Signature Films

A Happy Christmas, Winter Diva's and Nostalgia reign over us all, coz it's cold outside.

2011-12-21T10:37:00.001Z

I have been working on a new film over the the past couple of months, a bit of fun, but it gets my editing chops back working. 'Danny Boy' consists of some old Super 8mm footage of Scotland, mixed in with some brand new stuff shot recently on my iphone and all edited to the strains of the said traditional Irish song, sung by the one and only Cher in 1969. The recording is a live one, and is accompanied with all the plush and lush of a dinner dance cabaret set.. a perfect swinging 'murder'.. of a song written in the early 20th Century

As I said the film is a little bit of fun and I think given the introduction (which is cribbed from a Ridley Scott intro to the extended edition of Gladiator), not intended to be taken that seriously.... Having said that, I don't think it is possible to make anything that is entirely 'throwaway'... so make of it what you will and above all.. enjoy.

2012, will bring a new film project, a return to painting and possibly a new blog to accompany all of this new activity.

As the great Dave Allen used to say:

Good Night.. Drive Safe.. and if you have one, may your God go with you.

Funfairs, the Rolling Stones and the birth of Cinema

2011-10-09T15:18:00.001+01:00

On the Video page I have added a new film - Dreamland: about the funfair that exists every year for 2 days in the middle of Oxford. It has a lot in common with 'Market' in that I wanted to film not just the public face, but also the 'behind the scenes' to bring to life the people who make the fair happen and to put on film, a world that you don't normally see, same as 'Market'.

I think it is part of the 'juice' of film-making for me, to go out and discover what is behind what you see everyday, bring it to life and set that as part of the journey of the film, as much as the finished article. The music used in the film is 2000 Light Years from Home (The Rolling Stones)

Street fairs are endlessly fascinating places, eruptions of misrule in the midst of normality, where everyone lets their hair down for a while, has fun, gets scared, excited, thrilled, eats endless quantities of bad food and lest we forget, is where the earliest moving images where displayed to an excited public.

As the home of the bizarre and the surreal, fairs where often the places people came to see the latest novelty films of boxing Kangaroo's, exotic Kings and Queens of far off lands, and the latest celebrity dancers and actresses, performing short pieces for the camera. There is a fascinating archive held at the University of Sheffield which chronicles the history of St Giles and many other Fairs: National Fairground Archive - look out for the photograph from the early years of the 20th Century - showing the entrance to the 'Acme of Living Pictures', displayed by the 'Wardoculargraph' no less.

The idea of a film as a fairground attraction has never left us. It is only a small leap from the sensation films of the Victorian Era to the present day kinetic (often 3d) thrill rides we have today, films such as Transformers, Avatar and Clash of the Titans. Speed, sensation, the rush of colour and light contained in the 'Tentpole' studio films (those films destined to act as money-making centres around which the profits of a major studio output relies - again note the fairground allusion) are just the latest offspring of those early films displayed side by side with the roundabouts and the ferris wheels which our distant ancestors strolled past in their sunday best.

Ironic that those early films sat cheek by jowl with emporia selling all kinds of popcorn and candyfloss, just as today those multi-screen venues exist to sell confectionery, with a film thrown in as a bonus.

Enjoy Dreamland.

The UK Government Film Policy Review

2011-09-04T11:18:00.000+01:00

So the period for submissions to the government Film Policy Review (FPR - it already has its own accronym) is now closed. And the next phase in the troubled relationship between public subsidy and the commercially driven film industry begins.

Where are we right now? And what can we expect / hope for? Well more accronyms for a start.

There have been 100's of submissions from individuals and organisations claiming a stake in the new 'land grab' that has inevitably followed the cull of the UK Film Council (UKFC) and the (attempted) disbanding of the remaining Regional Screen Agencies (RSA's - those 9 public bodies charged under the UKFC to support film and digital media across the country).

As has been known for many months the British Film Institute, (BFI) is the 'Golden Child' politically annointed by a Right Wing government, tired of the continued existence of a New Labour Quango (the UKFC). The BFI will be the 'one stop shop' the all encompassing strategic and lottery distributing 'basket' for all things film, from preservation to Exhibition, from Production to Sales and Distribution. I hope the 'wicker work' is solid - and given the recent resignation of the Head of Production (Tanja Segatchian) and rumours of further discontent, you do wonder.

Well at least we know that the RSA's are now no more, their work to be taken on by a new national, er Quango, called Creative England.

Well no, actually we dont know that for certain either, since many of the RSA's incensed by the speed of the establishment of Creative England, are refusing to go quietely and are busy raging against the dying of the light, insisting that their 'brands' and their bases as regional centres and foci of regional screen activity built up over the past 8 years, should not simply be subsumed into a new body.

So. We have the BFI newly minted as the strategic force in film, looking to Whitehall around January for the direction they will be given to forge ahead, a bit like a surprised and slightly befuddled Queen Bee, irritated and wooed in equal measure by a series of suitors eager for some Honey.

Creative England (divided into Creative North, South and Midlands), Film London, the remaining Screen Agencies outside the capital, myriad trade Associations, and Training providers, are all eyeing warily the situation and each other, like nervous courtiers, newly arrived at Versailles, wondering which knife and fork to use at the new big table.

So no wonder we who work in the sector despair at the politics of it all.

What can we expect? More twists and turns before anyone will be in a position to actually DO anything to support Film in the UK.

What can we hope for? Maybe the sand pit could be raked over flat and we can all play nice. mmmm

A new (old) short film – the how, the why… and turning corners

2011-09-04T10:24:00.002+01:00

From time to time I want to re-post here some short filmsfrom my archive and trace some thoughts about film-making and how I got here from there. First up is RM159my tribute to the Routemaster Bus in London. I have put it into the VIDEO PAGE. Made in 2005 and filmed in thelast few days of the Routemaster route number 159 in Brixton. This was apivotal film for me to make as I had been in the doldrums for quite a time,having had a bad experience on a previous film and I had lost a lot ofconfidence and desire to make films. A competition came along and I respondedas it was so open and I could make a film the way I wanted to make it. Myfriend Tom Miles composed the music, the first time we collaborated together (and we have worked together ever since), I borrowed a camera and just filmed. Itwas a wonderfully liberating experience, no script needed, no crew, no budgethassles, me, my brain and what was in front of the lens.

I thinkwith this film, I turned a corner. Film-making became fun and something I wasagain passionate about, and more importantly I had found a way to play with thematerial of what was filmed, as raw material that I could do anything with –even to running sequences upside down. I think I also got to realize this washow I wanted to make films, I wasn’t a ‘Director’ with a career trajectorybased on making short films, promo’s, commercials, some TV and then features.Nope, I was and am, an artist with an artistic angle on what I do, and whatappeals to me is what I can achieve with what lies all around me.

You can view the film here: Video Page

Wim Wenders, Aardvarks and Nefertiti - Berlin 1987

2011-08-29T19:10:00.002+01:00

Serendipity is a wonderful word - in the new Pictures section of this blog are some suitably black and white photo's of Berlin taken on a chilly Autumnal trip in 1987, just before the Berlin Wall was torn down. Having just re-watched Wim Wenders fabulous film Wings of Desire they seem appropriate and they were taken the same year the film was released, which I had not realised before. The film is a wonderful love letter to Berlin and a divided Germany, and watching it again I kept thinking how much more alive and vital and relevant these kinds of arthouse films are, than virtually 90% of what is served up nowadays. And it got me thinking of Berlin.

Wandering through Berlin in 1987 was a strange experience, full of surreal encounters. I learnt the meaning of the word 'Earth Pig'' (which prompted me to try and adopt one from London Zoo.. another story).. I stood next to microphones used by Hitler (utterly chilling), I watched an American girl dance naked in a Gay Bar that was entirely covered in Astroturf, and I saw this, the most beautiful sculpture of Nefertiti.

Berlin a wonderfully serendipitous city.

MARKET - The life and Times of Bermondsey Antiques Market: DVD FOR SALE

2011-08-19T11:39:00.000+01:00

Well finally it is here - online for people to buy - if you would like a copy of 'Market' you can by contacting me: signaturekd@virginmedia.com - price is £11.00 including P&P.

The film is 30 minutes long and contains archive material mixed with present day footage to show the evolution of Bermondsey Antiques Market from earliest times in Islington as 'The Caledonian' in the 1930's to present day regeneration in the heart of one of the most sought after areas in London. As an historical document the film is held in the London Metropolitan Archives and the Museum of London and has been shown 5 times to great audience reaction since being completed in September 2010. I have been very pleased with the reaction, and as a proud Londoner (well of 12 years), I want to share this with as many people as possible.

So as they say in all the ad's.. hurry while stocks last (actually I have a fair few, but do hurry by all means)..

Cy Twombly and film-making

2011-07-30T16:12:00.000+01:00

The great Cy Twombly died recently - one of the most revered and influential American abstract painters of the past 50 years. Above my computer, i have two postcards, one of the Carl Andre Bricks (Equivalent VIII) - see it here on which i have scrawled the words 'nobody knows anything'; and a Twombly painting (Ferragosto V): - see it here on which i have scrawled the phrase 'Genius comes in many forms'. I look at both artworks often and combined with my scribble, they constantly remind me that when being creative, you must follow your own nose - don't be put off by what others say and what is often derided is more often than not accepted sooner or later.

But i just wanted to point whoever is reading this, to see Cy Twombly's work, his history, his philosophy and if you get the chance, see his work in the flesh (and they are fleshy) you can see them at Dulwich until September 2011. I first saw his work in a retrospective at the Whitechapel in 1988 and it is the ONLY time, i have been to an exhibition and been utterly utterly blown apart by the sheer energy, and passion and visceral thrill of painting. Canvas after Canvas of erudite slashs, scribbles, rubbings out, scrawled words, classical phrases, obscured symbols, captivating brushwork pulling against tottering formal scaffolding. And i know (and have many friends) who will look at this and be appalled by the sheer childishness and crudity of what he did, and many people take comfort in the argument that 'a child of six could do that...'

All i will say is go and look, and think about what you're looking at, and if nothing else, just be carried away by the sheer thrill of these paintings. No child of six can make marks like this.

and when i am editing, and thinking of my work, i think about the layers of meaning and layers of information in Twombly's work, and how these beautiful accidents of images collide and reveal each other. you still have to connect with an audience and that usually means having some kind of narrative and character to hang onto, but i like to think you can still sneak in the odd Twombly-esque flourish occasionally.

'Market' latest updates

2011-06-06T17:59:00.001+01:00

'Market' latest updates

Apologies for the silences, feels like it has been a busy 6 months into 2011. Market had an incredibly successful screening in March to Stallholders and locals at Shortwave cinema We had local press down as the Stallholders gave John Sowle an antique silver salver in recognition of his and his dad Fred's loyal service to the market over 60 years - providing the distinct and unique wooden stalls and supporting the Market through thick and thin. It was a lovely event.

I have also been busy working up a festivals list for submitting the film to festivals around the country. Maybe a long-shot given the running time but worth it. hopefully positive news to follow.

... And sad to say dissapointing news regarding the potential of a screening at Tate Modern. We just could not find a way to put a programme together around the film, coupled with changes coming to the Community Film Programme, we had to abandon the idea.

Never mind it was great exploring the potential and Tate liked the film so positives did come out of this, with doors left open for the next project.... And on that cliffhanger... I'm off!

Best

Kevin

Sent from my iphone

www.signature-films.com

Art

2011-06-04T17:52:00.003+01:00

i was visiting the Tate Watercolour show recently, and like visiting a lot of exhibitions, i realised i wasn't concentrating on what was in front of me, so much as being inspired by simply being there. and i got to thinking that it is not the content so much sometimes that inspires as just the mere fact that it exists, that we do it, we make art, images in all sorts of different media in all sorts of ways in order to tell and retell the world to each other. we may not like what artists do and question whether, they are wasting our time or their's, but.. it is out there.

And that is what is inspiring sometimes, to always to carry on, to try to add to this outpouring of what it means to look at the world, be in the world and want to comment on it and try to connect with an idea, however bizarre, childish seeming or crude or beautiful or whatever.

And by the way, of course i did look at the show and there are some fantastic images there, especially the turn of the century Raphaelites and the landscapes. There is an Edward Burra which will blow your socks off.

Best
Kevin
Sent from my iphone
www.signature-films.com

NEW SCREENING DATE - FRIDAY 11TH MARCH AT MIDDAY

2011-02-22T20:07:00.000Z

Thanks to the continuing support of Rob at Shortwave Cinema, i can confirm we have the next screening date for the film which is FRIDAY 11TH MARCH at 12pm. This is the screening primarily for all the stallholders at Bermondsey Square who can make it, postponed from December because of the bad weather.

I hope as many stallholders, local people, councillors, and anyone connected with the development can make it along for what I hope will be an enjoyable lunchtime!

Had a good meeting with Tate Gallery last week, we are continuing to explore plans for a screening later in the year, dependent on a good themed programme in which the film can slot into, possibly with a Q and A / discussion panel. Will keep you updated.

and finally, sad news from the London Metropolitan Archives who have cancelled the screening slot in August due to Budget cutbacks around Film Archive work. Very short-sighted decision if you ask me, much in keeping with so much that is happening currently under this Conservative led government - never mean to get political here, but for God's sake how much of our infrastructure is going to be undermined and dissolved before we wake up and kick them out.. ?

over and out.

progress progress - archives and new screenings

2011-02-12T21:06:00.000Z

Various things beginning to bear fruit i hope. I have a meeting next week with Tate Modern who liked the film, and hoping to explore further the idea of screening there; also Museum of London liked the film and i am arranging a meeting in the next couple of weeks to see how the film can be taken into the archive at the Museum. and finally London Metropolitan Archives have programmed the film for an August screening and Q and A. Fab.

Also have a new screening to promote soon at Shortwave Cinema in Bermondsey Square for the Stallholders and locals to finally view the film, very exciting to finally show it to the one group of people who figure so hugely within the story and without who etc..

so onward and upwards!!

Progress on new screenings

2011-02-05T13:51:00.000Z

been a productive few weeks into the new year. London Metropolitan Archives have taken the film into their collection and it will be shown (hopefully in the summer) with a Q and A with your's truly, which is great. We are almost there with a new date for screening at the Shortwave Cinema in Bermondsey Square, and we have a meeting coming up with Tate Modern to see if we can put the film on as part of their community programme. Good to know it is still getting out there.

Archive libraries, future screenings, etc etc..

2010-12-19T17:25:00.000Z

Almost done here for 2010. I have been busy making contacts with various Archive Libraries around London that i hope will take the film in 2011. (as this was always a way of saying thank you for all their support, and making the Market story more widely available). I have a meeting with London Metropolitan Archives in January, and a copy of the film will also wing it's way to Professor Ian Christie at Birkbeck College for their collection too. Fingers crossed the British Council will also want to take the film under their wings, they have a copy pending and finally TATE Modern are considering it for their film programme.

Next up will be re-scheduling the screening for stallholders at Shortwave cinema, and looking at film festivals across the world that the film could show at. Still lots to do to get the film out to audiences.

It has been a very busy final few months with finishing the edit and getting screenings sorted, but also very very gratifying to see the response the film gets everytime i show it. Makes the years of work worthwhile!

Merry Christmas.

MARKET SCREENINGS UPDATE - screening cancelled 3/12

2010-12-02T23:46:00.002Z

Had a fabulous screening at Shortwave in Bermondsey Square on Wednesday night. Around 35-40 people braved the cold to attend and gave the film a really enthusiastic reception which was incredibly heartening. Warmed the cockles it really did.

BUT.. we have CANCELLED the Screening this Friday 3rd December scheduled for 12pm as we have spoken to the stallholders at the market and it was felt the weather is too harsh to allow many of them to travel into London. We will reschedule and will post the new dates here soon

DVD created !!!

2010-11-27T12:27:00.002Z

Exciting news - i managed to finish the design of the 'Market' DVD and got this replicated in the past week. it is looking good, fingers crossed, so we will have it in time for the screening on 1st December. Here is a pic of the DVD cover design... don't ask me why the orange, i just like it..

New Screening dates announced for Market film

2010-11-14T13:41:00.003Z

Happy to say we have new screening dates for the film. We will be screening next at Shortwave Cinema on WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 7PM and again on FRIDAY 3RD DECEMBER at 12pm. We may have more screenings on Friday 3rd as this is also the extended opening hours for Xmas of the Antiques Market. Glad that the Friday screening is happening as I am hoping as many of the stallholders as possible will be able to take a break and see the film. I will try also to screen a short called RM159 before the film as I have tried this out recently and it seems to work in putting the film into a visual and thematic context.

'Market' - the numbers and the perils of film-making

2010-10-30T12:46:00.002+01:00

Many apologies for the silence since September. it has been a period of enforced absence due to a prolapsed disc injury in my neck, caused in no small part to finishing off Market, which almost finished me off. That got me thinking of the numbers associated with the making of the film (some exact, some approximate).

So as a bit of fun...

length of production: 4 years, 9 months

Rushes: 30 Hours

33 Filming days (including 2 x 3am starts)

11 months of editing

7 visits to Archive Libraries

89 Flasks of Coffee during the edit

445 cups of Tea

35 Sainsbury's Toffee Fudge Sundaes

2 Camera's

1 prolapsed disc (C7)

... and some very odd dreams caused by exhaustion. I hope i am on the mend, the next few weeks will tell. More screenings information to follow for November.

Screening 18.9.10

2010-09-19T10:57:00.004+01:00

Thank you to everyone who came along last night to the premiere screening of the film. It was a truly memorable occasion to show the film first in Bermondsey Square as part of Bermondsey Festival. Big shout out to Rob at Shortwave and the team behind the projection. Finally at around 7.40 we hit play and there it was. A great response from everyone, some lovely, lovely comments, friends came from afar, and it was (honest) funny to watch the kids in the square, making shadows on the screen as it played, impatient to see Wizard of Oz!! and by the way Wizard of Oz was yet again magical. A great evening all round, finishing off with retelling stories about the Market in the Marigold pub till late..

'Market' - first Screening 18th September 2010

2010-09-06T09:12:00.003+01:00

Delighted to say that thanks to Rob at Shortwave Cinema: we have our first screening of the film in Bermondsey Square as part of the Bermondsey Street Festival. The film will be supporting The Wizard of Oz which is really cool! Screening will begin at sundown, around 7.30pm so hope to see as many people there supporting the film. It has been a long road so far, and this is only the beginning of getting the film out to audiences.

Edit news - the picture is now locked apart from some tweaks to graphics, Will is working on the sound mix and we should have a final mixdown on Wednesday !

PICTURE LOCK!

2010-09-05T08:44:00.003+01:00

We have final picture lock which is very exciting. The film comes in at just under 29 minutes including the full credits. Tom has done a wonderful job again with the music, there are 4 different musical themes within the film which gel perfectly with the picture. Will is about to commence on the sound mix today, so we are just about on schedule. My next post will detail our first screening in 2 weeks time, and more details on the finished film..

Film - final picture edit today

2010-09-03T10:23:00.002+01:00

Final edit today, finishing off the final sequence of about 5 minutes to Tom Miles sublime, beautiful musical theme. Grading the picture as i go, then handing over to Will on Saturday to complete the sound mix. With a good tailwind, the film should be finished by the middle of next week.

Edit update

2010-08-28T11:27:00.002+01:00

About a week left. pic is locked up to minute 20 and Tom is doing wonders with some beautiful music for the film. i reckon we are looking at a 28 minute film including credits, hope it is tight enough. Will and Simon are working on the sound clean up and the final mix starts next weekend. yikes.

As soon as i know the details of the first screening on Saturday 18th September, you will be the first to know...

MARKET - EDIT

2010-08-23T09:24:00.002+01:00

Well almost there, another 3 days i reckon should do it. Will is busy cleaning up the sound on the first 11 minutes which are picture locked. Tom is working on the final composition of the sound themes (all 5 of them). and i am struggling with a section on the archeological dig at Bermondsey square and how i can interweave it with the market story.. getting there, but slow going.. too slow for my liking. will post up a video clip soon

final edit schedule and SCREENING!

2010-08-04T09:01:00.002+01:00

Well a really good meeting with Will our sound designer on the film. We have a finish schedule, completing the delivery of the sound design and music by 5th September. which gives us a few days grace for any unforseen problems because.. We have our FIRST SCREENING DATE: Saturday 18th September, wait for it (if it comes off..) in Bermondsey Square - i couldn't think of a better place to first show the film. More info soon.

p.s a picture of the state of the art air con in Will's studio. 3 setttings: Heat; Cool; Dry. luckily his sound desk is more modern ;)

Market film edit update

2010-07-27T08:47:00.002+01:00

Now, about 3 weeks away from the fine cut and picture lock which is good news (after all this time!!). and.. we now have a Sound mixer / designer on board which is really good news as i know that sound really is 50% at least of your film, and i have always tried to make sure we get a good sound mix on all my projects. So pic lock first and then give about 4 weeks for the sound mix and hopefully with a good tailwind, we may just be finished for mid September.

and more news soon on our first screening which is potentially very exciting!

Bermondsey Antiques Market clip 3

2010-07-01T08:11:00.001+01:00

The latest clip from the upcoming film on New Caledonian Market, shows the traders reminiscing the many issues affecting the market, looking to an upturn in their fortunes as people want to interact with goods rather than buy online..

Market snapshots in the sun

2010-06-05T20:16:00.002+01:00

A wonderful final day filming at the Market yesterday, sun gleaming off the silverware, lots of trading, blue skies, happy faces. A nice note to finish off my stretch of filming and some great footage to put into the final chapter of the film along with some lovely quotes about the unique vibe of Bermondsey, the specialness of Antiques and the wonderful things on offer there.

FINE CUT

2010-05-29T12:54:00.002+01:00

well here we are with about 5 minutes left to edit. trying to make the final section more dreamlike, which may or may not work. There is something about the Market though, maybe about the fact that it is only here for a few hours every week and then is gone, that makes it magical and timeless. Tom is now working on the music and hopefully we are heading in the right direction to get the film finished in August and screened soon after

2009: An Ape Odyssey

2010-05-20T09:09:00.000+01:00

A Gay Sci-Fi Rom-Com Musical sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey, starring a love-lorn astronaut, an Evil Alien King and some oppressed Mining Apes. What more do you need?... made for the 2009 Straight 8 competition and shown as part of the Best of showcase at the Curzon Mayfair in 2009. Here it is.. in all it's technicolour (digital) glory.. Enjoy.

Bermondsey Antiques Market

2010-05-16T17:46:00.000+01:00

an early trailer for the market film -

'Market'

2010-02-21T14:07:00.001Z

A good xmas and NY 2009, with, an edit completed of 32 minutes. A
couple of preview sections from the film are available to view on
Youtube, so they will get posted here nxt post. Now working on a finer
edit combining VoiceOver with the images and the archive material,
hoping to get a final picture edit done in about a months time,
fingers crossed.

Best

Kevin

Sent from my iphone

www.signature-films.com

NCM EDIT / MUSIC

2009-07-19T10:39:00.008+01:00

Ok, it's been a long while since i blogged, but i have been away on Holiday's both literal (see the pics below) and metaphorical. Now is the time to get back on the case. Had a great meeting just before i left with Tom Miles - talented composer who has worked with me before on projects - Tom and i have been cooking up some interesting ideas for the film - more to follow i am sure, but they do involve a possible live performance of a new composition, which would be cool with the film projected at the same time

check out Tom Miles: http://www.tommiles.co.uk/

and some pics from the holiday in Egypt and Jordan - beautiful countries both..

2008: An Ape Odyssey

2009-07-18T11:34:00.001+01:00

well, it's been a while, (holidays have come and gone, and i have been working on another film - a really interesting dance film - more of that another time). the most important news is that our Straight 8mm film: 2009; An Ape Odyssey has finally got it's (deserved ;-) screening as part of the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival.

it's great to know that it will be showing at 9.15pm at the Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday 29th July.

2009 An Ape Odyssey - Super 8mm film..

2009-06-08T08:40:00.001+01:00

well the wait is over and we have been selected for the 'best of' Straight 8 screenings as part of the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival in London in July. What a relief! dates to follow.

NCM - ARCHIVE IMAGES

2009-05-10T12:59:00.002+01:00

more great news. the London Metropolitan Archives have agreed to provide 11 more archive images of the market - including a couple of the then Prince of Wales - future Edward VIII visiting the Caledonian meat market. And there is a fabulous arial photograph of the market in full swing circa 1930's.

NCM - Editing sound

2009-05-10T12:56:00.002+01:00

started laying down audio tracks to get a sense of the questions and answers. As i have said before this will not be a straight vox pops type documentary, but it is a good way of getting a sense of a possible structure to begin with.

a long way to go yet.

2009; An Ape Odyssey Super 8mm film

2009-05-10T12:44:00.002+01:00

Well, not the best of news - we did not get selected for Cannes 2009. Dissapointed, really thought we were in with a chance, but in the end the organisers of Straight 8 thought otherwise and selected only 8 films from 154. Can't say too much about the selection process that will not sound like sour grapes, suffice to say i think it could have been more open and transparent. Next up is the announcement of the screenings in the Rushes Soho Shorts festival in July.

NCM - Editing

2009-05-04T10:57:00.002+01:00

Editing has started in earnest on BAM (or NCM as i am now going to refer to it - just how many abbreviations can one project stand?.. NCM = New Caledonian Market). have decided to take my mate Nick's advice and split up the commentary into separate audio tracks concentrating on the questions and answers over the past 3 years in order to structure the narrative. i hope.. (3 years.. bloody 'ell - about time i finished the damn thing)..

2009 An Ape Odyssey - Super 8mm film..

2009-05-04T10:21:00.003+01:00

well we should hear very soon as to the results of the Straight 8 competition:

Straight 8 News:

if we don't get selected for Cannes (always a long shot really, with only the top 13 or so selected), then we should get selected for the screenings as part of the Rushes film festival. i for one will be very dissapointed if we don't make that particular cut - given the effort, the talent that went into the making of the film, and the overwhelmingly positive responses from all who have seen the DV version. fingers crossed..

2009-05-03T13:25:00.003+01:00

... some video from the 1960's of Bermondsey Antiques Market. Check out the colour, this is super 8 and it's why we love it.

NCM - sponsorship

2009-05-03T12:59:00.005+01:00

latest news: we have managed to secure a small amount of money to complete the editing of the film which means we can afford to pay people (composer / sound designer) and pay for duplications and printing for the DVD, which is fantastic.

thank you Geraud Groupe - who manage the Bermondsey Antiques Market on behalf of Southwark Council. www.geraud.co.uk/index.html

a previous film... RM159

2009-05-03T12:55:00.003+01:00

The kind of film that i hope Market will be. RM159 was made for the Routemaster film challenge in 2005.

the wonder of Markets.. courtesy of Sid James..

2009-05-03T12:45:00.004+01:00

A short made by the Rank Organisation in the 1950's narrated by the late great Sidney James, extolling the virtues of Markets both old and new.

watch out for Sid's trademark laugh...

NCM - ARCHIVE FILM -

2009-04-19T11:55:00.002+01:00

good news - looks like we have secured at least 3 minutes of archive film footage of the market in Islington, which is magical. i do love looking at this old footage. with the inclusion of this, it will really make a huge difference to the film and really make it come alive.

New Caledonian Market (NCM)

2009-04-05T12:45:00.004+01:00

A few small positives over the past few weeks. We have discovered more archive film material which we hope to include - held by various commercial and public agencies, they would add a tremendous amount to the final film. We have also come across more fantastic historial stills from the early part of the 20th Century (including a great arial view of the market showing just why it was the biggest outdoor market in the country). we have also made contact with the Geraud Groupe who manage and adminster the market, who may, (a big if granted) be able to support the film.. as ever watch this space.

Straight 8 film: 2009. An Ape Odyssey

2009-04-05T12:40:00.002+01:00

We finished the sound mix (wonderful work by Will Cohen) midweek and uploaded the film. Now we have to wait and see, with the first results of selection I think coming in a few weeks time. We have done all we can. Now it is up to the judges and whoever smiles on us. We have I think created something special. As soon as we can, we will post some further images, and possibly outtakes here.

Straight 8 film: 2009. An Ape Odyssey

2009-03-27T17:01:00.009Z

...so... a couple of weekends ago, we all trooped down the Bretts Quarry in Kent near Dungeness and shot our musical epic. 2 principal cast, 7 dancers and 10 crew. It was quite an undertaking, but we pulled it off. the weather was amazing as you can see by the image.

2009: An Ape Odyssey is a one-take, one shot, musical sequel to 2001 - the story of a lovelorn astronaut, an evil alien, an oppressed group of mining apes, and the cheesiest lyrics since 'The Producers'. Coming to a Straight (ish!!) 8 screening near you this summer...

other filmy stuff..

2009-03-26T10:00:00.002Z

well it has been a busy couple of months but decided to put the BAM project on hold as i collaborated on a new super 8mm short. Me and my co-director / producer Nick have just wrapped on a musical sequel to 2001 called.. 2009 An Ape Odyssey. more soon

archive material

2009-01-31T14:22:00.002Z

great news - Museum of London have agreed for the use of images from their Archive bank to include within the film, which is a great boost. Some beautiful images of the Market circa 1930's but also including a rare picture of a Missionary in 1905 talking to a Cattleman.

2009-01-25T14:40:00.002Z

some possibly positive news from talking to the Museum of London, who may release some beautiful images from the Caledonian Market circa 1930's. waiting to see what is possible to include in the film, but will really make it come alive. Also obtaining a book from the 30's about Markets in London to add to the background work and maybe provide more material for a voiceover narration...

BAM - history

2009-01-16T10:26:00.002Z

almost finished the writing up of the history of the market, running from beginnings in 1855 right up to 2008. it is a rich, fascinating story, very much a London story of renewal and transformation. will apend some more info on the other sources i hope to include in the film as voiceover, including diary and book extracts.

MARKET FILM

2009-01-13T15:06:00.002Z

well all my tapes have now been digitised, all 25 tapes worth, so a milestone has been reached at last. onwards and upwards, also just seen some lovely 1960's super 8 footage of the market which is great, would love to include it so here's hoping.

Market film

2008-12-29T11:39:00.001Z

Well as you will probably realise by now, Blogging is not uppermost In
my mind, hence the HUGE gap between posts. Oh well.onwards. I have
approximately 5 months to finish this film as May is the anniversary
of the opening of the market. I have roughly 20 hours of footage now
and almost all of it had been digitized ready to review and edit. At
this point I have not a clue what form the finished film will take,
other than to follow my nose as I have done all along. I will try to
keep up a more regular post as the months roll on

Best

Kevin

www.signature-films.com

Cy Twombly 1

2008-07-19T15:49:00.005+01:00

I am a huge fan of the American abstract painter Cy Twombly, always

have been, ever since a massive exhibition at the Whitechapel in 1987.
So I was always going to visit the new show at Tate Modern: www.tate.org.uk

It is a great introduction to his work, grouped around themes and

cycles of work rather than strictly a chronological trawl through his

career, though it's good for that also. What I love(ed) is the sense

you have of a really intelligent mind devouring the world/experience/

emotion and trying to order this in some meaningful way, for his

benefit and ours.

On the other hand, his work is perfectly, visually, 'grist to the

mill' of the "..my 3-year-old-could-do-that.." viewer. No easy defence

against that kind of argument I am afraid, (as I once found out to my

cost during one particularly heated dinner party).

What I took from the show (I hope to go again before it closes), is a

renewed inspiration for my 'Market' film. In keeping with Twombly's

use of layers and creating palimpsests and rich dense thickets of

scribbles and scrubbings out, I hope to make the visual surface of the

film just as rich, while trying to balance out the needs of the story.

Well you have to have some ambition don't you!

Best

Kevin

www.signature-films.com

BAM: Archive Images

2008-07-19T15:21:00.001+01:00

Well it's a while since I have drawn breath and blogged about BAM ((I
am going to try to stop calling it BAM, as strictly speaking the film
is not solely about Bermondsey Antiques Market, but about Caledonian
Market also, though what I am going to refer to it as I am not
sure...). Anyhoo... Lots of interesting progress to report. I have
now, thanks to the wonderful support of my local History Library, been
able to acquire some fantastic archive images of the market from 1945
onwards, some of which I have posted up on my website: www.signature-films.com

I have also begun a dialogue with the Museum of London, hopefully to
gain permissions to use some of their great collection of photographs
and paintings. If I can it will mean the history of the original
Caledonian Market from 1900 to 1940 can also be richly represented.
Fingers crossed.

Best

Kevin

www.signature-films.com

BAM - Filming

2008-06-14T17:08:00.003+01:00

so i have been filming now for over 2 years, taking out first my mate Chris's camera, then eventually buying my own small mini hdv camcorder to record the market, interview stallholders and mainly capture stuff on the fly. so far i have 23 1xhour tapes... i must be insane... this is by far the biggest project i have undertaken and honestly, i REALLY have no idea how this is going to edit together. a lot is going to depend on getting permissions to use substantial archive material (of which there is tons..) more on that soon.

Bermondsey Antiques Market

2008-06-14T16:07:00.002+01:00

...hopefully this won't be a boring vox pops kind of film. more, i hope a development of my style of work in other short films - see Signature films the big trick to pull off is to do justice to the voices that have become known to me over the past couple of years, the Stallholders, whilst at the same time making something that is interesting to me visually.

Bermondsey Antiques Market

2008-06-14T02:14:00.000+01:00

BAM - if you want to visit.. Bermondsey Antiques Market, appears every Friday from 4am to around 12pm. Get there early if you want to pick up some of the bargains. you can find it here: StreetMap: Bermondsey Square

Bermondsey Antiques Market

2008-06-12T22:18:00.002+01:00

.. did you know that 2nd May 2009 is the 60th Anniversary of the opening of the New Caledonian Market in Bermondsey, South London..? no probably not, but just one of the interesting.. facts to come your way as I start to blog my way through the making of my documentary charting the life and times of the market and reflecting on the changing face of London.