Win Signed Sharon Pinsker Original Artwork with The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph are running a national competition to win artist and Film Club director Sharon Pinsker's signed Bolshio Ballet-inspired prints. 

These are a limited edition set signed by Sharon, commissioned for the cover of newly released DVD, The Russian Ballet Collection: Volume I, in partnership with RTR Worldwide. 

These bespoke prints illustrate five classic Russian Ballets in  Sharon's unique figurative style.  Regarded as one of the UK’s foremost figurative artists, Sharon Pinsker is the author of Figure-How to Draw and Paint the Figure with Impact (2008). Sharon's unique style has evolved over many years of working both on illustrated print campaigns and in film and animated commercials. The combination of her elegant calligraphic brushwork and fluid drawing technique has been used to create beautiful images for everything from celebrity portraits to fashion and perfume camapigns, music videos and book covers.

To read the article online, please follow this link - otherwise please click here to see Sharon's Film Club reel.  

Film Club's Nearly Normal Signing...

We're delighted to announce the news that London-based animation and design studio Nearly Normal have joined Film Club for commercial representation.

The team are an international collective of highly skilled crafts-people who beautifully and precisely bring paper-based materials to form and motion. Their vibrant style is uniquely identifiable, and their work carries an inherent charm and magic.

Nearly Normal have previously made commercials for Nokia, Blackberry and the NHS, as well as making a long line of paper-based products (such as calendars and other photographic projects in books and magazines).

Please click here to see their most lovely Film Club reel.

Welcome, Nearly Normal. We're all very excited about working you in the future!

Updates From Caroline Across The Channel

Caroline Attia's summer has been a productive one. Having first received a grant from the New Media arm of the French film board for the animated TV series 'Bottled Pirates', Caroline is also working on another recently funding project from the French film board - this time as the projects visual artist. 

'Bottled Pirates' was first created by Caroline with her collaborator Claire Grimond and the project is now fully produced through Sacrebleu productions based in Paris. Updates in due course!

'Mayo, Ketchup, lait de Soja' - which is a TV adaptation of a book written by Gaia Guasti - has received a concept grant from the innovation fund at the French film board. Caroline has been confirmed as the visual artist to put Guasti's word into pictures. We greatly look forward to seeing how Caroline interprets the story.  

Lastly, a short film that Caroline animated and directed has appeared in its full glory online after a long run on the festival circuit. After only a couple of weeks, 'Pinchaque, the Columbian Tapir' has been Vimeo staff-picked and racked up over 160,000 views.  

To watch the full film through Vimeo, please click here. To see the diversity of Caroline's illustration style directing style, please click here. 

Images (Clockwise from top left): 'Bottled Pirates', Caroline Attia, Pinchaque, the Columbian Tapir' and 'Mayo, Ketchup, lait de Soja'. 

Film Club's Mew Lab win hat-trick of awards over Halloween weekend

Recent Film Club signing Mew Lab won three awards in as many festivals this Halloween weekend with 'The Key' and 'Lady and the Tooth' continuing their recent festival success. 

Alongside giving a talk and hosting an audience Q&A at the London International Animation Festival held at the Barbican, Mew Lab picked up the audience award for their well-traveled short film 'The Key'. 

Mew Lab Director Shaun Clark also took 1st prize at Cornwall Horror Film Festival with 'Lady and the Tooth' on Friday and won a prize at the Canaltown Spooky Film Festival - held in Honesdale, Pennsylvania - on Saturday.

Both films have their inherent Mew Lab strokes, and we're pleased as Halloween punch both Shaun and Kim are being recognized for their continued work. 

To see their reel through, please click here. 

Marcus Armitage picks up Best British Film at this years London International Animation Festival

We're delighted to announce the news that Film Club's Marcus Armitage took home Best British film at this years London International Animation Festival with his Royal College of Art graduate short film 'My Dad'. 

The film - which runs at 5'50 - was made using oil pastels on paper and depicts a Dad's influence on an impressionable young boy's life. The relationship gives rise to a toxic mix, resulting in a world that strips away opportunity and experience for the young boy.  

Marcus used the film to graduate from the highly respected graduate school in June, and it is fantastic to see the project already doing so well on the festival circuit. 

Talking about the project, Marcus defines the film as existing 'somewhere between a documentary and fiction. A film created from personal experiences, of my own eye opening journey of moving to London, and the prejudices I see around me in people I know or things that I read see or hear'. 

The top right image shows Marcus collecting the award on stage at the Barbican, with the bottom left image showing one brief moment in the progression of Marcus' fantastic project.

Unfortunately, with the film still on the festival circuit, we're unable to screen the film in its entirety, however to watch a trailer of 'My Dad', please click here for a link to Marcus' Film Club directing reel. 

Congratulations, Marcus - we're all super happy for you at 199, Wardour Street!

Caroline Attia Illustrates Interactive Children's Book 'Where's My Whisper'

Film Club’s Caroline Attia has extended the reach of her lovely illustration and animation work from commercials and films to the interactive world of digital apps. Caroline has penned the artwork for ‘Where’s My Whisper’ - a children’s book developed exclusively designed for the iPad that makes use of environmental factors, such as the weather and the time. These elements then alter the setting of the story and the way the story is understood, offering a tailored ‘voice’ to the narrative. The story was written and is narrated by CS Sealey.

‘Wheres my Whisper’ has so far had hundreds of downloads and been translated into five languages. It’s cold out there and it’s getting dark early – pop over to this link to download yourself a copy for £1.99 from the Apple App Store!

For more of Caroline’s illustrations and animations, please follow this link. 

Mew Lab to give LIAF Q&A at Barbican

Film Club's animation directing duo Mew Lab will be appearing at the London International Animation Festival tomorrow (Saturday 1st November) to talk about their short film 'The Key' before an exclusive screening at the Barbican. The event is free to attend and will begin at 10.30.  

To claim your free ticket to the event, please visit the official Barbican website by following this link. Mew Lab will take to the mic at 10.30am. As well as this exclusive screening, their short film 'The Key' is also being screened in the official competition. 

In further news, 'The Key' has also been accepted on the British Council Film Short Support Scheme. This means the Key will appears in the annual online BritFilms Catalogue and, furthermore, it will be featured  in selected preview screenings, touring packages and special event in UK & around the world.

To see the Mew Lab Film Club reel, please follow this link. 

Great news Shaun and Kim! 

Ross Hogg Nominated for a Scottish BAFTA

Film Club’s very own Ross Hog has been nominated for a Scottish BAFTA for his brilliant short film, 'Spectators'.

Spectator’s observes the crowd of a football match, examining the “social interaction and human behavior, revealing the diversity of characters”. Produced in 2013, this four minute short film featured in several festivals throughout 2013 and 2014 both in United Kingdom as well as other countries around the globe. Through heavy festival appearances, the BAFTA organization has recognized and nominated it for the 2014 Awards Ceremony - which takes place on Sunday November 16^th 2014. 

Ross' work often makes use of observational drawings from real events. He captures the energy and atmosphere in the moment and then later, in the studio, refers to his sketchbooks as his source for animation. This retains the same level of energy and expression of the moment and makes for a very honest approach to his film-making. 

To watch the trailer of Spectator’s, and for further works by Ross, please click here. 

Congratulations, Ross. We’ll be rattling a football spectators clacker for you on the 16^th November.  

Chris Shepherd Awarded Filmmaker Grand Prix Award at Sapporo, Japan

Chris Shepherd, Film Club's multi-talented director, has been recognised by the Japanese Sapporo Short Film Festival for his work in the medium over the years. 

The Filmmaker Grand Prix trophy was handed to Chris having won over the jury with The Ringer (2012), Silence is Golden (2007) and Who I Am And What I Want (2005). 

Sapporo Film Festival credited Chris' diverse style that marries live action video with classic animation techniques. The festival - operating since 2006 - was born out of a growing audience demand for high quality short films, which has so far seen over 12,000 films screened to an audience of 40,000 coming from 120 countries. 

Follow Chris' travels through his blog here, or follow this link to watch excerpts of each film.

Well done, sir.

Mew Lab Latest Creative Animation Talent To Join Film Club Roster

Film Club are delighted to announce the signing of the NFTS animation alumni directing duo, Mew Lab.

Mew Lab - otherwise know as Kim Noce & Shaun Clark in the civilian world - arrive at Film Club having had a wealth of consistent festival success , including a BAFTA nomination, and having led several masterclass workshops for world-renowned institutes such as the BBC, Tate Modern, Barbican and The National Portrait Gallery. 

The duo have a distinctive, bold style which has seen their work slot into short films, animated documentaries, horror films and even children's films. They work predominately with 2-d hand drawn illustrations. To see their Film Club reel, please follow this link. 

199, Wardour Street cannot wait to see their work in the commercials world emblazoned with the Film Club logo attached. 

Welcome, Mew Lab!

Marcus Armitage's 'What is Literature For' Chosen as Vimeo Staff Pick

Film Club's newest family member Marcus Armitage has today had his work hand picked by the powers that be at Vimeo.

Marcus's film, 'What is Literature For', visually translates the ideas of Alain de Botton's School of Life book through textured, cut out animations and illustrations.

The film was animated by Marcus and Ignatz Johnson Higham and features the voice of de Botton himself. To see the film in it's Vimeo 'Staff Picks' natural habitat, click here.

As well as overseeing this film, Marcus was also creative director of the entire project, which saw three other films inspired by the School of Life book made by other directors. To view the other films, click here.

Marcus Armitage's New Work for Alain De Bottons 'School of Life'

Using cutout animations to illustrate Alain De Bottons witty 'What is Literature For', Marcus' latest animation went live yesterday, this time breathing visual life into De Bottons 'School of Life'.

Through his witty and literate books -- and his 'New School of Life -- Alain de Botton helps others find fulfillment in the everyday. Why should we spend our time reading novels and poems when, out there, big things are going on? The School of Life explains why we should be reading - and how we can prescribe literature as a cure for life's many ailments. Marcus' film is a perfect visual compliment to Alains witty words.

Marcus had the following to say about the project: 'It been a great experience working with such a fun technique, and I will be continuing to create similar new work alongside my hand drawn style in the near future'. 

Marcus is at Encounters Festival supporting his film 'Over Dinner', which is screening tonight.

To view the film, please click here. 

Chris Shepherd's Holly Johnson Music Video to Broadcast on BBC One

For those of us with a winning ticket to Saturday night's Lottery might be in for another, equally as enjoyable, Chris Shepherd-inspired surprise. 

A thirty-second clip of Chris' new music video for Holly Johnson's latest single, In And Out Of Love, will air during the National Lottery's Prize Draw on BBC One at 20.20, immediately after Dr. Who. 

Holly will be at hand to introduce the video himself, having been assigned the role of pressing the magic lottery button to start the machine. 

If you aren't planning on staying in - and will in fact be celebrating your £4m jackpot win - you can also watch the music video here. 

Kiss The Water screening and Q&A for Em Cooper at Berwick Film Festival

On Sunday 21st September Berwick Film Festival are hosting a special screening of Kiss The Water.

Opening with a presentation of clips of my previous animation work, the event will include a short Q&A chaired by Genni Poole of the Berwick Film Society, followed by the film.

Afterwards, there will be an informal discussion held in the bar.

It should be an interesting time and place to discuss Kiss The Water - a film which celebrates Scotland, screening in the northernmost town in England, the weekend after Scotland’s vote for independence…

More information and tickets are available here

Looking forward to seeing you there if you are able to join us,

Em

Chris Shepherd's 'In And Out Of Love' music video for the illustrious Holly Johnson

We're delighted to announce the release of Film Club's Chris Shepherd's new music video for Holly Johnson's latest single 'In And Out Of Love'. To watch Holly performing with other characters in the video, click here. 

And here's Chris in his own words to talk about the project!

So, Chris what's the promo all about?

"I wanted to use the people getting their photos taken in a photome booth as metaphor for love. When you go into a photome booth you act differently. Its a heightened moment where you have a sneaky kiss, or argument. Its a place where we reveal a lot about ourselves, our hopes, fears and secret dreams. 

It was fun to work within limits. We had the booth as a one shot scenario with 35 actors. Each had their own character and back story. From the hen and stag party to the woman with altezhimers with her carer. All aspects of life and ages are in there. I had a few actors from my previous films in there, like Kay noone, dave Kent and Pricilla adae. So if you know my films keep an eye out. Everyone was amazing. Many many thanks to our casting director Lin Cordoray. Who has cast all of my dramas. 

I absolutely loved shooting the promo. As I always do. I could shoot all day long and all night and have a beamer on my face.  It was a joy to be working with Holly. I can't wait for his new album to be released at the end of the month. 

Credits

Director and Writer: Chris Shepherd
Producers: Alex Bedford and Rebecca Gravil
Director of Photography: Sarah Bartles-Smith 
Camera Assistants: Chole Winn and Imogen Woolley 
Studio Manager: James Partridge
Casting Director: Lin Cordoray 
Editor: Miikka Leskinen
Costumes: Kitty Bennett
Props and Art Direction:Kat Pang
Colourist: Danny Atkinson
 

Marcus Armitage receives 'honourable mention' at the Adobe® Design Achievement Awards!

It's been a great month for Film Club director Marcus Armitage, with two press features and now an 'Honourable Mention' for his film 'Over Dinner' at the Adobe® Design Achievement Awards.

The awards celebrate the most talented and promising student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, game developers and computer artists from the world's top institutions of higher education.

This is another outstanding recognition for Marcus and we're all excited to see what will be next for this talented director!

'Kiss the Water' named one of the 'Ten Best Documentaries Of The Year by BBC film critic, Mark Kermode!

BBC film critic Mark Kermode has named Kiss the Water as one of his top 10 documentaries of the year. Kiss the Water, with its' beautiful, hand painted animation by Film Club's Em Cooper was given the number 8 spot, with Kermode praising the film's 'beautiful use of animation.'

Mark Kermode's praises come off the back of several glowing reviews from, Empire Online, The Telegraph, Financial Times and Timeout Magazine. 

Congratulations Em, this is another fantastic review! Click here to see Mark's praise for Kiss the Water and check out the full top 10 list!