LewisArnold.co.uk

 I write this completely at a loss for words. This is as this evening, I was extremely fortunate to be invited along to one of the first screening’s of Geoff Thompson’s and The Shammasian Brother’s latest film, ‘Romans 12:20′.  A film both myself and Tom had been ancipating and awaiting with great enthusiasm, since meeting Geoff last July.

 I had hoped to be inspired, as always by Geoff’s work, and had no idea how much the film would do so. It is possibly one of the greatest, if not the greatest, short films I have ever seen.

 It truly captaivted the audience and took me on an emotional journey of faith and forgiveness, leaving me feeling completely at the will of the writer and director team. The best way of describing how I felt after the screening would be to compare it to being winded. I was lost for words, having to remind myself how to breathe, in short it felt like an emotional punch to the face. The last time a film created this feeling for me was Clint Eastwood’s, ‘Million Dollar Baby’.

The film was also shoot fantastically, with great direction in both performance and cinematography. It is such an example of how every film should be made, with great care and attention to detail, especially in regards to the story.

 The film, shoot entirely on passion and a love for the medium, reminded me of the types of stories I want to tell in my own work and to the calibare to which I hope to someday achieve. I can’t now wait to get into work tomorrow and really push, ‘Spirited’ to the next level!

 I recommend every young filmmaker to absorb Geoff’s work and to definitely watch his inspirational new film, ‘Roman’s 12:20′. Check out the trailer at www.romans1220.com  and www.geoffthompson.com

 

 Now that Sleepercurve is finally finished, Tom and myself turned our attentions to, ‘Spirited’.

 Our first port of call is to start to bring together a regional crew of talented professionals, enthusiastic  towards bringing to life Liz John’s script. So far we have sent out a few feeler’s to various people within the industry who both myself and Tom have come across since graduating. I just hope we made a good enough impression when working with them that we can secure their talents.

 Other then the crew we have spent the majority of last week sorting out the casting of the movie. We had originally approached Anne Reid (Doctor who, Hot fuzz) to consider the role of Mary. However it was whilst we were waiting for a response from her agency, over March I think, that I was watching BBC Three’s legendary, ‘Gavin and Stacy’. A big fan of the show, I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t seen it before, as right in front of me was ‘Spirited’s lead Mary. She came in the form of Margaret John (or Doris, from the show).

I immediately knew that we had cast Mary wrong with Anne Reid and as fate would have it a week later Anne Reid had read the script and declined the part. Myself and Tom where both kind of relieved and started searching for our new Mary, aiming for an actresses of a similar age to the character. We hope to attract Margaret John to our little project but we have also looked at, and in some cases contacted, actresses like Liz Smith and Jeanne Mockford who would also be wondeful as the lead.

 The other roles within the film however have proved more difficult to cast and I have struggled to come up with ideas. It got to the point last week where I convinced Tom we needed a casting director to help us firm up the roles, but in the end the budget wouldn’t even stretch to £500 pound to secure the services of a casting dir. So Tom and myself are going to have to get our hands dirty ourselves.

Luckily however a friend lead me to Emily Ash, (a very knowledgable and connected individual) who has been amazing at throwing ideas at us and giving us a lot of help and encouragement, as well as Geoff Thompson, who has been extremely supportive since I graduated from Uni last year and has helped me  to no end.

But it wasn’t till we managed to get onto Spotlight (thanks Nick) and spend two full days searching through the talent, that we managed to compile a list of actors and actresses who where ideal for our short.

Now comes the tough part of trying to get them onboard.

Hopefully I’ll have a full list of the cast to put up by Friday!

 Internet videos produced by Tom and Lewis for Spanish Cocktail Bar, ‘Que Pasa’ last September are finally online at the bar’s new website, www.quepasa.co.uk 

 The videos include step by step instructions to producing six of the bar’s signature drinks as well as some old classics.

Look out for their new video featuring Dragon’s Den star, ‘Levi Roots’ in a special Reggae Reggae Sauce cookery special!

We have recently had a great run of success with our short film, ‘Long-   standing’. The film made in 2007 and was produced by Tom Knight as part of the Universities Ba Hon’s Video Production Degree. The film was nominated for three awards:

The B.U.F.V.C’s Learning on Screen Student Prize.

Regional RTS Student Prize.

Viewfinder Film Festival 2008 18+ Category.

We were fortunate enough to pick up two of the three awards, taking home the B.U.F.V.C’s Learning on Screen Award and the Viewfinder Film Festival’s best in Category. Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

 

 Long-standing screened at Birmingham’s very own Local Short Film in April. The event is a relaxed screening of local shorts produced by talent from within the area and is organized by Nigel and Sabine of It’s ‘About Time Productions’.

 The screening housed the best response to the film I have witnessed and the audience was fantastic. We also got a great write up by Danny Smith on www.createdinbirmingham.com

 ’The event itself was very informal and friendly with the quality of the films varying widely. Standing out from the pack was the short film written and directed by Lewis Arnold called ‘Long Standing. An engaging, warm, and very funny but ultimately melancholy study of old age and a mans emotional redemption through human contact. Lewis seems to be very talented capable of producing slickly finished pieces on almost no budget that are both humorous and visually interesting. I can’t help but see big things for him.’

Danny Smith

 

Nomination for Regional RTS Award 2009 ‘Best New Talent’

Nomination for Regional RTS Award 2009 ‘Best Fictional’ - Spirited

Viewfinder Film Festival 2008 ‘Best in Category Winners’ - Long-standing

Regional RTS student Award Nomination 2007

Winner of The B.U.F.V.C’s ‘Learning on Screen Award’ Student Prize – Long-Standing

International Screenwriting Festival Award 2007 for Directing

Viewfinder Film festival 2007 ‘Best in Category Winners’ - Leave of Absence

Written by Liz John and funded by The UK Film Council and Screen WM this short comedic, drama follows an old lady (Margaret John) living in sheltered housing. As the day wears on Mary goes on a perilous adventure into council estate Britain. 

A short film about love, life and the spirit of youth. Also starring Joe Dempsie (Skins) and Den Woods (Brown Paper Bag).

www.digishorts.co.uk 

A Short comedy follwoing Eric, as he puts into practice his illusive designs for his own death to escape the everyday routine of office life. Written by Simon Redmile

                    

A short film about Albert a widow who reflects on his life before setting out in search of companionship. It is a heart warming, short film about old age, starring Hugh Hemmings, Alice Bird and Nicholas Keith.   

50th Krakow Film Festival, May 2010 - Stained

Brussels Short Film Festival, April / May 2010 - Stained

Singapore International Film Festival, April 2010 - Stained

XXVIII International Film Festival of Uruguay, March / April 2010 - Stained

ArtsFest 2008, September 08 - What are the odds / Leave of Absence

Viewfinder Film Festival 2008, April 08 - What are the Odds / Duke / Long-Standing

The Short Film Club, Birmingham, April 08 - Long-Standing

Rotoreliefs London, March 2008 – Long-Standing

Victory Media Network, Dallas Texas, 2008 – Duke

The Creative Channel Network 07 / 08 - Duke

The Short Film Club, Birmingham Jan 08 - Leave of Absence

Exposures UK Student Film Festival, Dec 07 – Long-Standing

Rotoreliefs London, Sept 2007 – Duke

ICA Uncut July 2007 – Long-Standing

ICA Uncut May 2007 - Leave of Absence

Adapter, Berlin, Film Festival October 2006 – These Four Walls

Viewfinder Film Festival 2006 – These Four Walls / Century Man