Almost there...

Colette here. Today brought me back to Littlestar studios, where I found the MYVP team busy at work polishing off the film's edit. And this time, there was a more relaxed atmosphere: with filming over and most of the post-production groundwork underway, it was now that attention could be paid to finer details such as the credits and film title. There was also the list of thanks to be attended to, as so much of the work undertaken during the film's production could only have been carried out with the help of those associated with the project in a diverse number of ways, such as Ibrahim the shopkeeper, or the owners of house no.22.

The final cut of this summer's MYVP project will emerge in the weeks to come, but in the meantime I caught up with the young people over lunch, to discuss what they had learnt from the experience as it was winding to a close. Claire and Conor have both learnt to use Final Cut express, and everybody appreciated playing their part in the project's evolution from an idea to screen.
Evidently, place a bunch of young film enthusiasts together with good food and some time to kill, and it's not long before the main focus of the conversation turns inevitably to films we've seen recently, and directors whose styles we admire. Because, ultimately, if you want to make movies, you have to love movies. It has been clear throughout where the passions of the group lie, and now I can't wait to see the finished project.

A retrospective overview: 1

Hi, it's Colette here. Now that MYVP's latest project is reaching the final tweaks in its development, I'm here to take a look back at the workshop's early stages to see how it all started.

So, today, let's rewind to the first two days:

21st July:
In their first group meeting, each young person had been told to write a short film review and bring it with them to present to the group and start a discussion. Their varied reviews quickly got the conversation flowing, and eased initial nervousness as they met their teammates for the first time. They were encouraged to consider key ideas and question aspects of the films they had reviewed - why had the director chosen to do that? What were they trying to do by including that scene in the film?
To help illustrate these concepts, and apply them in a practical situation, the group were then shown several short films including 'Dog Years' and John Smith's 'OM'.
For the following day they were set two tasks: to review a film, television programme or advert, and to prepare some film ideas for developing the environmental theme of the film they would be working on.
22nd July:
After discussing concepts for their film short, key ideas were reworked until the young people established a clear narrative.
They then spoke to Matt from MYVP's Green Machine project, and learnt a great deal about the current environmental situation, including the upcoming summit in Copenhagen. From this they branched into a discussion on the different ways people could re-use and save water. Deciding that they wanted to reference to the Copenhagen summit in their short, a radio broadcast was written into the film's narrative. Together with Maria, the group worked on a basic shot list and in no time at all they were on to drawing out the film's storyboard.
Another film the group watched for reference was the experimental film 'Love in The White City', which got them thinking about film in different ways.
Finally, the young people were set the task of researching the Copenhagen summit, as well as issues surrounding climate change, so to obtain factual evidence for their radio broadcast. As well as learning about film, they were learning about current affairs and getting more involved in the mechanics and real-life issues behind MYVP's film project.

Stay connected for more information on the development of the project in the days to come.

Creative Differnces Perhaps?

Hey it's Erin again and today I decided to drop in on the film crew during the editing process at Littlestar Media Productions. First I was greeted with a sticky note informing me to use another buzzer. It was very DIY.

While Maria phoned around for someone to fix the buzzer, the film crew were set the task to create the shop sequence to put into the actual film. But before that Maria explained to us how they should edit, and the answer is that it should look as how you would naturally see something. Her example also included a pretend situation where Claire and me would be poking each other, then I would get a pitch fork and she would get a shotgun. A rather peculiar way of explaining it, but it worked and we could see what she meant. Though I couldn't imagine the escalating poking situation.

Every 20 minuets someone new took to the editing controls. Rather than group discussion it was more like a debate. Everyone literally had a different point view. In a way it was good because it became a group effort. Conner the perfectionist said that he felt with like "a big boy" using the Mac with 2 screens. And Steve was warned not to "reinvent the wheel" by Maria.

I should of took a picture of the endless sea of empty Diet Coke cans that are still probably sitting on the table. So I leave you with a charming picture of Conner and Jack.

Bye for now... Erin :)

Colette: Editing training session at Cornerhouse

Yesterday I spent the day in a darkened room - more specifically the Livewire Studio at Cornerhouse. It was editing training time with Marisa, and Jack, Connor and Claire got the chance to play with some state-of-the-art Final Cut Express editing software for the day.

In preparation for the editing of their own film project, they were practising on footage from one of last year's MYVP projects, a film called Vacant 21, to test out some editing techniques and produce a recut of the short at the end of the session - I even got a chance to edit my own version while I was there.

The atmosphere was industrious, and at the end of the day, the final recuts were all different in style and pace, showing how, with a little alteration in the editing process, it was possible to convey different moods and themes using the same footage. They'll now be able to apply these skills to the cut of MYVP's current project, and see the transformation of their own weeks of hard work into a composite final piece.

A chat with Conor

Definitely the joker of the group and when he’s not reducing people to tears with his “unusual humour” he’s acting a little moody for some reason. It must be because he's playing the role of the “Emo” teenager in this film. Moving away the hair which is covering his right eye and blinking frequently at the annoyance of wearing mascara, Conor chats to me about his role in the film and his already growing acting career.

Conor: It was my mum who told me about the job…she works at the Cornerhouse so found out about it and let me know…but I’m also on their mailing list so I find out about loads of cool projects.

Max: Cool…have you done any acting before this?

Conor: Well I’ve been doing drama since I was 8 years old with a dram group.

Max: Great…tell me more

Conor: Well we do 2 plays a year, summer and winter and I’ve acted in things like Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz.

Max: So I take it you’ve never played an Emo before then?

Conor: Haha no I’ve not…this is completely different to anything I’ve done before, I was a guy on horse in one of the plays…so yeah this is a new experience.

Max: Are there many similarities between yourself and the character you play in the film?

Conor: hmm well I do like some of the Emo music but I’m kind of new to the whole Emo culture so I can’t really say too much about it….but according to a Facebook test I’m a scene kid not an Emo

Max: haha ah right…so who did you look to for inspiration for the role?

Conor: I liked the Emo character in the film Little Miss Sunshine and from him I got an idea about how Emo’s act.

Max: Okay…do you want to continue acting?

Conor: Well I’d like to study English at university and then definitely do something in the arts…either a film director, musician or writer…acting is fun but I would like to work behind the camera too.

Max: Some good choices :)…what would you say you've gained from this experience?

Conor: Hmm I would say organisation skills, preparation and teamwork.

Max: Cool…do you have any more projects lined up for the future?

Conor: I’m working on a short film of my own at the moment which is going okay…but I’d love to carry on doing opportunities like this and carry on gaining more experience.

Max: Thanks Conor :)

Conor: Thanks. :)

An Uncommon Short chat with Justine Adams.

Hey it's Max here…the busy filming schedules meant that the interview was annoyingly short but here’s a small glimpse at the lovely Justine Adams.

With a resume that reads like a list of the most popular British television dramas Justine, who has been acting for 18 years has played a sophisticated nurse in Shameless, a police officer in Coronation Street and has been seen in Heartbeat and Emmerdale to name but a few. Her part in this film is completely different to her previous roles but she assures me that she’s nothing like the stressed out mother of a young “Emo” seen in the film…and I agree as she smiles comfortably, I don’t see any signs of stress at all.

Justine: I’m not nearly as stressed out in reality as I am in the film :) we've just finished some filming in a corner shop which went really smoothly…even though I do play a stressed out character I’m still able to add some humour, which is nice.

Max: So how did you hear about the job Justine?

Justine: Well my agent in Manchester told me about the casting a week or so before we started filming…and here I am.

I hear her name being called from downstairs and know I’m running out of question time.

Max: Great…I look forward to seeing you in the film once it’s all finished, can we expect to see you in anything else?

Justine: Thank you :) I’ve had great fun working with everyone…and yes you can see me in a new BBC drama series called “Paradox” with Tamzin Outhwaite.

Max: Wow sounds good…I’ll have to watch it…thanks for the interview Justine.

Justine: Thank you :)

That's A Wrap!

Hey it's Erin again to tell you about the final day of filming. Have our film crew ever heard of the saying never work with animals or children. Well today they broke that myth. Claire (film crew member) brought her adorable but very loud dog called Bell. And Julian (Littlestar Media Productions) brought his daughter Ruby to play the daughter in the film. And I think they did a good job.... after some directing, the main ingredient in any film. And if your wondering about the photo there's no explanation it was just there. Lets just say that it was a photo opportunity.

Least Ruby now has something to start her CV with. And she's a Disney Generation rebel, she would rather choose science over High School Musical any day!

Bell the dog was bit more of a diva, she definitely got herself heard with her loud barks. It was a different matter getting her to appear in the camera shots. She was one cute dog though! Very cute indeed.

The boom stick was the mystery of the day. My suspicions are that it was not in the house at all. Yet we all searched high and low for it.

I give my applauds to our professional actress Justine who was truly professional. It was so positive to have someone who took interest in what we were doing. And well done to Jack who sat patiently under the table doing sound. Truthfully I wish filming hadn't finished just because it's so fun!

Anyway I say everyone involved so far should give themselves a pat on the back. We're not finished yet though, watch this space.

Bye for now, Erin :)

Colette here with news from today's filming: Village Stores, Levenshulme

“I didn’t expect all this.” Says Ibrahim , owner of Village Stores in Levenshulme.
The MYVP team has taken over the shop floor for the morning, and for some time now Maria, Jack and Claire have been kept busy moving boxes of free-range eggs and organic lemons around in preparation for the day’s shoot.

Village Stores perfectly embodies the eco-friendly movement towards local, organic and fair-trade produce. In addition to fruit, vegetables, groceries and washing-up powders and detergents that do minimal damage to the environment, Ibrahim also sells a great variety of flowering and fruit-bearing plants.
In the window, a certificate from Manchester city council declares that substantial efforts have been made to stock and sell organic and fair-trade produce.

The difficulty for today’s filming arises in making the shop look uneconomical and wasteful, to contrast with its later transformation. Props brought in by the MYVP team include value-sized bottles of bleach, and a lot of lightbulbs.
In reality, Village Stores is as eco-friendly as you can imagine. Plants of every colour and variety have been relocated to the pavement for the duration of the shoot, temporarily creating a virgin forest in Levenshulme.

As the morning progresses, new faces arrive. I recognise Justine Adams from her actor’s profile that was passed around the Littlestar studio on Tuesday. She auditioned in Manchester for her role in the short, and as she waits while the serious business of readying cameras and checking the white balance goes on within Village Stores, I quiz her about the proceedings.
“I’m a bit in the dark about it,” she confesses amiably. We start to chat, when Jack emerges from the shop, looking somewhat confused.
“Excuse me, could you tell us how to work the till?” he asks Ibrahim. More serious business is attended to, before filming is eventually under way.

The till crisis over, I get talking to Ibrahim and discover that he has “a dream”. He recently renovated the basement of his shop, complete with an entrance accessible from the outside. He describes to me how he’d like to use it for something ‘arty-farty’ – an art café, or a printing press for a budding comic artist. He’s appreciative of the alternative cultural scene. I learn that he was something of a regular at the Cambridge music festivals and folk gatherings at Stonehenge.

While filming is going on, Ibrahim does his best to maintain business as usual. He waters and tends to his plants, vulnerable in the unexpected heat, and recommends a trailing begonia to a customer as the hustle and bustle of on-set activity goes on around him.
“They’re just filming,” he reassures his customers, as he potters back and forth to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

At the end of the morning, as the MYVP team packs up to move to the shoot’s next locale, Ibrahim is free to return to his post behind the till. It is now, around midday, that the shop’s regulars begin to flood the store. They’re all intrigued by the presence of cameras, and as they chat amongst themselves I realise that this place is something of a hub for local residents. And it’s something that I hope will have been captured on camera.

Back soon, cheerio

We Have Our Own Professional Set Designers And Make Up Artists!

A big hello from Erin here with another newsflash on today's filming, and two subjects went under a rather convincing transformation. One was a bedroom, which went from tidy sleeping quarters of a four year old into a messy dump of teenage angst!

The fantastic transformation was mostly down to Alice (film crew member)and Sasha (from MYVP). Looking at the photos it is the perfect portrayal of the teenage boy habitat. Rather revolting and dirty! The other cocoon to butterfly effect was performed by Conner (film crew member) on his acting debute.

The make up situation was quite hilarious as Maria (Littlestar Media Productions), Maximilian (fellow blogger), Sasha and myself tried toapply an emo/ new romantic style to Conner's face. I hope our efforts were sucessful as it was Maria who took the reigns and drew a heart shaped beauty spot below his smudged mascara and eyeliner.

Anyway after Conner had finished his very exhausting scene pretending to be asleep I interviewed him about his experience. Rather annoyingly I'm having problems uploading my interviews AGAIN! >:(

Today I have another day of film reporting so til then farewell, Erin :)

What's New Pussycat?

Hey it's Erin again! Today was a full house and it literally was! I got my first viewing of the borrowed house in Levenshulme, and it was far more glamorous than the set where Vacant No.21 was made. As well as Jack, Steve and Conner I met two other film crew members. There was Claire, who gets to bring her dog on set tomorrow. Not for fun and cuteness, but for some serious acting! Then there is my old chum Alice who I worked with on Vacant No.21.

Gladly I got the chance to grab some time to interview Steve, Conner and Alice. Annoyingly I've started this blog quite a bit late in the evening nearing the small hours of the morning. And the videos are taking way too long and tugging at my patience! Therefore I promise to come straight home after filming and dedicate my time to uploading them and other new videos.

Vinnie and Richard were today's actors. Vinnie played a water swigging, plastic bottle waster and Richard conveyed the image of a corporate thug. Not my description by the way.

Thankfully we weren't disrupted by anyone, so thumbs up there. People kept there curiosity at a comfortable distance. We couldn't stop the fame seeking cat though! I think it's the most friendly cat I've ever met. This cat's antics were far more better than my role in the establishing shot of the house.

Never in a million years did I think I would be working on films. When the firsts ideas and concepts are being created out of talented individuals it is intriguing. Then when your on location actually filming it's so exciting to know it's going to be a finished piece shown to other people! I really can't wait to see the final cut!

Anyway it won't be long before I'm back with another scoop, bye for now,
Erin :)

news from Littlestar HQ

Hey, Colette here, writing up today's news.

Since coming under the spotlights of Hollywood in films such as The Day After Tomorrow and An Inconvenient Truth, climate change has been hot on the radar of filmmakers, documentary journalists and news broadcasters alike. It’s an issue that has caused a state of near-constant red alert in social and political circles, and it’s just as important that young people today get their voices heard in what concerns the vital future of a living planet.

Today I caught up with the ringleaders of MYVP’s new creative project in the realm of short film, to take a sneak peek at what they were doing to promote the power of sharp young minds in today’s society.

I’m at Littlestar, a studio located deep in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and over on two black couches, three heads are conferring busily. Meet Connor, Jack, and Steve. They’re running over props, storyboarding, and the tricky prospect of cajoling a shop owner into letting his floor space be overrun by cameras during one part of the film’s shoot, due to start later this week.

It’s still early days for MYVP’s latest film project, which has been running since the 21st July, but already ideas for the film’s direction have been bandied back and forth across the table. In order to focus on such a broad topic, the decision has been to draw the focus on the project's environmental theme in microcosm.
I’m told that the original intention was to keep the short impersonal, but eventually a central character was introduced as a figure that people can identify with. Cue a nameless mother-of-three, brought to life by Justine Adams, who has previously worked on the likes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
“We wanted to give it a suburban theme”, Jack tells me, “focusing on just a normal household day.”
The storyboards scattered across the table show a montage of this normal household day, though on closer inspection, it’s one filled with subtle hints and messages about how easy it is to stop wasting resources such as heat, electricity and water.
The short’s protagonist is a recognisable one: a stressed out stay-at-home mother, struggling to connect with her eldest son who has reached the brink of teenagerhood, and two youngsters who won’t get out from under her feet. Isolated from an absentee husband who disappears each morning on the daily grind, she is a forgetful and distracted individual, and pays little attention to the chores she carries out around the house. As a result, she’s wasteful, and completely unaware of the potential damage she’s doing to the world around her. The film will describe an alternative way of going about her daily routine, and highlight just how simple it is to make such changes on a day-to-day basis.

Filming will take place in Levenshulme, and I’ll be back with news from the set in just a few days’ time.

The 411

Today I had my first interaction with the film crew. The group was slightly smaller than I expected, but this point proves that you need a diary free of appointments. Commitment is key! I've come in on the beginning of the third week, so I'm a bit lost amongst the talk on what's happening next when I'm not sure what the film is even going to be about.

Luckily I the had the group (Steve, Josh and Conner) to get me up to speed. The message of the film conveys one of global warming and how it will catch up with us if we don't sit up, pay attention and change our ways. Even if it is the little tiny touches like walking to the local shop rather than taking the gas guzzling car.

The atmosphere was relaxed, but productive. In previous weeks the film crew have undergone various workshops such as learning how to work with the technical equipment, storyboarding and script writing development. Other exciting tasks carried out by the budding film makers include location scouting and cast calling.

Today I listened to script ideas and camera shots being bounced across the coffee table. I couldn't help myself getting involved too! Even a hint of a possible love story was discussed with witty humour and jokes following. Well you work hard, you play hard! Ha ha!

I'm excited with what is happening as it is all real! And I can't wait for tomorrow!

So till next time watch this space!

Erin :)

Let me introduce myself...

Hello fellow bloggers, readers and to any film buffs too! My name is Erin and I'm gladly here to tell you about all the tales, or rather facts going on at Uncommon Shorts.

Like film directors who have their signature genre, my specialty is certainly not horror, but covering the collaboration between the professionals at Littlestar Media Productions and aspiring film makers from Manchester Youth Volunteering Project (MYVP).

This project is not kids messing around with expensive film equipment, they're actually making real films from first concepts and ideas all the way to the final cut! I should know I had the chance to make Vacant No.21, part of MYVP Spring Trinity (go to YouTube now and watch it) with help from Littlestar Media Productions. Oh yeah mistake on my behalf, the participants aren't kids there young people between the ages of 13 and 19. Seriously they're all very mature.

So I'll stop with the long waffle and come back in the very near future with some solid evidence (interviews, pictures and videos) of films being brewed up by the film crew!

Now all you have to do is spread the word! Thankyou and come again!
Bye for now, Erin :)

Meet another blogger :)

The Uncommon Shorts meeting last week was great and now the wheels of creativity are very much in motion.


Allow me to introduce myself....I'm Maximilian, one of the new bloggers for Uncommon Shorts and I'm quietly confident I can keep you entertained. Throughout the next few weeks I'll be keeping you all up to date with what's going on in the world of Uncommon Shorts. You can expect to see interviews, photos, videos and more...so don't be a stranger to the blog....follow us and tell all your friends.


Click us, Read us, like us, love us :)


Bye for now.....

Meet your blogger

Dear diary...

So, the first workshop run by Uncommon Shorts is well under way, and it’s time for an introduction. My name’s Colette, and over the next few weeks I’m going to be keeping up with the activities of some keen young filmmakers honing their creative skills in Manchester.
They’ll be focusing the lens on hot topics and changes in the world today, working together on projects as fresh as the issues they confront. The first film workshop of the season has an environmental flavour, and soon I’ll be finding out how it’s all coming together, and what projects such as this one can do to help spread awareness of key issues today.
Watch this space for exclusive behind-the-scenes news, interviews, photos, and updates in the wider world of cinema!