Well, what can I say? It's been a quiet seven months! This year has sped by in a blur of paid employment since my last post which has held up all the film projects I currently have in my head. The music video I spoke of still lingers in the back of my mind, and I hope to finish it one day. I finally got ahold of 'The Bet' footage about a month ago and have made some slow progress editing it, although some of the footage is still unavailable to me at present. I shot a short film for O-Region's 'Just A Minute' competition (http://o-region.co.uk/jam.html) called 'Cakeocaylpse' that will be on YouTube once the screening has passed. I acted in a short film for my good friend Ellen, that should be edited early next year and I look forward to seeing it. I have finished another project that I will be able to say more about in 2009. As this year draws to a close I have arranged a small screening (in my front room) of 2005's 'Basements & Bastards: The Movie' and am equally terrified and eager to see how the people attending react to it; I'm going to show them the full 82 minute version rather than the 59 minute Director's Cut and hopefully they will be drunk and festive enough to enjoy it!
It hasn't quite been the productive year I hoped for, but I've got a few ideas for 2009 and as I will be moving to Brighton early in the year the opportunity to realise some of them should be possible.
I hope everyone who reads this (Me? Carl? My Mum?) has a wonderful Winter Solstice, Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
18th May 2008
It's
been a quiet month and a bit. Unfortunately things like 'doing work
that pays' has both been unforthcoming but also my major
preoccupation. This finally seems to be getting into gear just as a
few creative endeavours stumble forwards as well, one of which I'm
hoping I can zoom forwards on and have ready to 'rock the world' by
June. Fingers crossed. (It is a music video, one I haven't mentioned
anywhere yet... (well, online at least))
28th March 2008
Editing on 'The Bet' should start happening once April begins. In the meantime, the trailer for 'The Unthinkables - Part 4' is now up on good old YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTVSU9uGLkE
23rd March 2008
Well, despite the delays getting together a moment to edit 'The Bet' (and shoot a few pick-ups) things have been moving forward on other projects. There have been 'meetings' about the incoming new Attack + Defend video, which I am very excited about from a visual point of view... the song's great as well! Anyway, Carl popped down for Easter Weekend, he's still here in fact, anyway... as is inevitable with us stupidity happened and we made a film... here's a look at the poster, the trailer will be up on YouTube soon, I bet you're so excited you can hardly contain it!
8th March 2008
Friday
was quite a challenge, the start of the day was increasingly
frustrating for me as tiny little things kept on delayed the shoot and
I knew I had tight scheduling with which cast members I could use at
what point. This ultimately resulted in a few pages not being shot,
and some moments we didn't capture bug me, though at the same time they
are not essential to the narrative of the promo. It was a fun day,
which is always a relief, and I'm eagerly anticipating/dreading looking
at the footage. Hopefully I'll be able to get some stills to put up
here very soon, one at least! In the meantime I'd like to thank
everyone who helped out, the five random extras plucked off the streets
of Pontypridd, Simon for being quick and dependable as sound engineer
and being surprisingly intense as Daiboy, Ian for having the absolute
incredible insight to bring a cravat without us even mentioning we'd
secretly dreamed of one, Andy for creating some interesting/terrifying
tunes and being an impromptu Jake (good zoo improv), Miller for being
such a great sport and sitting out in the cold for far too long wearing
a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, Sarah for always being happy to come and
tend bar, Carl for helping out on Sunday and doing a darn fine job
greaseproof-papering the windows and not constantly reminding me we
were getting dangerously close to the time his bus left, Sean for
giving up so much of his day without complaining (to me at least) and
creating a moody yet appealing character out of Matt, Rhiannon for
being absolutely amazing and upbeat and being able to get anything
done; I mean, this production probably would've fallen apart without
her, and of course Dan and Helen for tolerating me as a director and
hopefully we won't kill each other during the edit!
4th March 2008
Filming
got underway on Sunday 2nd March (aka Mother's Day) for my latest
endeavour, this is a really interesting new challenge for me as I'm
directing from a script by Helen MacIntyre and Dan Witherall, and it's
something they've been living with for a long time. The first day had
its hurdles and speedbumps, but I was pleased with what I could see
happening through the view-finder and I really believe once we start to
put an assembly together we could be looking at something interesting
and unique. It was odd for me as there seemed to be a certain degree
of nervousness coming from Dan and Helen, and I don't know if I coped
with it well as a director as I felt confident in what I was filming
but didn't really give that confidence back to them as performers.
We're filming again on Friday and, some other speedbumps aside, it
should be an even more interesting experience that I'm really looking
forward to. I hope to be able to bring you, whoever you are, an
exclusive little sneak peek at this project, most likely a couple of
stills in the next few days...
27th February 2008
2nd December 2007
On a Sunday evening myself, Mark Thomas and Lee Thomas made a film called 'Forbidden World'. At present it's only available via my Facebook page, but hopefully I'll be able to get it onto Youtube or some such shortly... if you can access it through this link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=14678765470 then well done! If not here's a still from the film to tide you over!
14th November 2007
Just discovered a Norwich Union advert on YouTube that I was an extra in. Five seconds in a grey blur moves left to right across the screen, that grey blur is me. Enjoy! http://youtube.com/watch?v=LPznKpRS_VU
21st October 2007
The behind the scenes video from Attack + Defend's BBC Introducing session is now online and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9-lJ5V-xn0
18th October 2007
I moved to Cardiff on Monday and have a few things to report, The Waiter trailer is finally moving towards a final stage, I helped out with the edit on a music video for the annual Radar competition, I should be having a few old films rearing their low-budget heads in a film festival soon and finally I was up until 3am last night in BBC Cymru filming a behind-the-scenes video for Attack + Defend's session on Bethan Elfyn's new show (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bethanelfyn/), so, hopefully, that'll be online in a few days. I also got name-checked thrice on the show, which was an honour, and you can hear that - and Attack + Defend's fantastic session on the listen again function for a week or so...
More updates shortly!
2nd September 2007
Carl came to London at the weekend and we ended up making a fake trailer for an 80s stalker/slasher movie about a psychotic waiter, called 'The Waiter'. Due to problems with the completely awful invention that is Windows Vista I may not be able to get the trailer cut together for a short while, but here are some stills I've managed to capture. We filmed a lot of the trailer around Epping Forest and Connaught Water, wished we'd come up with a concept that could have taken place entirely there as the footage outdoors looks much better to the hastily shot stuff from indoors. Anyway, here's a little sneak peak...
21st July 2007
Further to that previous mobile phone advert in which I was unspottable there has been another mobile phone advert broadcast that I worked on that I am, once again, unspottable. Even moreso this time I believe as there is a slight chance of being able to point in the vague direction of a blurred idea of me in the O2 ad, whereas in this Vodafone commercial you will not even be able to sense my aura at the scenes shot at Marylebone station. Anyway, if you like watching overlong adverts you could do worse than go here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CX4U1u7EZF8
There will be a few more blurry Owain performances occuring in other television shows and films over the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled! But, as always, I'll let you know, usually a few weeks behind schedule...
What's most surprising was a discovery I made today when seeing if anybody else had bothered to watch the below mentioned Big Brother animation. I noticed that on YouTube you can see what websites link to your video and I found this:
http://www.fotolog.com/saguillo/27547518
I feel honoured! Does anyone speak the language though? If so I'd love to hear a translation, I think it's in Spanish...
8th July 2007
My first job for the Casting Collective way back on Friday 4th May 2007 was as an extra on an 02 commercial, the food was great, still haven't received my payment for it though, but the advert is now currently being broadcast. The work was from 9.30am to 2.30pm and involved me, and about 100 other people, raising our hands up to the camera. Now, if you can spot me in this advert then you must have the eyes of a demon hawk. Here it is folks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce4QCvCNOwM
4th July 2007
I was commissioned by Endemol a few weeks ago to make an animation for 'Big Brother's Little Brother', it was broadcast on June 17th 2007. You can see the animation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyg90vDUulc
15th June 2007
4th April 2007
Long time, no update, well, there's been a few promising things happening round these parts, I'm hard at work on a number of scripts for a few different projects and I've had some short stories crop up in Time Out and Lightning Bug, which was nice. Also a perfect stranger bought a copy of the hardback 'Psyworm' which is almost miraculous! Most recently I have been acting in a short film called 'An Appetite for Murder' up in the North of London, hopefully I'll have more to reveal about that in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime here's a behind the scenes still from the shoot...
Left to right: Owain Paciuszko (actor),Henry (sound operator), Claire (actor), Annelise (camera operator and producer).
28th February 2007
'The Hungry Cat' is now on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA41UrD6gtk or you can go straight to the Filmography section and scroll down until you get to 'H' and you'll find it there too! Exclusive to YouTube though is a rough version of a video I was making for Attack + Defend before they asked me to do 'Garibaldi', it's called 'D.N.A' and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ReJPnYelH4 though do bare in mind that it was never fully finished.
8th February 2007
Thursday 15th February 2007 will see the music video for 'Garibaldi' projected in front of people at Attack + Defend's launch party, I will be there drinking alcohol and hiding my head in embarassment (unless people love the video in which case I shall be strutting like a pigeon). Here is the posterised advertisement:
24th January 2007
The Making Of Basements & Bastards 3 can now be seen on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxvbMzXIi1U
More news on other happenings soon!
11th January 2007
Happy New Year, hope it's all going well for you! Well, it's now online, the video for 'Garibaldi' by Attack + Defend and you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbPbR_rV9gE so, please, have a look and rate it if you like it! If you like the song then you can order it from Shape Records here: http://www.shaperecords.co.uk/ and if you can make it to Cardiff at 8pm on the 15th February there's a launch party for the single, including a screening of the film and lives performances by Attack + Defend, Hornby Pylons, Heck and DJs Kruger Magazine vs. Culture Vulture, that's at Clwb Ifor Bach and (hopefully) I'll be there drinking myself stupid.
6th December 2006
Got back from Cardiff yesterday with a finished video in my pocket, well, 99% finished, there are still a few edits that need tweaking and a bit of post-production shoe polish that needs to be applied. It was a good fun weekend, though my voice is somewhat worse for wear and I think I've probably damaged my eyes from either looking through a view-finder or staring at a computer for 96 hours non-stop. Anyway, it was a good low-budget laugh making the video, I really hope that the chaps in Attack + Defend are happy with it as they were extremely kind to let me have a crack at making it and treating me very generously. I'd also like to thank the incredible Greg Mothersdale for taking time out of doing sensible and important things with his life to give an absolutely barnstorming performance as Garibaldi, and muchos gracias to everybody who turned up on Saturday to run out like mad fools in Bute Park. The video shall be premiered next year to coincide with the single launch.
In the meantime I shall be uploading some more clips of old films and adding them to YouTube and the filmography.
28th November 2006
On Thursday I'm off to Cardiff to helm a music video for the band Attack and Defend (http://www.myspace.com/attackanddefend), it's going to be an interesting and seat-of-the-pants experience as the grand scheme is to have it in the bag by the time I leave on Tuesday morning. This seems pretty feasible in light of my five previous 48 Hour Films though there's a lot of effects work that's going to be done on this little flick, but hopefully it's going to be a delightfully quirky and whimsical little sojourn. Here's a little sneak peak at the storyboards:
10th November 2006
Some rather fantastic news today, but I'll keep it short and elusive... Following on from the video for 'Dreamfit' by Attack and Defend I have been "commisioned" to develop another video which shall be filmed in December... more as it happens.
8th October 2006
Finished the animation about the cat today, it's come out very well, though due to certain things that I don't wish to divulge at the moment I won't be able to put it online for a while... could be a long while... but it is most definitely finished! Sorry to be so secretive. Anyway, in way of compensation here are two pictures from the animation, hope you like their roughness!
4th October 2006
Well, I'm hard at work at the moment on two animations, one about a character I created way back in my French class at Redruth Community School called 'The Jolly Postman', and another which will involve a cat and a man and a kitchen because that's what I've built for it so far - with the aid of Megan and her excellent skill with a paint brush. I shall provide more information on both as they evolve, but I shall divulge that the first animation is an ink and watercolour piece being filmed using scanned images cut out in a South Park/Terry Gilliam fashion, the second piece is good old stop-motion (my favourite animation form) and here are some brief behind-the-scenes glimpses...
9th September 2006
Two things to report, firstly that the brilliant Hammer & Tongs (aka producer Nick Goldsmith and director Garth Jennings) are hard at work on their latest film - their last being The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - and they've featured one of my drawings on their new website http://www.sonoframbo.com, just click where it says 'See All The Illustrations', then 'Submitted Works' and my effort is called '80splosion'.
Secondly, not having had much to do for a while I decided to work on an animation, this animation evolved into a music video for the band 'Attack & Defend' (see http://www.myspace.com/attackanddefend) and they seem to like it, so it should be featuring soon on their MySpace page and their website, and hopefully I should being doing another one for them soon. Though if you can't wait for them to upload it you can see it on YouTube and on my Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/kingoftheducks) under my videos. Of course if you still can't wait for that you could press play on the embedded copy below, but please, if you like it, leave some comments and rate it online! Cheers... more as it happens.
28th August 2006
Though I am currently not in the process of filming anything I am working on a number of screenplays, and in the early stages of pre-production on a new project with Carl Morris. It's that good old time in life where you're trying to figure a way onto some sort of career ladder, though at the moment I seem to be sliding down a snake.
What I have been doing though is uploading a load of clips to YouTube which I've scattered about the filmography page, and there will be more on the way soon. But go there now and see loads of footage from films dating way, way back to 1998!
2nd June 2006
17th April 2006
I've uploaded a clip of 'Basements & Bastards' to YouTube, expect more to follow, see it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cWk8llGBKs
The trailer is also now online on MySpace, have a gander at: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=661453959&n=2
12th April 2006
Well, Silence is all done and dusted now... it's not a bad little film. There are plenty of frame-grabs and behind-the-scenes pictures over at the Yahoo Group (http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/cimmerianfilms/) so join up and have a gander. I'll be posting a review for it in a few days.
Carl Morris (my co-star from many, many films) paid a visit to Aberystwyth last weekend and from that two new short experiments were born: COUNTERBALANCE, a tongue-in-cheek studenty art film which lead to the concept for THE FAMILY JOOLS, a dubbed soap opera where every scene descends into kung-fu. Naturally, the latter is better!
Also, as I've forgotten to mention it here, the novel PSYWORM (that I co-wrote with Carl Morris) is now available to buy online at http://firsttimepublishers.com, so head on over and get yourself a copy! Also, check out the PSYWORM website at http://www.freewebs.com/psyworm.
18th March 2006
And so begins my fifth entry into Aberystwyth FilmSoc's 48 Hour competition, in which I have two days to conceive and shoot a whole motion picture! My title this time around was 'Silence', and as a special treat here is a behind the scenes photo from the first day of filming...
12th January 2006
Well, it's a new year, which means that (a) I need to update the Cimmerian Films logo (b) I should finally be making another film and (c) I can begin to let you know what that big Psyworm picture at the top of the page is about. Well, I haven't started work on (a) or (b) yet, but (c)... well, just head on over to http://www.freewebs.com/psyworm and it may begin to unfurl. More as it happens!
19th October 2005
It's been extremely quiet round here, I know! To fill you in on what I've been up to; well, er, I've finally finished the 'Basements & Bastards 3' DVD, and it's a 2-Disc set, which has a fair smattering of extra features. Alas, no commentary was recorded for the film due to scheduling conflicts... haha. I'm also having to redo the 'Turnip' Special Edition due to some lovely technical discrepencies, but that also means I can make it that little bit lovelier.
The project that has been taking the main focus of my face and mind at the moment though is one that has got me very, very excited... though, it isn't a film. There shall most probably be a major plug in the coming months, and maybe possibly a sister-site dedicated entirely to this. I am really very pleased and happy about this latest endeavour, and I hope it manages to peak your interest too! Anyway, check back soon for, hopefully, a huge update and - fingers crossed - news on some new film projects.
7th September 2005
Over at the Yahoo group, http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/cimmerianfilms/, there's the FIRST EVER clip of 'Basements & Bastards' online. Yahoo groups are free to join, but you have to fill out a form, don't worry though you can have the e-mail notifications sent to any other e-mail address you may have. But, anyway, join up! Lots more updates coming very soon.
21st August 2005
Here is the fabulously cheesy 80s style poster for 'Basements & Bastards 3' that I made today. I'm very happy with it, it reminds me of something from my youth, but I can't exactly remember what. Anyway... here it is...
15th August 2005
As a special treat here are some EXCLUSIVE photos from 'Basements & Bastards 3'. Hope you like them!
Lancelot & Guinevere. Merlin & King Arthur. The Undead Knight.
12th August 2005
Well, it's in the can and ready to edit. 'Basements & Bastards 3' shall be upon us this Autumn. I've edited a little bit and it's looking good... more soon.
31st July 2005
The script for my proposed second prequel to 'Basements & Bastards' is finished, in its first form at least. I'm pretty pleased with it, it seems to focus the comic energy and appeal of the film a lot more. It also clocks in at a substantial 65 pages, which means we'll either have a lot of deleted scenes or that this could be my first feature length! I'm still baffled as to what it shall be known as, 'Basements & Bastards 3'? 'Basements & Bastards -1 2'? Basements & Bastards The Prequel Sequel'? Who knows. My co-star, co-writer, Carl Morris returns soon and will probably despise the script, but more on that as it happens! Haha. And with his arrival will come the finalising of all our old flicks on DVD, they do require audio-commentaries and suchlike!
25th July 2005
It's been a little quiet round here as of late, I've been busy writing and getting the DVDs of all my old films made, and posted off a copy of 'Turnip' to one of its stars (Alex Perrelet). Hopefully he'll send me his thoughts and feelings and I can put them on here for those who are interested. UPDATED: Alex's review is now up alongside my own thoughts on 'Turnip'.
27th June 2005
Well, finally I've finished 'Human Being' in the form it shall have to take! I never managed to get all the footage I wanted, sub-plots, scenes and the entire ending remain unfilmed, but there is half an hour of it, it's assembled and on DVD. So, that'll tide me by.
Also, finally arriving will be the long mooted 'Turnip' and 'Speakman's Quest' DVDs, along with the entire back catalogue of Ocorp/900 Production becoming available on DVD too. So, it's all very exciting.
8th June 2005
To mark the
10th Anniversary of my status as a 'film-maker' and, also, the 10th
Anniversary of the disturbing early film, 'Owain Street' I am making: 'OWAIN STREET - 10 YEARS LATER'.
It's somewhere inbetween 'Halloween H20' and a really bad sitcom, like
'Payne', 'Coach' or 'Joey'. It finds our heroes, Aleski and her
boyfriend Ignatius trying to settle down, but trouble of the 'Sunset
Beach' variety is afoot. The show has higher production values this
time, I hope, but lower standards and will feature my first ever use
of, drum roll please, CANNED LAUGHTER!
Anyway, more as it happens...
2nd June 2005
Well, 'The Other Side' won this year's screening. Dan Witherall, Joe Stokeld and Megan Jones were all in attendance, so that was nice, as well as me, Owain, the director! The runner-up was a very funny film called 'Memory' and there were some other good films in the competition too.
1st June 2005
2nd June, 2005 - 12pm Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
48 Hour Films 2005 - FREE SCREENING
Including 'The Other Side' and 'Pandora's Box'.
Yes, I know it's late notice!
26th May 2005
Rather exciting news, well, not exciting... PANDORA'S BOX and THE OTHER SIDE will be screening at the FilmSoc 48Hour Film Festival next Thursday which is the 2nd of June, not sure what time or where yet but, hey, it's better than nothing! So, make sure you're not busy and come on down... more information as I have it.
15th May 2005
Well, at long last we have one picture from 'Human Being' to show you! And here it is:
Left to right: The Girl (Megan Jones), The Guy (Kris Darby)
Well, hopefully this is the start of a plethora of updates all involving exciting and interesting information. For residents of Aberystwyth I can inform you that there should be a screening of 'Pandora's Box' and 'The Other Side' in amongst the other 48 Hour Film entrants sometime soon, and there will be a DVD of all those films available to purchase or pre-order at the screening.
12th May 2005
Well, sorry about the
complete lack of updates and pictures... My own personal internet has
been cut off, so it's currently difficult for me to upload pic wodges
of fun. However, next year I should have a lovely landlord and will
thusly be able to fill you in on all the films I will (hopefully) have
made!
'Human Being' is suffering from the commitments of my course at the moment, though I have edited a substantial chunk there is still a lot that needs to be filmed. Hopefully once my exam is out of the way I can get this done, hopefully.
22nd April 2005
Production has been going on for 'Human Being' for just over a week now. The first Act of the film is in the can and edited, and shooting should be continuing right up to May; if all goes to plan the film will be done very quickly and get its premiere in May! I shall keep you posted and hopefully have some EXCLUSIVE pictures up for you lucky bunnies soon.
7th April 2005
Well,
I've removed the link to the Yahoo! Group from the Index bar, as I'm
going to keep the URL to it on this welcome page... So, (fanfare
please) I've replaced that link with a new one that will take you to
the brand spanking new, and very much under construction, Cimmerian
Films Forum! Yes, it's a bit sad of me, I know, but I was quite bored
and thought it may get some greater feedback and discussion going in
regards to the films. So, feel free to drop by, sign-up and ask what
you like.
Previous Updates...
- There's an ever-growing filmography of all the projects Cimmerian Films and Owain Paciuszko are involved in.
- A brief (at the moment) overview of cast members from various films.
- A section detailing future projects and upcoming DVD releases.
- Links to the Yahoo! Group and Owain Paciuszko's Live Journal, which can often act as a Production Diary.
- And, a lovely Feedback section for you people to comment and criticise the site!
I've just realised that this year will mark the 10th Anniversary of my first ever film 'Owain Street', crikey! I've been a 'film-maker' for ten years, although I was 12 or 13 when I started, so perhaps, not quite the landmark I'm going to make it out to be... Hmm? This calls for some sort of self-agrandizing nonsense, and I must boot a whole slew of projects into gear to make this year the greatest in the history of Cimmerian Films and Owain Paciuszko's filmic output... so far it's a reasonable start with the fantastic 'The Other Side' and the below par 'Crooks & Dudes'... but fingers crossed, aye!
Remember our Yahoo! group is still up and running at: http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/cimmerianfilms and occasionally hosts some exclusive photos, videos and other downloadble files. Plus, it provides more of an opportunity to be a bit interactive...