An intriguing series of short, dialogue-free screenplays, has now gone online. Annalium is the work of Cardiff-based writer (and my pal) Robert Lancey, who has created a website to showcase the screenplays and their potential to be realised on screen. Each opens with a flight over a forest, and then a descent through the treetops … Continue reading
I was delighted to discover recently that two great West Country actors went to my old school. Robert Newton, who played the archetypal Long John Silver (and arguably originated the ‘pirate accent’) and George Woodbridge, the classic Hammer horror innkeeper and comedy policeman, were both students of Exeter School in Devon. Newton, born in Dorset … Continue reading
Dragons are perhaps the most feared, and almost certainly the most spectacular, of mythical creatures. So it’s no surprise they’ve often featured in movies. Recent incarnations include the awe-inspiring dragons in TV’s Game of Thrones and cinema’s Hobbit films, and Starburst listed 10 of the best in this 2019 feature. Impressive as those blockbusters are, … Continue reading
The idea of a channel devoted to classic films isn’t new, but in the UK Talking Pictures TV has found what seems to be the perfect nostalgic formula. While TCM (Turner Classic Movies) has been around since the 1990s and more recently Sony Movies has launched a dedicated ‘Classic’ channel, these and others tend to … Continue reading
A new British horror movie, which has already scooped a string of awards for its script, has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the production budget. The Flock has won four awards for its script, most recently the 2019 Special Jury Prize at the Barcelona International Film Festival. Continue reading
The latest release from West Country-based horror production company Bad Blood Films will premiere in London next week. Sacrilege will screen at the Empire Cineworld, Leicester Square on Thursday 5th March (2020). The film follows four lifelong friends as they head to a remote lodge for a weekend of fun. What begins as an idyllic … Continue reading
Dawn Noel was the first performer I profiled in this blog – and three-and-half years on, it’s great to see she’s as busy as ever. We have kept in touch since that blog post in March 2016, and the Los Angeles-based actress, producer (and more) recently updated me on her latest projects. Continue reading
Adrian Charlton Hammer Film Productions created a wide variety of films, but the company will always be associated with its classic horrors of the 1950s-70s, which revived the great cinematic terrors in vivid colour. They were atmospheric, exciting, and (for their time) scary. But historical accuracy probably wasn’t high on the list of priorities. … Continue reading
One of the busiest actors around, Mhairi Calvey has an exceptionally busy year ahead, even by her standards. Last year, Mhairi spoke to me about her 25-year career, which began with a role in the Oscar-winning Braveheart. This year, she has four feature films due for release! Continue reading
Michael Wong, the Malaysian film-maker whose debut short The Story of 90 Coins picked up a host of awards (and was reviewed on this blog!), has released his second film – and it marks quite a change of direction. While 90 Coins was an engaging romance which ran to nine minutes, The Tattooist is a … Continue reading
