Welcome to the shortfilm blog, this page is aimed to share with you some of the events I'm currently covering, If you have any comments or thoughts please email them using the link below. It's always nice to know who's reading!
Email me! Mark@shortfilmcompany.com
October 2009
Viva Las Vegas!
The highlight of my year by far has been flying out to Las Vegas to film the wedding of Sarah & Aaron at the towering Mandalay Bay Hotel at the heart of the Vegas strip. A short clip of the wedding can be seen here Sarah chose to walk through the casino in her wedding dress before meeting friends and family for the ceremony, you may see someone you know in my short video!
I stayed on for a further week to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some down time in this remarkable city before visiting friends in Sanfrancisco
I was delighted to be invited by Ian McGraw a friend and photographer to his wedding suppliers and advice website, Veil & Train. My first wedding in connection with this new venture will be held at St Paul's Cathedral next year.
September 2009
Do you like your Library?
Another year ends on Big Brother and my time filming behind the mirrors comes to an end again, hopefully I will be back in January to film celebrity Big Brother which, if the rumors are right could be the last!
September is always a busy month, the National Wedding Show in London takes place and couples start booking appointments to see me and the last summer weddings take place.
Most of this month was spent in East Sussex working on a project for East Sussex County Council where we took the message Room on a tour of local libraries, find out what the public thought about their local library. The finished video was shown at a conference as part of a national campaign illustrating peoples love and hate for the library service.
August 2009
Hot August Nights
Some of the weddings filmed this month can be seen on you tube my favorite clip came from Lynze & Dominic, who decided to take a ride down to the beach during the reception at Quex Park a short clip can be watched here
This month I was invited by JWAAD to film Belly Dancing students at Tring Park some of the performers I would see agin later in the year for the 'Fantasia' and 'International Belly Dance Congress'. Who would have thought Bellydancing DVD's would be so popular! (DVD's are still available in my online shop
My congratulations also goes out to Angela and Ian who got married in Yorkshire at Swinton Park
Dipak and Maurshami who got married at The Elvetham hotel,in Hampshire.
July 2009
Life on Big Brother
Amongst other projects this summer, I m happy to be back in the Big Brother House filming from behind the mirrors on this years show. Rehearsals started at the end of May and Im happy to be back with my colleagues catching up with each other as we work together until September.
For those of you who have Children you will also know it the end of term and it was lovely to return to many schools to film the end of term performances.
I should also take some time to congratulate Karen & Darren who got married at Crondon Park and hired my video message room for the evening. Vicki & Justin who had a stunning reception at the Knowl, Higham, a lovely cottage venue. It was nice to work with Lln Burchett again who was the photographing the day. Finally Emma & Richard who got married in Heaver Castle, what an amazing venue for a wedding!
For those of you who have Children you will also know it the end of term and it was lovely to return to many schools to film the end of term performances
June 2009
Mini Madness & Message Room Mayhem!
Meet 3 new members of the shorfilm company, my new mini, Beverly (in purple) & the new message room for summer 2009! Its been a busy month and we have helped celebrate 7 weddings from Manchester down to Kent. I've started camera work on Big Brother again and made a start on the new message room which will be released later this year. Beverly has also joined the team and will be taking an active role with many of the weddings in 2010.
May 2009
A Racy Couple!
This May bank holiday I celebrated the wedding of Michelle & Keith Barker, a couple of motor racing fanatics who got married at Brands Hatch Place Hotel in Kent. This was the perfect choice set in beautiful parkland with the sound of motor racing in the near distance. A short clip from the day can be watched here
April 2009
The You Tube Challenge!
The wedding of Alex and Barry took place at Great Fosters and I was there thanks to Nikki Foley from Jigsaw Weddings filming the event. My day started by covering the family getting ready before visiting the groom in the pub close to the church.
I set myself a challenge for this wedding, it's the 1st wedding to be given a free clip on you tube within 48 hours of the event. To my delight I was able to get the footage up earlier than expected and family and friends have been watching the clip over the weekend. To see the video click here
A big thank you to Roger Brown Photography, buying me coke, and showing me how to get the best ariel shots at this amazing venue, it was great fun working together.
March 2009
Public Speaking, Local Libraries & Fun French Lessons!
When I was asked to give a 30 minute presentation to the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners I was a bit nervous it's not often I get asked to do something like this, how easy would it be to talk for 30 minutes? Thankfully I found plenty to talk about and had a very interesting day, I guess after 10 years I should have plenty to talk about and it seems I do! I recorded some footage on the day and this can be watched here
Later in the month I followed the progress of a library that had been entered into a competition after an extensive re fit and make over. Fingers crossed they get a nomination as everyone interviewed seemed very positive about the changes.
My connection with France came in a double dose this month, not only did I take 4 days off for a long weekend skiing but I was asked to film the first part of a French Language programme, this ongoing project will form a demo DVD for the new language corse aimed at children. The flip side is my French should improve during the process!
My final project on this busy month took me to a farm owned by the Royal school for Deaf Childrento film children and animals near Faversham in Kent. Later we continued to film students at home and throughout the college, this school wins my award for best school dinners - thanks for looking after me Emma!
February 2009
What is a Children's Centre?
Journalism is a fascinating job and although my role is normally behind a camera or computer, from time to time you find yourself involved in the research process and this can be very exciting. This month I had the task of putting together a short film to answer the question 'what is a children's Centre?' The journey took me around the county involving interviews from key workers to face painters it was a very a great project and I would like to thank everyone who took time to talk to me on or off camera.
Thanks also too for the lady that gave up her hot cross bun for me as I didn't have time for lunch, you know who you are.
January 2009
Celebrity Big Brother
After a well earned Christmas break the doors of the Big Brother house slid open for me again and I spent many happy hours watching celebrities eat, sleep and live together. As expected it was a great experience if not a little bit colder than the summer. The Wrap party was also fun, see pictures above.
At the end of the month I filmed the wedding of Joel & Lisa Gallagher set in magical Langshott Manor The sun shone just long enough for us to take video and stills outside before guests returned to keep warm by the fire.
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December
It's Behind You!
December is always our busiest month, with Dvd's of school plays being distributed in Surrey and Kent and winter weddings in full flow. 'Video for Schools' It's a free service and always proves popular, with boxed sets going out as Christmas presents to family and friends. My thanks this month go out to Vincent who helped film, design and distribute many of the DVD's with me all in good time for Christmas.
The welcome return of the Fantasia festival in London hosted by JWAAD allowed us once again to capture a live Belly Dancing show. The video makes a great reference tool for teachers of the art and a priceless record for all those taking part, which ranged from well-known dancers to complete beginners. This time DVD's are available on our online shop at £20 each.
In September I wrote about my project with Bookstart Sussex, this month I had great pleasure in showcasing my film in a local Cinema. Parents and children involved with the project were invited back for a 'Gala Premier' and had the chance towalk down the red carpet and sip champagne, a real glitzy night!
November
Fawlty Towers
My travels this month took me on a road show with HSBC where I was fortunate to film a selection of 'Inspirational' speeches by some of the dragons from Dragons Den and other leading ontreponers. It was an interesting experience and a great team to work with.
Sadly my Grandfather, who played a key role in my photographic background passed away at the beginning of the tour (October). His influence gets a mention on the history page of this site.
Fashion and photography often work in close unison; I follow trends on TV to set the mood for my videos from an advert to a simple effect on Ugly Betty. If you want to create a stylish video you need to keep up to speed on what's cool and what's not. (Hart shaped fades are so last year) That's why I was privileged to be filming at the Tony & Guy Academy on New Oxford Street to see future stylists cutting the haircuts of the future. A Fascinating fun day for everyone (including me).
With Jonathan Ross out of the limelight what could be better than attending Brands Hatch Place Hotel for a wedding with a Faulty Towers Manuel in tow. This of course was the fun loving wedding of Claire and Neil Fay whose guests gave me much amusement by singing Thriller in my message room and telling me rude jokes.
While Manuel amused guests in the dining room my assistant Beverly kept the late Halloween theme alive by hosting the message room in fancy dress wig and fangs. Thanks Bev you were a legend!
October 2008
Sir your Big Mac is Ready...
Having always been proud of my PC, including the laptop I'm using now I finally took the plunge and invested in a sleek 24" imac last week. It comes with no trailing wires, no beige boxes and no error messages, its cool and friendly. Anyone that's thinking of making the switch go for it, even if takes you a while to figure out how to turn it on it looks lovely and should keep you inspired for years to come.
When I was first asked to film a Bar mitzvah I got slightly nervous, this was unknown territory, something very new and unrehearsed, no Rolls Royce, no 'I do' and no cake cutting to film. How do you film a Bar mitzvah and why have I never been asked to film one before?
As the big day arrived the nerves changed to excitement and as I began to watch the afternoon unfold I could sense I was in for a treat. Painshill Park in Cobham is a lovely venue and hosts a large marquee in a walled garden for private functions. Just like a wedding the room was set out with tables and a dance floor, flowery table centres had been replaced with imaginative Ice sculptures, black table linen set a sophisticated mood and the blue lighting wash created an atmosphere that reached way beyond cool. This was quite an event, great food, great company, and lots of memories, which are now recorded on DVD for prosperity. Thanks for asking me along, I'm now looking forward to the next.
The rain this year has played havoc with photographers and cameramen, learning to hold an umbrella between your teeth while operating a camera can be quite an art. Despite the forecast he weather didn't matter to Gemma & Kirk who looked like the happiest couple on the planet. The couple performed the 1st ever deferred receiving line, which took place inside the marquee between storms where guests got up from their table only to return minutes later after the formalities had been done. Well done guys for having such fun, it was a pleasure to work with you both.
September 2008
Mark you have been evicted, please leave the Big Brother House!
Leaving the Big Brother house in September seemed strangely sad, Davina had little input this time, it was a wrap so off I went.
Having seen little daylight for most of the summer and never speaking in more than a whisper I should have been glad it was over, but I wasn't. 'People Watching' is a fascinating hobby and quite addictive. Hopefully I will be back behind the lens in December, this time to observe celebrities, not wanabees.
Following a few days away in France to recharge my batteries, I returned to East Sussex to begin a 3-week project for Bookstart, a service that provides reading material for young children nation wide. My brief was to create a 20-minute film promoting the service using parents and children, surely a challenging job? Well weeks later the fun and hysterics still get a mention on facebook, this evolving project was great fun, well done everyone your all stars!
September is always a busy month for weddings, an exciting job that takes me all over the country, taking a peek into someone else's big day. This occasion I was witness to Penelope and Thomass Bridger's wedding at Cranleigh Golf and Leisure Club in Surrey. Guests made the most of the hot summers day and spread onto the terrace for drinks and canapés before recording comments in the message room. A surprise firework display took guests onto the lawn again, a perfect way to round of a beautiful summer wedding
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August 2008
No Business like Show Business!
July 2008
July has been a busy month for me, the wedding season in full flow and evenings working back stage on Big Brother 9 at Elstree have kept me busy. Working as a camera operator is always exciting experience but this is my first experience on reality TV, just like a wedding you don't know what's going to happen next and often have to follow your intuition following stories as they happen.
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June 2008
Filming a wedding on the beech in Whitstable is a great way to begin the Summer, the guests gathered on the beech to let butterflies into the sea air following a traditional service in Canterbury. The Marine Hotel played host to a perfect reception where the partying went on into the evening- all captured on film!
Other work this month took me to East Sussex where I helped Eastbourne Technical College make a video about changing school and in St Leonard's-on-Sea we made a pop video as part of a family learning programme, great fun!
In London I am currently part of the camera team filming this years Big Brother, a fascinating experience.
May 2008
Grand Designs Live!
Before the wedding season takes hold we were lucky enough to be involved with Grand Designs Live at London's Excel centre. The show was transmitted by Channel Four weekday evenings form 9-10pm, it was a great opportunity to work on live TV before I start work as a camera man on this years Big brother at Elstree.
April 2008
Lights, Camera, Action!
Throughout the year we attend many performances from large concerts to smaller school productions. This month our attention was focused on the fantastic performance by students at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate who performed 'Hoodwinked the Music'. From the sales of the DVD the show has obviously been a triumph, well done!
During the same month we ran a two day Video & Drama Workshop at Robertsbridge Community College in East Sussex where families came together to help make an exciting pop video. Tim Steadman ran a fun and interactive drama workshop while Sarah Flack took charge in the Art Room with props and costumes. The finished video will be screened at the College next month as part of a Gala Evening; we can't wait to show you the finished piece!
March 2008
Shortfilm Shakespeare Goes Globetrotting!
As you may know the shortfilm company offer a range of comprehensive Video & Drama workshops for children, adults and Family Learning Groups. With shortfilm Shakespeare becoming increasingly popular we decided to visit the Globe Theatre to watch Much Ado About Nothing Backed by artists such as Derek Jacobi, Jospeh Fiennes and Jemma Redgrave. The performance was fantastic and has given me lots of ideas for forthcoming projects next term.
Weddings, Mini Clubmans, & all that Jazz!
So does charity really begin at home or can it take place on a brightly lit stage in central London? For me I was involed in the Kids Out charity Auction for the secound year running and volunteered to be auctioned off as a taxi driver for the night. My chance to be in front of the lens on stage for a change, taking great delight in driving my clients home in a brand new mini clubman provided by Bmw Mini
My first encounter with Chicago was exactly 10 years ago when I proudly escorted the US cast onto a Concorde in time for there regular performance on Broadway, part of my role as a TV Runner for Pola Jones Associates. This was a one off taster show before the musical opened its doors to the Adelphie Theatre a few months later. Having worked on the show it was a great pleasure to see the show in its new home, The Cambridge Theater earlier this month celebrating 10 years in the West End. How time flies!
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Shortfilm and Sport Relief
When florist LK Liley asked me to lend a hand, I jumped to the challenge and spent an exciting day setting the scene for Sport Relief filmed at the Renaissance Hotel & Resorts in London for Sky. Stars attending the dinner included Barbara Windsor, Ronan Keeting, Gareth Gates, Jade Goodie and Shayne Ward. The show will be on TV later this produced by Brian Capron's production company, alias Richard Hillman from Corrie (don't worry I didn't get in the car with him!)
February 2008
Most people see the winter months as 'quiet time' and think no one gets married in the winter, assuming I spent the time tidying the office, planning my holiday or scrubbing the Sasco planner in preparation for the summer. How wrong they are, February has been an exciting busy month for the shortfilm company.
My first engagement was the wedding of Shands Prevost and Vladlena Orlova, Kensington, London. A small family wedding in St Mary Abbots Church followed by a private afternoon reception at home. This was a simple yet elegant wedding on one of the sunniest days this year.
My work is often exciting and varied, I'm lucky to work in some fantastic locations, Cain Manor, Pembroke Lodge, and Eastwell Manor are amongst my favourites but its always nice to travel to somewhere new. I'm also luck to meet exciting and interesting people, earlier in the month I interviewed rugby player James Haskell and learned the importance of Sports psychology. The material was used in a presentation by a by a leading physiologist.
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More recently I filmed conference at the Devere Grand Hotel in Brighton for the former Emap Group, (now Bauer) in connection with their popular publication Fleet News. My brief was to create a short video capturing the ambiance of this busy event to be streamed on the net and as a marketing tool for the company.
A Quick look back at 2007
After a busy but enjoyable year I wanted to spend some time looking back at 2007. In total we filmed over 30 weddings and I was privileged to film in St Paul's Cathedral London for the 1st time. During the summer I worked with children in East Sussex to produce a comedy that we screened in a local cinema, it was a hit and a very valued experience. More recently I worked with Wahl UK, learning lots about hair clippers - while filming in their factory in Whitstable. Did you know you could even get hair clippers for horses?!…
My Little Red Mini
For anyone that's listened to my interview on the show reel, I came across a picture of my little red mini taken last year. Although the car is now semi retired we did use it when we were building the message room and the picture shows the back seat filled with rolls of foam. Anyone that's owned a mini will know why I cant let go of this car, but equally why I don't use it for getting to weddings on time too!
Sky's The Limit!
