My Films Up Until Now

I think that we better take a look at some of the amateur films I have made thus far. These were all done over the last three years in my spare time with school friends who are as equally passionate as myself. Just bare it mind, if you will, that at this time, these were made before I had any formal film training, save two years of much loved Media Studies.

1. Chasing Hope

This film is called "Chasing Hope" and is a short documentary about unemployment in England. It focuses on Dominic Parker, a journalism graduate, who has since found no work and is continually seeking employment.

Looking back on the film, I can't say that I like it. In a way, I suppose it reflects how I was feeling at the time I made it (having just left friends behind in New Zealand and having moved some place I possible hated more, I must say I was tad miserable.) But still, I think technically it is one of my brighter films and love the visuals in the beginning.



This is my latest film and first soiree into professional filmmaking. Of course, it wasn't absolutely professional, but there were some aspects that made me giddy! Firstly, it was funded by an American film production company, Real Ideas Studios, who are based in San Diego. I had to send constant photographs, sequences and updates to my producer, Ron Eltanal, back in the States to make sure that he agreed with my personal vision of the project. He in turn sent back notes. My personal favourite note, if I may toot my own horn, was;

"You have shot some really spectacular cinematography. You have a terrific eye. The shot with the columns is beautiful."

Reading that, I felt rather pleased with myself and finally, I sent the film to the studios. On another note, I earned quite a bit of cash off that film - the first money I've made from filmmaking!Real Ideas Studios took the film to Cannes Short Film Corner where it premiered alongside other shorts. I was in Paris at the time of the festival and unfortunately couldn't make it down to Cannes, which was quite a downer. But hey! I'll be back in no time with something bigger and better.

2. Blackbird

The film above is "Blackbird". This is an abstract piece focusing on the Iraq war and the issue about oil. The film follows a young man who has gone blind and so falls into depravity because of his lack of awareness. Though the film doesn't follow a narrative as such, I do believe that the metaphors throughout serve as a strong indication to the overall ideas presented. Below that is a publicity shot of myself directing and Samora O'Neill on set.

This film went to Cut! National Film Festival in Hamilton, New Zealand, where it won the "Best Actor" award for Samora O'Neill. As you will undoubtedly see, Samora is one of the leading actors in all of my films and proves himself time and time again that he has a future in front of the camera. Not only that, but he also composed and performed the music for "Blackbird." A very talented young man indeed and I'm privileged to call him a dear friend! You can find his music at www.samoraland.com where he showcases Royalty Free music with the ability to download for use in any films.


Samora and I at Cut Film Festival in Hamilton.

3. Liber-rat

The next film on my list is a film which was shot a little while earlier for 48hours Film Festival. The short film is called "Liber-rat" and follows a group of animal rights activists and their fall from grace. At the beginning, their work is moral and pure, but as time takes it's toll, they proceed to commit acts of violence and vandalism, protecting animals by force.

At the 48Hours Film Festival briefing, your team is given a genre of film picked out of a hat. My team, "Ultra Cool X Productions," was unfortunately given the genre of 'animal film.' Deciding not to dub over footage of my pet dog, we decided to explore the idea of what makes something animal, focusing on a reliance on our primordial instincts and a lack of rational thought. This transition, from human to animal, occurs when one renegade activist plants a bomb in a testing facility, causing the group to turn against one another and attack. We didn't win anything for this film, but were just happy to get it in on time under the 48 hour time limit.

4. HK

"HK" is a poetic documentary I shot in Hong Kong last December while I went there on holiday with the family. It was just a bit of fun and subsequently, I haven't entered it into any film festivals.

I'm choosing not to upload the film because I used music on it for which I haven't applied for the rights, but I will post up some stills from the film below because I believe they are quite inspiring.




and the compulsory shot of me behind the camera



5. Beyond Reason

This is "Beyond Reason" the first 48 hours film we ever made, shot in 2007. We had such an amazing time making this and such a crappy week afterward that I have mixed feelings about the whole experience. Unfortunately, we never managed to get the film in on time due to technical problems and so it wasn't shown on the big screen. I remember all of us sitting in the car, half naked and dirty, as we desperately tried to burn the film to DVD. We could hear the countdown from inside the car so we leaped out, laptop in hand, hoping to pull it out at the last moment. Unfortunately, we were just outside when "TECHNICAL ERROR" appeared on screen. I have to tell you, there's not really a worse feeling then standing unwashed, wearing one shoe and totally beaten in the middle of the inner city. It was tough and the week after at school was just appalling.