Guess who’s back, back again…

Hello 2016! If you’ve been dry for January, well done. If you can't wait for February, I’ve got something special for you…

The Wine Show - a 13 part series to be broadcast on UK TV  this year. Directed by my good self it's presented by two UK movie stars, hot new factual discovery Joe Fattorini, Amelia Singer and the well know Gizzi Erskine.  

Spanning the entire globe the show’s full of riveting stories, gorgeous vistas and (cue Don LeFontaine voice over) "the biggest wine cellars in the world!" There’s also plenty of mouth watering food as globally renowned chefs, such as Atul Kochhar, discuss their perfect food and wine combinations. It's a table top delight. 

Of course the filming wasn’t without it’s dramatic challenges; occasionally feeling as if we were staring in our own version of PLONK. But then what d’you expect when you’re humping kit and crew across the globe. But for every airport meltdown there was the most incredible sunrise or sunset, usually followed by an amazing glass of local surprise.

What makes me particularly proud is that not only does it look fantastic, the whole series is immensely watchable. Nothing about this wine show is dry or high brow, it’s an accessible program you can watch with family and friends.

Technically it showcases Arri’s amazing Amira and the skills of Cliff Evans, Jamie Knights, Ed Bullman and many more.  There’s drones, drones and more drones – one of which ended up on a million pound titanium roof - nothing to do with Mike Garner whose drone skills brought the show’s Italian location to life.

So keep an eye peeled for further announcements and updates because it’s the TV wine show everyone has been waiting for.

Deck the halls with social media, 
Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, In-sta-gram 
Tis the season to be trending, 
Twitter, twitter, tweet , t-wit, t-tumblr 

Holy Santa, the world’s gone hashtag–tastic.  Monty and Mabel are trending, good old Coca-Cola's making everyone happy, but Magic and Sparkle might just have taken the Christmas crown.

Seems Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, has gone all out for M+S “switched to promotional activity on social media such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr" rather than TV.  So now it’s official, forget the mistletoe, switch on the iPad and have yourself a virtual Christmas and don’t forget the death star decorations.

I hate to say I told you so - decreasing TV spends are hardly new news - but connectivity seems to have come of age.  Thankfully we’ve moved on from adapted facebook pages allowing you to put your face on the derriere of a baboon to properly integrated campaigns such as John Lewis’s cross-promotional behind the scenes production video of the Monty advert.  Not to mention Jamie Oliver’s digital Christmas recipes, which compiles festive foods with lists of ingredients linked directly to the supermarkets that sock them.  Also an honourable mention goes out to TK MAXX with their big european hashtag push #youbyme which has been prominant in the German market, it sticks with you thanks to Solmon Burke's "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love."

I've also had a busy online year thanks to some lovely folk at Isobar, shooting a series of online films for Kellogg's  – the latest offering used five go pros inside cereal packets to film families at breakfast.  Very interesting results - more of that in the next blog. Amazing results, especially as the films have gained nearly 2 million views.  Turn that into US box office and we’d all be retiring to a Hawaiian Island, even though I don’t do holidays.

I’m also excited about the chance to turn this online talent into longer formats combining agency know how with my tool kit as a writer director.  You only have to look at some of the current successes - The Power Inside by Intel and Toshiba – to see the potential to produce an engaging ongoing series for brands across the globe.  I mean wouldn't Magic and Sparkle make a great prime time show or web series?  Two fairies whose aim to help others but just can’t stop meddling in human affairs because secretly they want to become human.  Hold on, I have to go, I think Disney’s calling…. 

Watch this space for more online news in the new year.  Until then have a Happy Hashtag wherever you are and thank you all for a fabulous year and all the gifts you bestowed on one lucky director for hire…

Keep posting!

I never travel light.  People laugh at my luggage.  Producers have been known to balk at my baggage.  I can take it, I like to be prepared: warm feet = happy shooting.  So let’s talk clothes, but first…

NEWS

I’m delighted to join froehlich-management who will be replacing the folks at Cream.  Annex is still my home in the UK and if you fancy flying south to avoid the winter blues pack your shorts and join me at Grinder in Cape Town.  Talking shorts…

Remember how hot it was this summer?  30’ degrees in the shade.  Perfect weather to shoot table top for Philips.  Camera, lights…  Phantom!  As everyone knows, the higher the frame rate the bigger the lights.  As temperatures soared I suddenly remembered for once, I'd packed “light” exchanging shorts for a more dignified look.  Bad move. Like Albert Brookes in Broadcast News, I wasn't looking pretty.

So how do you combine style with functionality?  How do you make sure that you don’t look like a geriatric hiker on route to the National Trust tea rooms?  The camera department get it right – part military, they can unzip at will.  For PA's it's all about the cut of your jib.  And producers…  rightly or wrongly I always listen to producers, because producers check the weather.

Then again, who can predict the weather, especially in the UK.  This summer filming wheat fields for Kellogg's we experienced four seasons in a day, now that’s a sizable overnight bag.  This time I hadn't travelled light and ended up costuming most of the crew.

Sadly last week I couldn't be so smug.  Hanging off the back of a low loader my trusted DOP reveled in the definition of an expression involving 'brass' and 'monkeys'.  With my teeth chattering I could only dream of my beloved Canada Goose at home in the wardrobe as “surely it won’t be that cold”…

So how exactly do you dress for success on a film set?  Personally, from now on, I’m going to go back to my old motto “pack everything and handle the laughter”.

My Russian friends have got it down to a fine art.  They know the true meaning of getting caught out in the cold.  It’s less a case of 'dignity always dignity' and more 'layers always layers'.  They snigger at waterproofs using disposable macks but when it comes to winter hardware their brands have history.  When it’s minus 20 in the shade you better be sure your goose in real and not a chicken is disguise.

The film business is a tribe, we kind of follow our own fashion - t-shirts from last exit to nowhere, Carhartt to blend in, and if you’re going to wear a baseball cap it better look like you stole it from a truck driver somewhere in Middle America. 

So as the temperature drops and your wardrobe changes it's time to whip up a stew with your new Philips blender.  Check out my latest spot to see how this brilliant device makes light work of even the toughest tasks.  I've already cooked pumpkin soup, homemade pesto and some serious arrabiata.  God I love cooking.

Coming up in the next few months viral films for Philips, a charming new online spot for Kellogg’s and an Ecosport commercial for our friends at Ford. Until next time, dress for success!