John Dufresne Explains How To Write A Story

New Trailer for Henry Bramble

I have just edited a new trailer for my long awaited short film The Infectious Imagination Of Henry Bramble. It's pretty much the same as the last cut, except instead of generic stock titles created on i-move, I have created an original and more fitting title background that reflects the films theme of imagination. 

The concept behind it was for the audience to feel like they are travelling through Henry's mind, where electrical signals are connecting to different parts of the brain, sparking creative and imaginative ideas. I overlaid two semi-transparent i-stock video test samples, added a Gaussian blur so that the watermarks disappeared on them and then graded the colour and contrast it to look deep red and orange.

Star Wars VII - Behind the scenes

Why you should use SLIME in your films!

Get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Derek Boyes' long awaited spellbinding fantasy short film - The Infectious Imagination Of Henry Bramble.

This is the first of many EPK videos documenting the making of this enchanting little film, designed to entertain and inform, building curiosity and awareness before it hits film festivals early next year.

So if you like what you see, then please share it with anyone you know in the film and television industry who may be looking for fresh new directing talent!

Derek's first ever 16mm film finally restored and remastered for it's 20th anniversary.

This is the Indiegogo financed 20th anniversary digitally remastered version of Derek Boyes' legendary 1993 fantasy epic DRAKKON, an ambitious short film shot on location in West Burton and Harrogate, North Yorkshire over six days in July by a rebel crew of 16 students and one crazy Media Production tutor. It was Derek Boyes' first 16mm film.

The original negative has been digitally scanned at 2K to produce a cropped 16:9 1080p HD image. To find out more about the film's history and its near fatal production, visit our Facebook page where you will find an array of behind the scenes anecdotes, stills and video content, including 20th anniversary content: www.facebook.com/drakkon20th

Derek Boyes' #IceBucketChallenge

As Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams has done it for ALS, I'm doing it for Macmillan cancer support. Here as promised is my #IceBucketChallenge. I was nominated by Eric Moore and I am now nominating Tom Bill and Ritchie Wilkinson! Good luck boys! Text ICE to 70550 to give £3 to Macmillan (Wimp out and text FINE to 70550 to give £10 instead).

Why George Lucas Hated The Cantina Scene In Star Wars

This is a black and white work print of an early 'cantina scene' edit from Star Wars (before the USA re-shoot). Not only is Han living up to his scoundrel reputation by chatting up a chick, we also get to see some decidedly dodgy alien masks (which explains why George Lucas was never originally happy with this scene). Not only that, but you get to hear some wonderful pre-dubbed east-end London actor's voices playing the barman and Greedo. - Best behind-the-scenes footage I've seen in ages!

How did J.J. Abrams get to be the most sought after filmmaker in the world?

Stanley Kubrick on Mortality and the Purpose of Existence

"The very meaninglessness of life forces man to create his own meaning. Children, of course, begin life with an untarnished sense of wonder, a capacity to experience total joy at something as simple as the greenness of a leaf; but as they grow older, the awareness of death and decay begins to impinge on their consciousness and subtly erode their joie de vivre, their idealism — and their assumption of immortality. 

As a child matures, he sees death and pain everywhere about him, and begins to lose faith in the ultimate goodness of man. But, if he’s reasonably strong — and lucky — he can emerge from this twilight of the soul into a rebirth of life’s elan. Both because of and in spite of his awareness of the meaninglessness of life, he can forge a fresh sense of purpose and affirmation. He may not recapture the same pure sense of wonder he was born with, but he can shape something far more enduring and sustaining. 

 The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death — however mutable man may be able to make them — our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light." 

Click the title of this post to read the full 1968 Playboy interview.

Ron Howard talks filmmaking