A few days back, via the day job, I got an email from some guys in Norfolk collectively known as ember films. They make films. A lot of people make films but these guys make 'special' films. Films with heart. Films with soul. Films that I've seen, enjoyed and didn't know were created by their hand. Here's a short from a new series from them called 'ember presents' that's been created around my friend Fade FX:
There's something about the way these guys work that I really like - so I told them. I told them why and then I asked them if they would like to do something with me sometime this year. That was where the conversation ended actually because we had other things to talk about... proper work stuff and I'm nothing if not professional, but the idea lingered.
When you go out on a limb to be independent and make your own way, you should probably give these things more than a passing thought. Which is where it gets interesting. Yesterday afternoon and well into the evening, I had my 'sandcastle/sky' head on about how you go about saying all the things you would want a potentially watching world to know about yourself in less than four minutes.
Hypothetically speaking, could you do it? Could you wrap yourself up into a four minute pitch? It's probably more like 60 seconds really once you add the visuals that go to make up a film, but it's an interesting road to take yourself down. If you can say what you need in less than 10 seconds, you probably need to disconnect your netflix account. On the other hand, if you need more than four minutes without any visuals, maybe you're spreading yourself too thin.
Anyway, I don't know if we will ever do anything together - I'd like to, but that's not really the point. The point is, this is a company of great guys doing some fine, fine things for the right reasons. Go check out their work and if you happen to be in the market to be needing a film of quality and value, get in touch with them.
Seriously impressed. Watch this incredible trailer for BBC: One Planet - coming soon apparently - but not soon enough for me.
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So while I was chewing all of that over, I realised it was already nearly the end of February... and how the hell did that happen? Writing aside - or perhaps because I've been writing - I've gotten behind with a whole bunch of important stuff: the Raw Sharks project, the P.INK day project and the Romanian bear rescue. That's the 'trouble' with outside projects, they have to remain outside otherwise they take over, things falls apart and then everything is over, so I'm going to take a couple of days out next week and get myself back on track.
Expect updates in the extreme... and bear fund-raising. I'm not great at fund-raising or asking for help of any description, so I may have to enlist some external assistance on that front - and while that's still asking for help, it's a lot easier to ask one person than thousands.
That's what I keep telling myself.
•••
Lately, I've been getting very itchy feet to get back to some kind of martial art. I need to get out of the house at least a couple of times a week and do something else other than 'think' soon or my head might explode. I've probably mentioned this a few times over the last few months but I've reached a critical mass with it, so during that time off mentioned above, I'm going to book myself a couple of hours with my old Jiu-Jitsu instructor and see how well my knees hold up. If they're OK (or at least reasonable), I'll head back there. If not, I'm hoping he might have some suggestions as to where I might head next but I rather suspect some form of Tai-Chi is on the cards - which is absolutely fine... I just kinda miss being thrown on the floor.
It's good for the soul.
•••
And that's it - I'm outta here.