Killed by plastic pollution: unknown animal washes up on Cornwall beach

Point Break 2013 Precision Love Bombs Dropped!

I have been a fan of the 1991 Katherine Bigelow film Point Break right from the start and recent  news broke that it was getting the remake treatment...
We've all seen how (un)successful that can be; step forward The Wicker Man, The Fog, King Kong... but inevitability is a wonderful thing - why fight it?

If I could have worked on any film ever, it would have been Point Break. So why not the sequel?

I did a little online research and found the names and addresses of the writer, producers and executive producers and today I sent them all a good luck message.
This is truly from the heart. They're going to do it anyway, maybe I can inspire that extra something present in the original. Maybe... I can get a role in the film - afterall, I read that parts of it will be filmed in Europe..!

UPDATE: June 2016
Oh dear. That is all.

It's All Go..!

Somehow, it's been three years since my last post, and in that time, I've been studying a different qualification, a pgce, specialising in production design and art department techniques. This doesn't mean I haven't been working in, on and around films, I've just done far less of it - and introduced theatre props into my resume.

As I reread my last post of 2013, I see that I was optimistic that I'd finish the director's cut of Championship Hunt as my next venture... Well that's still the case, although I think it'll be a drastic reworking of the material and I'll need to learn and master some new tricks on Adobe After Effects to do justice to the work everyone put into it.

Living Bliss Productions has become more about design and creation of props and set pieces over the past couple of years, making such things as a baby grand piano for a musical production in York, a three spouted teapot for Alice in Wonderland at the Customs House Theatre in South Shields and a purple and blue glitter headdress for a panto dame in Basingstoke.

I have two more projects currently underway; a dog statue with a moving head and a reproduction prop for an exhibition set to travel the country if all goes to plan.

I will post some development pictures as these projects progress, in the meantime you can see my online portfolio at:


https://m.facebook.com/johnnobleportfolio/photos/?tab=albums&mt_nav=1&ref=page_internal

Graduation Day

My four-years at 'film school' came to an end at the start of the month when I attended my graduation ceremony at Teesside University.

I was awarded a 'Distinction' in my studies, which evolved from FdA Television and Film Production to FdA Creative Film and Moving Image Production in 2011.

As I reflect on my time, I see how I could have dug a lot deeper into every aspect of the course; I see gaps in my knowledge as I attempt to apply my new skills but I also see how far I have traveled and would definitely recommend the course to anyone wishing to move out of their bedroom or garage and into a film studio and beyond!

Mum, Dad and Me!

I can't thank enough my parents, Pat and Tony, for supporting me through my studies and everybody else who has acted, filmed, created, edited, scored and slogged away on a 'Living Bliss Productions' film - Thank you all!

Living Bliss Productions will continue to push forwards, the next film to be completed will be the 'Director's Cut' of my final year film: 'Championship Hunt' - stay tuned!

Phase III is well underway

It's just that 'Phase III' is sprawling and MASSIVE!

These are the race car/driver scenes and include John Foster as both an adult and a child, a 'real' race car, a cardboard 'pretend' racecar, gravestones, dismembered foxes and stately homes - oh my!

Here's a look at some of the props I've been working on for 'Phase III'; you can find more on the Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.229478947192668.1073741826.162966950510535&type=3

See that big cardboard box and the little drawing of a racecar? That's how it all starts...

A few hours later and everythign is cut out, reshaped and stuck down, ready for a paint job

Here's Laura McClurg helping me paint

Here's the mostly finished car... There's a few more details to go on, such as a steering wheel and wheel centres

I've also repainted a model car to match the Team Nova race suit and helmet design

The finished model used waterslide transfers to add detail

I also made a 'fox waste' bin, to imply the casual manner with which foxes are dispatched in the future

 

 

At this point I'd like to thank Crathorne Hall, Yarm and Gisborough Hall, Guisborough for allowing me to film on location in their grounds - unfortunately I have neither the camera, nor the adequate weather to do the scene justice, so that will have to wait!

 

 

http://www.crathorne.org/#/crathorne-hall-hotel/4551019945

 

 

http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/hotels/crathorne-hall/

 

 

and

 

http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/gisborough-hall-hotel/?gclid=CLDkvdmtvLYCFRDKtAodvDgAtQ

Phase II Complete!

Phase II - 'the Lord P scenes' - are finished, and what a shoot it was..!

Luke McGibney, an east-midlands based actor and film maker, travelled up last Monday, and leapt straight into filming what are probably the most important scenes in the film.

I was lucky to work with most of the same crew as on the Grand Hotel shoot, so there was a ready-made working relationship between the camera crew and the set builders, which saved an awful lot of time.

We welcomed James Morris to the set and props department; he, like other undergraduates, gave up his spare time between taught-sessions at college, to help me design and make props and to lift and carry heavy pieces of set dressing from one college building to another.

Another stroke of luck was the availability of Stuart Hanrahan, who plays Billy Hawksmoor. A proposed 'remote' scene was reimagined to take place in Lord P's office, and both actors did a fine job.

A last-minute change of venue on the Wednesday cost us half an hour at the start of the night but ultimately saved us an hour or more overall, as the shoot ran over but we didn't need to break down and reset the set between shoots.

Jay Hayes stepped in as Luke's body-double again, to allow us to film over-the-shoulder shots after Luke had headed home.


All in, it was another fantastic shoot, everyone dug in hard to make every scene and every take  look and sound the best it possibly could, and the onus really is on me to make the most of their work in the edit.

I was nervous this time last week; I had begun to edit but could only go so far without Luke's half of the scene. Now I have all the ingredients, I can make up around 80% of the final film... Time for 'Phase III' - John Foster's countryside training scenes..!

Luke and the 'fox Buster'

From left: Luke, Chris, Rhiannon, Andy and Jay

As the dust settles on the Grand Hotel shoot...

...I'm still picking up the pieces from a fantastic weekend shoot.

The script suffered a few direct hits, as did the cast and crew, but those still on their feet marched valiantly on to victory in this major battle; the war, however, still hangs in the balance.


Friday to Sunday was a blur, as was all of the past week. I had a solid team, who, with a little telepathic ability, made the shoot not just survivable, but also quite a success!

With the benefit of hindsight, a clear mind and sleep, I can think of many ways in which things could have been different; one thing I'd like to do is PAY my cast and crew. There was such a high degree of loyalty and professionalism on set, everyone worked for food, friendship and to be a part of a killer opportunity, and it's back to me to make everyone's efforts worth something in the near future.

I didn't take too many pictures on the day, but here's a couple I did grab:

Stuart Hanrahan, A.K.A. 'Billy Hawksmoor' doubled as my Cheif of Entertainment... Other crew include Rhiannon Jones as Production Runner/Beauty Make-up, Chris Coles as 'Camera 2', Alice Knight as 'Catering/Production Runner' and Peter Suttron as Set Dresser.

 

Fear not, in this picture all of the alcohol bottles are props!

 

 

In a sports-report style, we created a backdrop using logos 'donated' by other North East film makers. Sadly the 'set' wasn't used

James Kent, A.K.A. 'John Foster' stood still for just two photographs. Alarmingly, this was the best one!

Thanks to Laura McClurg for helping me create the race suit.

 

Peter Suttron was my Set Dresser/Prop Master, although he was asked to appear in the film twice, once as a 'Snoozing party-goer' and once as 'Bandaged man'.

Peter hated, Hated, HATED being under the bandages, but stuck with it for a good four or five hours! - Thanks Peter!

For more pictures from the shoot, please visit the Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/ChampionshipHunt

Welcome to 2013!

Production begins for real on 'Championship Hunt' in 24 days - and I think we're right on track!

There's loads to do, LOADS! but I've been catching up with my actors and crew and I'm confident that we will nail the filming and that the finished piece will be something really special - maybe that should read 'weirdly-special'!

As statements of intent go, here's my Championship hunt Picture of the Year so far!!!

Many thanks to Laura for the wonderful Christmas present and all of your help and support on this project to date!

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone!

A Grand Job

Today I delivered the stand and graphics to the Grand Hotel, Hartlepool, for their Airport themed New Years party.

This work was undertaken in an exchange for hiring rooms for Championship Hunt; it was intended to be farmed out to students but the end of term hit too soon, so the ball fell back into my court.

Here's some pictures of it's development:

Intitial concept art

Concept art for VIP room

Working drawings

 

Pre-painted stand

 

 

The finished stand

 

 

This was a bigger job than I'd anticipated, although it was straight-forward and nothing went wrong, thankfully!

 

Thanks to the Entertainment Design team and the IT Technicians for their support, and thanks also to Kathleen from the hotel for trusting in me to realise her project within the limited timeframe.

 

The Grand Hotel, Hartlepool is a beautiful hotel and has served Cleveland College of Art and Design on many an occasion, and we look forward to working with them many more times to come.

 

http://www.tavistockleisure.com/best-western-grand.htm

There's Something in the Fog..!

 We had a rather lucky break this weekend when a location scouting trip turned into our very own fox hunters-hunt! A visit to Castle Howard, rendered all but useless thanks to thick fog, was followed up with a trip into deepest Yorkshire and an abundance of horse boxes suggested there was a hunt underway. As we drove through the lanes - in the mysterious fog - we were quickly caught up in the procession of horses and hounds, taking part in a drag hunt. We spoke to one of the riders who allowed us to take some quick pictures and I feel these could be used in an early montage in 'Championship Hunt'.

 

Here's a couple of snaps:

Here's a link to Castle Howard on Google Maps:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

 

Don't Shoot...

Until 25th January, 2013!

Yes, that's our official start date for principle photography on Championship hunt!

Although it seems an age away, the script needs to be locked down, costumes designed, locations established, sets dressed, props made... Gee-Whizz!

The Championship Hunt web site came online today too, check it out:

http://championshiphunt.com/

Call The Cops..! No need, there's dozens of 'em!

Today i headed up a team of CCAD FdA Creative Film students as we shot a police training exercise at Tees Port.

We had five cameras; the emergency services had eight fire engines, four police cars, six ambulances and a helicopter!

It was a long day but between us we vaptured some outstanding footage.

Halloween Launch for 'Championship Hunt' Facebook Page

Yikes, that was scary..!

Halloween you say?

Nooo! Tonight I pushed the 'GO' button on the 'Championship Hunt' Facebook page that I've spent the last week building; it makes you feel quite naked, putting everything you have out there for the world to see and hoping that it's enough!

As a launch package I'm very satisfied with what I have; plenty of artwork and photographs, all with notes to explain what you're looking at and help someone utterly fresh to the world to understand what I'm attempting to turn into a film.

Here's a link:

http://www.facebook.com/ChampionshipHunt

And here's the teaser poster:-



In other news this week, I had a fantastic session at film school last night when a scene from Championship Hunt was filmed by two groups of students, with little-to-no input from myself. The results really helped me get a feel for the scenes and will allow me to add more action notes to the script.

This group wanted to use strong shadows to add character

 This group kept one character in shadow

The actor in shadow was playing the part as though he was Satan himself!

 

 



With all the social networking fuss behind me, I can concentrate on further script revisions and get back to prop making, costume and set design!

But first some pumpkin carving and light a few candles to celebrate the turning of the wheel once more.

Social Network Expanding

I've been 'off' social network pages for a while; I feared that they were a distraction away from the cause of making the best short film I can, but I always knew that one day I would return...

This week, I began to compile a Facebook page, dedicated to 'Championship Hunt', but I'm holding off on going fully public until it's a lilttle more developed.

I've worked with quite a few film makers over the past year, all of whom use Facebook to a greater or lesser degree and I do find that the regular updates really make the projects come alive - here's an example:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/104155326383237/

This is the Hydra-X films page; they recently shot a short film called The Bad Samaritain Must Die and at one point, were posting two or three times a day to update the production.

I will follow a similar template, by rolling out exclusive behind the scenes photos and news, design artwork, music links and opening up group discussions about the project.

I'll post a link when there's more content..!

VERY Early Screen Tests - A Modest Success!

There's nothing like time constraints to motivate a person and the onset of Autumn has certainly done that for me!

A few weeks ago we filmed James running through the countryside, lush and green - you know how it is; then Autumn hits and the trees start to turn orange, red and brown - well that's gonna wreck my continutiy!?!

With a script still being tweaked, extablishing shots to capture while there's still a little green on the trees and character development work to do, time is tight. This weekend I drove down to Nottingham to work with Luke on facial hair creation and script improvements. Luke is currently sporting a seven-stitch scar on his forehead thanks to a fight scene he filmed a week previous - he was a trooper though and allowed me to glue a fake eyebrow over the wound!A scriptwriter himself, Luke offered suggestions to enrich the characters' backstories which sent me away buzzing - I will try and write these additions into the script tonight - so much for cropping it down - or my other film school homework!

My time in Nottingham was cut short due to family business but this afforded me the opportunity to film some landscape plates in and around North Yorkshire and Teesside, to use in the montage sequences.

I was using the Panasonic P2 camera on my own and, for the second time running, forgot to check every single switch for every single shot; top tip everyone: check that the ND Filter is where you need it to be for each shot - these things can get knocked and your images may end up a little darker than you want them... very rich colours in the clouds mind!

I am in a good position this week to sculpt a stage #1 and #2 fox makeup on the bust I made of James but obviously the way I draw Jonny Fox allows me to distort the proportions of a man - with James I might need to adapt the mask or employ a little computer trickery - or a combination of both!

Jimmy Hagri contacted me with script feedback earlier in the week too, his suggestion was that Lord P and Sebastian Delaval ought to be drinking fine old whiskey; Luke would like to see a gamne of chess being played as well - I think both are great details and both shall be included!

One big piece of news from mid-week - we now have a producer onboard: Sophie Crawford, CCAD graduate from 2011. Sophie will make sure locations and cast and crew all function correctly, leaving me to concentrate on creative... on a different day I might need to employ a production designer and model shop manager too!

Here's a look at Sophies work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTSdcBOEfr8


And here's a few photos from the past week:-

Roseberry Topping Sunset - with the ND filter set quite high!

Building facial hair

Add more layers and comb through

Trim the hair to a little longer than necessary so that it can be fine-tuned with the actor

I have a couple of copies of James' face with which to make prosthetic appliances

Getting a Head Start

Here's a sneaky look at the early stages of, what I hope will become, the Jonny Fox mask!

Thus far I have a cast of James Kent's head, some concept art and a lot of good intentions. My usual barrier is myself - I want to do a Hollywood-standard animatronic fox-man costume but time and budget says I should simply aim for a very basic mask, without snarling lips, moving eyebrows and snapping jaw...  Boring!

 

This is what I want - and here's how I'm going to get it..!

 

 

Removing the plaster head from the alginate/modrok cast

The plaster cast was cleaned up using drills, sanders and knives

Holes were filled with polyfiller and the head sealed with shellack

A latex coating has been painted on which will eventually become part of the mask

 

Overlaying the artwork to the actor - it's going to take a little 'tweaking'!

 

 

Many thanks to my model, James, and my 'right-hand-men' Rachel Lee and Simon Burgon who assisted me during the three-hour casting session.

The Championship Hunt is On!

This is the big one folks; my final major project at film school and the next stage in the ongoing history of Jonny Fox - Championship Hunt has started pre-production! So far I have a script, actors, concept art, musicians and a tight film crew - now what I need is the time, fortune and energy to pull it all together for an April deadline. Championship Hunt will feature make-up effects, puppets, digital composites, all in the service of telling the story of when Lord P met John foster...

MThere's loads more concept art, makeup tests, script previews and news to follow over the next few months, stay tuned to this channel: Foxhunter TV..!

major project twists of fate

Tonight was the latest in a string of coincidences that should contribute greatly to my final year project - a place in the crowd at the Hollywood premiere of Expendables 2! Almost all of the stars were present; Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Statham, Norris... But the real bonus was filming the crowds themselves. In my script, there is call for paparazzi and fans to witness the arrival of the racecar driver. Oh, I also had a drive around a racetrack in the back of a training vehicle. And filmed some rabid crowd scenes at a UFC event and a football game. I have all the flashbacks and cutaways I could need - now I've got to finish the script and lock down my actors. This thing is just making itself!

Grainger Market Expo - Jonny and Lord P make an appearance!

Many thanks go out to a colleague of mine, Mike Myers for organising a special effects exhibition in the Grainger Market, Newcastle this week.

Mike generously offered my the opportunity to promote The Grand Scheme of Things at the event and I whipped up some posters, concept art displays and a couple of small-scale busts of the two main characters: Lord P and Jonny Fox.

Over the course of two days, Mike and his talented CCAD Entertainment Design Crafts students, Sam, Bethany and John Dawson, entertained and informed the public with gruesome displays of SFX makup and sculpting.

Also on show were sets, prop and costume from recently graduated students Daisy Prout, Billy Cessford and Laura McClurg.

Check out these links for more info:

Mike Myers:
http://www.designermaker.org.uk/

Foxhunter TV: The Legacy Begins to Rise...

I can't believe it, I've barely ten months left at film school; ten months to create the mother of all trailers and secure the deal at Cannes 2013!

Foxhunter TV is part of the world of Jonny Fox, and Jonny Fox is a character I've been working on with film maker Martin Wood for over a decade; and this is the year he breaks free!

I'll be enlisting the best of my student contacts to make props and costumes and as many of my acting buddies as I can fit in any one scene.

The idea is to make a trailer, to secure funding for a trailer, to secure funding for a trilogy of films - an earlier version of the story can be found at this link:
http://www.grandschemeofthings.co.uk/#!__episode-1


I've been working on character designs for years but now I'm moving into real life, I'm looking for inspiration everywhere and anywhere - and that includes Helmesley, North Yorkshire - where some of the action takes place.
While passing an outdoor clothing shop, I saw this fantastic display...

There will be plenty of faceless henchmen to take down and all the best movies feature masked bad guys - I'm thinking Equalibrium, Captain America, G.I. Joe to name but a few. Well it cuts down on the need for so many extras and costumes and catering if we use the same five performers a dozen times over!

Plenty more news to follow, keep 'em peeled!

Here's a link to their website:

http://www.dvtownend.com/