hardluckhotel.co.uk

TREES | A FILM DASH PROJECT

Editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:57:54 +0000

This year I decided to submit an entry for Film Dash 2010, the 48-hour film challenge, organised by Meshed Media in association with Say Hello, which is part of Hello Digital, Arts Council, Birmingham City Council, and The Bullring.

In addition to creating the film from scratch in just 48-hours the following had to be included in my film:

General theme: Happiness

Line of dialogue: My years are not advancing as fast as you might think.

Prop: Ironing Board

This is my Film Dash 2010 film -

Click here to view the embedded video.

This film was shot on a Canon MV890, edited in Final Cut Express with music recorded live and edited in Garageband.

All film and music used in this entry was devised and created between 7pm Friday 5th March and 7pm Sunday 7th March.

Special thanks go to my partner Madeline for helping this film happen and for creating the beautiful music that accompanies the film.

This film made as part of Film Dash 2010, visit the Film Dash website and you can see some of the other entries in this years competition on the Film Dash Youtube channel.

First Aid Kit @ The Rainbow

Editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:51:46 +0000

First Aid Kit: Live on 22nd February 2010 at The Rainbow, Digbeth in Birmingham.

First Aid Kit are sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg from Stockholm, Sweden.

This performance at The Rainbow in Digbeth was incredible.

Find out more about First Aid Kit on their myspace page – www.myspace.com/thisisfirstaidkit

Buy their new album from Amazon The Big Black & The Blue

All photographs were taken on a iPhone 3GS (3 megapixel) camera, Silver filter enhancements made with the camerabag application.

WE ALL NEED HEROES – LIVE O2 ACADEMY 3

Editor — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:00:36 +0000

This is the final performance of 2009 by We All Need Heroes at the O2 Academy 3, in Birmingham on 16th December 2009.

We All Need Heroes are -

Dave (Vocals)
Dan (Rhythm)
Rich (Guitar)
Adam (Drums)
Ste (Bass)

Set List -

Superstar (Untitled at time of recording)
Blind Faith
The Chair
Unwanted
Broken Man
Forgotten Heartbeat
Good Men Fall

LIVE O2 ACADEMY 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

These are the films of the individual songs -

SUPERSTAR

Click here to view the embedded video.

BLIND FAITH

Click here to view the embedded video.

THE CHAIR

Click here to view the embedded video.

UNWANTED

Click here to view the embedded video.

BROKEN MAN

Click here to view the embedded video.

FORGOTTEN HEARTBEAT

Click here to view the embedded video.

GOOD MEN FALL

Click here to view the embedded video.

Find out more about the band on their website & myspace page -

weallneedheroes.co.uk
myspace.com/weallneedheroesuk

This film was originally shot on a Panasonic NV-GS230, Canon MV890 and a Canon MV400i and edited in Final Cut Express.

Additional camera by Matthew Slade.
See more of Matt’s work on Myspace and Youtube -

myspace.com/mattchatmedia
youtube.com/mattchatting

Clips from previous We All Need Heroes shows and more can also be found on this site and on the Hardluck Hotel YouTube Channel.

youtube.com/hardluckhotelfilms

Strip Generator

Editor — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:53:33 +0000

Whilst preparing ideas for my web comic I was introduced to a fantastic web site called Strip Generator.

Strip Generator allows you to create short comic strips online using it’s libraries of objects, people, shapes and beings. The fairly easy to us tools allow you to create really nice looking strips, by dragging and dropping items, in just a few minutes.

There is also thriving community of users who comment on your strips and generally help out with the more advanced aspects of the site.

These are the remixed versions of my original Strip Generator strips, I’ve just enhanced the overall design and added speech balloons via Comic Life.

Click on the strips to see an enlarged version.

You can see my original strips on my Hardluck Hotel Strip Generator page.

THE LOSERS

Editor — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:32:49 +0000

ANTE UP

One of my favourite comic books of recent years is heading to the big screen. An adaptation of Andy Diggle and Jock’s reinvention of the old DC team, The Losers looks to be a hit this spring.

TRAILER

Click here to view the embedded video.

Below is a cast photograph based on the poster artwork created by Jock, the original Jock illustration and both images side by side for you to see how well the filmmakers have captured the look of the book.

The film is due to open in April so you can order the first two volumes of the original comic from Amazon and get ahead of the game.

Bearwood in Winter

Editor — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:26:44 +0000

I’m already missing the snow that covered most of the UK recently, so to remind me of how incredible everything looked, I thought I’d take this opportunity to post up a series of photographs taken during those wonderful weeks.

All photographs were taken on a iPhone 3GS (3 megapixel) camera, enhancements made with the Lo-Mob application.

Where The Wild Things Are

Editor — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:08:03 +0000

GO WILD…

Maurice Sendak’s classic book comes to the big screen in 2009. “Where the Wild Things Are” follows the adventure of Max, a mischievous young boy who is sent to his room with no supper.

The film is directed by Spike Jonze and looks to include some amazing live-action puppetry and computer animation.

Set for release in October, Where the Wild Things Are stars Catherine Keener, Benicio Del Toro, Forest Whitaker, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Noonan, Michael Berry and James Gandolfini. Music by Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Carter Burwell (Fargo).

To get you in the mood here is the Arcade Fire scored trailer and a brand new feature about the making of the film including an interview with Maurice Sendak.

TRAILER

Click here to view the embedded video.

BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURE

NEW TRAILER (ADDED 07/08/2009)

Click here to view the embedded video.

NEW TV SPOTS (ADDED 13/09/2009)

Click here to view the embedded video.

OPINION

Where The Wild Things Are

This is a film that will split audiences but Spike Jonze’s long awaited film version of Maurice Sendak’s much-loved 1963 children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are certainly won me over.

Expanding the brief original story to a full length feature has given us a a film that explores what it is to be a child and how we, as adults, become detached from that.

The film is the tale of Max, a young boy who feels frustration and rage at being ignored and lonely, surrounded by adults and siblings on the verge of adulthood who can’t spare the time to engage in childish games. This rage erupts to the surface after one confrontation before dinner with his mother and Max runs away. He eventually arrives at an remote land inhabited by the Wild Things. The first thing Max sees is the destruction of their home by their own hand. He is soon joining in the joy of destruction and is quickly promoted to king.

This is the point at which the audiences will go in different directions as this part of the film is slower and more ponderous, filled with dialogue that may mean something significant or may not. We discover that the Wild Things have their own relationship problems and that one of the Wild Things, Carol, is a kindred spirit for Max.

For me this works beautifully, incredibly shot sequences with wonderful creatures. The amazingly intricate constructions the Wild Things create show a side of them that goes beyond their wild looks. And it’s this that I think linked this story to me more than it does others. I see this as being a view on how we, as adults, take the things we create or collect and give them importance beyond their meaning. Look at those of us who have things that never come out of their boxes or get played with. For a child these things are not to be revered but to be enjoyed, played with and ultimately destroyed to make way for something new and more exciting. The idea that these Wild Things can build something so beautiful and destroy it so quickly is a powerful one.

But much like Max at home, the feelings of hurt and loneliness also begin to affect the Wild Things and Max’s place as leader is put in doubt as they realise that he is not some all powerful king with easy solutions to their problems, but someone just like them. This leads to a spilt between Max and Carol in a similar fashion to Max’s feeling about his mother at the start of the film and Max leaves to return to a home where his mother is waiting for him. A mother who despite everything still loves him.

Spike Jonze’s has created a world of wonder, in equal measures scary and magical, sad and joyful. It’s not your typical kids film and is not as bright and energetic as Wes Andersons recent Fantastic Mr Fox, but if you enjoy beautifully created worlds filled with amazing characters do yourself a favour and go Where The Wild Things Are.

In the end this is a film that will get under your skin, because at heart you still know what it’s like to be a child and to be loved.

Where the Wild Things Are

Credits –

Directed by
Spike Jonze

Based on the book ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ by
Maurice Sendak

Written by
Spike Jonze
Dave Eggers

Cast
Catherine Keener
Catherine O’Hara
Forest Whitaker
James Gandolfini
Lauren Ambrose
Max Records
Paul Dano

Orginal Music by
Karen O and Carter Burwell

We All Need Heroes – Live in November

Editor — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:30:57 +0000

This is the full performance of We All Need Heroes supporting SiXDAYSOBER at The Actress and Bishop, in Birmingham on 21st November 2009.

We All Need Heroes are -

Dave (Vocals)
Dan (Rhythm)
Rich (Guitar)
Adam (Drums)
Ste (Bass)

You can next see We All Need Heroes live on Wednesday 16th December at The Birmingham O2 Acadamy 3 in Birmingham City Centre.

Set List -

Broken Man
Unwanted
The Chair
Blind Faith
Forgotten Heartbeat
Good Men Fall

FULL GIG

Click here to view the embedded video.

These are the films of the individual songs -

BROKEN MAN

Click here to view the embedded video.

UNWANTED

Click here to view the embedded video.

THE CHAIR

Click here to view the embedded video.

BLIND FAITH

Click here to view the embedded video.

FORGOTTEN HEARTBEAT

Click here to view the embedded video.

GOOD MEN FALL

Click here to view the embedded video.

Find out more about the band on their website & myspace page -
weallneedheroes.co.uk
myspace.com/weallneedheroesuk

This film was originally shot on a Panasonic NV-GS230, Canon MV890 and a Canon MV400i and edited in Final Cut Express.

Clips from previous We All Need Heroes shows and more can also be found on the Hardluck Hotel YouTube Channel.

The Fog – In West Bromwich

Editor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:10:27 +0000

A heavy fog enveloped West Bromwich last Friday and after seeing images on Flickr coming from people in Birmingham, I was inspired to capture what was happening in West Bromwich.

This series was shot on my iPhone just after nine in the morning and was then put through one of the TTV filters in the Lo-Mob application – the result really makes West Bromwich look incredible.

All photographs were taken on a iPhone 3GS (3 megapixel) camera, enhancements made with the Lo-Mob application.

Lee Allen Photography

Editor — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:18:07 +0000

A short film showing Lee Allen, photographer, at work shooting part of the Binge and Cringe campaign for Walsall PCT.

Click here to view the embedded video.

About Lee

Lee Allen is a self-taught photographer who originates from the wilds of Norfolk and now lives in the West Midlands. His friendly approach, coupled with his knack of capturing that “moment”, has seen him work for national magazines through to the BBC.

From the regal surroundings of a wedding in a stately home to the sweaty confines of a small club gig, Lee always approaches each job with the same level of commitment and professionalism ensuring breathtaking results every time.

| www.leeallenphotography.com | info@leeallenphotography.com | +44 (0)7855 443437 |

| Lee Allen Photography is based in the West Midlands and can cover both national and international assignments |

Lee is an amazing photographer and I suggest you visit his site www.leeallenphotography.com right now to see just how good his is. The Music photography section is must see.

This film was shot on a Canon 5D MKII with standard lens and no additional rig or equipment. It was then edited in Final Cut Express 4.

You can view this film in High Definition, as well as some of my other films over at the Hardluck Hotel Vimeo page or on the Hardluck Hotel Youtube Channel.