Rocket Science

I've been busy. Not writing blogs as you would have noticed but writing. Lots of writing. And I really hope something comes of it. I'm now in the development stage with two different production companies who have each optioned one of my feature scripts and I've spent the last few months polishing, drafting, creating and scratching my head. I've learnt a lot and am loving the process.

Also want to let you know that my short film 'The Last Man on Earth' will be screened at Rocket Science, 7 Sci-fi Short Films at Cafe101, Brick Lane on Thursday August 10th from 8pm (Free entry)". Check out the Facebook page here or go to the ShortsOnTap website here. 

Short Sighted Cinema

Many years ago when I first moved to London I attended a short film screening night at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton and loved it. This was before I had started making films and was also the first short film night I had ever been to. Where I was from they didn't have things like this! So I'm happy to say short film events are making a return to the Ritzy on a regular basis in the form of Short Sighted Cinema. It's being run by Kate Williamson who also runs the Vibe:Shorts night down at the Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey. It starts this Tuesday 20th August 2013 at 7.30pm. If you need more reason to come they're also screening my old favourite 'The Last Man on Earth'.

'The Last Man on Earth' gets a touch up

A while ago I mentioned doing an intensive After Effects course and my intention then to use my new skills to go back to one of my earlier films and 'improve' it.

I think I compared my mission to George Lucas going back to touch up 'Star Wars'. Well my 'Star Wars' was 'The Last Man on Earth'. Perhaps my mission wasn't as ambitious but like George I imagine I was as frustrated as him about certain shots in our respective films. For me it was the reflections of crew members in the beer taps in one shot that made me wince every time I saw the film. Some people never even noticed them. Some did. Some took great glee in telling me they had seen some reflections in the beer taps and then asking me whether I myself had noticed them. Yes I said, I had, thinking it must be like being asked if you'd noticed the elephant in your living room if you were indeed unfortunate enough to have an elephant in your living room. Unable to reshoot at the time and with the original Virgin Media shorts deadline looming I lived with my screw up and had it on my to-do list as something I would soon revisit and remedy. Well that time had come. So I had a go and er, failed.

I soon concluded that the shot was somewhat trickier than I had thought. Indeed, I'm not too bad with After Effects but I quickly realised that I needed the equivalent of a black belt in After Effects to sort this one out. I needed Bruce Lee. Or Chuck Norris if you really mean business. So it was at this point that I brought in the talented John Sellings. Within a week the reflections were gone. Now but a distant memory. Phew. Thank you John.

Do check out the old version on the BBC Film Network and then watch the version below. But if you have some VFX work to be done and you don't know who to call, then you'd better call John Sellings (or probably just email him in this day and age).



The Last Man On Earth (2011) from carlo ortu on Vimeo.

CoFilmic

I'm having a pretty good month festival wise and I've got more good news because on Tuesday 30th October 'The Last Man on Earth' will screen at the CoFilmic Comedy Festival as part of its Official Selection. Based in Manchester the line up of people giving talks looks pretty good so I'm going to try and make it.

'The Last Man on Earth' at DC Shorts

I'm pleased to say that 'The Last Man on Earth' has been accepted as part of the official selection for the DC Shorts Film Festival. Held in Washington DC this will mark the US premiere for the film which will screen in September.

 Thanks and well done to everyone involved.

The Ritzy Cinema celebrates 100 years

I have fond memories of The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. One of my first visits there was to watch a midnight screening of 'Trainspotting' when it first came out. The cinema was packed and the atmosphere was buzzing. I must have watched countless films in that cinema with friends over the years since. So I'm pleased to say that as part of the cinema's centenary celebrations they will be screening 'The Last Man on Earth'. Details here so do pop along as a percentage of ticket sales will be donated to the Cinema Museum in London.

'The Last Man On Earth' on the BBC Film Network

Things have been busy lately. I've been grading 'Pretty Things', polishing a couple of scripts and helping develop a couple of other projects. So it's nice to announce amongst all this business that you can now watch 'The Last Man On Earth' on the BBC Film Network. Nice.

Screen Social Screenings

As part of the 9th London Short Film Festival, the charity music vs film mash-up Screen Social will be spreading its mix of music promos, shorts, animation & experiments, with special showcases and live music guest spots. As part of their line up they will be screening 'One Other Thing' and 'The Last Man on Earth' on Thursday 12th Jan at the ICA and on Wednesday 18th at The Book Club so get along if you can. Details can be found here.