Stickleback Productions Blog

Well I didn’t get any further with my Screen West Midlands bid for Finders. Keepers. but have been encouraged to re-apply in the next round based on feedback.

Didn’t get any of my 3 ideas shortlisted for the ifeatures scheme either but the odds were pretty high. At least I know now and can concentrate on other things.

The one good thing I’m doing at the moment is taking part in the Critical Mass playwriting scheme run by the Royal Court theatre. Its a regional scheme with groups based at the Belgrade theatre in Coventry and at the Drum here in Birmingham.

We have a really good tutor and its a great group with some really interesting and funny people so I’m very pleased about that. The course included going to see plays here and there so there’s a social dimension too. The tough bit is coming up with a 1st draft of a play by week 8 of the course so that’s going to be an ask but as my Pa is very fond of saying “if you enlist then you must soldier”.

I’m going to rewrite Skunk in February and also do a treatment/1st draft of my Panther feature idea with a view to making it later in the year – nano budget of course which is in line with my Pragma 2010 Manifesto.

I was a bit surprised that more people haven’t taken an interest in the Pragma idea. I suspect that the requirement to use open source software has freaked those people who feel they have to have expensive software and equipment in order to feel like they’re really filmmakers!

Well the idea behind Pragma is that you dont so I’m just going to have to prove them wrong. I’m happy to say that I have an editor/co-producer volunteer so I’m hoping to shoot some scenes at Easter and slowly chip away at it over the year.

Still trying to get hold of a decent retro but pro camcorder to shoot on but have been offered a PD170 during the Easter and summer holidays so its very likely I’ll be shooting at those times.

Thats all for now. Roll on Spring!

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given whilst learning about the film business over the last few years is to always have other projects in the pipeline. So while my short Skunk and my budget feature idea Paper Aeroplane are my short term goals I’ve also been thinking about my original comedy horror idea Hell Hall.

I’m not a particular fan of horror movies – they scare me – but I have an Aunt who owns a suitably creepy and impressive wing of a stateley home. She has given me permission to shoot there so it would be a shame not to. It helps that her son (and my cousin) Johnny happens to be an actor and film maker too. 40 minutes or so from Birmingham – its ideal for a horror shoot – impressive grounds, cellars, creaky corridors. perfect in every way

This is based on a photo of the actual Hall.

I’ve started a Facebook group (as usual!) for those who want to be involved but the synopsis is as follows:

“Hell Hall is a comedy horror feature film about Johnny – a student who inherits a stately home from the eccentric Aunt who raised him.

His girlfriend and friends are amazed at his good fortune unaware that the property is located over one of the entrances to Hell and all manner of spooks and monsters come and go whilst on their dastardly, murderous business.

When his friends insist on checking out the Hall for its party potential Johnny becomes engaged in increasingly desperate attempts to keep them all alive whilst at the same time trying not to reveal the terrible truth.”

The idea is to spoof various horror conventions and stereotypes whilst also subverting them a bit.

In other news I’m working on a children’s book that will go out on a specialist Iphone platform plus as an e-book. I’m talking to various illustrators about graphic novel projects. I’m doing a couple of new animation scripts for a talented Birmingham based Romanian animator to try and get on the Digishorts scheme and if that wan’t enough daytime I’m writing a user manual for some open source software.

TAFN

B x

I’m pleased to announce that 2 out of the 3 projects I submitted to Screen West Midlands Investment Fund have got through to the next full application stage.

One is my  feature idea Finders Keepers which has an established producer and script editor attached. The other is an exhibition project which I cant really say much more about it other than it too has a lot of talent attached.

I’m also currently rewriting the short another producer is interested in plus a few other top secret bits and pieces.

More as it happens!

The Skunk shoot has had to be postponed until October due to problems with child licencing and insurance so apologies to everyone who was prepared to give up their Bank Holiday weekend in the name of zero  budget film making!

The good news is that the Archer family have kindly agreed to make the location available for the rescheduled shoot so we’re planning to go again in October – probably in half term week.

The other bonus is that it gives me more time with the script and the producers more time in pre-production. This will hopefully result in a much better film that we can all be proud of.

Thats all for now.

PS. If you’re in Brum this Friday and of an artistic bent then you could do worse than the Happy Artists Social Club at The Edge. Runs the last Friday of every month.

Latest news is that I’m going to be shooting another short over the bank holiday weekend with a volunteer cast and crew. I have the location sorted and most of the actors I need and following the first production meeting yesterday probably most of the crew.

This has come about through a collaboration with Leanne Bayliss of Post Office Studios and Simon Lewis Marriot of Artists Being Creative. Leanne is going to to co-produce alongside my own production partner This is England actor Kriss Dosanjh.

She is putting her own team together to make it happen. Simon who had a small part in What Goes Up Must Come Down will have something much more gritty to get his teeth into on this one – as well as helping Leanne and Kriss out with producing it.

So whats it about?

The film is about a dysfunctional middle class family that come together on the death of their domineering father. Following the burial and back at the family home the tension mounts as recrimination and revelation compete for our attention culminating in an unexpected and bitter twist.

The ideas is to get the film into the Foyle Film Festival in Ireland. This is a qualifying festival for BAFTA nominations plus it also has a special award – the LIM Award that can lead to Oscar nominations. So in my opinions its two bites at the cherry if it does well.

At the very least it gives myself and Kriss something to show possible investors in our Paper Aeroplane feature project that we can create compelling drama. Plus the chance of working with some great people.

Cant wait for the 29th.

Watch this space as I think i’ll try to do a making of blog this time.