A Dan of All Trades

(by Rishi Thaker)

Bruce Springsteen - 'Wrecking Ball'

Another week rolls on by and a million more things get done on our list whilst a million more things get added on. It has also been a particularly exciting week for me as Bruce Springsteen released his five trillionth studio album ‘Wrecking Ball’ which I have fallen in love with (which may not surprise those of you who know me). Sorry Asch, can you give that album the engagement ring please?

Dan & Rishi filming Slaughter

So I promised a quick update about our involvement at this years Cannes Film Festival (the 65th one) in May. Stickmen Pictures will 100% be attending this year in the mind frame of assessing the opportunities for ‘Slaughter’ and also finding backers for future projects. This will require a complete head strong approach with plenty of preparation as from what we’ve heard there will be plenty of distractions and getting star struck is not an uncommon practice over there. We have a lot of ideas on how to do this but primarily we need to ensure the final version of ‘Slaughter’ is ready to parade. There is a confidence about our camp at the moment, as from the dialogue we have already had with industry professionals, we know what we have created with no backing is an unusual blueprint and one that will generate interest. I know I have probably laboured this point in the past but if it were not for the dedication and talent of the cast and crew opportunities like this would not have presented themselves, and so we have a responsibility to do you all proud in Cannes, which we will. There are still a couple of months to go before Cannes so more on this will flow through to you in due course. 

Dan producing Slaughter

On other fronts, this week we have completed a real basic visual edit of the sequences we shot in Jan/Feb (Prologue and the Brothers intro). Now we need to put in the sound, visual effects, colour edit and music. We also shot the additional Conway incerpts this week. All of these activities have required (will require) on some level the input of one man. His name is Dan. Dan as you know is the co-founder of Stickmen Pictures. He is the epitome of a man making sacrifices to follow his dreams. I have known Dan for 8 years and I have seen him lose his 20-20 eye sight, become wheat intolerant, go hungry and sacrifice many other far more serious things (I won’t print in fairness to Dan, but you just need to take my word for it!) which most people would baulk at, all in the name of film. As time rolls forward these sacrifices become harder to make but Dan still finds a way. This is why I want to lay the highest of tributes to him and make sure (if the world doesn’t end in 2012) that this year is the year where Mr Daniel Tee reaps the rewards of what he has sown in the past 8 years. Those seeds are on the cusp of sprouting f@cking high so I hope we can do our best to see it through to a dramatic conclusion. This one’s for you Dan. Vomit.

Cheers,

Rishi

Link: Slaughter is the Best Medicine

Back to Stickmen Pictures

Silence is a Golden Statue

(by Rishi Thaker)

So here I am again trying to deliver on my promise to keep you interested.

Over the last week I have been labelled, amongst other things, as arrogant, a sell out, and a knob sack. Who would have thought a video log would have prompted such emotion? For those of you who don’t know, I definitely am arrogant and a knob sack. But a sell out? I guess only time will tell but I haven’t really had anything to sell yet so a bit puzzled by this one.

Shhh...

So on we go and in a week where after looking at the Stickmen Pictures site a few gazes were cast on Hollywood. You’ll have noticed that a silent film ‘The Artist’, a throwback/love letter to a more romantic period of cinema’s history was the toast of the Oscars. Rightly so in my opinion but rather than the homage I think what was wonderful to see was that even in this day and age a film with no words can tell the most compelling of stories. Dan and I have always been supporters of this kind of story telling. A few years ago we were watching our first short film ‘A Mid-Summer Nightmare’ at a busy venue in the background over a lot of conversation and we were surprised to see that despite not being able to hear it the story was quite clear.

A MID-SUMMER NIGHTMARE

This epiphany subsequently inspired the music video ‘The Chasist’ (watch it a few clicks away in the music video section if you haven’t done so you naughty individual!). We shot that film with the intention that if you could not hear the music you would still feel compelled to watch the whole 6 mins! This characteristic of the music video kept us from egg on our face when it premiered in Aug’09 on Derby’s Big Screen in the Market Place.

THE CHASIST

What we didn’t anticipate at the premier was a fun fair and really awful speakers which kept the viewers from being able to hear any of the music on the Chasist. But due to the great images and inspired performances it did not hamper the viewing but told us we got something right. This is something we’ve tried carrying into all other productions where it’s been appropriate and thus we have another great quirk of the Stickmen Pictures production style! So in theory you should be able to watch all our films without sound and still be absorbed. Go and try it!
 

Before I sign off I want to acknowledge all of you that have been tuning in to these blogs and video logs. It seems to have dramatically increased traffic on our sites (website and facebook) which is giving us great impetus in the development of Stickmen Pictures as a serious contender in the film market. We need this if we are going to make a difference at places like Cannes (which I will elaborate on more next blog – apologies I meant to do it this time!).

Thanks again and see you soon.

Rishi

Slaughter Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Medicine

(by Rishi Thaker)

Greetings from the murky world of planet Derboo. In an attempt to keep you people interested I wanted to give you an update regarding the latest scenes that we are adding into Slaughter.

Firstly, Dan is now in motion and we are cutting the major action sequence which with, when finished, we officially want to challenge the opening sequence of ‘Quantum of Solace’ in regards to which is better. Granted we have an advantage in that we are making our scene after theirs but then we haven’t had $200 million to waste. In fact we had a grand total of 7 boys and a girl (inc Dan and I) to shoot the most exciting, thrilling and heart pumping zero-budget opening sequence in motion picture history! You’ll have a chance to see the evidence in some fabulous photographs taken by our man Mick which will be up on the site soon. The saliva is gushing like a waterfall sausage-side in Niagara.

Secondly, there is some tremendous excitement being generated by the new Brother’s introduction sequence. It is going to be action packed, and we are particularly proud of this one as it was one of our toughest shoots (temperature hit minus 10 degrees Celsius) and the 8 of us involved in it showed that with drive, determination and passion you can achieve anything. It was so rewarding knowing the sacrifice all involved gave just because they love making films. You guys were amazing.

Before I leave I want to say that I still don’t know whether General Melchitt is sly or not and that after watching Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in 3D (how I wish I could keep re-releasing the same critically slated film and still keep those cinemas packed – whatever you think of Lucas there is something to be admired here!) Asch has decided she wants to become a Jedi – poor girl has only just discovered Star Wars – and will like approx 3,000 of you claim to follow Jed-ism in the next census! What is she on?

Check out the caption game (https://www.facebook.com/slaughterfilm) and keep your eyes peeled for the next Blog where I will unravel some more of the Cannes plan!!!!

Rishi

The Ides of February

(by Rishi Thaker)

So here it is, 2 months into 2012 and I reckon it’s time to show you all my cards:

Firstly, I (and possibly Dan too but he’s a busy boy these days with all that CGI he has promised the world – no pressure) am going to be blogging more regularly (hopefully weekly at a minimum) so please tune in if you are interested to see where Stickmen Pictures is flying to next!

We recently completed shooting 2 new scenes for the juggernaut that is ‘Slaughter is the Best Medicine’ and have a couple more shoots on the agenda for March. The reason we are doing these new scenes is twofold:

1) Because we think it’s going to add even more to what we think is a great film
2) Ants in our pants (or in Laurence’s case – perished thongs)

I want to thank all the individuals who have dusted their boots and jumped on round 2 of the Slaughter Band Wagon, in particular a couple of additions to our cast in the form of Colin Murtagh (you terrorist) and the awesome Rob Reinaldo (my vote for the next Mr Universe!!!!!). We hope to have our additional scenes completed in time for…

…the Cannes Film Festival in May! More on this to come but I’ll be there this year so if you fancy it, book your flights and let’s ‘Slaughter’ everyone!

Finally does anyone know if General Melchitt in the final episode of ‘Blackadder Goes Fourth’ is actually being sly when he sends Captain Darling off to the front line or is he genuinely stupid for thinking this is what Darling wants? It only occurred to me recently that I don’t know the answer to this and on watching it again I am still unclear. If you know Mr Fry ask him for me!

Cheers Rishi