The Wind-down 2015: PART ONE

Howdy.  This turned from just the one month blog to the end of the year one.  So sit back, relax, and I hope I don't bore you to death.

Had a busy arle year so I'll hit you up with what's been going down:

MUSIC VIDZ

Two music videos leathered for this year that I've produced, written, and directed.  A personal record especially from a one-man-band style operation.

Both videos were for the rock band Black Neon Knights for two singles - RISE UP and 'NECROMANCER'

You can read about the production and release of 'Necromaner' HERE and HERE

'RISE UP' is the latest taken from their soon to be released album in February. You can also check out the history HERE

It's a cracking rock tune and I love what the guys are churning out.  The lads were happy with the video as its something unique to the usual rock music video style.

Again, I can't thank all the people involved (see previous BLOGS) enough.  If you ain't caught it, check it out below.

Feedback has been really great. There's a sense of the unexpected with it and you don't really know where the video is going until it goes completely off the rails. Lots of praise for the visuals which was a huge incentive for the project in the first place and something I'm most pleased about.  A lot of time and effort went in to creating the authentic VHS look which, while now a cliched style to use, is often not done in the right way.  Aspect ratios and the colour drain plays a huge part that worked well in offsetting the band footage before opening it up with the full HD footage.

I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Some kind words from Chris Barnes over at SLAUGHTERED BIRD horror site, as well as the nicest's guys in horror Mr Liam 'Banjo' Regan and Andy 'INK' Stewart capped it all off.

Might be small time for some people, but fuck you it's prolific from me (hehe)

Please head over to the FACEBOOK page to check out TONS of behind the scenes photos and concept art. It's a good little insight into the production on how the video became.

NEW WEBSITE

Designed and launched this bad-boy earlier in the year.

Check it out and share for all your music video needs.  Feedback is welcome.

http://www.dereksdontrunfilms.com/

SCRIPT-LIFE

Other personal highlights include actually ranking in a big screenplay competition.

While I do appreciate reaching the semi-final, you have to win it. You don't get anything for 2nd place.  But what it does do it gives you that push to say "Hey, it's not all shite that you're doing" so keep going.

I met one of the finalists, Ben Stiener (director of the multi-award winning short 'The Stomach') and hope it gives him a big push. Really good guy.    

COMFORT ZONE

In addition to the above, I've been dipping my toe is things outside my comfort zone. I'm currently collaborating/helping out with a writer I met on the Creative England course from last year, Rachael Genn.

I've tried to give her a helping hand organising script read-through's with a drama group for her comedy series. In addition to helping her direct a section for a unique pitch video for a installation she's trying to get funding for.

We've worked well together and its been a lot of fun. It's great to collaborate with people like this and remove myself from my own little bubble.  I just hope I don't fuck it up.

So, keep an eye out for my festival travel blog as well as my top films for 2015.

As for 2016?  I've got plans.  The music video gigs should take a step up. The writing should get more of a push. And...well...hopefully get a narrative short off the ground.

Thanks for everyone who's helped out over the year. I met some new friends all on the edge of doing exciting things. Stay tuned and don't forget to holla atcha boy!

See ya on the flip side....Danny.

Year in Review...PART TWO: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

Films of the year 2014. (Part One in review is HERE)

I have to say, this year has been an absolute stunner.  Compared to last years HERE, the quality, variety, and balls of some mainstream and indie movies has been outstanding (complete with some guilty pleasures).  Every week something came along and sucker punched me in the chops.

Again no real order.  If you ain't checked them out...what are you waiting for?

The Raid 2 - Gareth Evans
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - Dean DeBlois
Under The Skin - Jonathan Glazer
Nightcrawler - Dan Gilroy
The Babadook - Jennifer Kent
Gone Girl - David Fincher
Snowpiercer - Bong Joon-Ho
Interstellar - Christopher Nolan
Housebound - Gerard Johnstone
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Jonathan Liebesman
Dawn of the Planet of The Apes - Matt Reeves
Maps to The Stars - David Cronenberg
The Guest - Adam Wingard
Guardians of The Galaxy - James Gunn
Cold in July - Jim Mickle
Edge of Tomorrow - Doug Liman
Joe - David Gordon Green
Godzilla - Gareth Edwards

Honourable mentions -
The Machine - Caradog W. James (someone to watch out for)
Dom Hemingway - Richard Shepard (Jude Law turned into a real man's man actor)

Adding to this was Celluloid Screams Horror Festival 2014.  Which I have to say had more variety, surprises, and quality than previous years.  Here's what went off -

The Canadian Troma-esque troop Astron 6 ('Manborg', 'Fathers Day') were there with their new flick 'The Editor' - a Giallo (Italian slasher/horror films from the 70's and 80's) piss take. Fair play to them, they were at every screening over the entire weekend.  I would've buggered off after the film, but no, they stayed and met with lots of fans.  Good guys.

They also brought Lawrence Harvey who pops up in the 'The Editor'.  Really nice bloke.  However, seeing him just standing there after you've left the toilet did make me have a sleepless night.  If you don't know who he is, go see The Human Centipede 2.

Yeah, he's that guy.

Anyway - the biggy was meeting the big man below - Brian Yuzna.  Director of 'Society' and 'Return of The Living Dead III', as well as writer of 'Re-Animator', 'From Beyond', and...'Honey I Shrunk The Kids'.

The man is an absolute legend and also the nicest bloke you'll ever meet.  All he wanted to do was talk movies.  Had the pleasure of a brief chat with him after the QnA over ran - could easily have spent hours talking over his films.

Another fanboy moment was getting to meet Graham Humphrey.  "Who the fuck?"  You ask.  Here the fuck...

Go re-educate yourself when you see the art the man has created HERE.  When you've created iconic posters like the one above, you'll pay respect where its due.

As for the movies?  Well apart from seeing an all time fave 'Society' in a 35mm print, only two really stood out that I saw.

The first was 'Housebound'.  A New Zealand effort from director Gerard Johnstone.  Apart from thinking that the only thing New Zealand churned out were films about sheep and Hobbits, this little gem pops up.  Like a laid back version of 'The Burbs' meets 'People Under the Stairs' the film was funny, clever, witty, and had enough invention to set it above the usual horror fodder.

The 2nd impressive movie was actually a short film called 'Ink' which had its première.  While I find 98% of short films nowadays either a drawn out scene or FX reel, the short by Glasgow filmmaker Andy Stewart gave everyone a slap across the arse and made people take notice.

The short is a final film in a body-horror trilogy he's made, each with a similar theme but with noticeably bigger budgets.  However, its the overall craft of tension building coupled with the what-to-show-and-what-not-to-show-nature of each film stays constant and what makes it stand out.  It's one of the best shorts I've seen.

Go check out his first flick HERE.  His website HERE.  And follow the chunt on twatter HERE.  He's gained a fan from moi and you should like it too.

So that's that.  A list of great flicks, fun flicks, and ones to make you say "you liked that shite?".
  
See ya on the flip side in 2015, Danny.

Flicks of The Year 2013

Howdo.  Xmas is nearly upon us.  Die Hard, Gremlins, Long Kiss Goodnight, Lethal Weapon are on loop. And unlike most I tend to keep my end of the year lists until...well, right until the end of the year.  

So below is a list of flicks I dug this year.  Again no real order and it also contains flicks that I found rather memorable, some of which that weren't even that good :  

Trance - Danny Boyle

The World's End - Edgar Wright

This Is The End - Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg
Now You See Me - Louis Letterier
Django Unchained - Quintin Tarantino
Evil Dead - Fede Alvarez
A Place Beyond The Pines - Derek Cianfrance
Wreck It Ralph - Rich Moore
Filth - Jon S. Baird
Rush - Ron Howard
Gravity - Alfonso Curron
The Impossible - J.A Bayona
Only God Forgives - Nicolas Winding Refn
Alan Partridge : Alpha Papa - Declan Lowney
Motivational Growth - Don Thacker
Cloud Atlas - Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski

Pacific Rim - Guillermo del Toro

The Wolverine - James Mangold

Piss poor variety really but still some cracking films on there.  And you'd forget that a Superman film came out this year too (poor).    I do need to see more foreign language (although I did see a few but nothing great).  More updates soon.  Comment below or on the various social sites.

See ya on the flip side, Danny.