Get ready

As things are starting to come together.

Here's a mock up of the poster for 'The Dog and the Suitcase'. Not sure if this is what I'm going with but it's the official poster for the time being.

Enjoy!

So this is a little rant..

I'm not one for ranting but I feel this is appropriate.

Lately, more than ever my facebook has been plastered with cloned status updates of various matters such as, 'copy and paste this if you support the troops!' or 'copy and paste this if you are agains child abuse!'.
I mean for Christs sake, does this make ANY kind of difference other than annoy people?
Do the gods at be of facebook have a daily log of how many cloned status updates have been posted and say 'man these people are mad...we should really do something...maybe we should set up a facebook group so people can rally round in a virtual circle'.

The point of this rant is. It's good that you are for or against such topics, but if you want to make a difference bloody do something that matters like volunteer for charity, donate money or go see your Nan once in a while!

The one that got me really rattled up is this current one about the NSPCC and child abuse. How I see it, by changing my face to a cartoon character from my childhood isn't going to stop somebody hitting there child. If they got off there arses and donated money to the charity, I can see that making more of a difference.

So here ends the final rant of Adam Georgiou

And keep looking out for further updates!
The next one will be about The Dog and the Suitcase.

Look out!

Location:Hunters Way,Stoke-on-Trent,United Kingdom

Bring on Post-Production

About 90% of The Dog and the Suitcase has been shot.

The remaining 10% is a bus scene that has yet to be shot.

The assemble edit has begun and it's looking promising. The day after the shoot (yesterday) I felt really drained, even with a good nights sleep. It might be because I was still ferrying things around. But today I'm feeling on top form!

Here's a preview of some of the behind the scenes of the film!

And on And on And on And on And on

So the week ends, or is it beginning?

Shooting for 'The Dog and the Suitcase' begins in about 36 hours (give or take some hours). Tomorrow (that being Monday the day before the shoot) I'm going to be scouring the country for an awesome suitcase. Something I should have got by now but with my diary as full as my bladder right now, things are preddy tight.

Spent this weekend on a shoot for a film called 'Scraps', one to look out for as this guy (me) is on Camera for most of it, until I get put into a giant tin can called 'Tinny'. You'll know what I mean when you see it.

I've spent the last hour going through composer applications and I've still got loads get through. It's really good to see applications that have taken the time to watch some of my work and even read the blog!

So if you're reading, KUDOS to you!

I've realised I;ve just let my Tea go cold, THAT's how engfulfed I am, until I felt the urge to Blog it...

It's getting to that time now where a large glass of whiskey is in order, a few episodes of Scrubs and a little shut eye before my 100mile trip on a journey to find a suitcase, of the vintage sorts.

OVERLOAD!

In the past 2 days I've recieved around 100 applications to create the soundtrack for the film 'The Dog and the Suitcase'! I physically can not keep up. Especially as I've been on a number of shoots the past week! I'm going have to spend a whole day after shooting sorting through. Should be fun.

But it does go to show there is good interest in the film, which is FANTASTIC.

Shoot date is fastly approaching, currently standing at 6 days!

Teaser Poster for 'The Dog and the Suitcase'

My Parents are aliens

Or they just have a sick sense of humour.

So I'm sat here...and there's this elephant staring back at me.

All's well in the world of film making, even the hangovers are being kind to me.

I've secured an acting dog for the film 'The Dog and the Suitcase', courtesy of Su Harvey at Direct Dogs (www.directdogs.co.uk). The thing that gets me is that he's going to cost more than both the actor and actress put together! But he's worth it. Here's a tasy picture of the fine beast.

His name's Harley. Isn't he addorable? Plays dead and everything.

So that's that.

On a completley different note I think I'm a bit obsessed with listening to Kate Micucci and her duet Garfunkel and Oates.  

http://www.garfunkelandoates.com/

They're preddy awesome. This is one of my favourites.

On another completely different note, I've recently jumped on a small broken small tiny microscopic band wagon of shooting stills using an old film camera. I've just bought a Pentax ME Super 35mm Camera from eBay for about £30, just waiting for it to arrive.

Then I remembered my Dad had an old Camera, a Yashica-Mat, that takes 120 film. Can't wait start experimenting with it, I think it'll give me a better appreciation for photography. And apparently it can take some awesome shots! Just bloody expensive!

That's preddy much all I want put today. I think you should go get a life and stop reading about my life because it's a little bit more cooler than yours. 

Actually it's probably not. 

I want your life.

Can I have your life?

The Dog and the Suitcase

If you didn't know already I've started (by started I mean I'm weeks into Pre-Production) making my latest short film 'The Dog and the Suitcase'.

The story originated from an urban myth passed down by one drunk to another about a young girl that gets her neighbours dead dog, that had been casually packed into a suitcase, stolen.

This is the actual premise of the film 'The film is about Sarah, a young girl who, whilst dog-sitting her neighbor's Labrador for the week returns home to find the dog dead. The only way of transporting the dog to the vets is in a very large battered suitcase. She travels across the city to be befriended by Mark, a young charming man who seemingly is willing to give her a helping hand, only to have the suitcase (and the dead dog) stolen!'

The Cast for the film has been confirmed (go to facebook and search for the page 'The Dog and the Suitcase' and you can get pictures and all sorts!

Locations are currently in recee but is most likely to be a house in Nantwich and the city shots in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Manchester.

I'm currently in limbo about the soundtrack but I'm currently favouring something along the lines of American Beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al21Vtlsg4A 

Somthing suttle but with underlying dark tones (Sounds like red wine and i'm not talking about the song by UB40).

I'm currently, infact after I've finished this, going to write the second draft of the script, adding a few more additional amusing sequences that abuse the dead dog a bit more, these include being accidently kicked whilst on the move, getting stuck in an automatic closing door (probably on the bus) and something else that I've yet to think of. 

The Film is going to be shot in 1080p and hopefully mastered onto Blu-Ray for the ultimate Hi-Def experience. Then it's going to be sent off to numerous festivals and 'hopefully' get lots of coverage. I'm hoping it's going to be one of them films where if you know the urban myth you are still on edge about what's going to happen, and for those that don't, well I'm just hoping it's all one giant surprise!

Next Update will probably happen just before Production (which is 9th and 10th November) or just after when I'm confined to a mental ward.

 

A Room with a view

Anchor Lights Pengelley Room View in Looe

Things are happening

Well it's been a while since the last Blog post and there's lots to talk about!

My film Spode (the version of Keep The Flags Flying without voice over) won a number of awards at the Northern Design Competion 2010 including the Film & Animation Award and the Maurice Miller Design Champion Award, which was basically the winner of all the winners! I won £3000 for that which has been invested in a brand new MacBook Pro which is FANTASTIC for my Film Editing. It's also paid for my insurance on my car!

That being said recently I passed my Driving test and purchase a 1995 model Fiat Brava. Not the sexiest car this side of the Solar system but it's getting me around the country! I love driving but it's definatly costly, I even have to watch how many miles I do because of keeping my insurance down!

Back to the film front, the other day I got an email that Keep the Flags Flying has been selected to be part of the Exposures Film Festival in November. More good news! I'm hoping I can get a copy of the film archived at Hanley Musuem. Also speaking of Musuems, I recieved an email from the 'Friends of Spode Musuem Trust' which want to do something with me when they get a few buildings at the Spode site early next year. Not sure what this entails yet but I imagine it could be an exciting oppurtunity.

A few days ago I got back from a short holiday in Cornwall. Stayed in a beautiful B&B called Anchor Lights in Looe which looks out over the river. I'll upload photos to my website soon (www.adamgeorgiou.co.uk). I've made a short film when I visited the small Harbour village of Charlestown, this can be seen here.

University starts again in 6-7 weeks for my 3rd and FINAL year. Watch this space for 3 epic films which will rock your socks or tights or even leggings.

As per usual i'm flitting between different things but I just want point back to Spode, well the factory and update on a few things. A few weeks ago Stoke-on-Trent Council actually purchased the site which is a good start. They're now sending in asbestos teams to survey the site and hopefully get rid of it all. Apparently by Christmas there may be a few little shops opening..if I;'m perfectly honest I'd be very surprised by this as you've seen in the Spode video it's a mess inside, unless they actually set up in the old shop/museum which wasn't included in the Film as that was just the factory. The shop/museum isn't that bad, infact it's like a blank canvas but the rest of the site is a mess and will definatly take a few years to become anything. The council has stopped all visitors to the site so now I can't even visit Alan at the lodge! today I had to chat to him through the gates. It must be like being imprisoned for 12 hours each day!

Now onto something else. I've recently had Virgin HD as I've wanted to get my hands onto HD TV for a while now but I must say Ii'm quite dissapointed. All's I have is BBC HD, ITV HD, 4 HD and 5 HD and it's not actually that good. Don't get me wrong the picture is better, but the content isn't very good at all. There's the odd thing like Sherlock, now that was a bloody good programme! And thank god it's coming back next year! But other than that I've barely watched anything in HD. I'm just glad I'm not paying any more than I previously did. But the upgrade did leave a huge hole in my now very dwindled bank account.

Anyways, I hear the rumblings in my tummy and a repeat episode of Doc Martin to remind me of Cornwall!

Calling for an update

And an update is what I shall provide.

My new short film is now finished 'Keep the Flags Flying' and on vimeo. It explores inside the pottery factory spode, which closed for good in 2008. The film evolved from my research into Stoke-upon-Trent.

Keep the Flags Flying from Adam Georgiou on Vimeo.

I'm going to submit this film to a number of different festivals soon so fingers crossed it gets shown somewhere!

On another note I've recently got back from a short stay in Barcelona of which I've made a short film whilst I was there. This will be posted soon as it's currently being uploaded to vimeo. It gave me an oppurtunity to test out my new Canon 550d, editing in full 1080p and grading using Magic Bullet Mojo. All new to me!

My website as had a massive update, looking more fresh and cleaner than the last version, this can be found at www.adamgeorgiou.co.uk or www.lonervideos.co.uk (they both link to the same website now!)

Another film worth checking out is a film by Callum Woolhouse called 'Socks'. I was Caerma Op/Asst Editor for this film and is doing quite well on Vimeo.

Socks from Adam Georgiou on Vimeo.

There quite a few things lined up for over the coming year, including hopefully a new short film and possibly animation. I'm going to be doing a collaboration film in my final year of University with Richard Stephenson http://dmc-film.blogspot.com/

based inside the same factory I did my non-fiction film 'Keep the Flags Flying'.

I'll post more about this as the ideas progress.

SPODE

Things have moved on now in my production. My film has 'evolved' from being about all of the town of Stoke to just the old Spode factory. It's has been shut since 2008 after over 200 years of production when it went into Administration. The site is now empty apart from 2 security guards that look after the site.
This is the proposed development site for Stoke Town centre.

I visited the site on 18th March with my stills camera. The site is MASSIVE. If you're on my facebook they can be found here http://www.facebook.com/adammgeorgiou#!/album.php?aid=397445&id=769105306

Considering it's only been closed a couple of years the age of the buldings is showing. There is dust from the cielings everywhere, there are still some old machines about the place. Even in the canteen are rubbish and cups left from the very last day. It's fascinating to look at but also very sad aswell to know that 600 people used to work there. Most people worked at Spode their whole life.

On Saturday 20th March I went back again with a JVC HD110 and shot almost an hours worth of footage inside the factory. It was heavily raining all day and water was pouring through parts of the roof. It was cold and miserable experience but was an amazing experience to shoot it.

This is a test edit of the footage


Spode Test Edit from Adam Georgiou on Vimeo.

To London and back again

Another day of been 'Cultured' and branching out of the old S-O-T. I've found myself wandering around the old Capital looking for the London College of Fashion to find that it's a run down looking Old Victorian building that looks like a hospital in the inside (just less sterile). I think they still work in monochrome in that builing.
Onwards on the Underground where mobile phones become obsolete and directions scarce. But we manage.
Next I'm in the Contemporary gallery of applied arts (or something along them lines) with vast quantities of overpriced cups and saucers that look like something out of a charity shop or that you'd find in the 70's, Like I said I'm getting Cultured. Apparently I should know that Tottenham Court road is famous for some reason? Again, culture I find I lack.
More Culture! The Victoria &Albert Musuem, what more can you get? Probably saw about 10% of it a we were very short on time, never mind.
After travelling back across London and picking up a portfolio that ways the equivalent of 2 double decker buses I end up back home, not back in Stoke, but in a pub. My saviour.

Location:Hanway St,Camden Town,United Kingdom

Blogging from the twilight zone

It's not really the twilight zone, but it feels like it. I'm currently sat in the corner of a French style cafe in he middle of Stratford upon Avon surrounded by people who's highlight of the day is crumpets and cream cakes (i shit you not). They were talking about which newspaper they prefer a minute ago. A mixture of The Times, Telegraph and The Mail for the crossword.
We also got surrounded by hungry swans earlier that devoured 2 cakes and a ham sandwich. Got a bit of that on the old video cam aswell, perhaps to be posted later!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Rother St,Stratford-Upon-Avon,United Kingdom

Stoke-upon-Dreams

Stoke-upon-Dreams is a new working title for my current film idea, well non-fiction film idea.

The idea came to me a few weeks ago after an excercise where I had to note down my journey from home to University and I realised just how bad my home town is. 

I know that Hanley isn't much good at the moment but I am aware that it has a good few million punds being used to regenerate the City centre, but it got me thinking about what is bein done about Stoke.

To my knowledge, nothing.

Stoke looks like a mere drive through with no reasons for parking the car but to pay the Council tax. So, there's my idea. To find out what the people of Stoke want, and whether anything is being done about it.

I today contacted local historian Richard Talbot. He told me about how Stoke was formed and a few points about how busy Stoke used to be. Apparently people needn't even go to hanley for anything unless they wanted to visit the 'big shops'. This surprises me as today you have to go up Hanley to buy most things!

I've got a 1-1 chat with him at his home next Tuesday morning which should be interesting.

I also contacted the Regeneration Manager for Stoke, Kevin Bell who's agreed to talk with me on the 1st March. I should be able to find out what plans are going ahead for Stoke, so to not get an unbiased opinion and view.

The Proposal is sorted out (to be posted sometime soon). And things are finally in motion.

More on this soon!

The Victoria ground

The Victoria Ground is the former site of the Stoke City Football Stadium between 1878 and 1997 before the new stadium (Britannia Stadium) was built.
For 12 years now the site has been a wastelands that had a nickname of the 'dog toilet' before it became fenced off in 2009 with no easy access for the public.
It's hard to believe that a stadium once stood there, even in 1997 it was thought to be the oldest operational football league ground in the world. Not even a monument stands there now. It's merely another eyesore for Stoke.
The site has plenty of potential for developers, it even has the River Trent passing by it.


This topic could prove interesting as a story for a non-fiction film as it holds memory and significance in the local community.
Potentially more on this topic soon!

Non-fiction film idea

I've just finished watching Amelie for about the 6th time however this time I chose to watch it with the directors commentary with Jeane Pierre Jeunet.

After watching the opening scene we get introduced to some of the characters, mainly Amelie's Mother and Father and Amelie herself. They are introduced by their dislikes and their likes with shots showing what they like and dislike. However the director says that some of the likes and dislikes are his own.

I can't remember specifics but it got me thinking about the film 50 people 1 question and the short film Pockets.

I started thinking that maybe I could do a film where I show some of the strange likes and dislikes of various people, showing an unusual side of people. I could do interviews in the streets to find out some things and ask whether they would mind being part of the film and reconstruct some of their likes and dislikes.

The style sort of mixing they style of Amelie, 50 people 1 question and pockets.

Out of the fire and into the frying pan!

Assessments for semester 1 are over. I think Last train Home went down quite well!
Shame about the sound but it wont happen on my next film. I'm hoping it gets screen at the film theatre in mid-late February.
I've got a couple of weeks to scrounge a non-fiction film idea together, but in the mean-time I've started testing out the JVC HD110 to actually see what kind of HDV shots I can get. My test looks quite promising.
I'm hoping to start experimenting with grading my films as well, I've just purchased a book on Apple Color so I think it'll be a self teach thing.



I personally like the look of the 4th shot in my test footage (see test footage).

Camera and grading test from Adam Georgiou on Vimeo.

Last Train Home from Adam Georgiou on Vimeo.

Small timewaster