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Ts and RTs welcome!
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This blog is where you'll see the unfolding story of my new film
Happy Birthday.

Together with a fantastic cast and crew, we are going to make an extraordinary film, aimed at winning an Oscar.

So, thanks for reading. Come and join us on this journey to make a movie!
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about steve
CRW_0255

As a child, I was fascinated with movies. How do they work? Why do people lose themselves for two hours in a story they believe in?

When I was 11, I bought my first film camera with my paper round money, and started to shoot monster movies in a friend's garage.

To me, film is the most exciting and powerful medium in the world. The illusion created by a series of still shots shown in quick succession is breathtakingly effective.

I am passionate about three things in films: story, story and story. However good the actors, photography or special effects, people want to be told stories - stories that captivate us and illuminate our complex and beautiful world.

I am a film-maker by profession. I write and direct films currently for non-broadcast audiences: training and promotional films for industry and the public sector. You can see some of
my work here and see what the critics say.

‘a highly charged and poignant film’

But my real dream is to make a movie.

So first, I need to make a short film that will win awards and attract the attention of film producers looking for new talent. This is often how new directors break into Hollywood.
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update

raised so far £7,000

target
We are trying to raise £25k to make the film.

thank you!
Thank you so much for all those who have already donated or pledged to the film. The list of Associate Producers is growing. You are bringing the dream ever closer!
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the story
No spoilers here. Wait for the Premiere!

When Dr Adam Turner is threatened by anti-abortion activists, can he and his wife Kate prevent the protesters from destroying their family for the cause?

Not a rom-com then? Not quite. There are no chance meetings of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The irony is in the title; this is a film that will grab you and not let go.

What happens when a group of people believe their view of the world to be so fundamentally right, that they will go to any lengths to achieve their aim?

If a film doesn't make you laugh or cry, or FEEL something, it isn't worth the popcorn.

Of course, this is not a documentary, offering political analysis of a social issue. It must be a compelling story where we are rooting all the way for the characters we identify with. We should be with them all the way.

The challenge will in part be to tell a story that touches on extremism. But the real test of this short film will be to tell it in a way that has an audience moved by the plight of the characters.

It's a lot to do in half an hour. But if we can do it, it will be pretty good cinema!

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the crew

See who's making the movie as each crew member signs up.

To date, confirmed are:

Producer
Director of Photography
First Assistant Director
Film Editor
Casting Director
Make-Up Artist

new to the team:
Make-Up Artist, Sue Sian.

Sue's work can be seen on the faces of Catherine Zeta Jones, Stephen Fry, Kim Catrall, Jonathan Ross, Joanna Lumley, Claudia Winklemann and Jo Brand and a whole load more!

Alan Carr

Sue makes me look wonderful, imagine what I'd look like without her! Sue Sian is the best in the business, that's why I use her.

As well as the successful day job, Sue runs a make-up school, providing training courses for TV make-up artists.

Sue will be bringing her fantastic skills, not to mention her uniquely brilliant way with actors to
Happy Birthday.
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the cast

Jane and Steve are currently looking for an outstanding cast to bring this film to life. We will let you know as and when the actors are on board.
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production news

Keep up to date with all the latest developments as they happen. Just check out the blog at
www.HappyBirthdayMovie.net
or subscribe to the RSS feed below.
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previous blog reviews
now coming out for download & DVD
Click on the image for more.

127 Hours *****

Intense and riveting, Danny Boyle at his best in an action movie where the hero doesn't move. Not for those who prefer the limbs attached.

Conviction *****

Oscar deserving, Hilary Swank in amazing true story of sibling love. Some critics luke warm, but ignore them. A compelling drama, revealing huge personal sacrifice for another.

The Kids are All Right *****

Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in a funny, moving portrayal all sperm donors should see. Like all the best comedies, its growing poignancy is what stays with you.

Monsters *****

The monster movie that's really a love story. Whilst thick on atmosphere and thin on story, it's an astonishing achievement from a first-time director with a tiny budget and no script.

Gary and Gail

GARY AND GAIL - Winning Short Film

Coming soon to a screen……...…in Canada!

Saturday February 11 | 2012 Filed: Winning Short film

IT'S A WINNER!

Gary and Gail has been selected from hundreds of entries as one of ten finalists in Canada's SHORTSNONSTOP competition!

This means the film will be shown on mobile phones throughout Canada!

TO VIEW THE FILM,
CLICK ON THE IMAGE

SHORTSNONSTOP is a year-round online mobile film festival that you can experience anytime or anyplace. A showcase of short films produced for mobile and online platforms, the running time of films cannot exceed three minutes.

SHORTSNONSTOP is part of the Canadian Film Centre’s Worldwide Short Film Festival.

It’s been presenting the best in short filmmaking from around the world for more than 13 years. SHORTSNONSTOP is a natural extension of this legacy – and thanks to TELUS, one of Canada’s leading mobile carriers, the festival celebrates innovative short films, produced for the mobile screen.

So MASSIVE THANKS to the team that made Gary and Gail!

CLICK ON OUR SUPPORTERS BELOW FOR MORE

update

So what about the Oscar targeted film, Happy Birthday?

Well the film hasn't gone away! And I haven't run off with the kitty.

To date, some £7,000 has been donated. I was hoping to add to this, bringing the total to £18,000.

But the current financial climate is proving too tough to forge ahead with this project AT THE PRESENT TIME. However, rest assured, we will pick up the film once recession eases and more funding becomes available.

Again, a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed so far to Happy Birthday. Your money is safe.

But given the unforeseen recession and it's lingering effects, I want to move ahead with a different plan.

With Happy Birthday on hold, until raising enough money becomes more feasible, I am developing a shorter script which will cost less to make. I will let you know more about the story as soon as I can.

It will help me to know that you are happy for me to spend the money raised so far (for Happy Birthday) on this new film, rather than on it's originally intended purpose. In this way, we can get on and make a film sooner rather than later. Please let me know if you have any reservations about this, and I will respond.

Thank you for your patience with this project. It is a painful aspect of all filmmaking: long waiting times before anything happens. But we will get there!

And the good news about Gary and Gail is a small beginning, but a result non the less!

To view the film, click HERE

Don’t forget to visit the Gary and Gail Facebook page to Like and Comment!

Thank you for your interest in this fantastically exciting journey to see a movie made.

It’s great you’re coming with us!

signature
Steve Bookbinder
writer and director

mail@redragpictures.com
HappyBirthdayMovie.net
BOOKMARK THE PERMALINK

2 Minutes. 1000 Films. 211 Cinemas. One Winner...

Tuesday July 12 | 2011 Filed: Gary and Gail

Three weeks ago I saw news on Twitter of a short film competition from Virgin Media.

Virgin Media Shorts is unique in its challenge and its promise. The challenge: the film you enter must be no longer than 2 minutes 20 seconds; the promise: 12 shortlisted films will be shown in 211 UK cinemas for a year.

Most short films play only in film festivals; they cannot be seen by the cinema-going public. People pay to see full length movies, not those trying to get there by making career calling card films.

So, although Happy Birthday remains my goal, I realised the Virgin competition was too good an opportunity to pass up. Exposure in cinemas - and therefore among film producers - is not to be sniffed at. And one winner receives £30,000 funding towards their short film.

It’s a tall order. When the closing date fell last week, there were around 1000 entries. That means a little over 1% (12 films) will be chosen for the 12-month cinema run. Add to that the difficulty of telling a story in two minutes or so with no budget and very little time, and you can see the odds are tough.

So, I wrote a script and called on many from the Happy Birthday team to see if they were up for the mad dash necessary to make
Gary and Gail - our two-minute entry to the competition. To my delight, they threw their full weight behind it, relishing, like me, a fantastic opportunity!

Gary and Gail

Here’s the film, its paint still drying (click on the image or the link below). We finished it just in time for the deadline.

Take a look, see what you think.

Please click the Like button, top right of the blog. And if you’re not on Facebook, leave a comment on the Virgin site.

These Likes are not a desperate desire for back slapping; they really do help expose the film to a wider audience, some of whom are involved in commissioning films and looking for directors, scripts, ideas and talent.

Crank up the sound! (there’s a great music score) Enjoy the film.
http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/1712/gary-and-gail

And the winner is...

The 12 shortlisted films are selected in September for UK Cinema screenings, and Virgin TV & online outings. Then the public vote for the runner up, before the big winner is chosen by the judges in November.

The judges include actor, John Hurt; Director, Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93, Green Zone) and new British Director, Mat Whitecross (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll). Click on a judge to see more.

And for the record, please be assured that not a penny of your money was spent on Gary and Gail - that is firmly held in the
Happy Birthday pot!

On that note, apologies to any whose cheques have still not been banked. I’ve been head down on the Virgin film and I hate queues! But I will bank them soon.

THANK YOU if you’ve recently sent your pledge in. The fund is slowly accumulating in readiness for production. We are getting back to Happy Birthday planning, now that the Gary and Gail dust has settled. We just had to have a go. It could give Happy Birthday a huge push!

Don’t forget to visit the Gary and Gail Facebook page to Like and Comment!

Thank you for your interest in this fantastically exciting journey to see a movie made.

It’s great you’re coming with us!

signature

Steve Bookbinder
writer and director

mail@redragpictures.com
HappyBirthdayMovie.net
BOOKMARK THE PERMALINK

Tags: Gary and Gail | Virgin Media Shorts