The Reluctant Blogger

Photoshop is a brilliant piece of software. Anything from editing images, creating posters and drawing deisgns - it will do the job.  Some say that one cannot truly learn something without putting the skill into practise and experimenting individually. It takes up to 10,000 hours to master just one thing, and when it comes to technology it is definetly true! Softwares are forever being upgraded and technology is always advancing. In essence, Adobe Photoshop is relatively simple to use, but when one has a desired look in mind it is often due to experimentation and practise that the job is done. In my spare time I have practised with the software and tried out different ideas, and , of course, not all of them have worked. However, one particular work I enjoyed was sketching and painting something from scratch. It is not easy with a mouse, and even less so with a touchpad. It starts with a basic outline using a pen/pencil with the opacity set to 50 or less. When this is done the

Promotional videos are an art in themselves; too fancy, or too cheesy or too expensive! When promoting something, it is important to keep to the basics and eliminate anything that is negative or unnecessary. Moreover, it is important to portray the truth - without giving the audience a biased viewpoint. https://vimeo.com/79559596 Over the early part of summer 2013, I took on the task of creating a short promotional video for my old secondary school. On agreeing to this task, (as I hadn't made anything of the sort beforehand, and therefore had to do a rather large amount of research) I looked up how to make a promotional video.   Prior to filming, I talked with several of the directors and staff to write down the basic structure for the video and this then enabled me to create a basic storyboard. As my resources were limited at the time to a compact Ixus Canon Camera and Adobe Premier Elements (which the school kindly bought me in return

'When Jane Foster is possessed by a great power, Thor must protect her from a new threat of old times: the Dark Elves'. 'THOR 2: The Dark World' is the action-adventure/sci-fi/fantasy sequel to Marvel's 2011 film Thor, which continues the adventures of Thor, the mighty avenger, god of thunder, in the Marvel Universe. Jam-packed with special effects and a brilliant story line, Thor: The Dark World will keep you rooted to your seat from beginning to end. Although thrilling from a technological point of view, there is the opinion that the SFX within the film, and the focus on the action and seemingly superfluous fight sequences, has deterred from the emotional connection between the characters and the audience; and has hindered the general enjoyment that might have been more accessible. Some say that the film is a missed opportunity, that the film is saturated with tedious dialogue and the characters are too bland. The acting however, is to be praise

Kristoph Kieslowski was a Polish film dire ctor and screenwriter born on 27th Jun 1941. He made over 25 short films/documentaries and 14 feature films including The Decalogue (1988), No End (1984) and Talking Heads (1980). "The Industry doesn't like to see the complexity of the world. It prefers simple reporting, with simple ideas; this is white, that's black; this is good, that's bad" - Kristoph Kieslowski Talking Heads (or Gladagece glowy) was short documentary featuring a wide range of people from all generations, backgrounds and professions, who are asked three simple questions. 1) Who are you? 2) When were you born? 3) What is important to you? Each question was answered individually, told to an interviewer, and was accompanied by the year each person was born in. The film starts with a 1 year old boy, and works its way towards the eldest interviewees. Here is the original documentary: The task was to recreate Talking Heads in the style of Krist

APPORTATION - The ability to transport inanimate objects. A short sci-fi/thriller film about an anti-hero with teleportation powers who finds himself temporarily trapped in an interrogation. Check it out here: http://apportation2014.blogspot.co.uk/

"Those of you that think filming is all glamour, you're so wrong!" - Tom Felton Filming isn't always the glitzy, all-singing, all-dancing job that some people think it is; it isn't a flick of the wrist and a nod of the head and then it's all over. Filming is tough, and when out in wild and unpredictable terrain, there is very little one can do to prepare oneself for the experience. This 20 minute doccumentary was made in Shropshire, focusing on the Long Mynd and the surrounding areas, over the course of three days. The weather conditions were unreliable, and the crew was at the mercy of snow, searing heat, trecherous mud and downpours of hailstones. In light of such situations, it is difficult to predict what is necessary to take to ensure that the filming process runs smoothly. When filming out of doors, especially when on an expedition or day trip, it is importatant to keep packing as light as possible to prevent any injury to oneself and also the equ

Everybody loves a good chase scene. Be it a horror, a comedy, a thriller - there are few films that do not contain some sort of 'Chase sequence'; an indulgence in a sudden change of pacing and mood to capture the imagination of the viewer and take them on a short journey within the storyline.  Although today's cinema appears to be focusing more on the action, and the CGI, and the special effects more than the plot and the emotional connection between the characters and the audience, it is important to remember that a chase scene must happen for a reason, and does not stand on its own unless there is a motive. A chase scene gives the filmmaker a chance to pick up the storyline and take it further, push the characters to the limit and develop the relationships within the film. It is all touch and go. As Agatha Christie once famously said:  "The thrill is in the chase, never in the capture". The task was to create and film a 1-2 minute chase scene of choi

Cardiff Film and Comic Con ( also known as the Film and Comic Convention)   was on at Motorpoint arena on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March 2014. Following the success of the first Cardiff  Film and Comic Con, the event was full of promise for hundreds of people across the UK.  Comic Con events occur approximately four times a year, if not more. It is a convention that joins everything from films, Tv, games and comics together and welcomes everyone who is interested in those worlds - as well as those who are just discovering them. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people and famous actors, actresses, screenwriters, authors, publishers and directors; many of whom take part in discussions, panels, signings and photo booths. The Reluctant Blogger , Lifeline and Shirley Holmes At Comic Con it is a tradition to dress up and come as your favourite character from a film, Tv programme, game or comic. At Cardiff in March 2014 one of the most prominent characters