Year in Review...PART ONE

Well, well, well.  Its the end of 2014.

Whatcha got to show for it?  For me it's a case of a few steps forward, one or two back.

The whole thing kicked off with the release of the music video "My Little Fantasy" by Braver Than Fiction in January. Check it below.

   

Read the previous blogs about it HERE

Responses to it were very good.  It seemed to give the band a little boost and something they could use going forward.  They've gone from strength to strength (tours, gigs, playing Sheffield's Tramlines festival) and hopefully will get better in 2015.  Check their OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The video did a few screenings.  Sheffield's Showroom Shorts and Manchester's Kino Shorts where it received some favourable responses.  Mainly a lot of "That was nice" than anything else.  Below is a link to a QnA from Kino Shorts -



Another nice little story came from hearing the progress of a friends band - MERRIN

They released an EP which received some great feedback and reviews called "Doom Cinema" which was accompanied by a trilogy of short films - which you can watch here HERE.

The big news was he received some some mad props on BLOODY DISGUSTING. The website putting them in the Top 10 movie influenced bands to listen to in 2014.

Chris and MERRIN have been gigging lots in London.  So if ya daaaarn saaarf try and check em out. Meanwhile, he's a video I made for them a few year ago.

   
HENRY KANE by -M E R R I N- from Danny Naylor on Vimeo.

Good stuff.  But, all in all...were people kicking down my door for a music video?  Nope.  Should they?  Probably not.  But as I was gearing up to pimp myself out...a few opportunities sprouted their pretty little heads.

The first was to work on Arthur & Merlin being shot in the Peak District.  I applied for a 2nd or 3rd  Assistant Director role not really knowing how big or small the budget of the film was to be.  If its small enough, they don't pay and you help out.  If it's has a fair budget then you're gonna have to be there on time, every day.

It just didn't pan out for me.   Holiday's from my 9 to 5, availability of my car, and funds were its downfall.  Am I sad about it?  Yeah, because I wanted to work on it.  I could've took the gamble but at the moment I have to play it safe.  I've too much on the line.

Then the Creative England Talent Centre happened.  Major coup on this one to a point where I even thought...why am I here?  You had award winning writers, directors, academy award nominated producers...then me - a guy who's highest budget he's ever worked on was £300.00.

I blogged a little about it HERE.  It span over about 6 months or so and overall was a great chance to network and understand the UK industry as a whole.  I got to meet Paul Fraser, who wrote one of my favourite films in 'A Room for Romeo Brass', as well as producers, sales agents, and buyers.

I also got to meet some great people - writers, producers, and directors - all wanting to make things happen.  It was a nice bubble to be in (as well as the ale).

It was all well and good.  Got me interested in applying for iShorts, the short film incentive they have.  Failed miserably as I expected but the feeling that it "maybe" could've crept through was a bonus.

So a load of ifs, buts, and maybe.  But there's a shining light on the horizon.

I'll hopefully get a few meetings up and running and see where it takes me based on the Talent Scheme.  There's always the music video and short angle I'm going to tackle if things begin to dry up.

But a big thing was hitting the Black List and getting some feedback from some industry professionals.  Basically it validated the writing.  Some ridiculous praise for certain aspects of it. Really mindblowing stuff that just pushed me further.

I've got some options now when I could've just gave up.  Lets see where it goes.

Oh....Check out PART 2 for my flicks and movie going of 2014 me arle china plates....

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.