Tag Archives: filmmaking

Update time again!

Time for another update. I really must update this blog more. Didn’t I say that last time?

Well, it’s been exactly 11 months since we wrapped on our British sci-fi horror feature film “Day of the Clones”. Since then we’ve been relentlessly editing, adding VFX to create the destroyed future world, and crafting the soundtrack. Now the movie is in its final stages and should be completed this month.

“Day of the Clones” is a postapocalyptic feature film set in Manchester, England. After the clones he created take over the world, scientist Andrew Callwood and his pregnant girlfriend Lindsey take refuge in a deserted farmhouse along with their faithful android, Kellogg. But fate has other plans for them all as they become the unlikely saviours of the human race!

So what’s next? Well, we’ve already filmed two short films this year in the UK. These are sci-fi horror and surreal dramas in the vein of “The Twilight Zone”. More on them to come. For now here are some images from “Day of the Clones”.

And stay tuned for more updates about our Manchester-set vampire feature film, “Boy #5”, which is now titled “Bad Blood”!

The making of… “Day of the Clones”!

Time for another update about our independent filmmaking exploits. Did I say I must update this blog more? I really must update this blog more. 

Our horror movie based on my on screenplay wrapped at the end of April.  “Day of the Clones” is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror movie made during the pandemic lockdown in Manchester, England. 

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The experience was incredible, frustrating, exhilarating, exhausting, hilarious, and brought me to the end of my tether on more than one occasion. We had lots of things go wrong , including a horse that died, a real car crash, loss of locations, terrible weather, and of course the pandemic itself. But we managed to complete our picture and hopefully the results will be unlike anything you’ve seen before. 

We’re editing the picture now after 32 days of filming. This will likely be a looong process as we have special effects to put in. This a much bigger film than our last one,. Just converting the digital camera files into a type that we could actually see on the computer took 2 weeks!

The kind folks at Stage 32 wrote a blog about it here: https://www.stage32.com/blog/How-Not-to-Make-an-Epic-Sci-Fi-Feature-Film

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Stay tuned as we have much more news coming very soon about our first feature… the British vampire film “Boy #5”!

More good news for our horror feature film “Boy #5!

 
We’re getting the first industry responses to the film… and so far it’s good news!
 
“A great film! Good acting, realistic script, great sound and music….just everything worked out very well indeed!”
 
We’re looking forward to having our cast and crew private screening soon and will be sharing some of the pictures of that.
 
For me personally this has been a year-long journey. We’ve had to cope with some bumps and events that nobody could have foreseen, but we’re finally getting there!
 
Next up is our search for distribution. Meanwhile, we’re keeping on making films. In fact, we have another short film in the works that I’m itching to show you.
 
Here are a few more stills from our production for “Boy #5”. Hope you enjoy them!
 

Horror News – Our independent horror feature film is finished!

Yes, we made a movie! This very overdue post is to tell everyone that our new British vampire feature film, “Boy #5” has been completed and edited. We are now ready to unleash it upon the world! But what is it about, I hear you cry?

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Our first film poster!

“Boy #5” tells the story of a burned-out social worker who tries to help a boy who has been found on the streets – shy, withdrawn Nathan. But as she gets closer to him, she learns that Nathan has a very peculiar type of mutation, with a thirst for human blood!

The film features special effects and some gruesome make-up that was so believable we even fooled some of the locals! The entire movie was self-funded by ourselves. All the special effects are practical, not CGI, and the actors are all from the Manchester area. We also had some stellar crew who kept on working long after dusk. Just as well, really.

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The “Doctor’s office” scene, where things don’t go too well for our main character.

Yes, we hit a few bumps along the road what with a worldwide pandemic and all, but we’ve finally finished editing and all that jazz. Now we’re going to be moving forward and trying to get it out there so you can all see it!

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Filming the “vampire night club scene”, involving a cast of thousands (not literally).

If you like indie horror, low budget cinema, and original storytelling in horror, you’re going to like this. It’s been a long, arduous road, but we think it was worth it. And we have a brand new production company, Vamoose Productions Ltd. Remind me to tell you the story behind that name some time. 

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Our first-time screen actor Lennon plays a rather unusual boy named Nathan.

 

We shot the film entirely on location in Manchester, England. Making it was a story in itself, and you can read all about it over at the Stage32.com blog here.

And don’t forget to take a look at our Facebook page.

We are now going to be searching for distributors and entering festivals. More pictures and details will be coming very soon. So stay tuned!

Making the horror movie

Sorry if my posts have been a little scarce recently. The reason, however, can now be revealed…

We’re making a horror movie!

Yes, that’s right. I’ve gone from the ceaseless self-torture of writing movies to the even worse self-torture of writing and directing movies!

The film will be the first made by our brand new production company, Vamoose Film Productions Ltd. This is a UK-based production company, making films in Britain!

Our first film started out as a “small” project and quickly exploded into a full-on feature film as everyone I told the story to wanted to hear more. “But there is no more” I would say. “Well, then go and write some more!” they said. So I did. The result is… well, I’ll save the exact title for later for now. 😉

Best of all, this will be a new British horror film. And it’s on a subject very close to my heart. To say any more would be telling, but those who know me well should be able to guess by now!

We have all been working like demons to get the shots done on time, and it’s not been without its trials and tribulations. But we’re about 85% of the film done now. It’s involved special effects makeup and even wild  animals. But we’ve saved some of the most ambitious elements for last.

Meanwhile here’s a behind-the-scenes shot from the set to whet your appetite! But who is that handsome guy in the glasses?

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