As I start a new life in Manchester working for Fuzzy Duck Creative as an assistant producer, I look back on what’s been an eventful start to a journey as a filmmaker.
Beginning out as a Youtuber, I used to make football videos with my webcam in my England World Cup strip to show my mates at school. A couple of years later, I made a trailer for my A-Level Media Studies coursework. That’s when I really found a love for putting together videos, and I took up a degree in filmmaking at Staffordshire University.
It was great to learn about making films from various professionals, and we made a short every term – the learning process was invaluable. There is nothing like the learning process of being on a shoot.
One of the first shorts I made was a documentary about a quirky local priest from based in Stoke. The budget was very low and we shot for only a couple of days, but I think it still stands as a strong documentary considering the lack of experience the crew and I had.
Directing Priest in 2010.
It taught me to understand right from the beginning of a project what I want to say with the film - this for me is the most important element.
In 2011, I made two short films. The first was about two brothers grieving over their father. This was the first drama I directed, and I’m still pleased with how I worked with actors Vin Hawke and Craig Hooper. It was definitely a shoot for thick winter socks! This is where I developed a love for directing actors. Right from the start it was an interesting project, as the two main actors Vin and Craig, had contrasting acting methods. The film was shot in just one day, back in 2010.
Discussing camera angles with Camera Operator James Parsons.
Below is the film and a quick behind the scenes Ewan Dyer shot for the film.
The second short I made in 2011 was an experimental non-fiction on two ballet dancers. It was shot around Stoke, and this was the only time I tried ‘experimental filmmaking.’ Part of my research for that film went into how an audience perceives a film, which was an important learning process as a filmmaker. You can see the film below:
It’s been an interesting journey so far as a filmmaker, and the learning process I went through for each of these films was invaluable to me. Even though I believe I’m a stronger filmmaker now than I was back then, it’s important not to forget where I started.
Shooting my first ever video on my webcam in the garden of my parents house in 2006, and shooting my latest film, Pie Money, early 2012. Pie Money will be available to watch on FilmAnnex in early 2013, whilst the football video is locked deep underground, where no-one can find it.
Next week I'll be blogging about life at Fuzzy Duck Creative (http://www.filmannex.com/webtv/fuzzyduckcreative)
