Tag Archives: film news

Mar 6 2013

0117 Hour Digital Short Challenge

 A CREATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE QUARTER
13-19 APRIL 2013

Bristol Film Office, Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival and M Shed present the third edition of the 0117 Hour Challenge, inviting filmmakers, animators, visual and sound artists to make digital shorts focused on the theme of ‘Journeys’ and exploring Bristol Temple Quarter in just 117 hours. This high-energy event is part of a series of Bristol Temple Quarter commissions coordinated by Watershed, Knowle West Media Centre and MAYK, with support from Bristol City Council and Arts Council England.

The 0117 Hour Challenge has been held successfully for the last two years as a short film contest and gained interest as an example of the current Bristol filmmaking scene. For 2013 the brief has been expanded to include visual and sound artists, celebrating the diversity of the city’s creative talents.

Between 13-19 April 2013, teams will be challenged to make a short digital piece of up to 3 minutes in length (drama, documentary, experimental, live action, animation or soundscape) in 117 hours. Work should draw on Bristol, (people, places or life) as themes and inspiration as part of the overall theme of journeys. Each piece must also contain one selected location and another element, both of which will be given to teams during the launch briefing at M Shed on Saturday 13 April. Bristol Film Office is securing locations in the Bristol Temple Quarter, with all location fees waived for participants of the Challenge. In addition, independent production music library Synctracks is providing free access to its catalogue for registered teams, with a choice of thousands of contemporary tracks and an extensive classical collection.

The series of Bristol Temple Quarter commissions aims to engage people with Bristol Temple Quarter through new cultural experiences designed to surprise, question and delight. The commissions are seeking to document the present, reflect on the past and suggest new opportunities – as a location for enterprise; as a connected place for travel to, travel from, or travel through; and by projecting Bristol nationally and internationally.

Watershed Managing Director, Dick Penny said: “The area now designated as the Enterprise Zone has always been an enterprise area based on the transport links of water and rail. Industrial brands of old such as Puritan Soap and Redcliffe Crown Galvanised Iron have been replaced by creative digital brands like E3 Media and IBM. The 0117 Challenge is a great opportunity to showcase creative talent and to engage more people in the BTQ project.”

Encounters Managing Director, Liz Harkman said: “We’re excited to launch the third edition of the 0117 Hour Challenge, following the event’s success in previous years. Opening up the competition to visual and sound artists will no doubt bring new creative perspectives”.

The finished digital shorts will be showcased as part of a celebratory event on Friday 19 April, where the work that incorporates all of the criteria and captures the atmosphere of BTQ most succinctly will be awarded a prize of £1,000 cash by a distinguished jury. The shorts will be shown at further events in the South West and will also join the M Shed museum collections as part of the city’s memory, available for future visitors to experience.

In order to participate, all teams must register online for free at http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk before Thursday 11 April.

 

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Mar 1 2013

New Film: One Night In Istanbul

One Night In Istanbul is a movie adaptation of the sell-out play of the same name,starring Steven Waddington (The Sweeney, Sleepy Hollow, Last of the Mohicans), Paul Barber (Only Fools and Horses, The Full Monty) and Lucien Laviscount (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road).
One Night In Istanbul tells the tale of two down on their luck Liverpool cabbies, Tommy and Gerry, who strike an unusual deal with a local gangster to take their sons on a trip of a lifetime, to watch their beloved football team play in the European Cup Final in Istanbul. Hoping to use the trip as a chance to bond with their sons, big trouble awaits them in the form of a sexy hotel chambermaid, two ruthless crooks on a mission and a bag of counterfeit cash.
It is 3-0 down at half time and things could not be more desperate both on and off the pitch. Stevie G and the boys in red are trying to launch the most amazing football comeback in history, and Tommy is in deep water, being held hostage. With the clock ticking and time running out, a miracle is needed fast. In the end a bit of faith, and Gerry’s lucky underpants may be the only thing that can get them and the cup back home in one piece.
For more information why not visit the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/oniimovie.
Feb 26 2013

Good Vibrations release date

Nominated for three Irish Film and Television Awards, for Best Film, Best Actor (Richard Dormer) and Best Costume, Good Vibrations is the amazing story of Belfast music legend Terri Hoole, the man responsible for discovering The Undertones and recording Teenage Kicks, giving alternative music a chance to flourish in Belfast during the darkest days of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Richard Dormer (Five Minutes of Heaven) stars alongside Jodie Whittaker (Attack The Block, Venus). The film premiered at the London Film Festival in October at the Odeon West End, Leicester Square. Good Vibrations is released in the UK and Ireland by The Works UK Distribution on March 29, 2013.
Terri Hooley is a radical, rebel and music-lover in 1970s Belfast, when the bloody conflict known as the Troubles shuts down his city. As all his friends take sides and take up arms, Terri opens a record shop on the most bombed half-mile in Europe and calls it Good Vibrations. Through it he discovers a compelling voice of resistance in the city’s nascent underground punk scene. Galvanizing the young musicians into action, he becomes the unlikely leader of a motley band of kids and punks who join him in his mission to create a new community, an Alternative Ulster, to bring his city back to life.
Heartwarming and uplifting, Good Vibrations was a hit at the 2012 Galway Film Fleadh where it won Best Irish Feature, it also received the Audience Award at the 2012 Belfast Film Festival and opened Karlovy Vary. It features performances from Liam Cunningham (The Guard, Clash of The Titans), Adrian Dunbar (Ashes to Ashes, Mo), Dylan Moran (Run Fatboy Run, Sean of the Dead), Andrew Simpson (Notes on a Scandal), Mark Ryder (Albatross) and Kerr Logan (Game of Thrones) as Fergal Sharkey. It is the second film from Cherrybomb directing duo Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn and scored by David Holmes(Ocean’s Eleven, Analyze That); Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn and Nathan Connelly, who have known and loved Terri for many years, are executive producers. Producers are Chris Martin, Andrew Eaton, Bruno Charlesworth and David Holmes.

Good Vibrations is out 29 March 2013.

Jan 21 2013

THE FALL OF THE ESSEX BOYS

METRODOME DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES 8th FEBRUARY 2013 RELEASE DATE   

Fall of the Essex Boys, Starring:

Nick Nevern, Robert Cavanah Kierston Wareing & Kate Magowan Peter Barrett, Charlie Bond, Jay Brown, Tony Denham, Simon Phillips, Lucinda Rhodes, Ewan Ross, Joe Stamp, Eddie Webber, Peter Woodward

And Directed by Paul Tanter

The 1995 Rettendon Triple Murder. Not since Jack The Ripper has a killer’s identity so captivated the nation. The gruesome death of three drug dealers has spawned a miniature industry – books, TV programs  merchandise, conventions and – of course – feature films. The appetite for gory detail and suppressed gangland secrets remains unabated, and is constantly titillated further with new tales of football hooliganism, international drug smuggling and police conspiracies of silence.
An 18 year old girl going into a coma after taking an ecstasy pill from a bad batch is the catalyst that sets in motion a series of events that leads to the demise of one of the most infamous criminal organisations in British History.
Detective Inspector Stone steps in to try and put pressure on an untouchable unit of criminals – Pat Tate, Tony Tucker and Craig Rolfe. The Essex Boys. In order to bring the criminals down, he must act out of the law to get things done.
As the Essex Boys grow stronger and more fearless, their addiction to drugs and power slowly starts to spiral out of control and they soon start to develop enemies everywhere.

As Stone starts to see the cracks forming in their organisation and with pressure from his peers he soon realizes that bringing them down will be inevitable but the real test will come when he must find a way of getting his man on the inside out safely.

Out in cinemas 8th February 2013 and on DVD from 18th February 2013

Jan 17 2013

Big Indie Film Sale! Get a Bargain AND Help the Indie Scene! Win Win!

I received an email this morning from our friends over at Spirit Level Film. Instead of me interpreting it for you I figured  hey, why not let you read it for yourself! So here you go!

First off is a 50% discount on all films for just 3 days (ends Sunday night) for all our customers and a very big thank you for supporting us in 2012. Simply use coupon code SLF50 at the checkout. It’s applicable across the board – even the films on special offer already.

Secondly, at last we’ve come to a place where we’re comfortable with our admittedly eclectic mix of motoring, art and politics. Combining this with the great access we have to behind-the-scenes operators who move the worlds of these uneasy bedfellows has resulted in a decision to feature many of the unreported conversations and interviews we have with them on our blog. We’ve no idea how they’ll sit side by side but at least it’ll give you an all too rare and first-hand insight from source before you get to hear about it in the news.

First up is politics, with a seriously tough, secret negotiator, next is an exclusive with one of the great petrolhead film directors.

We’ll also be launching our sneak preview section – where you can watch extended previews from all our films. Bear with us on this one, it’s under development and got a few days more work – we’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime – here’s wishing you a happy, healthy year to come with everything you could wish for yourselves.

Spirit Level Film is a fantastic website aimed at the distribution of both indie news and products! These websites are all too rare these days so get on over there and see for yourself. Pick up some amazing bargains and see some truly brilliant and inspirational films from the wonderful world of independent cinema! http://www.spiritlevelfilm.com/

Here is a trailer to a documentary series WatchReadReview have worked with and is just one of the many films available:  

Long Live Indie!

Jan 16 2013

Child star from ‘Mr Selfridge’ to star in British feature film ‘Spiritual Contact

London, UK – January, 27th 2013 – Adam Wilson is a 12 year old boy and like all 12 years olds he likes to play games and have fun. But this particular 12 year old is extraordinarily driven to become a film star. Adam made his small screen debut last Sunday in the first episode of ITV’s new period drama ‘Mr Selfridge’. But playing the Son of Jeremy Pivens’ lead character isn’t all he’s been up to recently. He will be starring in a new British feature film called Spiritual Contact, playing the lead character in a story about a boy who discovers his gift of seeing spirits and his struggle to overcome this.

The premiere of Spiritual Contact will take place on the 27th January 2013 at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, with a first come, first serve one-off screening for the public taking place at 11.30am that day. Adam and the rest of the cast and crew will be attending to answer questions, take photographs and talk about the movie. The movie is an independently produced (True Story!) feature film from Atalaia Films. It see’s a directorial debut for it’s director working with a large international crew. The director, Emerson Pinheiro said of his leading character “Adam was amazing to work with, his ability to find the character and his portrayal of the character is what got him the job. I’m sure he’ll go far!” That’s not to say that he is not a normal mischievous boy “on this set, I wouldn’t say that necessarily I have been bad!” said Adam in one post film interview before explaining how the director would keep him focused “But Emerson is very good, very comforting in a way, I kinda like that” Even Director of Photography, Dave Moyle was impressed “He’s a good kid, you know.” he said “he is a normal boy who likes to have fun, but when you tell him to get into character, he just does, in a second!”The film is set to be released in the UK this summer, with an advanced screening in Finchley this month and a chance to meet and greet the cast and crew. But something tells me that Adam won’t have to wait until the summer for his next big job! you can check out the trailer of the film right here:
ATALAIA FILMS was founded in February 2011 by Emerson Pinheiro with the intention of making films based on true stories. The first project that was written by Emerson was Spiritual Contact. This movie is based in Emerson’s auto biography that happened to him when he was at the age of 11 years in Brazil in 1995. It brings a message about the Spiritual World and how this 11 year old (JEREMIAH) was able to break down the barriers of the human world and the spiritual world. In order to protect the identities of the family involved it has been written in English and shot in London, but all facts remain the same. Atalaia Films now has a diverse crew with an array of talent. Spiritual Contact is now completed and writing has begun for the next project!.
PRODUCTION : ATALAIA FILMS
OFFICIAL SPIRITUAL CONTACT WEB SITE
A Moc Mob Scene & The Amazing Talking Alien Baby Episode I The Phantom Lender
Aug 16 2012

A Moc Mob Scene & The Amazing Talking Alien Baby Episode I The Phantom Lender

This eccentric film created by Michael J Kirkland. “A Moc Mob Scene & The Amazing Talking Alien Baby Episode One: The Phantom Lender” is a chase you around the block, Get you to the comedy payoff. With this and that you’re bound to cling on to your neighbour’s chair. A Moc Mob Scene & The Amazing Talking Alien Baby is an experimental comedy, don’t stub your toe. This most spectacular story starts in our very own Galaxy when Leo & Corina, brother & sister crash land on Earth. They find suitable habitats while intermingling with the native humans. But… This is not a story not about them.

It’s a story about their children. Leo Jr AKA “The Mob Boss” is trusted with his baby sister Zargoosh, as his father Leo is in seclusion due to the death of his late wife Zintha. She died in a game of hide the spaceship behind the comet. But her spirit and sharp tongue lives on in her daughter. Zargoosh tries to grasp the loss of her mother, secluded father, and a brother with a non-combatant way of life. She also suffers from a bout of diarrhoea. On top of that & the daily business of Leo Jr. We’re all in for a treat.

Michael J Kirkland, Rio Ahn, Darin Munnell, Allister David Herz, Donald McKinney III, Colleen Love Morgan, Ryan Kain. With voices from Devyn MJ Kirkland, Jennifer Cross, Jeff Perdue, Mike Ciriaco, Frank Lyon, Deborah Rombaut, Gene Loveland and Elia Cubillas. Music By Jak Frost, Fat Tatty Fat Band and more.

This is Michael J. Kirkland’s directoral debut, and what a debut it is. Michael is better known for his acting, starring in such indie films as Choices, Machete Betty and even co-starred in an episode of the television series House back in 2009. Now Michael is turning his hand to directing, a move you will not be disappointed with.

One of the best things about this film is the cinemaphotography at both the beginning and the end. They are basically still images of various places and people all made to look like some form of painting. The colours and actual images used is just outstanding. Effects such as these are rarely seen in films, so to come across it in an independent film is just fantastic.

Another thing which was amusing was the radio chat voice over in certain parts of the film. The chat was funny and entertaining and carried out so fluidly that you actually believe this is a real station somewhere. It almost brings to mind some of the funny chatter you hear on some of the Grand Theft Auto game radio stations. This is something I would love to hear more in the second episode.

To see such independent work as this is what the indie scene is all about and is what WatchReadReview love to cover. If you want the same old story of boy meets girl or ‘we must fight for our freedom’ then head on over to Hollywood films. But if you are looking for something different, something unique and, at times, a little crazy then the indie scene is for you, this feature is for you.

If you’re ready to see something a little different then I have provided the link to this featurette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4WbJ4qfYg&feature=youtu.be. Stay tuned for ‘A Moc Mob Scene & The Amazing Talking Alien Baby Episode II The Search For Zargoosh’.

But indie films such as this are not made out of nothing, they do need some funding. Click the link and purchase a copy of this wonderfully quirky feature and in doing so you will be directly funding the production of episode two of this series. So here is the link, click and support the indie scene today: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QOAK4C/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

To find out more about this series and the makers behind it and to also show your support, hit the link and ‘like’ the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MJKFatty

Also if you want to find out more about indie film-maker Michael J. Kirkland and his other projects, both past and present, then hit the link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1026477/

Michael is currently in pre-production and raising funds for his feature length film, ‘A Miraculous Nightmare Survival Through Faith’. This will film in USA, Belize and Mexico.

Written by Oliver Willis

Introducing: Predator One
Aug 14 2012

Introducing: Predator One

What if our nation’s enemies finally got smart? What if, instead of spending billions on religious fanatics, they hired a team of battle-hardened mercenaries to do their dirty work, and maintained for themselves a deniable position from the comforts of their own homelands?

This question, posed by film-maker Chris Ross Leong, jump-starts the plot of his contemporary warfare film, Predator One. The film explores the latest technology available to modern military forces and, specifically, the increasing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

A new technology demands a new skill set, and Predator One reveals that warfare is becoming less about soldiers risking their lives for their country, and more like a highly-advanced video game. It’s a technology that allows military personnel to sit back, hundreds of miles from the frontline, and operate UAV’s via a screen and a ‘game’ controller.

Being able to identify and destroy the enemy remotely, with no danger to the operator, seems to be the perfect military solution. That is until your very own technology is used against you.

Predator One sees a sharp but ageing U.S. Air Force pilot and his sensor Operator completing their final work shift at a remote base. They hand over the last of America’s first generation UAVs, Predator One, to their replacements — a team of irreverent, game-playing youngsters. America’s new generation of ‘Remote Tech’ soldiers come with third generation long-range stealth combat drones. These guys are out to ‘squash the bugs’ that are today’s enemies.

But soon after hand-over, the base is assaulted by an unidentified combat unit. The newly-arrived team of Tech soldiers, with only basic training under their belts, don’t stand a chance against battle-hardened veterans. The advanced weapons are seized, and turned against the United States.

A band of U.S. combat veterans, previously posted on the base, have escaped the carnage. Together with the newly-retired USAF pilot and his sensor Op, they must combine traditional tactics with their superior technological knowledge in a desperate last-ditch attempt to stop the enemy. They must fight the old fashioned way; on the ground, up close, and very personal.

In Predator One, Chris addresses the central issue of how technology distances soldiers from the battle and how that has a significant negative impact.

On the ground, troops are able to judge a situation, and make decisions based on immediate information.

But a soldier sitting in front of a video screen with a controller in his hand has a completely different perspective.

How are strategic decisions now made? Can a situation be fully understood and correctly assessed? Do conscience, morality and the rules of engagement shift when a Tech solider confronts a ‘bad guy’ on screen? Is traditional warfare itself a relic of the past, or will it always be with us?

These are just some of the questions Chris Leong asks in Predator One.

This exciting project is still in its early stages but here at WatchReadReview I will be following step by step and keeping you updated. Watch this space people.

Written by Oliver Willis

Project Evolution
Aug 6 2012

Project Evolution

It’s the age old battle between man and nature. Dr Amir Khan is one of the world’s leading scientists, a man who has achieved everything possible in his respective field. He is head of genetics at the Eureka Institute of research. With the world of science at his feet he decides to embark on his most difficult challenge yet, challenging nature itself.

His proposition being the next stage in human evolution achieved by altering the human genes. Unfortunately not everyone shares in Dr Khan’s ambitions and the institute swiftly closes down his project.

But great men such as Dr Khan are not deterred by such minor set backs and so he decides to continue with his research. Despite the warnings of his colleague and friend Helena, he takes his work home with him and begins a video diary to mark his groundbreaking work.

Everything seems to be going well, but when tackling nature, nothing is certain. The positive effects the experiment has had on Dr Khan suddenly take a turn for the worse. It turns into a race against time as Dr Khan fights to reverse the effects of his experiment. Khan finds out all the quickly, when man challenges nature, nature strikes back.

This is the second feature from writer, director and actor Shiraz Khan. The first being I Am Cursed which was again written, directed and starred Shiraz. From what I have seen of Project Evolution I can honestly say looks excellent. The lighting and camera work looks outstanding, creating the aura of mystery and horror as these armed men are fighting a force unknown to the audience.

The ‘found footage’ aspect is something very popular at the moment, especially with horror films. If the entire film is indeed found footage then this could be some very interesting work indeed. The cast look like an interesting bunch, all independent actors and headed up by Shiraz Khan himself.

What I love about these types of projects is the involvement of the film-maker throughout the entire production. Because Shiraz is also starring in this feature it ensures this sense of continuity and completion. Shiraz taking the lead role in this film tells us this is a man who is passionate about this film and has confidence in its success. Fantastic stuff and I am eagerly awaiting the end result.

To find out more about this fantastic feature head on over to: http://www.projevolution.co.uk

Written by Oliver Willis

Terence Davies
May 16 2012

Terence Davies Set to Direct Sunset Song

Fortissimo Films announced today that it has acquired the international rights to Sunset Song, from celebrated British filmmaker Terence Davies. Both Peter Mullan (Trainspotting, War Horse) and rising film and stage actress, Agyness Deyn have signed on to star in this highly anticipated production based on the 1932 classic novel of the same name by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. The film represents Fortissimo’s return to British films.

Davies recently enjoyed critical and commercial success with The Deep Blue Sea. Prior to that he had directed his homage to Liverpool, Of Time and the City, and The House of Mirth. Deyn, earlier this year received acclaim for her West End performance in The Leisure Society and Peter Mullan was most recently seen in Steven Spielberg’s box office hit War Horse.

Bob Last’s Holdings Ecosse Ltd, developed the project together with Davies. Sunset Song is set to go into production towards the end of the year and will be produced by Sol Papadopoulos & Roy Boulter of Hurricane Films with Bob Last executive producing.

Set in the early 20th century, against the backdrop of the poverty of North-East Scotland, and the looming war, Chris Guthrie (Agyness Deyn), the eldest daughter of poor farmers barely making it, struggles for love amid hardship and family misfortune. After her mother, broken by a life of poverty and repeated child-birth poisons herself and her new baby twins, the ever resilient young Chris must manage the farm. Subsequently she is forced to deal with father who has a stroke yet is eager to have an incestuous relationship with his daughter, compelling her to use all her wits to hold the family together and not lose the farm. Finally she finds love, only soon to see her new husband depart for the Great War. While all this goes on, she remains wedded to the farm, connected to a land about to be changed forever by the onset of technology and war.

Actress Agyness Deyn said, “When I read the script I fell completely in love with the character and the story, I’m so honoured and excited to be working with Terence, he’s such an incredible director. I can’t wait to get started and just hope that I can do Chris Guthrie justice!”

The deal for the film was negotiated between the Producers and Fortissimo Films’ London based VP of Acquisitions Courtney Noble who said: “Terence Davies is a true visionary and Fortissimo has admired and wanted to work with him for almost twenty years. We are delighted and honoured to be involved with him and his production partners on Sunset Song.”

Executive producer Bob Last said, “After The House of Mirth, I was determined to make another film with Terence. He is such a cinematic master, with a vision that is at one and the same time richly beautiful and austere. Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s intimate epic seemed perfectly suited; a powerful story of love and loss set against the onset of modernisation, a theme that continues to resonate in today’s rapidly changing world. The opportunity to bring Peter Mullan and Agyness Deyn together with Terence and to work with the team that produced his Of Time and the City could not be missed.”

Sol Papadopoulos & Roy Boulter of Hurricane Films said “We feel Fortissimo are the perfect fit for this project and we look forward to working with their incredible team to bring Terence Davies’ vision to screens around the world.”

Fortissimo will commence its pre- sales activities at the upcoming Cannes market.