Life Just Is: Life's Just Events

Some photographs from our final Life's Just Networking event last night. I'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who's ever come along to one of our evenings, and to all the filmmakers who have shared their work. I'd like to think this isn't the end, but the start of a new era... the first leg of our Life's Just Events journey may be over, but who knows what the future will hold! Thanks again to all those who have travel along with us!

-Alex

'Life Just Is' Associate Producer Augusto da Rocha before the event.

'Life Just Is' Associate Producer Roland Holmes before the event.

Filling up.

'Life Just Is' writer/director Alex Barrett (left) talks about his short film 'Canbury', along with soundman Jason Creasey (centre) and actor James Wallace (right).

Watching the QAs.

Director Thao Dang (centre) and actor Tom Ruddock (right) talk about their film 'Scot Tells Amanda He Wants to be More Man'.

Watching the QAs.

Murat Kebir, Writer/Director/Editor of 'My Dad and Spike' and Editor of 'Life Just Is', gets animated talking about his short film.

Watching the QAs.

Director John Michell talks about his film 'Barry'.

Watching the QAs.

Producer Jay Taylor (left) and Director Lawrence Page (centre) talk about their film 'Love Hound'.

Fiona Ryan, star of 'Life Just Is', talks about her role in 'Love Hound' and acting with her canine co-star.

Watching the QAs.

Murat Kebir (left) talks about his new project.

John Michell presents his new project.

Thao Dang talks about getting ahead and building a presence through Social Media.

Networking.

LJN host and organiser Alex Barrett (right) with LJN regular Ralph Stenzel.

'Life Just Is' casting assistant Barnes Cook with LJI flyer.

Networking.

Some of the cast and crew of 'Life Just Is'. Left to right: Alice Caronna (1st AD), Jason Creasey (Sound), Fiona Ryan ('Claire'), Alex Barrett (Writer/Director), Niina Topp (Production Design), Tom Ruddock (DIT) and Roland Holmes (Associate Producer).

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Cannes Promo

Over the last few weeks, alongside working on the edit, I have also been spending time trying to put together a short promo for Tom and Christine to take to Cannes. Distinctly not a trailer, the idea was to put together a short reel featuring several short extracts from the film (in case you're wondering: we want to concentrate on really getting the film right first, before cutting the trailer. Plus we felt that the extract-style promo reel might better serve our purposes here). The point, of course, is to try and raise awareness of, and interest in, the film among potential Sales Agents and Distributors. We're planning to get the promo put onto branded USB sticks which Tom and Christine will hand out during their festival trip (though we'll also be doing an online version to send to other contacts).

Putting the promo together has turned out to be much tougher than expected: our aim was to introduce all six of the main characters, convey something of the film's tone, its style, its themes and of course, its story - all in under five minutes, something which has been made even harder by the length of many of our scenes. Many of the clips we tried - which work brilliantly in the film - simply didn't work when divorced from context. However, Murat was able to step in and save the day, suggesting a great extract which works on its own merits and cutting down some of my choices, bringing us in at a punchy 3 minutes 20 seconds. It may not quite offer the all-encompassing setup that we had originally wanted, but I believe that it gives a good impression of the film and hopefully it will entice people to want to know more. We'll be doing a special launch for the promo, pre-Cannes, at our final Life's Just Networking event on May 10th, so why not come along and judge for yourself?

The full programme for our special finale will be announced on Tuesday, and features films made by and starring the cast and crew of Life Just Is.

- Alex