Saxon!!

Oh my word. I have been super busy for the past month working with legendrary heavy metalers Saxon on two of their newest music videos to coincide with the release of their first single and their new album, A Call To Arms.
I have worked with fellow students and graduates from the University of Glamorgan and together we shot both videos in two days up north in Yorkshire.
I have directed and camera operated their first release - Hammer of The Gods and co-directed/ assisted and camera operated for their second video. I have also edited both videos together. It has been immense.

I have done my best to remain professional and not get starstruck by the presence of such giants, I have worked closely with the band to fine tune the final videos and have found the whole experience very rewarding.I've discovered the perils of syncing at times when reverb is introduced into a song and, as a director, have been evaluating my ability to lead people towards the final product.
Everyone involved in the project have been fantastic. Unfortunately I can't go into too much detail on the actual videos until they are released, but still it feels good to be able say that I have done it.

Its My Shout - Heads Up The Valleys

I have been working with Its My Shout on a new project in association with the Arts Council Wales.
As part of the Its My Shout team I have been documenting the process of community workshops in regards to encouraging community groups to get involved with the media in whatever form they choose.
We have worked with three groups since late 2010 and together we have created 2 short films and an animatic.
Each group had the opportunity to go through the entire process from pre production to final shoot. They came up with their own stories and concepts, visualised them, acted and were their own crew for each project.
Alongside documenting these projects I have also trained individuals interested in the craft of camera, basic camera operation and acted a DoP of kinds on the short films.
The experience has been very satisfying. It has also opened my mind up to a new multi platform approach to filming and documenting in encouraging and training others to create their own pieces and watching an idea evolve through the minds of those not formerly trained in a media environment.
The short films are currently in post and I can't wait to watch them with the groups.

Trailer

found this in the t'interweb. Its out in March and I cant wait to see my name up on the big screen in the cinema I once worked in :D


To watch more, visit www.t5m.com

Britains Next Top Model

Britains Next Top Model has been filming the audition process throughout the UK. For its 3rd and final date in Cardiff I managed to bag myself a days work as a logger.
This consisted of logging interesting facts about each contestant, their number and time of day. As I have had experience in this through my continuity role on an Its My Shout project I was placed in the studio for the day to log all of the auditions. Other loggers were placed with the other cameras in the waiting area to collect back stories and reactions.
The entire process was very interesting to watch. Although I have had experience with studio shoots I had not been part of any that involve public participation. Watching peoples reactions live gave an insight into how the show is all cut together and also how decisions are made about contestants.
I very much enjoyed this job and cant wait to see it on TV later this year!

Pitching to the BBC

The course I attend at university required us to create a pitch and to practice it in front of another. I joined this particular module late so missed the session and didn't get to practice last week. Oh well, what better way to catch up than to pitch my idea to the commissioning editor of the BBC.

Nick Sherman was attending our university to give a talk on commissioning and pitching for the BBC. The information from the talk was invaluable and I for one very much appreciate the time Nick spent to come and pass on his knowledge to us.

At the end we had the opportunity to have a go at pitching ourselves. My tutor had encouraged me to go for it and I figured I'd give it shot either way (nobody else did, mind). However theres something in those three little letters, B B C which is crippling. Im normally ok at public speaking, I was well prepared with slides and a written copy of my pitch. It wasn't a total disaster, feedback was positive and commending for me to stand up in front of the large group attending the session and Nick with my idea. However I did crumble and turn into a bumbling fool, not even a minute in which was quite embarrassing and probably uncomfortable to watch.
So overall - a terrifying experience.
However it was a great chance to have a go a such a thing and definitely a good thing to know what it feels like for future reference.
Nick did take my written copy of my pitch and very kindly discussed it with his colleagues at the Beeb, sadly I shan't be directing any of my own stuff in the near future for them, however it was very kind of him to take the time to look into my pitch following the event and to contact me with feedback.

So a positive outcome and some experience gained.

Finn Daniel - If I got Good

finn daniel - if i got good from Natalie Clements on Vimeo.

A video I made for a musician and friend of mine, Finn.

Dickinsons Real Deal

I worked the Chepstow episodes as a steward/ runner, for a day. Look out for me on Cheryls table stood in the background looking interested!

I have no idea when it will be aired tho :/