Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: crossing lines

After an indulgent encore performance of the lynchian intro from our Greatest Hits night, things quickly got Hot Wet And Dirty with daredevil director David Newton, then Robb Howells introduced Smoke into proceedings and Catherine Cole even brought her Horse. After Jon Rennie uncovered Matthew Savage's Reign of Death, Ryan Owen captured Viktoria with Swanton Bombs and Ally Parkhurst decided to Have A Go. Alun D. Pughe teased us with a glimpse of The White Room, and yours truly urged everyone to maintain Secrecy.

And the Greatest Hits were ...

On Tuesday the 24th of November 2009 a whole bunch of you turned up for our special screening during Chapter's relaunch night. Thanks for coming! The programme is below - I tried to put together an entertaining selection that represented the breadth of films and filmmakers MovieMaker has featured over the years, but it shouldn't be taken as a definitive 'best of' list. There were loads of great pieces we were unable to include, many of which are featured on this very blog. Anyway, here's what we saw:

* Lynchian Intro
* Bad Company trailer - directed by Jason King
* Risen: The Howard Winstone Story trailer - directed by Neil Jones
* Die Zwoelfte Stunde - directed by Keri Collins
* Hollow Trees House Hounds - directed by Ewan Jones-Morris and Casey Raymond
* Mono - directed by Twm Gardner
* Untitled #1 - directed by Sophie Millien
* AJ's Best Bits - directed by AJ
* Around the World in 80 seconds - directed by Malcolm Boorer
* Anticipation - directed by James Plumb
* Is Elvis There? - directed by Neil Bebber
* Friend - directed by Keiron Self
* A Hard Day's Night of the Living Dead - directed by Ryan Owen
* The Perfect Film - Directed by Tom Severn and Simon Lawson

Plug: Experimentica 09: 10th to 15th November

Chapter's annual live art and time-based festival returns in November with another great line-up of local and international artists. Beginning with a special preview party courtesy of TactileBosch, the Experimentica buzz continues until the weekend. Geumhyung Jeong from Korea returns following her hit vacuum cleaner performance in 2007; Marya Erin Jones from the US tries to communicate with Robert Louis Stevenson across the space time continuum and Syd Barrett is re-appraised, baroque-style in a UK première performance. Click here for the full programme.

Chapter MovieMaker: The Greatest Hits6pm ~ Cinema 1 ~ Tuesday 24th November 2009

As part of Chapter's relaunch night we'll be digging deep into the archives to bring you a special screening featuring some of the best films we've shown over the years. There's still time to influence the programme, so please let me know if there's something you'd like included, either because you remember it fondly or have heard good things. I eagerly await your nominations. And to get your FREE ticket please visit the Chapter box office or call 029 2030 4400.

Plug: Soundtrack Film Festival 18-22 Nov 2009

The Soundtrack International Film and Music Festival is now in its second year and will be running from the 18th to the 22nd of November at various venues around Cardiff. This year guests include John Cale, Julien Temple, Gruff Rhys and the Super Furry Animals, and you can find details of the full programme here.

Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: sharing platter

The evening began with two short pieces from James Robson, charting his cinematic and personal development from his first film, cunningly entitled The First Film, to Self Defence, a more recent work. Coral Worth kept things up close and personal with her depiction of domestic Civil War, then lifted the mood with Aotearoa, which documented her journey across New Zealand's south island. The night ended with three strikes from the Subjective Realities team: dazzling vocal antics in Beatbox Fozzy Live; concentrated whimsy in While I'm Wishing, and finally celluloid mastery in Running Away.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'From a Castle in Wales'

(2009) (7 minutes)
Written and directed by Tracy Williams

A promotional Trailer exploring the themes of loss and imprisonment. Shot on location at Craig y Nos Castle, which was owned by opera diva Adelina Patti, it’s a story about yearning for home, and how home is ultimately where the darkness is. It’s about imprisonment and how the past has such a strong hold over the present that the future results in insanity.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Blackout'

(2009) (21 minutes)
Written and directed by Tracy Williams

To escape the desolation of the Welsh Valleys a sacrifice must be made; but when this is your heritage and your chance for fame, is the price too high?

Screening: Monday 2nd November 2009

6pm, Chapter Cinema 2 (just past the lovely new foyer). We still have room for one or two more films, so if you have something you'd like to show, please post here or email chaptermoviemaker@hotmail.com.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'A Very British Cover-Up'

(2009) (15 minutes)
Directed by Ian Smith

In this comedy short film Welsh drag queen Rhiannon gets caught in the middle of a right royal scandal.

Plug: Dog in Snood

MovieMaker regulars David Melkevik and Simon Stratton present:



Join their Facebook Group for more info and chuckles.

Previously at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Five People'

(2009) (16 mins)
Written & Directed by Neil Bebber

Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: teasers

The evening began with our discovery of Rhiannon Grand Slam Glam and A Very British Cover-up, thanks to director Ian Smith and co-writer Nina Barnfather. Next up: multi-hyphenate Tracey Williams screened two works-in-progress: one a spooky story From A Castle In Wales, the other unravelling during a Blackout. Then Christopher Dickson - another writer/star - unleashed Paladin: The Eternal Battle, Stephen Selby tenderly depicted The Life of Haribo, and James Robson promoted the upcoming Pizzaman project with a tasty trailer.

Screening: Monday 5th October 2009

6pm, Chapter Cinema 2. To avoid crushing disappointment, tickets can be collected in advance from the box office.

UPDATE: Sold out!
Congrats to those with golden tickets; apologies to those without.

Plug: Composer needed

Friend of MovieMaker Simon Howells is looking for a composer for his film Love Me Love My Dog. It's near completion, approximately 12 minutes long, and can be summarised thusly: A dark comedy about a man who, distraught at his long-suffering wife’s departure, reluctantly takes some gruesome advice from his disgruntled dog. Interested? Please send an email to simonhowells100@hotmail.com.

Plug: SSAW / Cult Cymru one-day workshops

Screen Academy Wales has teamed up with CULT Cymru (a joint project between the five unions in the cultural and creative industries in Wales - BECTU, Equity, the Musicians Union, the National Union of Journalists and the Writers Guild) to offer a range of one-day workshops for freelancers and limited spaces for graduates and tutors from the Screen Academy Wales.

One-day introductory workshops are available in Photoshop /
Pro Tools / E-marketing / Dreamweaver / CV development / Blogging / Podcasting and more…

Costs between £15 - £35 for the day. Further information about the courses and tutors is available here, and if you have any additional queries please call the Screen Academy Wales office and talk to Greg on 02920 480344 or send him an email.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Cake'

(2009) (4 minutes)
Directed & Produced by Ben Reed and Ryan Owen.

Official Video for Race Horses' debut single 'Cake'.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Hollow Trees House Hounds'

(2009) (5 mins)
Directed by by Ewan Jones Morris and Casey Raymond

A short film set to the music of Cate Le Bon.

Plug: 'Pizzaman' party

From the producers of Pizzaman, Cardiff’s first internet drama series:

Please come along to our party @ Club X in Cardiff on Friday 18th September from 8pm to 2am. There’s a comedian, an instillation artist, a Bhangra singer, DJs and Rappers. £5 on the door. We’re also filming the final scenes of Pizzaman. Bring everyone you can, we need all the help we can get. All the best, James Robson (077 4394 6009).

Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: it was busy

Oh so many of you came - slightly too many, in fact - but it went surprisingly well. Exiled filmmakers David Melkevik and James Plumb were briefly allowed in to present Anticipation; Casey Raymond and Ewan Jones-Morris unveiled Hollow Trees House Hounds, a music video for Cate Le Bon; Kevin Jones and the Fiction Factory team told the story of The Cornet Player; Malcolm Boorer introduced us to the work of Victor Jara and A Song for Angelita; Mark Williams and the Phaelon folk led us Off The Beaten Track; then Ryan Owen, Ben Reed and the Race Horses gave everyone a big slice of Cake.

Screening: Monday 7th September 2009

6pm, Chapter Cinema 2, Cardiff, Wales.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Statue of Liberty'

(2009) (3 minutes)
Directed by John Shackleton

Filmaka Jury Level submission for the 'Hard Times' competition. Following directly on from 'Fixed Penalty', 'Statue of Liberty' is the second episode in the saga of our living statue and traffic warden, planting the seeds for a series based on the characters. Introducing the source of their problems ...

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Sleep Tracks'

(2009) (4 minutes)
Directed by John Shackleton

The visual journey of a girl lost, trying to find the right way home.
A 2-week short film training project for Cyfle and Skillset Screen Academy Wales.

Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: tolerable cruelty

Neil Bebber introduced us to Five People with dark secrets; Simon Howells showed us what a disturbed Hermit looks like; Alan Hamouane recreated a horrific real-life event with Honour; James Plumb warned us about Satnav; then John Shackleton ended the night with the one-two punch of Statue of Liberty and Sleep Tracks.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: Ewan, Casey, Truckers, Future & Victorian English Gentlemen

Here are the 3 music videos by Ewan Jones Morris and Casey Raymond we screened on Monday. For more from the bands depicted, check out myspace.com/truckersofhusk, myspace.com/futureoftheleft and myspace.com/thevictorianenglishgentlemensclub.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'The Canton Story'

(2009) (5 mins)
Directed by Daniel Portillo

A short film about the rich and fascinating history of the world famous suburb of Canton in Cardiff, Wales.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: Film Ryan & Sweet Baboo & Automatate

Ryan Owen has been particularly prolific lately, producing 11 music videos over a 3-day period: 10 with Sweet Baboo to promote each of the tracks from his new album Hello Wave plus a dance spectacular featuring Timothy "Automatate" Tate. A selection of the videos is below, and more can be found at vimeo.com/filmryan.

Last night at Chapter MovieMaker: music and more

Firstly, Ewan Jones Morris and Casey Raymond presented an impressive triptych of music videos for Truckers of Husk, Future of the Left and The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club. John Ninnis then provided a dramatic interlude with his film Mummy Fell Asleep before we enjoyed 5 more music videos from Ryan Owen featuring Sweet Baboo and Automatate. Dan Portillo surprised many with his take on The Canton Story, Jonny Mason gave us a sneak peak at his latest video, then Paul Jay and the PanikAttak gang concluded the evening with the long-awaited Any Legacy.

Screening: Monday 6th July 2009

After a month-long sabbatical, Chapter MovieMaker will return home to Cinema 2 this Monday at 6pm (note the earlier-than-usual time) and we'd like you to join us. We have several short films lined up for your enjoyment, and some of them are musical.

Plug: Dale Taylor walks the Earth (for a good cause)

On the 14th of August Dale Taylor from Blackwood is going to start a world record attempt at walking around the Earth. He plans to cross 18,000 miles in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and America using only his feet and the supplies that he can obtain on the way, with the aim of raising money for Action For Children. He'd like to document the trip and maybe make a film, so if you'd like to get involved or sponsor him please visit www.towardthesunrise.org or join his Facebook group.

Plug: YEFF! 2009 (in Sweden!)

IHeartFilms are looking for young filmmakers aged 16 - 25 who have recently made short films celebrating the different cultures we have within the UK. Those chosen will be given the chance to go to Sweden this July where their films will be screened as part of the YEFF (Youth European Film Forum) Film Festival and participants will also get the opportunity to make films with other young European filmmakers.

Email iheartfilms@ymail.com for more details on how to join the YEFF experience.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: Short(s)

Jonathan Mason taught us the real value of Ten Pounds;
Rungano Nyoni showed us what it's like to be on or off The List;
and Robert Freebury gave us a dangerous glimpse of Porphyria.

There's no MovieMaker next month, but we'll be back with a vengeance in July!

Screening: Monday 4th May 2009

Join us at 6:15pm - a little earlier than usual - for another exciting set of short films by local filmmakers. Then at 7:30pm Chapter will be screening Cwcw, a new Welsh feature film, which anyone who presents their [free] MovieMaker ticket at the box office can see for a reduced rate:

Full ~ £5.80 rather than £6.20
Conc ~ £4.20 rather than £4.80
Chapter Concession Card ~ £3.80 rather than £4.20

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Mono'

(2009) (5 minutes)
Directed by and starring Twm Gardner

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Hail! Joe Hale!'

(2009) (3 minutes)
Directed by Ryan Owen and Alex Skinner.

A music video for The Muscle Club.

.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Skullcrackology'

(2009) (5 minutes)
Directed by Subjective Realities

Official video for the P.L.O-produced 'Skullcrackology', taken from Mudmowth's 'Circus In The Cemetery' 12" available now from Associated Minds, iTunes, eMusic, and all good record stores.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Murdercise'

(2009) (6 minutes)
Directed by Richard Morris

An angry student becomes addicted to killing and the power to take someone's life. This is the hobby of a serial killer, this is murdercise!

Last week at Chapter MovieMaker: Warning!

'Twas a night of extremes: Richard Morris shocked with an act of Murdercise just before Humayun Farid demonstrated how Things Fall Apart. Subjective Realities engaged in Skullcrackology but then calmed themselves with an abstract piece. John Gough, a practitioner of seagalogy, mashed up a mighty montage; Twm Gardner went solo with Mono; James Morrissey left us Alone With The Dead until, finally, Ryan Owen and The Muscle Club cleaned things up.

Screening: Monday 6th April 2009

We'll be starting at 6:30pm sharp with an exciting collection of short films by local filmmakers.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Running Pains'

(2008) (12 minutes)
Directed by Anthony 'AJ' James

A short film starring Will Turrell, Mel Stevens, Lewys Young and Magnus Hinde. Made through the It's My Shout film training scheme.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Fixed Penalty'

(2008) (4 minutes)
Directed by John Shackleton

A petty dispute between a living statue and a traffic warden ...
4 minute, no-dialogue comedy short produced from script to screen in 3 weeks with Cyfle trainees. Showing soon on BBC Big Screens throughout the UK.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Why Didn't We See It?'

(2008) (16 minutes)
Directed by John Shackleton

15-minute drama exploring the many different ways in which vulnerable adults can face abuse within a family environment. It stars Huw Ceredig perhaps best known as 'Fatty Lewis' in Twin Town. The script was written and produced by media students from Bridgend College, commissioned by South Wales Police and is currently being distributed to UK training orgs on DVD.

Plug: National Theatre New Connections @ Wales Millennium Centre

Every year the National Theatre commissions established playwrights to write their next new play; the only proviso is that teenagers will be performing them.

This year the Wales Millennium Centre welcomes New Connections to Cardiff for the first time; an amazing opportunity for young people to take on a new script and perform it to audiences in the Weston Studio. All 12 plays have a recurring theme familiar to all young people: the forging of first friendships.

"It’s no surprise the first division playwrights queue up to write for New Connections... It's the best possible advertisement for theatre, young people, and their teachers." The Guardian

Performance Dates: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th May 2009 at 7pm.
Click here for a trailer and more information.

Plug: The Age of Stupid

Don't forget: Franny Armstrong's much talked-about film The Age of Stupid is playing all week in Chapter - click here for listings. I'd recommend checking it out, particularly this weekend, as that'll significantly help boost its chances at the box office.

Plug: Short films needed for live scoring

If you have a short film project with minimal / no dialogue that's in need of a musical score, I'd recommend getting in touch with the Dots film band. They're looking for material they can soundtrack live during their show, and are happy to provide a recording of the music afterwards. Intrigued? Please email dotsfilmband*at*hotmail.co.uk.

Last Night at Chapter MovieMaker: hurtling between the grim and the jaunty

To kick things off, John Shackleton gave us a Fixed Penalty then asked Why Didn't We See It? Writer-star Phil Murphy was next with the true-ish tale of The Lodger. Ryan Owen presented 2 and a half music videos featuring The Deirdres, Sweet Baboo and some of The Muscle Club, then his namesake Ryan Hooper unveiled The Hidden Animals. We experienced Running Pains with Anthony 'AJ' James before concluding the night with Keri Collins' Mummy's Girl. Thanks all!

Screening: Monday 2nd March 2009

We'll back in Chapter Cinema 2 at 6:30pm with a packed and eclectic programme of short motion pictures.

Plug: It's My Shout - Film Talent Scheme 2009

CALL FOR EXCITING NEW SCRIPTS FOR 10 MINUTE FILMS!

Now in its 7th year It’s My Shout is calling for short film scripts from both new and established Writers and Writer-Directors, who are resident or born in Wales.

It’s My Shout produces a minimum of six short films a year which have been traditionally broadcast on ITV Wales. From 2009 the films will be broadcast on BBC Wales.

It’s My Shout nurtures new and established talent across all departments in film development, pre-production, production, and post-production, both in front of and behind the camera. It acts as a gateway to the industry and provides the opportunity for participants to learn new skills and demonstrate their talent and aptitude to potential employers.

In 2008 It’s My Shout won the BAFTA Cymru Award: Best Short Film for Owl Creek Bridge (dir. John Giwa-Amu).

To download an application pack please go to www.itsmyshout.co.uk.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'The Perfect Film'

(2008) (7 minutes)
Directed by Tom Severn and Simon Lawson

"A beautiful thing is never perfect." (Proverb)

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Kentucky RIP'

(2008) (10 minutes)
Directed by Angharad Griffiths

A short film by about Kentucky AFC splitting up and their farewell tour.

Last time at Chapter MovieMaker: 'The Last Days of Mynyddcerrig School'

(2007) (10 minutes)
Directed by Lleucu Menir

A documentary by Lleucu Meinir showing how the closure of a Welsh medium village school affects pupils, teachers and the community. Lleucu filmed during the last week of Ysgol Mynyddcerrig, Carmarthenshire in July 2007.

Last Monday: The Return of Chapter MovieMaker

Many intrepid cineastes braved the snow to check out the first MovieMaker night in 6 months, and here's what they saw:

Things kicked off with Tom Severn and Simon Lawson's The Perfect Film, an astonishing work filmed in the very spot we watched it in.

Then, in association with Pictiwrs and Tu Chwith, we screened a great set of short films, primarily in Welsh, varied in tone, subject and genre. Here they are:

Mantol, written, directed and produced by Rolant Tomos is a surreal fictional film starring Llyr Evans; Angharad Griffiths' documentary follows Kentucky AFC’s last tour of Wales; Sampli by Siôn Mali is ân eclectic mix of music, words and images; Newid Meddwl is a short drama by Sion Aaron about the changes that came into his life when the smoking ban came into force; Cymdeithas y Rhyfeddod have created an abstract piece; Lleucu Menir’s documentary follows the last days of Ysgol Mynyddcerrig, and Catrin Doyle presents Arferion Canu'r Cymry / The Love Customs of the Welsh in striking detail.

Screening: Monday 2nd February 2009

It's back! Join us at 6:30pm in Screen 2, which has had an extreme makeover since last we met.

And don't forget to join our facebook group.

Previously at Chapter MovieMaker: 'Something Real'

(2004) (7 minutes)
Directed by Jon Rennie

Reydon, a young man who spends his days playing 'Battle' in a perfect, utopian society, realises that he has grown tired of his faultless lifestyle and wants to find something more meaningful to achieve. However, his friend, the robot Kasta, has other ideas and tries to persuade him otherwise.