Editing STUDS

I've just spent the day with fellow Filmmaker, Simon Bovey, editing his new short film, STUDS. It's a great little film and I'm really enjoying the experience.

We also chatted about how on earth we are going to get our next feature, Final Reel, up and running. Simon's big concern is how to keep the quality up on a micro budget and if I will really have the space to do the story justice. As ever, it comes down to time and money. I'm still optimistic about my fundraising ideas, but won't know for a while if I'm being realistic or not, but my feelings are that if we're having the conversations and people know what we're trying to achieve, they will start to come on board.

I'm going to do a big mail out in a few days time, so we should have some idea soon...

The Final Reel - Fund Raising Begins...

Well, I have just received 3000 replicated DVD disks of Written in Blood from the duplicators. My plan is to sell as many as possible in as short a possible time to finance my new film, The Final Reel.

I will be doing a massive email send out to film makers, film companies and people I've met along the way in the hope that they can help. As you will see from the column on the right of the blog, I am now starting to sell all sorts of stuff, Written in Blood DVD's and memorabilia and Kaleidoscope Man artwork. I am aiming to raise around £105K. If I can do this, I'll apply to Screen West Midlands to try and get their media fund, which could bring in another £35K.

I know it's a long shot, idealistic and possibly naive to think that people will automatically buy my film, but I am determined to get Final Reel shot this year. If anyone has any fundraising ideas, however crazy, please do get in touch.

Many thanks.

Final Reel - How Much Will It Cost?

Well, I've been working through the Final Reel script and at the moment its still fairly big budget. Simon Bovey and I are about to re-draft and find the best way to bring down the cost without compromising the story. Thankfully, Simon has always kept this in mind that its a lower budget movie so there are no "herds of Wilder beast galloping across the open plain" shots to film.

My initial guess is that it will cost around £140K to make. I'm hoping that Screen West Midlands will come in for 25% which means that we only have £105K to raise. As I sit here, I really have no idea how we're going to do this. Only that I want to shoot in October of this year, aiming to have it complete for Cannes in May 2010.

One idea I have had is to sell 10,500 copies of Written in Blood. Is that likely? Who knows? I could sell signed artwork, Tee shirts, memorabilia, even sell Final Reel DVD's in advance. I am also thinking about selling Associate Producer credits on the end of the film + an invite to the premier etc. I don't really want to get into searching for big time investors and selling shares etc, as I got into that carrot chase with Kaleidoscope Man (although, if you do want to invest in the film, please do give me a call!!) - + 44 (0) 7791 890669.

As a coincidence, I'm cutting a Screen West Midlands funded short film called STUDS, directed by Simon Bovey, and I have to say the experience has been quite revealing. This is a superb little film and Simon is a visionary director. It's not quite finished yet, but do check it out. The website address is: http://www.studsthefilm.co.uk/

Kaleidoscope Man - What's Been Happening?

It’s time I updated you with what has been happening with Kaleidoscope Man. To be honest, things have been slow and I have been working hard to stave off the recession which is sweeping through our industry like a dervish, claiming victims in all quarters.

Firstly, I met a fantastic LA based Sales Agent who is one of the best in the business. He is currently guiding Ken and I on how to get potential pre-sales etc.

Secondly, I was invited to send Written in Blood, to a top movie exec at one of the big Hollywood studios. This is a guy that Ken has been working with for years. No news on this yet, but will let you know what developments.

Both of these events, although small, are leaps forward for the production.

In the meantime, although I’m skint and struggling to find work, I feel its the best time to get out and make something. So, I have a fantastic script written by Simon Bovey, called "The Final Reel". It's a very tense supernatural thriller and we are going to make it on a low budget. Not sure for how much yet, but it has to be an amount that I can physically raise myself.


I have the camera (The Varicam Camera I keep on plugging to rent), all the HD editing facilities I could ever ask for, the locations, plenty of good actor friends and I am owed loads of favors - which I now intend to call in!!! So, once I have priced the film up, I will go out and make it - sooner rather than later.

What I am very keen to do is make something that I can get into film festivals and promote myself as a Film Director. This could also lead to getting Kaleidoscope Man up and running. Obviously, it has to be something that is commercial and that we can sell. So production values, acting etc. must be world class. Thankfully the script is brilliant.

Watch this space…

All the best, Simon.

Gone Fishing Wins Top Movie Award

Well done to my old pal Chris Jones who's just picked up the Best Film Award at "The Producers Guild of America in LA", for his short film Gone Fishing. This is a film I was 2nd Unit Director on and I am very proud to be associated with.

To read more about it, check out Chris's fantastic blog on: www.chrisjonesblog.com