday happened. Showroom Cinema, Sheffield. Kicked off at 7:30pm.

I arrived fashionably late after a quick run to Costco for a coffee and a toffee and apple muffin (for pros). It was a good turn out, close to a 100 packed in at points.

I bumped into Julia (who plays thr Vicar)  and Amber (who plays Mandy)  who turned up to watch the film. It was great meeting up with them after a month or so. Was also very nerve wracking -  what if it bombed? What if it got laughed at? It was my film, my responsibility for turning out an embarrassment who dragged the actressess with me. Not great.

Anyway, I did what any normal person would do... Run away for 45minutes and watch Sam Raimi's classic Army of Darkness in glorious 35mm.  What a great movie that is. And fuck me did I steal a lot from it. Seemed to me like a great double bill, Woods and Army of Darkness solely based on tone and thats about it.

Then we got down to it. Before hand there was a showing of a lottery funded horror called Ella. It had Giles from Buffy blowing a dogs snout off with a shotgun. Safe to say, it was a winner. 

Next up... It began.

Every problem was amplified. Every sound effect needed more work. I shit a brick...

Then... I heard laughs. Intentional laughs. I started to watch the crowd. A few bopping their heads to the music, people talking about what they were watching. It was the only short on the night that was just pure fun with a pace and energy to it and it seemed to get peoples attentions.

The final credits kicked it. Big applause. Then a few cheers from some complete strangers. I cracked a sly grin. A girl next to me laughed at the final kiss off line and looked genuinely happy with what she watched.  "A techno chase horror film"  I overhead some bloke say.

Safe to say, it didn't bomb which I thought it could do.  I thanked Julia and Amber who also seem happy with how it went. We went our separate ways and I thanked the host Rob Speranza for screening it.

Maybe I'm making the night better than it was. Well, fuck that, it made me happy and I didn't hear a bad word. All I got were positive vibes and an unexpected reaction. I couldn't sleep when I got in, bit of an adrenaline boost thinking about it.

Blubbing aside, it went well. All I can say is thanks to Amber, Julia, Nicola, Rebecca, Chris, Reem and Rob for everything.

Its got me pumped for 2013.

See ya on the flip side... Danny

A gentle reminder...

Hello mucko's,

A little bit of a gentle poke to remind you good people that Another Film in the Woods will be playing at Showroom Shorts tomorrow (Tuesday 20th November).

I'll be spamming book of the face and twatter with further details but as this is another reminder...there's a few short films playing and a little bit of a birthday bash going on that kicks off at 7:30pm till 10pm.

The short is scheduled to be 2nd to last on, around 9:15pm - 9:30pm in the Showroom bar area.  Drop me an email/message/text/phone call/postcard/letter if your coming or want further info and I'll enlighten you.

I'll be there at 7:30pm till 8:15pm as I'll be running off to one of the screening rooms to watch a flick.  But I'll be out at 9:10pm for the rest of the night.  

And if you didn't know...its free.

ANOTHER FILM IN THE WOODS from Danny Naylor on Vimeo.

See ya on the flip side, Danny.

Screening of the Woods

Hey good lookin', whatcha been cookin'?

Currently having a very productive week away from the monotony of the 9 to 5.  What have I been doing?  Pretty much as little as possible aka old school fuck all (bath swishing and the like).  In between the nothingness, there's been a wind down of script re-writing and movie watching.

Anyway, as no one really gives a fuck about what I've been up to privately, its time for an update of the short opus that is Another Film in The Woods.

I was disappointed it didn't get into the 2 Days Later Competition. They've posted the winners up and...I enjoyed them.

The main winner has a good concept but severely overlong. The audience winner was funny. A bastardised product of the Human Centipede/Hostel torture porn "genre" where abusing innocent characters in amusingly gory ways without a real point apart from having a cheeky premise (Kebab shop owners is a nutcase) seems to be popular. Anyway, check em out and see what you think.

Compared to Woods? Make you're own mind up. I'm not bitter.

Which leads on to...Its getting screened in Sheffield! The film will be playing at the Showroom Shorts this Tuesday 20th November.

There's a few short films playing and a little bit of a birthday bash going on that kicks off at 7:30pm till 10pm. I'll be dotting about as ironically enough, I've tickets to see Army of Darkness (aka Evil Dead 3) on the same night.

Anyway, its free. So if you can come, let me know and I'll hopefully meet up with you for a chuckle. I'll abuse Facebook and Twitter to spam you all.

I'm off to listen to the new DEFTONES album.

ANOTHER FILM IN THE WOODS from Danny Naylor on Vimeo.

See ya on the flip side, Danny.

Another Blatant Promotional Push...

Another day, another amazing sales pitch for the short film for people who haven't seen it and a few more updates.

Just like to say thanks to the people who have watched the short and given some good feedback. Hey, people enjoy it. Made me a happy bunny. The cast are happy with the film too which is always a good feeling. (shout out to the lead actress Amber Brookes, follow her on TWITTER).

Bad news first...the film didn't get into the 2 Days Later film competition that the film was made for.

Now, there's a variety of reasons as to why I think this happened, and I take full responsibility. The DVD screener I sent isn't the final version for one, and it wasn't rendered correctly. It had a jittery effect due to a interlace problem (tech geek bollocks) that was eventually fixed for the version you see online and sent to the cast & crew. My mistake for running out of time and not being able to fix it.

Another reason? The film is sound heavy. A lot of scene transitions and dialogue scenes are linked with a lot of sound FX. The screener I sent wasn't 100% with these tracks and therefore is rather jolting and amateurish. Not to say the final version is on a level to David Fincher, but its a difference that sets a level of watchable and unwatchable.

Yet another? They may have collared that it wasn't shot slightly within the 2 day timeline? It was shot in a day, but had a couple of days of pre-production and a couple for post. Sue me.

Final reason? They may have thought it was shite? More than likely this one...but compared to what was screened and won last year...ah, well, its all subjective.

Semi-good news...Even though I've missed the deadline for halloween film festivals this year, I'll be sending this out for next year so hopefully it has a life in the future.

Good news...we're on the IMDB. Yey! Check it out and vote/leave comments/whatever. Another Film In The Woods IMDB 

Another plus point was seeing my good buddie Chris Purdie aka MERRIN playing a live set at the Playhouse in Northampton. In his set-list he played Henry Kane with the MUSIC VIDEO I directed for him as the visuals for his stage show. Check it out HERE.

Anyway, its time to wind-down preparing for Christmas. Will be attending the Celluloid Screams festival at the end of the month to check out some horror flicks and shorts. Followed up by a trip back to Liverpool and seeing Rob Zombie in Manchester at the end of November. In-between that will be writing and movie watching.

Anyway, as the title suggests, below is another blatant promotional push. We're also on VIMEO. Thanks.

ANOTHER FILM IN THE WOODS from Danny Naylor on Vimeo.
See ya on the flip side, Danny.

'ANOTHER FILM IN THE WOODS' is here!

Well, well, well then...

No OTT introduction.  No hype.  No ridiculous build up.

Watch.  Enjoy.  Comment.   Be gentle.


"Another Film In The Woods"
Woke up.  Bought Breakfast.  Had to survive.

A horror short where 'Run Lola Run' meets 'The Evil Dead'. On the way back from picking up breakfast, Mandy falls into mysterious and dangerous woodland where she has to run for her life and hope to make it home in one piece. 

See ya on the flip side, Danny.

NEW SHORT FILM BITCHES

Well, well, well, haven't we been a busy little bee.

You may have seen my moody post of a TEASER poster a few weeks ago. Well me and Chris Earl have been busy working hard on a short film called 'Another Film In the Woods'.

Have got back into the swing of things with a couple of MUSIC VIDEOS , it was high time to get on the short narrative film front. So with a few competitions lined up, me and Chris thought we'd delve into doing a short 10 minute horror comedy.

Run Lola Run meets The Evil Dead was the idea.

So through taking a few hours out to write, audition, and cast the flick we finally got things in place.  Saturday just gone, we rallied the troops and shot our film with a all girl cast;

Amber Brookes

Nicola Chance

Rebecca Lund

Julia Bisby

It was a toughie and little Amber took a bit of a beating but she trooped on. In fact, they all did and I couldn't have thanked them enough.

I'm excited by the footage. Big time. Now to spend a day editing it and...who knows...we'll see if we got some fried gold with a techno soundtrack.

Been a bit of a monkey off my back.  Now lets see what happens.

Go HERE for some movie stills.

See ya on the flip side...Danny