It's All About Story...

We all love a good story don't we? A few weeks ago we filmed Kerry and Tom's wedding at the Netherwood Hotel in Grange-over-Sands. Autumn weddings are always good to film - lovely colours and often good light. Actually, I think that from a purely aesthetic point of view, the one season NOT to get married is the summer: Hard sunlight, worn out looking nature, and still the potential of rain. Anyway, Tim and Kerry's wedding was lovely - Kerry's Dad had written a corker of a Father-of-the-Bride's speech which left me with an overflow of editing decisions to make - it was so rich with anecdotes and stories, as well as his own personal emotions about the day. He started off by saying that he was not used to public speaking, but you would not have know that at all. A truthful, touching speech which left Jonny and I touched too! And, refreshingly, none of the speeches lapsed into the bog standard jokes from google (although we did see on slipped in!). For filmmaking purposes (so fairly selfish reasons really!), these are the best days - the days where you feel that you find something out about the people you are spending the day with.

 And then we filmed the guest messages too. I think we shall probably start making this a bigger feature of our work. Twenty years ago, I am sure people would have shied away from the camera. However, these days we are all presenters! So what we see is people giving their hearts and souls in their messages - messages which will stand the test of time (technology allowing!). What I have noticed is that it is actually the guests who can give a commentary of the day which really does make it a record of a moment in time which will never be repeated. You'll see what I mean if you watch the trailer below. I like the film, but my favourite bit is where Tom's mum and dad just say, "we love you". Simple truths are the most powerful and often go unsaid. I think that last Saturday's wedding has given me the embryo of an idea of something new for the Gorgeous Media Wedding Film. Watch this space to watch it develop!  

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind...

This week we are up at Lancaster University to film the wind turbine.  We are producing a small documentary for the Green Gown Awards later this month.  The University has been nominated for an award under the "Carbon Reduction" category.  I can see the turbine from all of the windows in my house and I think it is very elegant.  I do know however that wind energy does seem to divide opinion.  Anyway, this film has got me going up to Hazlerigg on sunny days to film the turbine.  I think that because it stands alone on the hill it has a very dramatic effect on the landscape - possibly more so than if there was a group of them.  I like filming it - there is a real poetry in its motion.  The film will show what I mean, I am sure.

Last year, we made a documentary about Lancaster University's Travel Plan.  That was really interesting too - it shows what can be done when an organisation has the courage to implement policies which won't necessarily give an immediate return but which over years seems to have really paid off.

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Meet the Normans at Lancaster Castle

Last weekend we fancied setting ourselves a weekend challenge, so we packed up our kit and went off to spend the day at Lancaster Castle where the Norman re-enactment group Historia Normannis were staging battles and busting myths about 12th Century history which have probably grown out an over-romantic Hollywood film industry.

Janine interviewing an overheating knight at Lancaster Castle

The day was hot and the courtyard at Lancaster Castle was a complete sun and heat trap.  However, we were not put off, although I think I did get a bit grumpy every now and again.  I have found out before when working with re-enactment societies that they just really enjoy talking about there particular re-enactment period.  This group was just the same!  They were really happy to talk away, and brought the history of that period to life.  However, I did ask one Norman to explain what the women would have been doing whilst the knights were all off fighting and being heroic - she told me that they would have stopped at home and done the cooking and washing.  I was not terribly convinced by this so checked it out further - apparently some women could have held quite a lot of power - especially when the men were off on crusades - some held keys to castles which made them REALLY powerful!  Now, that is more like it!

There were probably about 20 knights demonstrating combat through tourneys but also practising outside the Castle.  Having looked back at the footage, their fights were fierce!  I am sure that some of them are probably still feeling the effects of their fights a week later.  We talked to Chris who told us that he actually makes his own chain (it's not chain mail because 'mail' is French for 'chain' so you are in fact just saying 'chain chain' which is a bit daft... a bit like koala bear...).  I checked, and apparently in the 1100's England only had a population of about 2 million.  It's a bit amazing that they managed to find each other to fight in the first place.  2 million doesn't sound like many at all to me.

Anyway, our filming challenge - we just wanted to produce a short taster of what was happening at the Castle and get it produced in a day - it was like a 24 hour challenge I suppose - we were doing it to keep us sharp - there's always something to learn in those situations.  For example, I just wish we had filmed the fight scenes in a higher frame rate and not occasionally left the cameras in auto wb mode - I know they are small factors, but ones that I shall think about more next time.

The film is good.  Pleased with the results and we'd relish the opportunity to go back in on a quieter day and do some film work in the prison wings - I imagine all sorts of interesting lighting states and it would be just good to let people have a look at things that are so rarely open to members of the public.

Our next challenge is to do a bit of hyper lapsing (if it ever stops raining!) so watch this space.  In the meantime watch this film - it's fab.

Be THE Best Man You Can - Block Buster Trailer Release

Well, we have one more sleep until the world of wedding films is changed forever.  It's been an exciting few weeks.  You see, we had this idea... a tried and tested idea that we wanted to share only we didn't quite know how.  And then we remembered that as filmmakers we have more power than most to communicate an idea, so we picked up our cameras and that's what we did.  We reckon that there are loads of blokes who get asked to be Best Mans at their best friends' weddings who are absolutely terrified.  Blokes who would much rather spend the day handing our the odd Order of Service and supping with the other groomsmen.  However, with the mantle of Best Man falls a huge responsibility:  Everyone expects/demands that they be THE most hilarious person of the day... The Best Man's job is to present a speech which sets the tone for the rest of the day.  Give a perfect speech and the day is theirs... Then there is the flip side.  Give a mediocre, awkward or worse still inappropriate speech and all is lost.

Then we got thinking - why don't we offer a service to film the Best Man's speech before the day?  How cool is that?  We might be about to save Best Mans up and down the country.

imagine if you made your Best Man's speech in the style of The Godfather...

As filmmakers, if you don't learn something out of every film you make, then you probably are not doing it right.  This film trailer we have made has taken us all over Lancaster and Morecambe.  We have set ourselves challenges to make film sets out of people's garages and dining rooms, using basic makeup and costumes and it's been fun.

The best bit of filming?  It's when you are producing something with a group of like-minded people who get so hooked up on the shot that you are producing that you all forget to eat, you cease to feel the cold, you enter a zone which is just somewhere else.  When you are all in the zone, that's the best bit.  Our Gorgeous Media Team have found that zone.  Filmmaking is also about producing an edit that you are desperate for others to pull apart so that you can make it better.  This project has been fun and a challenge - we have challenged ourselves to make a film which doesn't compromise on quality.  I hope that we can make similar films for clients.

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Be THE Best Man You Can - Blockbuster Trailer

Here's a press release for our latest project!  The trailer's about to burst onto the scene this Friday.  The World is waiting with bated breath...

Local film production company, Gorgeous Media, has developed a brand new, very exciting product for the wedding film market.

On Friday 18th July, they will launch their idea with the trailer - "Be THE Best Man You Can". "The Best Man Speech film idea is very simple," explained Gorgeous Media’s Jonathan Patchett. "If you are expected to be a Best Man and the thought of standing up and doing a speech is giving you sweaty palms and sleepless nights, Gorgeous Media can ease the pressure by producing a film of your speech in advance, to be shown on the wedding day." Both Jonathan and Owen Warren have already tried and tested the concept, having already produced and presented Best Man Speech films themselves. "My Best Man's Speech film went down a storm," said filmmaker Owen. "We interviewed friends and family, added dance routines, special effects and even explosions! It was a complete surprise for the bride and groom."

Owen and Jonathan said that their respective films stole their friends' wedding days. "When you attend a lot of weddings,” said Jonathan, “you do become very aware of the same internet jokes being churned out. Best Man Speech expectations run very high, and we just want to give Best Men everywhere a bespoke, personalised, quirky film alternative". Gorgeous Media hopes that their new service will complement their increasingly sought-after wedding films. To find out more, check out their hilarious Best Man trailer at gorgeousmedia.co.uk or go to the Gorgeous Media Facebook page.

Production team members - Jemma, Owen, Janine and Jonny

Be The Best Man You Can - Production Day 4

Early this morning, Janine, Denise, Owen and I were back at Williamson's Park to re-shoot our aerial shot and it went swimmingly well! The weather was perfect for the Quadcopter and it was really quiet and peaceful at the park with it being so early. It was bliss!

Be The Best Man You Can - Production Day 3

Today, Janine, Owen, Jonny and I were on location at a white wall studio and it was great fun! We had a few big scenes to films today and so it was a busy day for us, but that never stops the Gorgeous Media team from having fun. Owen and I put on our best background acting while Jonny took centre stage for his staring role and Janine was doing all of the technical jobs that the scene could throw at her! She was sound engineer, autocue operator and camera-woman, all in one! The camera had to be on a tripod, balanced on a table to get the right angle for the shot and so Janine was half way up a ladder while doing all of these jobs. Well done, Janine! We don't make it easy for ourselves but at least the film looks fab!

 Janine being the multi-tasker of the day as Jonny, Owen and I were all in front of the camera.

It's always fun when we're filming. Isn't that right, Owen?

The studio that we were in have an amazing light set up and curved walls and so we were able to get some superb shots. Look out for them in our upcoming advert which will hit this spot very soon! You don't want to miss it, folks!

Jonny and Janine organising the autocue. Got to get it perfect!

Janine and Jonny concentrating hard. Phew, is it time for a tea and biscuit break soon?

That's it for today, but check back tomorrow for another 
update from us here at Gorgeous Media to see what else 
we've been up to and for more teasers for our upcoming 
advert. See you then, folks!

Cheerio for now!

Be The Best Man You Can - Production Day 2

Today was Day 2 on location with Janine, Denise, Jonny and Owen and what an amusing and busy day it has been. We just had the one scene to film today but there was a lot of set dressing involved; Jonny was up on chairs, strapping duvet covers to windows and making cups of tea (not at the same time thank goodness), Owen was moving furniture around and getting dressed ready for his appearance on-screen, Denise made a bow tie out of a neck tie for Owen's character and Janine helped put it on him, and we were all emptying the dining room into the rest of the house.  Poor Prudence the pooch wondered what on earth was going on!

Jonny making cups of tea and coffee. Thanks Jonny!

Janine holding back a confused Prudence out of the way of Owen and Jonny,who
are about to appear out of the kitchen carrying the table towards the set.

Janine and Denise putting a bow tie on Owen.

We also had special guest Alice the cat in the scene today and she was very well behaved; she sat on Owen’s knee through the whole scene without much fuss. Well done, Alice.

Alice - Isn't she sweet?

Today's day on the set was especially funny and during filming we were all falling about laughing. It doesn't help that when you see or hear someone else laughing, that's it, before you know it you're laughing with little to no control! It was a room full of shuddering shoulders and poorly stifled laughter. The scene involved stuffing Owen's cheeks with marshmallows while he read his lines in order to create the desired effect. You'll see it soon in our advert, which will be released in this spot soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

Janine and I checking set detail - can you guess which film this is from?

Check back here tomorrow for another update and more teasers for the upcoming advert. See you then folks.

Cheerio for now!

Be The Best Man You Can - Production Day 1

So today, Janine, Jonny, Owen and I have had a very busy day filming the advert for our latest venture.  We've been out and about all over the place - Williamson's Park, friends' farms and fields, neighbour's garages... What a busy and strange and extraordinary day we have had!  Today has been great fun and we still have more to film over the next few days.  Exciting!

Here's one of Jonny, Janine and Owen working hard at the Ashton Memorial in Williamson's Park  Owen got a week's worth of exercise running up and down all those steps!  Phew, all that work called for many a tea break... Has anyone seen Denise with the biscuits?!

We filmed a few shots with the fabulous Quadcopter today.  Look at it in all its glory sweeping towards the Ashton Memorial.  We reckon that every film needs at least two aerial shots so the Quadcopter does just the job.  Janine certainly had fun as Chief Pilot (although she tried to convince us it is very technical and demanding...).  It certainly attracted quite a crowd of spectators as it flew over Owen.  Look out for the aerial shots in the very soon-to-be-released 'Be The Best Man' advert.

Our Quadcopter in full-flightWe had a chance to use the fabulous Quadcopter today too.  Look at it here in all its glory, sweeping towards Janine towards the Ashton Memorial.  We reckon every good film needs at least two shots from the air, and this little machine does the job.  

The Gorgeous Media Production Team in full flight

Keep your eyes and ears on this spot folks - something is coming soon and it's going to be Great!  Check back for regular updates... Cheerio for now!

Over To You Jemma!

Over to you Jemma!  The Gorgeous Media Team was very busy in production over the weekend.  You see, we have this plan:  To shake up the traditional Best Man's Speech.  Our Jemma has blogged very day of production so far.  Have a read - who said revolutionising an age old convention would be easy?  but it's also way too much fun!

Over to you Jemma!  Presenting Jemma - your blogger for this week!

The Bridal Collection

Jonny and I have just finished producing a short promo film for The Bridal Collection in Lancaster. As you may have gathered, if you didn’t know, The Bridal Collection is a wedding shop which sells wedding dresses. It’s on North Road in Lancaster. From the outside, it looks quite small... but oh my! what a tardis of a shop it is! They carry so many wedding dresses, we were amazed... Wedding dresses as far as the eye could see (well almost!).
 

Once in a while...

So now... last week we went south to film Adam and Jessica’s wedding at The Great Hall in Mains. What a lovely day - spring is gorgeous for filming - all of those colours seem, well, just so colourful.
http://www.thegreathallatmains.co.uk

Directional Drilling Film

Last summer, we got involved with producing a film about a directional drilling project which was drilling a pipe under the River Wyre between Preesall and Thornton in North Lancashire. The pipe would then take the mains electricity cables through to power Fleetwood. It was a really interesting project - I don;t think I’d ever thought about electricity and how it gets places before. This pipe was a mile long and was drilled 25 metres under the river bed... YES! 25 metres! Amazing! Anyway, the film will hopeful be a useful marketing tool for the drill company because the process is quite difficult to explain - so we went and films the men doing the work and then interviewed the project manager - he told it better than anyone else.

The sky is the limit

This month, we purchased a very shiny piece of kit - it’s a quadcopter - basically a drone with a camera so that we can fly up and film aerial views. It will be perfect for civil engineering projects, but we think that all films need at least one aerial shot! We are out all the time at the moment getting our flying hours in!

Dee + Barry

I guess we can now claim the title of ‘International wedding film makers’! Last November, we threw the dog in the back of the car with cameras, glide tracks and tripods and with the Proclaimers playing at full-blast, we headed across the border to film Dee and Barry’s wedding in the fair city of Edinburgh.

Now Dee and Barry’s wedding film was a present from Shirley and Brian, whose wedding we had filmed in March (are you keeping up?). Shirley loves Gorgeous Media so much she has decided to make it her very own mission to bring us northwards to film things whenever she can. We love Shirley!

Dee and Barry were lovely. Their day was at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh. We stayed over at Scottish Margaret’s house the night before and got the train into Edinburgh on the Saturday morning. The train was packed and we were laden with equipment. However, people were so helpful and friendly and keen to help us, we were well looked after. A taxi ride later, we arrived at the Corn Exchange - always a relief when you are miles away from home and in foreign parts.

Dee arrived in style in her brother’s bright orange pick up truck. Barry and Dee had met through their jobs at Rentokil. They were lovely to work with. The venue was a bit of a challenge because they had this strange lighting set up which meant that the staff were intent on changing the colour of the room which made getting the colour-balance a bit of a nightmare. We spent a really pleasant day in Edinburgh and got back to Scottish Margaret’s to capture the footage over a dry white wine and Strictly Come Dancing.

Shirley reckons we are “Rather good at this videoing malarky”. We hope to go back up there soon.