What's Been Going On

Hello Bloggers

I can't believe I haven't posted anything in almost a month but I have been super busy working on the cut of Marionette and finishing my BA Media (Film) Production degree. Marionette is now finally in it's final stages, I submitted a work in progress cut for my final assessments and when watching it on the big screen realised that the grading was really not what I wanted. The colours looked a little washed out and it really wasn't the sci-fi filmic look that I was striving for in pre-production. So today was spent going through the film giving it a slight green tinge and darking the blacks. The result is so much better than before and I'm much happier with it. I got to say a massive thanks to Adam Georgiou for letting me use his Magic Bullet Mojo plug in on FCP.  All that really needs to be the film now before release is to touch up the special effects on a few shots and just check for any minor glitches that I might have missed.

Although my course is finished it kind of isn't, Marionette is getting screened at the BFI Film Theatre here in Stoke-On-Trent on the 10th June and I have spent the last few days designing promotional material for the film. Below is the A1 board that will grace the lobby of the Flaxman Building here at Staffordshire University, I am really happy with the overall look as it promotes not only the film but me as well and I will admit that I'm a junkie for self promotion.  I decided to drop the initial poster idea as it doesn't show any of the nice stills that were taken on set and doesn't really explain much about the film. The portrait poster with Richard Hand, our Jack Ridley, on is probably my favourite as it just looks so good.

I am finally returning home this weekend for a short break and short rest. I got tickets to see The Kills at Leeds University and I really cant wait but I'm sure come next Wednesday I'll be slaving away on Marionette but it's not a chore as every little tweak makes the film that little bit better. Feel free to leave feedback on the posters and I'll update next week.

Cheers

Marionette Progress

Hello Bloggerians

I realise that it's been almost a month since my last post. Recently some personal issues have been taking precedence over Marionette and my other creative works but I am once again slaving away on the flick. A rough edit was completed today with the footage looking really sweet, no re shoots needed and nothing was missing which is awesome! As the film is now laid down in it's basic form the hard work for me is over as it's now just a case of extending clips or cutting them, adding music and sfx and tweaking like a pro.

I am going to begin working on that teaser trailer I promised like a month ago and that should be on vimeo by the middle of next week. However below is an early poster concept I threw together over the Easter holiday, I was really going for a minimalist, retro look, please leave your feedback and tell me what you think.

Cheers
Rich

Showreel 2011 (v1)

Hello Bloggers

I am back after a haircut and lots of sleeping, however you can't call me lazy as I have finally put together my 2011 showreel. This is version one as I am awaiting some ice hockey footage from a fellow student here at Staffs until then a few more shots of my Red Bull X-Fighters 2010 Entry will have to do. The showreel contains quite a lot of footage from last weeks "Marionette" shoot (nothing with any spoilers in obviously!) and I got to say I am really excited to start putting it all together later this coming week.  The track used on the showreel is Jon Hopkin's "Candles" from one of my favorite films of 2010 "Monsters" if you haven't seen it yet, stop reading what I'm rambling on about and get yourself to blockbuster or something! Speaking of music I have sourced a track that I think would be awesome for the "Marionette" trailer and fingers crossed said trailer will be up on vimeo by this time next week.

Showreel 2011 from Richard Stephenson on Vimeo.

I will update on Marionette's progress later in the week.

Enjoy

Marionette is Shot

Hello Bloggers

This week was the production week for Marionette and what a week. After some serious trouble with other projects earlier this week, I was certain that Marionette simple wouldn't happen, but how wrong I was. The first day was excellent we shot all the exterior of the location in lovely sunny Nantwich along with some interior scenes and today was all about the key creation scene of the film. I firstly have to say a huge thanks to all my cast and crew, Orla Mullan, Richard Hand, Marco El Gabry, Ewan Dyer, Kallan Treadwell, DeeDee Carey, Ben & Paul Spencer and Bobby the Dog. You guys cheered me up so much and really went above and beyond the call of duty, so cheers. Below is the wrap photo (unfortunately some crew couldnt make both days)

I wont be touching the footage until next Monday as Marionette was the last of the trio to be filmed and I am pooped! I've been awake far too long this week and plan to become human again over the weekend, and I'll enter the edit with a full of energy and enthusiasm. More updates will be coming in a few days.

Cheers
Rich

Test Shoot

Hi Bloggers

I have just finished a fantastic test shoot/ rehearsal today with the awesome Richard Hand and the lovely Orla Mullan. I firstly have to thank them for coming to lovely sunny Stoke and a massive thanks to Marco El Gabry a level 2 student here at Staffs who saved my bacon and helped out today. As the weather was so good today I decided to hold the rehearsal in the local park and it's been a nice relaxed day. We had some strong reads of the script, talked over some ideas and a great costume test.

Richard looking scary!

Orla hugging the trees in Hanley Park.

My personal favorite director's pose.

We also took some photos for one of the sets and shot some home video style footage that will crop up in the film. It has been a fun packed day and it was great to get to know Orla and Richard a bit better and to let my Sam Ridley meet Jack Ridley. Judging from the amount of chatter over lunch I think the two were getting along fine. I am now super excited to shoot Marionette and I'm really looking forward to working with Richard, Orla and Len in just under two weeks time. Before then however we have A Baked Mess which roles into production on Sunday...eeek! The production is looking pretty strong and myself and director Steven Cooper are really just waiting to get shooting. I will update on Monday when Baked wraps with all the news and info.

Cheers
Rich

Breakfast on BBC Radio Stoke!

Hello Bloggers

This morning I was on the BBC Radio Stoke Breakfast show, I was interviewed regarding my film "Amicus", the experience was super excited but I was very nervous from about 5AM this morning. The staff at BBC Stoke were really cool and were interested in what I had to say and I can only apologise for all my ums and errs. If you are visiting the site after hearing me this morning, thanks for listening and visiting ,below is a link to Amicus.

Amicus from Richard Stephenson on Vimeo.

As I said on the show Amicus was made on a budget of £400 and I am currently working on three films with similar budgets which I'm hoping will be in festivals along side Amicus later this year. As you can see I update the blog pretty regularly with all my filmy news so keep coming back.

Cheers
Rich

Long Time No Blog!

Hello Bloggers

I've been really really busy the past few weeks on a whole variety of projects. Alongside Marionette, A Baked Mess and Trick Poker work I helped out a friend Jon Parker on a music video for "Road To V" winners "Underline The Sky". I was stills photographer on set and I managed to get some really great shots, the band were really friendly and more than happy for my to snap away, if you get a chance check them out at http://www.myspace.com/underlinethesky. I also helped a fellow level 3 student out on her film which involved me shooting lots and lots of ice hockey footage which was awesome! Nothing can beat violence on ice! below are a few shots of my hectic weekend.

 

 

 

Other good news is that Marionette is finally fully cast. I needed to fill the role of an elderly neighbour and only one man fit the bill, Mr Len Dobson. If you are new to the blog Len was Victor in my previous short Amicus and I'm sure he will once again blow us all away with some superb acting in Marionette, great to have you on board pal! The props for Marionette have also started to fly in, below is a picture of me testing out the outfit that Jack Ridley will wear at a pivotal point in the film.

I'll promise to blog a bit more in the coming hectic weeks.

Cheers
Rich