Wednesday 24 October 2012

Machinima Expo 2012

I submitted 'Chapelside for the Expo this year (it was the only film I'd made in the past twelve months - each film seems to take longer and longer to finish!) and I was eagerly awaiting news as to whether it was going to be selected for screening.
I heard this week that not only has it been accepted, but it made it onto the shortlist for the Jury prize! In total there were 150 submissions, 10 made it to the shortlist for the Jury to consider. I'm honoured, thrilled, and humbled to say the least! The organisers of the Expo have generously arranged for all 10 shortlisted movies to be submitted to the New Media Film Festival, including the submission fee!
I'm looking forward to the Expo this year, and to get you in the mood, you can see the trailer here.
There's also a great article about the Expo at SingularityHUB
Thanks to the Machinima Expo screening team: Ricky Grove, Kate Fosk, Damien Valentine, thebiz, Sean Heimbuch and Eddie Duggan.

Red Carpet Screenings

If you're wondering how the Red Carpet Screenings event went, I'd have to say very well!
The format worked really well; after each movie was screened the director was invited down to be interviewed by Seb Hall who organised the event, and then questions were taken from the floor. Then, after all the movies have been shown a guest critic was invited down to give their view on each movie.
The venue layout was ideal for this with a Jonathon Ross/Jay Leno style stage laid out below the projection screen.
Mixing machinima with more conventional movies is always a bit worrying for me, because I'm never sure if the audience will take my movies seriously when compared to the other fare on offer. However, Seb is a naturally relaxed interviewer and sets his guests at ease instantly. I tend to just pretend I know what I'm talking about, and so far I think I've managed to get away with it (not long till I get found out though, I fear...)

A huge pat on the back for Seb Hall for pulling the screenings together - well done!

The date for the next Red Carpet Screening event has been announced - 03 November. I don't think I'll be able to go along because it clashes with the local Guy Fawkes fireworks, however I do hope to get along to future screenings.