Dream Press Launch

I can now announce a project I have been working on with Bristol Old Vic's artistic director Tom Morris and Handspring Puppet Company, a brand new adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The press launch took place on Monday evening in the newly refurbished BOV theatre and I helped Basil and Adrian from Handspring improvise some puppetry with breeze blocks and stones (the puppetry in the show takes many forms).

Tom, Handspring and designer Vicki Mortimer have been researching and developing the project intermittently over the past year through a series of workshops I've had the pleasure of being involved in. The project is set to be a unique mix of puppetry and live performance, rehearsals begin in January, previews end of February and it goes up in March. I'll be working on the puppetry in the show and also helping to deliver the outreach programme once the show's up and running. Can't say much more than that at the moment but it's very exciting to be involved. You can book tickets for the show here and here are some pictures from the press launch.

Photos: Farrows Creative

BAFTA Ceremony

Big gold face

I attended the BAFTA Cymru awards ceremony last night which was a sparkling affair. My graduation film The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling had been nominated for the Short Form and Animation Award. It didn't win but it was an honour to simply be nominated and attend the ceremony at the Wales Millenium Centre. I managed to catch up with staff from the Skillset Media Academy Wales as well as animator Joanna Quinn. You can watch the awards in their entirety online below which features a clip from Falling.

BAFTA Cymru Programme

Graduation Film in Print

My graduation film The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling was selected to be included in a new book called The Art of Short Films. The publication, edited by Morten Enevoldsen, is a feast of artwork from animated films from around the world. Falling has a chapter dedicated to it featuring concept art, behind the scenes photos as well as musings on the process that I wrote specifically for the book. There are some fantastic films also in the book from professional productions to other student shorts from Les Gobelins in France and also Patakiskola by my friend Péter Vácz.

Cover designed by my ASF classmate Nicole Gallagher

About the book:

Authored by Mr. Morten Seung Enevoldsen, illustrated by Ms. Nicole Gallagher, preface by Mr. Kaj Pindal.
This book was written to share concept art from short films that have won acclaim and praise from both the industry and public. "The art of Short films" contains artwork and personal interviews with each of the film creators. In their own words they share their experiences on what to do, and not to do, to make a great film. All profit goes to fund more independent films like these through a film fund. Visit www.theartofshortfilms.com for more information.

An early colour script for The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling

that features in the book

The book can be ordered online from the Amazon division CreateSpace. The book also has a website and a Facebook page.