Video Blog – A tour of Mycrofilms

My first experiment into video blogging, one that was so technically frustrating that I gave up on credits and indeed anything fancy, simply uploading the file as it was.

A quick tour of the Mycrofilms‘ office, as we’re deep in pre-production for Vultures episodes 5 & 6, some quick chats with series co-creator John Morton, work experience student Richie Cody and series producer Alan Slattery.

Video blogging, I’m not sure if I’m bothered to be honest. But hey, at least I’m not some fat kid bitching about how people shouldn’t like comics because he doesn’t want to be mainstream cool!? The only reason I’m even attempting “vlogging” (as the cool kids call it), is in an attempt to keep me occupied until we release Vultures episode 4 along with a whole host of behind-the-scenes content.

Anyway, here’s a first attempt at video blogging. As usual any comments, feedback and criticism are welcome even if your a fat kid and want to bitch at me!?

Vultures – The beginning of the end…

As of yesterday morning, filming has begun on the final installments of the Vultures series, with episodes 5 & 6 being filmed back-to-back throughout January and February.

This is our biggest undertaking so far, but one I’m more than confident we can achieve, as we take things up a notch in 2009. In between filming, we’ll also be in the edit suite working on episode 4 ‘The Case Of The Poisoned Dates‘ which is due to premiere later this month.

I have to admit the most frustrating thing about being involved in the production is having to hold back on information and photos until it’s appropriate to reveal them. I can say that I’ll be resuming my role as director for the remaining episodes and that we’ve got more crew members than ever before. We’ve also got a whole host of brand new characters that will continue to bring new craziness to the series. The plot is about to thicken, the shit is about to hit the fan and we’ve got so much awesome content coming at you.

The wheels are now in motion, it’s hard to believe we’ve come this far and that the end is in sight but I’m quite confident that 2009 will be the year of the Vultures. Stay tuned.

Devious Theatre’s ‘Trainspotting’ – Spud’s Accident

Devious Theatre have just released the second video from our production of Irvine Welsh’s ‘Trainspotting‘, performed in the Watergate Theatre, last June.

Check out the second scene from the show featuring Stephen Colfer as lovable acid-head ‘Spud’, as he reveals the horrors of his “accident”.

You can read all about my experiences during Trainspotting here on a previous blog post. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Devious Theatre Youtube for plenty more video clips to come.

Highlights of 2008

And so 2008 comes to a close, it was a year that was a truly awesome year for me, one that was completely jam-packed with adventures and projects, a year of constantly learning by doing. My portfolio of work continued to grow, and aside from a variety of photography and film making experience I have so many great memories and proud moments, but here’s my highlights of 2008 (in chronological order);

1. Finishing College
After 3 long years commuting back and forth to Carlow I.T, endless hours in the library, a thesis and some very epic celebrations, I walked out into the “real world” with a First Class Honours Degree.

2. Devious Theatre’s ‘Trainspotting’
Straight out of college exams I plunged into an intense six week process of learning monologues, researching drug-use and mastering a Scottish accent. It was our biggest production to date, my biggest role to date and as I’ve said several times, “easily one of the greatest weeks of my life“. The response to Trainspotting was nothing short of overwhelming, firmly injecting the name Devious Theatre into the veins of Kilkenny theatre goers. We received rave reviews, standing ovations, I still get people coming up to me in the street to talk about the show and my performance attracted quite a bit of interest and future roles to play.

3. The Clive Barnes & Jeff Lang Tour
With no time for the scag to even leave our systems, myself and Ken embarked on our first venture into national tour promotion, getting to work on the road with two internationally acclaimed musicians, Clive Barnes (Legend!) and Jeff Lang (Legend!). The tour was a great success, but for me the highlight was getting to hang out with the lads on the road and after the gig in Sligo as Clive, Jeff and Grant(Jeff’s bassist, also Legend!) provided countless hilarious stories from years on the road, in between songs that left me in awe of their musical abilities.

4. Holiday in Crete
It had been a long time since I took a holiday, but my trip to Crete was easily a highlight of the year. A well needed adventure full of sun, sea and lots of drink. Hanging out in the sun with Daw and getting to know my Dad a little better.

5. Devious Theatre’s ‘Smitten’
Straight off the plane and into rehearsals for Devious Theatre’s second production in 6 weeks, ‘Smitten‘. People though we were crazy, near the end, so did we!? But much to our surprise ‘Smitten’ enjoyed a sold out run with many people left trying to beg, borrow or steal a ticket for a brand new play that nobody had heard of 6 weeks previously. Wrapping up the truly epic summer with more rave reviews and a truly epic aftershow party.

6. Studio Training & Experience
Since September I’ve been gaining invaluable studio training and hands-on experience thanks to Benny in Hot Shotz Photography. The past few months I’ve been able to learn about all aspects of studio photography from the business side to lighting and framing. Unfortunately the studio is relocating to Callan in the new year but I’m more than eager to begin putting what I’ve learning into practice in 2009.

7. Cartoon Saloon’s ‘BlueBeard’
My recent adventure working on Cartoon Saloon’s ‘BlueBeard‘ was easily one of the greatest experiences of the year, working with a professional steadicam team, shooting in huge Castles or on huge green-screens. Pro actors, awesome make-up and special fx, from start to finish it was a one of the biggest highlights of the year.

8. Vultures
A week before Christmas 2007, we began shooting Mycrofilms’ flagship production ‘Vultures‘. The pilot episode went online Christmas Eve and since then ‘Vultures’ has slowly but surely began to take over my life (in a good way!). The past year has been a real learning experience for everyone involved as we continued to shoot the web-based sitcom and the whole process has been a highlight of 2008. With my directorial debut due to premiere in early 2009, whilst we’re already in the middle of shooting episodes 5 & 6, it looks set that Vultures will continue to be a highlight well into next year.

I have plenty more highlights from 2008 but I’m afraid there’s far too many to list, so many great adventures and projects, too many people to name and thank. The year has gone by so quickly but 2008 has been so full of great moments and achievements. I’m not big on making new years resolutions, I can only hope 2009 is as big a success as this past year. The wheels of several new projects are already in motion and life shows absolutely no sign of slowing down, I’m looking forward to the new year and everything it brings with it.

For now, I just have to say thanks to all of you who have checked out my work, thanks especially to those who have provided any comments or feedback. I hope you continue to do so in 2009 and i hope this year has been as good to you as it was to me. Happy New Year…there’s plenty more to come!

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