This site might be a ghost town but...
There’s a reason and its all because we are deep into our documentary and there isn’t much time for anything else.
Head there and see why!
Head Down
2023
My god, what a year you are going to be!
This is what we are up to at Mud Pie:
Directing
Shooting our feature documentary, Brother as we follow a local band for a year on their progress to being signed in a complex market place and a hard road ahead.
In the process of developing a short documentary about a creator of a board game that has never seen the light of day.
Tentaively began researching a follow up short to the first to be filmed later this year which we won’t reveal details on for now.
Off to Alnwick to create treatments for feature and episodic projects in Documentary.
More updates are in bound I’m sure.
Writing
New short film to be written titled Heart of Glass, I say written, it already exists but its being reformatted for the ease of production. All in rhyming verse no less… No concrete plans on filming yet but the Q3 makes sense (does anyone still use quarters for the year, old games industry habits die hard).
Our Soup-Sandwich-Souffle compendium is being co written with our performers and hopefully these will help sell our larger short film.
I’m gagging to write some features, been kicking myself but it’s just time. I have two I have started and never finished so they take top priority.
When I get a breath I might actually get the chance to celebrate a birthday, actually no, probably not, 37 is not a great year. It’s 35 with love handles.
Image by Mael BALLAND
Super Fast Update 2021 / 2022
Tunnels and light, probably a metaphor…
This is the shortest update I can do because, why not, we’re all busy anyway…
2021
Finished our commission for Unsuitable (pilot and treatment).
Enrolled into the MA in Directing for ALRA North.
Placed in the top 100 of BBC Writers Room Long List.
Caught Covid 19 but was asymptomatic, a blessing really.
Started to plan a short film called Northern Monkey. Put it on the back burner because of its scale. Reworking it as a web series.
Had a trip to London for our 1-year wedding anniversary and spent too much money.
2022
Began a new term at ALRA, and it was quite crap.
Left ALRA North and terminated my MA because the course felt completely Mickey Mouse.
School closed its doors due to near bankruptcy a few months after (now opened again under a new brand, and new MGMT, previous culprits however have been employed back). Most students are back but a few got properly short-changed. Investigations are likely to follow.
Began working on a short film I wrote titled Soup, Sandwich Soufflé.
Reached out to my old games industry friends to seek any opportunities to study Mo-Cap and Voice Direction.
Continue casting for the short film (80% roles complete).
Source further locations.
Finalize budget.
Wait to see if Mo-Cap and Voice Direction avenues are possible.
See where Reign Supreme can place in competitions throughout the year. Feedback has been glowing.
Go to Italy for a week and enjoy the hell out of my birthday.
Oh and…
I now have a production company!
2020 - The Longest Damnable Year
A compendium of events from me and the world in one of the worst starts to a new decade. Ever. Period.
Read MoreNew News, Can you say that? New News?
Updates and extras. Need I say more?
Read MoreSeemingly Offline.
In writing something like this, I'm distracted. My job is to write. I'm technically never off that job. If I'm not punching keys, I'm piecing things together in my mind's eye, teasing out images, feelings... things.
Read More2016 / 2017: A Year In Review, Kind Of...
I like to think that certain universals of the human condition, will always be around. Hitting 30 and hating it would be one of them. Maybe not in a time when you were lucky to still have all of your teeth and your fingers.
Read MoreFor A Yet Unheard Soundtrack
I'm trying to get some equipment financing for a documentary feature which led me to make my newest sounds.
The documentary I'm planning to shoot is themed around the old Camelot Theme Park.
Read MoreThe Last of the Cinematics... For now.
The last of the Cinematics work from Playground Games has gone live today.
End of an era.
For now...
Read More1001 - Part Three
Its potent, its bleak and I expect to close to reality for comfort. The film does not shy away from death, from suffering and from brutality. For its era its astounding.
Read More1001 - Part Two
There have been some standout moments, so read on if you would like to hear how some of these "classics" hold up.
Read More1001 - Part One
"1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" is a book my kind brother Adam gave me this year and it was one I felt completely obligated to read front to back, to see where I stand, naturally. Of that number I have seen 237 films included in the list. Now technically, I have seen scenes from the remaining films, or had elements ruined from numerous countdown shows, you know, where Z list comedians give their zany opinions, that falls a little flat. Or they wheel out a crusty critic and give him a few minutes to illuminate you on the bloody obvious. Huzzah for list shows!
Read MoreAbout My Terrible Music...
If you decide to listen to my music, just be prepared for the stupidity of it. I'm not even kidding, I make rather dumb music with no real intention in anyway for it to be a commercial alternative or as a career.
Read MoreThe Long Lost Student Project
Which brings me to the point. I have only one remaining piece left of my course studies @ Salford University and it is this. Unfortunately most of my own work from this time is no longer with us, either lost in the perishment associated with magnetic tape or it's still concatenated on the three, now long dead Lacie Brick drives buried somewhere in a landfill near Bolton.
Read More