Chris Jones Blog

Guerilla Film Makers Masterclass in Australia

As part of the Heart Of Gold Festival in Gympie, Eastern Australia in March, I will be running my two day masterclass for film makers (Gone Fishing is also screening too). This will be the first time I have run the seminar in Australia, and it will be a completely new and revised seminar, including all the great new stuff we have managed to collate over the last two years. I will also be announcing dates for the course in London, LA and Vancouver over the coming weeks.

Above is a video that went out on Australia TV last week, and features one of our Associate Producers Simon VanDerSpoel, as well as the lovely Toni Powell who has championed Gone Fishing from the very start.

So if you are on that side of the planet and want to attend, follow this link to get yourself a seat. I promise it’s going to be an AWESOME event...

Here is part of the press release they are going with…

Most film makers operate inside a vacuum, unable to communicate and collaborate freely with other like minded creative and entrepreneurial minds. This can stifle ANY movie maker… That’s why we are bringing The Guerilla Film Makers Masterclass REDUX to Australia!

This seminar is like a House Party for creative and entrepreneurial people, designed to educate and inspire in equal measure. Just by being in a room with 25 others who share your dreams, values and ambitions is GREAT! But when the event is led by a film maker with proven record over three features, Oscars shortlisted short film and five best selling books, it promises to be a breakthrough event.

This two day seminar, run by veteran film maker Chris Jones, who is visiting JUST ONCE from London, has been taught to over 1,000 students worldwide, and now he is bringing it to Australia.

What does it cover?
The seminar covers everything, from concept to completion, and beyond into career development and management, sales and distribution. It really does set out a road map for success, not just once, but for a lifetime. Throughout, we use extensive DVD clips and handouts to illustrate points.

It’s not for the feint hearted too, it’s two very long and intense days as we have LOTS to get through. But we guarantee, the following day, you will see the world through new eyes. Inspired, educated and refocused.

Who is it for?
You! Yes, almost anyone who has an aspiration to communicate through film, be it arthouse or commercial action movie, be you a writer, actor or director, be you a newcomer or an old dog (like me)…this seminar will broaden your horizons. Most people become halted in their career because they can’t move beyond a few simple blockages. We remove those barriers, and the group of film makers around you quickly form a new community which will flourish. You are not alone in your madness now!

The seminar is faced paced, fun, challenging and utterly inspiring for ANY FILM MAKER!

Seminar leader Chris Jones offers a 100% unconditional guarantee that you will be way past satisfied with the seminar, you will be bouncing up and down with excitement!

So here is some free advice right now… ‘Amazing opportunities are all around you, even now. Most people do not succeed because they do not seize those opportunities...’

Film making success is in your lap already, you just need a little refocusing (that’s what this seminar is for), a MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ENERGY (which we can give you), some money (which will show you how to get, well some of it anyway) and a little luck (which we will show you how to create). Oh and a camera, actors, crew, editing, distribution… (which if you don’t have already, we will show you how to get!)

So what to do now.

1. Sign up for the course to guarantee your seat. Remember there are limited seats and this is the only time this seminar is being run.
2. Start making a list of questions you want to ask. Now is you chance to get straight answers. Go on, start writing now!

ACTION CREATES RESULTS…

Blimey, I think I would like to attend myself!

Finally, I just wanted to share a video I was sent by an American film maker I met over here, nothing to do with movies, but certainly an inspirational tale if ever there was one…

Go ono, watch it again... It's just as good a second time!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Postcard from Hollywood

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has kicked off, and what a great town too – a great place to chill out with other film makers. The first screening of Gone Fishing was late last night, and most people left the Q and A session as it was coming up for midnight, so there was no chance to grab any feedback from the audience afterward. What is really nice is that there are a lot of locals, much like in Rhode Island. There seems to be both a local pride in the festival, and also a real interest in meeting new film makers and watching the kind of films that don’t make it to their multiplex’s.

I am staying in LA and commuting to Santa Barbara (about 90 min drive up the coast) because of meetings in LA as things are starting to get more interesting. It’s a hike but I think needed right now.

This video is the first one I have done in HD, so you should be able to watch in quite high quality, full screen (click on the little icon on the bottom right of the video screen).

Right, I MUST get some sleep!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Hello Hollywood!

I have spent the last four or five days literally sleeping 14 hours a day.

And right now I FEEL GREAT!

I have been to a few parties and taken some meetings - I just love the fact that everyone here is, in some way, part of the film business, or at the very least in a creative business such as music or fashion. Add to that the overwhelming feeling of ‘come on, let’s do it…’ and I am really wondering why I am choosing to stay in London.

I was asked today, ‘If I was offered a ‘Go Project’ right now, but I had to move to LA, would I do it?’ It didn’t take me long to answer, YES!

It’s really sad for me that within a couple of meetings in one day, LA has made me feel more welcome and understood than I have in a year of banging on doors in London. Sure, I know some of it is just the ‘yes’ culture of Hollywood, and some is just hyperbolae, but I must admit, I feel more inspired than I have in some time. Maybe I really do need to consider my future on this side of the pond. They certainly have the weather.

I am going to Santa Barbara tomorrow, to the film festival, and hope to bring you the first video webisode shortly thereafter…

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Gone Fishing Seminar Live Online!

I am delighted to announce that the Gone Fishing seminar that we shot at BAFTA, at the premiere, is now live on the internet. It’s taken us some time to get it all constructed because it’s so detailed and dense with information. We also went back and reshot some inserts too. But the big reason, is that we were waiting for the outcome with the Oscars (as some content raises the lid on how the Oscars work and we didn’t want to jeopardise our chances by revealing this insider info).

 The seminar reveals exactly how we made Gone Fishing, in such a way that anyone who watches it should feel that they were very deeply involved in its making too. I know from the feedback we have received that this unique approach creates powerful breakthroughs in both understanding as well as personal aspirations. 

As part of my commitment to the Associate Producers on Gone Fishing, we are also going to run a further day of seminars, about what has happened since we completed the film, such as film festivals, sales, and of course we reveal the whole story of the Oscars (there are several blog posts we could not include at the time, like the one about how red laser pens are given to judges to facilitate sudden death screenings for films! I know!)

Anyone who signs up now will get all the extra features when we film them over the coming months (and depending on numbers, may also be invited to the live event for free). We hope that this will become a kind of evolving film school experience where students can come back and refresh, watch new content and perform new exercises. It’s a very exciting development for us and I can’t wait to get more feedback on it.

We are charging £69.99 for the seminar, which runs for over eight hours.

You can sign up here, or just read more about it on the site at www.gonefishingseminar.com

If you want to know how it has gone down, you can read the original feedback from the event (last Jan) here, and below is feedback from the video version we recently completed. It’s a mail I got from Danny Lacey, an emerging film maker who was one of the first ‘beta testers’, to make sure that the experience worked in digital form.

I've been keen on the thought of making movies from a young age. However, it wasn't until more recently (my early thirties) that I finally decided to really give it a go. It was just over two years ago that I set my film making goal - to write and direct a 'blockbuster' movie within five years.
 
Here's the problem - I had many ideas for what I think would make a good movie, but absolutely NO experience of getting one made or even writing a screenplay!!! This was to be my first major hurdle. So I decided to get busy and work hard on learning as much about the trade as possible.
 
I scoured the Internet, book stores, DVD retailers etc. to look at what resources were available for someone in my position. In the beginning I was spending a fortune on various books, downloading various podcasts and the odd training DVD but none of them really gave me what I felt I needed. What I really needed was an idiots guide, a step-by-step to the different processes of film making and things explained in simple terms!! It was then that I discovered the thick green book - the Guerilla Filmakers Handbook written by Chris Jones and Genevieve Jolliffe. This book is responsible for kick starting my training. The book answered all of my questions and really helped to clear up the film making process.
 
The next minute I'm making contact with the authors - I wanted more! Chris Jones then mentioned the Gone Fishing seminar. Chris very kindly offered to allow me to beta test the course. This is when I really started to get to grips with the process and also found myself utterly inspired!
 
The seminar is very cleverly structured and guides you through the many phases of film making. You follow Chris on his journey through making Gone Fishing, from developing the screenplay, storyboarding, pre-production, production, casting, financing, post-production and so much more. There is NO film making resource like it on the market.
 
The Gone Fishing Seminar videos have without a doubt aided my development as a film maker. I'm putting what I've learnt into practice when it comes to screenwriting and producing my up coming short movie projects. I no longer feel like I'm stabbing in the dark - I have a real sense of knowledge and confidence about my film making skills. I've watched all of the videos many times and often have them playing in the background whilst I'm working on various projects. Not only do you learn lots from the videos, it's also a massive source of inspiration. Watching Chris talking about his journey and sharing his knowledge with you will give you a very clear vision of YOUR journey through the movie making process.
 
This is the best £70 I've ever spent - I would have paid so much more for the many hours of valuable film education. You get an honest education without any pretence. Chris has a genuine love for film making and helping fellow film makers on their journey.
 
Danny Lacey
STADA MEDIA
www.dannylaceyfilm.co.uk 

Blimey!

Onwards ans you bet, UPWARDS!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

The Big Aftershock...

Last night I had my first one… Earthquake that is. The earth shook, the house rattled. Everyone stood very still for a moment. Apparently it was a 3 on the Richter scale, and the epicentre was right beneath us in Santa Monica. So another LA experience is chalked up!

Right now I am utterly exhausted. It’s a mix of jetlag, lack of sleep from the last week, but most of all, exhaustion from the last six moths work. I have been able to ‘put down’ the ‘Oscars’ bag, and that relief is palpable. And I have been sleeping like it’s a sport. I have also regained complete control over my own destiny (no more waiting for other people to decide on my destiny), and that is VERY exhilerating… Anyhow, here are some more wonderful messages that have been flooding in…

I just wanted to say that although you didn't get the Oscar nomination you have inspired me and many other film makers to dream, to get out there and do it and achieve.  You've won several wards at noteworthy film festivals and you have put yourself on the map as a dedicated, motivated determined filmmaker with a sense of integrity and ethics second to none.  I admire you.
Alexandra Denye, Film Maker and Writer

I think it's amazing that, out of all the short films being made on the planet (and there must be thousands!), you took the project that far. That's an incredible achievement to be in that top ten. Period. What you've done is given lots of film-makers a massive encouragement boost and an example to follow. It's a beautiful film in so many ways and it will be remembered for a long time, simply down to all the hard work and passion you put into it. Thanks for making Gone Fishing.
Rhys Hayward, Film Maker

You made a hell of a run at it and have still inspired me greatly. You are the new Chuck Norris as far as I am concerned.
Darren Horne, Film Maker

Although the news is sad...it is quite moving.  It is moving to see your energy field through the entire process.  I have kept every single email blast and I can't tell you what a neat venture you have spread through the world.  I've only come to know you through your writings and webblogs.... I KNOW that this will ONLY bring you to your next amazing venture!   I am absolutely thrilled for you...for this....for everything that is in you at this moment.   Yes, UPWARDS! ....and really, REALLY UPWARDS!!! Many hugs and many cheers,
Tania Montenegro, Rhode Island
(who worked at the Hotel in Rhode Island when I was there, and has quit her job to chase her dreams! WELL DONE!)

I came across a quote from Kevin Costner.  He said roughly, "Dreams should be the last thing you let go of in life, not the first.  When your ship has sunk out in the middle of the ocean, and the life-raft has sprung a leak and disappeared from view, and you are clinging to a small, fragile log at risk of splintering any minute, the inscription on the log should read: DREAMS."  (You may know that his first role, in The Big Chill, ended up entirely on the cutting room floor!  I guess he should know.)
 
Without a doubt, recognition is lovely, but I think the awards are secondary.  What we do requires a big, open heart, a commitment to the Divine within us, a loyalty to being completely alive, risking ... listening to, connecting with and appreciating Guidance.  And what you've been doing is encouraging us with your actions and modeling that commitment.  Please know that you are connected to us, important to us, and intimately Guided by love.  Very well done.
Leslie Diamond, Annapolis, Maryland, US

The great Green Bay Packers American football coach, Vince Lombardi, was renowned for words of wisdom, but the relevant one for this occasion is:-  "The quality of a man's life, is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his given field or endeavour".  Your commitment has produced excellence, irrespective of whether or not the voters at the Academy think so. The feedback you have been receiving must show you that, and you can be justifiably proud.
David Talbot, Film Maker

I just wanted to add my few words to the countless other messages you have had over the last 2 days since the Academy nominations. I know you must be disappointed, but the feeling I get from the blog is that you have already gained something far more precious than an Oscar. There is a huge group of people out there who have been inspired and empowered by the journey that you have taken them on. You have shared the highs and lows, the lessons learned, and knowledge gained - and in the process created a priceless resource for others that might follow.
 
You have a whole community behind you - from all walks of life, who have been drawn into this journey with you - and what a journey! For every person who is touched by the film's story, there are many others who have been fired up to chase long-held ambitions through your example. Thank you for reminding me, and many others, just what is possible when you have passion, enthusiasm and committment - and may the months ahead continue to bring you the rewards of that. All the best.
Andy Robinson – Filmmaker, Exeter, Devon. 

Blimey! Almost back at 100% now!

Onwards ans you bet, UPWARDS!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

First contact after the announcements...

Over the last 8 hours, I have received an enormous amount of texts, calls and emails. They were from across the whole planet, some from cast and crew, some from friends, other from people who have been following our adventure, and a surprising amount from professional film makers, writers and directors.

So many emails in fact, I simply can’t answer them all. So please accept this group Thank You… your words were all a comfort on a tough day. Here are just a handful of these emails…

I really am gutted to see Gone Fishing wasn't nominated. The disappointment of that aside though, you only have to look at the blog to see how many people the film has touched and inspired, which is a huge and admirable achievement in my humble opinion!

On a personal note, you've been a massive inspiration to me, and done a hell of a lot for me, and I'll always be hugely grateful to you for that. You really inspired me to kick my life off in an entirely new direction, and if you are feeling a little bit rubbish at having not been nominated, I hope you can take a bit of solace in the fact that you can affect people in that way.
James Barham, Editor

Chris, before the general storm of the day began yesterday, I wanted to tell you that your regular emails are one of the few regular mailouts that have real value in this world.  Yesterday's email came as the creative waters were "still" momentarily (not a bad thing), and I marvelled at what a great service you do by keeping us connected.  It helps us all (including you, I hope).  No time right now to go into details, but your blog is value-full and your journey important, noted, and inspiring.  Thank you for your leadership!  Let's continue to sail the ship together, Monsieur le Capitain!
Leslie Diamond, Annapolis, Maryland, US

My dearest Chris...a quick, twinge of utter disappointment but then in a flash it's 'YES, ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!!!! Winning is fun and glorious in it's own odd way and the feeling of exhilaration lasts for 4 minutes... I asked Josie McAvin, after she won the Oscar for Best Set Decoration for Tom Jones, what it was like, what was the feeling....  she said "It felt wonderful for 4 minutes, but then I wondered what and where my next job would be".  I never forgot that....

Always, always, always it's ONWARD AND UPWARD!!!!! 

A good rule after ANY loss is to open the champagne!!!!!!  Will be opening up a bottle here and cheering you! Arms are wrapped around you with a huge squeeze......... M
Marlyn Mason, Actress, USA

This has brought a tear to my eye. You so deserved to be nominated with Gone Fishing. I am truly sad today. I heard the nominations coming through and went straight to the Oscar site to see. I kept checking and rechecking in case I had missed it. I just can’t believe it. I sat all my family down to watch the film on Christmas day and they loved it. It brought a tear to many of their eyes. I am really sorry you did not clinch this.

Good luck with all your future projects! It’s been a fantastic journey and I shall be watching your future activities. You are truly an inspiration. There are not many film makers out there who would share their journey in the way you have done. We have all been with you on this and I am sure we will all be with you on your future exploits.
Paul of Herne Bay, Kent

I just wanted to say jolly well done. You made and ran a stonking campaign, became an even more inspirational filmmaker than you were already (not an easy task) and for a while you enabled people to believe in a dream. With so much politics involved, so much money thrown at campaigns, brunches and industry screenings for recognition, it's a tribute to you that you made the final selection. Bloody well done!
Ray Brady, Film Maker, London

Right, it’s time to put the news in the past, and focus on the present and future. Over the coming weeks I will be announcing the new projects we are rolling out in 2009.

OK, so Gen and Zee are about to take me to their favourite Curry House in Santa Monica for what promises to be an extremely over indulgent dinner. Great! ‘Cos I am starving!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

So the nominations are in.... 6.20am local time...

After watching live around the globe, many of us dashed to our computers to get to Oscars.com… If you don’t know by now, Gone Fishing was not nominated.

We were in the official shortlist of ten films from which the five nominations were drawn. But the judges placed us somewhere between film number six and ten. We got notification about this Official Shortlist last December, but we were told that we could not announce it or tell anyone.

It’s a sad day for us all, but let’s not linger here, let’s regroup and see what new horizons await Gone Fishing and what new and exciting projects await us all… As the Oscars chapter closes, a whole new chapter of Exciting Possibilities has just opened, and I just can’t wait.

Onwards, and if ever there was a time to say this, UPWARDS!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

T minus 146 minutes and counting...

It’s 3.00 am in LA and the Oscars are announced in 2 ½ hours from now. I am feeling rather calm all things considered. What will be, will be I guess.

I have had a cacophony of text messages ringing in my ear all night, from well wishers and nervously excited collaborators too. The same on email. All of them are appreciated.

I am staying with Genevieve in LA, who I made my features with and wrote the books. My fitful sleep was made more interesting by her two Doberman dogs, Crispy and Crunchy, who decided that the English guest would make an excellent bedfellow.

As the announcement is 5.30am here in LA, it has a strange Christmas feeling – it’s dark, quiet and overwhelmingly exciting. If you are in the UK, and at work, I think you can watch live on your desktop with the BBC news feed here

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Counting down in the hours now...

I am sat here at Terminal Five, Heathrow airport and about to board a plane for LAX. Officially, I am flying over to attend the Santa Barbara Film Festival where Gone Fishing is playing. Unofficially, I am also going to LA to be as close to the Oscars as I can get, for the nomination announcements on Thursday. We all find out then, if Gone Fishing has been nominated or not.

And I am looking at the newspaper, with a new American President that fills the whole planet with hope for the future.

I feel like I am in some kind of dream.

I am currently in ‘hour two’ of a fifteen hour journey. All I can do over those thirteen remaining hours is sit around and think… and I can’t help but be reflective of the journey we have all been on over the last 18 months. It’s truly extraordinary.

Whatever the outcome on Thursday, I am so very proud of all of us - everyone involved in ‘Gone Fishing’.  And I know from the emails I have been getting, many of you are also very proud of our achievement too. Together we created something that has its own life, it reaches out and touches people across the globe. It makes peoples lives better. That is wonderful.

Last night, quite out of the blue, an old friend from school contacted me via Facebook. I had not spoken to her in 25 years, and it was great to get in touch. Really great. But she also told me of a few friends who I had lost touch with over the years, had died. It was a shock. People who I went to school with were no longer here. And it was a stark reminder to me, to live in the moment. The here and the now. Even if it is in an airplane seat. Life is a gift never to be squandered.

The Oscars will come, they will go, maybe we will get the nomination, maybe we wont… But whatever the outcome, the film will still live on, continuing to reach the hearts of those who choose to spend 13 minutes of their life watching it.

This is the real prize.

We did it. We really did. We made something extraordinary.

Thank you for choosing a seat on this roller coaster...

So hold on tight, 'cos the BIG one is headed our way VERY FAST!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

UPDATE - I got into LA and hooked up my laptop to find literally hundreds of 'Good luck' emails. I won't have time to respond to them all just yet, but thank you. I am Jet lagged and feeling really ill right now, so very nervous. Less than 12 hours... Blimey!

The Deal Is Done...

Great news. Today we agreed a deal in principle with BOTH Network Ireland (Derry O’Brien) and Shorts International, (seen here, me with Simon Young from SI). We managed to split the rights to get the best of both worlds. Shorts International’s special relationship with the Academy (Oscars folk), their enormous reach and corporate scale (with all that brings), and Network Ireland’s TV sales experience over decades (and their positive reputation and existing relationships with buyers).

What this really means is that over the coming months, Gone Fishing will be sold into various markets, sometimes individually, sometimes as part of a package.

We are still awaiting full agreement on the contractual fine print, but we are pretty much agreed on all points. It’s GREAT news for us all and it will mean ‘Gone Fishing’ reaches a much wider audience.

Now I have to finish packing for tomorrow…

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Blog Lite...

My apologies if the blog has been a little ‘light’ recently, it’s for reasons I can’t disclose just now - I can’t really say much about the film, about the Oscars, about what might or might not happen… Having had this public window into the production, it’s frustrating not to be able to share what is going on, but it’s the way it is for the next couple of days…I will explain in due course, but for now, my lips are sealed. Though we do hope to announce some exciting news later today.

OK, remember also, we are going to the Santa Barbara Film Festival which opens on Thursday, and that promises to be an outstanding event. I am really, really looking forward to it.

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

T minus four days...

It’s the final few days before entering the eye of the needle…

And of course all hell is breaking loose. I have spent the last few hours on the phone to India as inexplicably all my domains are down, and my service provider, right now, can’t explain why. Hopefully, by the time you read this, it will all be back up and running, but if not, there will be a few holes in the blog right now. Like I need it! Doh!

So here is my rough itinerary for the coming week. I fly to LA on Wednesday, arrive Weds afternoon LA time, and then… Thursday at 5.30am local time, the Oscars are announced! Yes, it’s this week.

If you are in the UK, I am reliably informed that it will be Live on BBC News 24 at 1.30pm, in the middle of your lunch break (this Thursday, Jan 22nd) So do tune in for what is guaranteed to be a heart stopper for us all. Whatever the result, the reaction from team Living Spirit will be extreme.

Then in the evening, I will be driving up to Santa Barbara for the opening night ceremony and shenanigans at the SBIFF. Of course there is still so much to do, but I can tell you, right now I am fizzing with possibilities. In the words of Luke Skywalker, ‘right now I feel like I could take on the whole empire myself…’

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

UPDATE 7.02am - My Internet domain provider has finally accepted that the problem is on their server, and they will be fixing it today, so images on the blog and www.livingspirit.com will be down for even longer. I pointed out that of all weeks for this to happen, this was about the worst!

UPDATE 8.06am - WE ARE BACK BABY! I am relieved the server is back up and running. What a heart stopper. Thank goodness it was during a Sunday and overnight that this happened.

Actix bring Axicom PR to help with the push

I had a fantastic meeting this morning with the publicists who have been offered to us by the very nice people at Actix, who have partnered with us on the next, and potentially most exciting step on the Gone Fishing journey.

We are lucky enough to have head honcho Julian Tanner, at Axicom Cohn&Wolfe handling the campaign for us. He and his team came over to my flat today to watch Gone Fishing on BluRay  - and the response was extremely positive.

We immediately started spitballing all sorts of new ideas and angles to get the attention of the press. Of course I can’t reveal what they are just now, but it will require me to fly back form LA in early Feb, and some of them are quite ‘left field’. One thing we have tried to do is come up with a short pitchable angle, as things like ‘it’s a great movie’ just don’t cut it with the press, they need more. Right now we are thinking along the lines of ‘the guy who wrote that book about film making, took all his own medicine and Gone Fishing is the result… and it might just win an Oscar!’ There are other one liners too, so we may not go with that one yet. Happily, they have a sister company in LA too, so I should be hooking up with them next week when I hit the tarmac running.

All very, very EXCITING!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Film makers sharing...

I wanted to share two particularly poignant emails I have received, both from professional film makers who have suffered personal loss. The first email is from an Irish Director, Paul Brady, who saw Gone Fishing last week and felt compelled to contact me. Second is from our old friend and Gone Fishing Associate Producer, Simon Van Der Spoel, who has featured several times on the blog now, as he has so much passion for the film, and he has also made his own documentary, Spitfire Guardians. 

First, here is Paul…

I just want you to know how inspired I was by your truly incredible and beautiful film. It's a fine balance of a movie which treats the audience to an uplifting story and deals with universal themes such as death. My own film Janey Mary deals with universal themes too.

I'll tell you a little about my film. It's set in 1947 against the destitute post WWII landscape and tells the story of a little 5 year old girl who is sent out to beg for food on the streets of Dublin. It's a very emotional story and uplifting too. I was adamant about shooing it on 35mm B&W film stock. Like you I used a top DoP who made my film look wonderful.

My dad had a small part in the film, playing an old homeless man. His scene is what we come to call in movie terms 'movie magic'. When a scene truly lifts off the page and becomes something of its own onscreen. He got to see the final cut just a couple months before he passed away from cancer. He cried watching the whole film and told me he was very proud of me.

Your film, 'Gone Fishing', made me think of both of my parents who are now both passed. Death is the singular most powerful element that will touch all our lives at some point. Your film was like a warm blanket on a cold day when I needed it most.
Paul Brady, Director - Janey Mary

You can watch the trailer for Janey Mary below. If you want to know more about Janey Mary, check out their website.

Here is the email I got from Simon…

I've screened the DVD to my family, and my wife's family and the reactions are the same, the emotions pour out, and they all want to see more. You've managed to package a full feature into 13 minutes, and it truly is an emotive experience. As I said in my previous email, it brings me to tears every time I see it, nor am I ashamed to say that. The music score, combined with the whispered words of solace at the end, makes me shiver, filled with a keen sense of... something indescribable... I can't put it into words actually.

It speaks the loudest to one side of my family and myself for reasons I haven't fully explained.

In the space of 12 months, I've lost two of my younger brothers. Ben, at the age of 17, committed suicide, leaving no explanation as to why, but then depression is the most insidious of diseases of the mind. My other brother Chris, aged 23, was killed in a head on car collision, 10 days before the year anniversary of Ben's death.

It was a bad year to say the least, but one can't linger on the pain of the past, Onwards and Upwards as you say, though I must mention that the blog piece about Bruce Lee's words of "What is...is" strikes a chord. Your film and your words mean a lot.

You once told me that an email I sent resonated with you, but mate, your words, images, sounds and efforts resonate the world over. It has been a privilege to contribute, and I just wish I could contribute more than what I have…

I check the blog regularly, I watch the counter and smile, and I know you can achieve what most of us dream about... but then you're entire message is stop dreaming and start filming...
Simon VanDerSpoel, Australia

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Have you ever loved someone, and lost someone?

 
More incredible words have been flooding from people who have seen Gone Fishing. I designed the story to be evocative of my childhood, growing up in the Northwest of England, with an old brick works at the top of my road, surrounded by woodlands, quarries and lakes. In fact that history is actually in the film itself. If you watch it, Old Bill’s fireplace is surrounded by photos – they are of myself and my brother having fun in the woods and by lakes in my home town of Wigan. I was particularly delighted then, when I got an email from someone in Wigan who had seen the film, and shared similar childhood memories. He lived next door to my Uncle George, who died last year, before he got chance to see the film, which is sad as I know he would have enjoyed the experience. Here are their comments, and a few others…

The images from "Gone Fishing" are so redolent of my childhood spent in the fifties and early sixties. What captured my attention more than anything, I feel, was the space and freedom conveyed. I was catapulted back to days spent damming streams, sliding down fern-strewn embankments, finding a skylark's nest, only to lose it again! The film resonates with an innocence long gone; wide open fields and spaces, taking sandwiches and spending the whole day outdoors, collecting sticklebacks and frog spawn in jam jars. This is such an evocative film, chartering experiences and relationships which sadly seem no longer to exist. Thanks for the memories.
Debbie and Malcolm Clark, UpHolland, Wigan

Have you ever loved someone, and lost someone? Have you ever wondered where they went and how they are? Do you hope to see them again? Does it all seem confusing and confounding? If the answer is yes, then there's a movie for you ...it's called "Gone Fishing" ...with colors and imagery like a Monet come to life, it engages you, confuses you, consoles you....of all the movies I've seen over the past year this one lingers in the mind...and heart...far more than the others.
Carla Ricci, Rhode Island USA

My wife and I have watched this three times, and each time you see something different, something you had not noticed before. The concept of the short film in itself causes discussion, and again, each time you 'feel' something new. The sound track is excellent, the performances are excellent and the filming is such that you are transported away from the room you are in. This may all sound a little crazy, but no - when you watch the extras, (and once again the stills / photography are very well done, along with that haunting melodious music!) you realise just how much effort goes into the making of the film - even down to the fin on the back of a tennis racket – ingenious… you are hooked (pardon the pun) from start to finish!
Dave Carnell, Loughborough, Business Consultant

The DVD turned up on Christmas Eve so I wrapped it and put it under the tree. We watched it on Christmas Day and were absolutely blown away by the film. I just wanted to say what a great story you have here. The film is (as we say Down Under) a bottler, the production is first class and the acting hits the mark; I sincerely hope you get that Oscar. I hope you are having a great Christmas and your New Year is successful.
Mike and Fiona Hardy, Brisbane, Australia

 Whenever I get that spine-tingling feeling at the back of my neck I know I've been in for a treat. Gone Fishing moves beyond beautiful imagery to give us a warm, touching story with a challenging perspective on bereavement.
Mike Mindel, www.wordtracker.com

Thank you very much sir for your dedication on the "Gone Fishing" DVD. This film and the picture of it are wonderful. This is not my only opinion. Many friends of mine have seen it and they think the same thing. I wish you, as we say in french, "good winds" for your next project.Thank you again, sincerly yours
Loïc and Murielle HASCOET, Brittany, France

What can I say? Gone Fishing is a remarkable achievement... a film that celebrates the wistful nostalgia of youth, the pain of loss, the thrill of the 'one that got away'… It works on so many levels and stands up to repeated viewings - I refuse to call it a 'short' -  the standard of filmaking is so professional and simply stunning, and it has an distinctly epic sweep to it.

It's a remarkably assured debut from director Chris Jones - I love the comical little nods to 'Jaws', and the beautiful cinematography and excellent sound design transcend it's low-budget origins. Kudos to the director, actors and crew... I feel Mr Jones is definitely destined for big things.
 
I did watch the extras... and I found myself completely drawn absorbed by the main doc where Chris was showing the film at various festivals... I felt like I was there with him and was willing him to win all the way. It's plainly obvious that the film is being greatly admired and respected by everyone who see's it.
John Morely, Independent Reviewer

GONE FISHING is a heart-wrenching, but not without humor, metaphor of the journey we all make at some point in our lives.  Who would've thought that a story about death and loss could leave one exhilerated? Three cheers to this short yet masterful film and to the man that made it so. To quote Oliver Twist, "I want some more". GO CHRIS!!!
Marlyn Mason, Medford, Oregon, Movie Star!

Blimey!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Film Festival Costs Rising...

I just did a tally on film festival submissions, and the figures are quite startling.

So far we have submitted to just over 50 festivals, many of which charged a submission fee (anywhere bewteen $20 and $80 on average). As of today we have spent just over £1,600 on submission fees alone.

Add to that the cost of sending DVD screener disks (on average £3 per submission) you can see that we are closing in on nearly £2k! And that does not include the time it takes to make these submissions, which is frankly, immense. In fact it’s so time consuming that I am now having to pay Sara Morrison a small amount of money each month to handle the work load of sending, chasing, managing and co-ordinating. She had offered to do it for free, but it quickly became unmanageable and she was forced to give up some home teaching work to help with the film.

If we get into the festivals, there is then the FedEx costs of shipping prints and of course the huge costs if I, or anyone else, plans to attend and represent the film. I knew that we had spent a great deal, I was just very surprised that it was as much as it is.

Sara, who is running the festivals submissions wrote up a great article on the blog last year, for those who are interested… If you are making a short film, you really do need to consider these costs, I know I vertainly didn't think it would be that much. And sadly, if we want to really get the most out if this, we will need to submit to maybe a futher fifty, doubling the costs.

So if you know anyone who might want a copy of Gone Fishing as a gift, or if you know someone who might be interested in what we are up to, please let them know about the DVD and this blog.

OK, so remember, BAFTA nominations announced on Thursday!

Tick, tick, tick...

SOOOOO EXCITING!

Onwards and upwards

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

If You Build It They Will Come...

Extraordinary news! We have managed to secure corporate sponsorship for our endeavours over the next few months! What does this mean? In short, we can make sure that we attend all the big events and that we can video blog it fully. But you were already doing that I hear you say. Yes, you are right, but now we can really go for it, and it will free me to get on with more important stuff, like taking meetings at 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers!

And remember, the coming months promise to be the most exciting, with the BAFTA's, the Oscars and the Santa Barbara Film Festival coming up.

So how did all this come about? Those of you who have taken any of my courses will know that I am a great believer that if you commit to excellence, somehow the money and opportunities will find you. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s happened so many times to me now that I know it to be true. And if you make this commitment, you also get to make something GREAT too (or at the very least learn an important lesson or lessons). So aside from the work load (and lets face it, film making is never really work, stocking shelves at the local supermarket, now that’s work!), everyone is a winner.

So… Late last week I got an email from a chap, Chris Larmour, who I had some brief communication with over ten years ago – he had also met up with Dave Hardwick, Executive Producer on my last feature Urban Ghost Story. At that time we had had a pleasant chat about film making and then went our separate ways.

Since then he has pursued an incredibly successful career in the telecommunications sector. Last week a Google search led him to my blog and he was immediately intrigued enough to re-establish contact, and offer some support for the push over the coming months. As we got chatting, exchanging emails and digging deeper, we discovered an even greater philosophical alignment, almost a meeting of minds… It was extremely exciting!

So please, everyone welcome to our stable, supporters and allies in Team Living Spirit’s ambitions for 2009, Actix.

Here’s what the press blurb says they do…

UK-based Actix helps wireless carriers enhance revenue growth and improve operating margins by delivering intelligent, automated network performance engineering and network status management systems.  Actix solutions feature embedded wireless expertise, automating key processes and enabling very significant efficiencies in the deployment and operation of carriers’ networks, delivering measurably higher performance at lower cost.  Over 10,000 engineers from 227 operators – including Verizon, O2, AT&T and T-Mobile – in 106 countries globally depend upon Actix software every day to help improve coverage for more than 1,100,000,000 subscribers.

What I do know is this, Chris Larmour, the guy who contacted me and has now ‘got on board’ with Gone Fishing, really does aspire to the peak of Everest too, and his involvement and all the infrastructure and corporate might he can bring to our team is an extremely welcome booster rocket. Actually, it feels like three or four booster rockets, so we are VERY excited about this new development!

I can best characterise his position by sharing part of an email he wrote to me about how one achieves what others consider impossible…

Talking about the Obama campaign's strategy to enlarge the Democratic electorate, Steve Croft of 60 Minutes asked: "How did you win states like Indiana and North Carolina?" (traditionally Republican states, that were widely considered to be unwinnable by Democrats). David Plouffe, Chief Campaign Strategist, paused and then responded simply: "First of all, we believed we could."

I now have my sights on another ‘impossible’ task with Gone Fishing. I will reveal this goal in due course, but it’s a cracker!

So, I am really looking foreword to a long and prosperous relationship with Actix and Chris Larmour.

Blimey, blimey and thrice blimey!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Appointing the sales agent

In the next day or so, I will be making my choice over who represents Gone Fishing for international sales and distribution. Only two companies are in the running, both have very good reputations and deals to offer, and both I like very much.

We need to deal with this now as in the coming weeks we have both the BAFTA and Oscar Nominations announced, and if we are fortunate enough to be nominated, a whole whirlwind of activity will kick in, and the last thing any of want to be doing is hurriedly reading contracts and cobbling together half baked sales delivery items (when you sell a film you need to supply a whole pile of items which needs time to organise).

First off is Derry O’Brien at Network Ireland (NI). Derry came very highly recommended and has tirelessly helped us with personal calls and emails ever since he first saw the film. He is effectively like a traditional film sales agent, who handles all international sales for a percentage. His job would be to sell it to distributors worldwide.

The second company is Shorts International (SI) who are more of a quasi sales agent / distributor / partner, baes in the UK, with offices in LA and New York. They have a special deal with iTunes and the Academy in the US to do the Oscars nominated shorts release online and theatrically in the states. They also have a TV sales department and their own TV channel on Sky. They are very much a ‘technology’ forward looking company (with all the advantages and disadvantages that come along with that), and I have also had many very constructive conversations with them about what to do and how to handle the film for sales.

Personally, I would be delighted to sign with either comapny, BUT, both want to rep Gone Fishing! I wish my life was filled with these kinds of 'problems'!

Both NI and SI have strengths and weaknesses, not so much based on their abilities, more based on their own individual business models. In an ideal world, I would love to work with both – that would also give me the chance to share with the film community my experiences - as NI(specifically Derry) and SI are clearly the two most respected and active sales entities in the short film arena. In truth I have not heard a bad word about either.

I have got some hard conversations to have in the coming days to iron this all out so that everyone is a winner. 

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Gone Fishing DVD comments

I have been getting feedback from people who have bought the DVD, on the movie and the whole package, and I thought I would share some of them with you… Remember, if you want your own copy in PAL or NTSC, you can still buy it here...  And if you are new to the blog, check out our trailer here, it’s only 60 seconds long and will give you a real taste of the movie.

Here are a few comments...

I've just seen the full film for the first time and I'm sitting here choking back tears. It IS a great film, everything just seemed so right about it, the story, the light, the sound, everything. My fingers are even more firmly crossed for the Oscar. Thank you for making this lovely little film.
Mike Facherty, Film Maker

I watched the movie by myself and was  in bits at the end. Amazing. I then sat my partner down and the same happened to her. Going kite flying shortly after we were still all teary. So, so beautiful. Well done.
Gareth Jones

I've watched Gone Fishing four times now and never tire of it. It's such a lovely, heartfelt little film. Absolutely charming...
Carol Ann Walters, Journalist / Publicist

Thanks again for signing and sending me Gone Fishing on DVD - you have no idea how much I was looking forward to seeing this film! Having heard and read so much about how it was made it was driving me insane having not seen it and I was under strict instructions from my girlfriend to NOT play it until she got home from work on it's arrival. Have to say, when it did arrive I was incredibly impressed by the DVD artwork - looks like a proper movie DVD, great first impression and set things up nice for the premier that evening!!
 
That evening I set the living room up for the premier. Curtains closed, lights off, surround sound on full and plasma repositioned to enhance the viewing angle (and let's not forget the popcorn)! I pressed play and sat back. Within seconds of the film starting I was already hooked (sorry, couldn't resist). The cinematography and mood of the opening was incredibly captivating. I was witnessing the standards of movie making that I'm aspiring to. This is going to be a very big mountain for me to climb!
 
The film was amazing and did not disappoint. Everything about it was bleeding with excellence. Emotionally, the film grabs you and gently takes you on a journey that we will all follow one day - coping with the death of a loved one and imagining what might be 'out-there' for them.
 
I'm sure you will never tire of hearing praise for this film. Congratulations Chris, this HAS to win the Oscar. There are far too many 'arty-farty' films out there that do nothing for the film experience and not so many good traditional style movies with the proven formula of a good, relatable story well told.
 
Very much looking forward to seeing your future projects - this stuff is in a different league!!
Danny Lacey
Film Maker, Leeds

Outstanding! Kyle and I watched Gone Fishing last night. From the moment I put the DVD in, waiting for Kyle to finish brushing his teeth, I sat back and closed my eyes while listening to the music for Gone Fishing.  Straight away I was peaceful. Thank you.

I felt the tears roll down my cheeks a minute into the movie. We were captivated the moment it started. It is the perfect gift for all those visual people out there.  The visuals were incredible and the lighting captured every moment so well. You could not have put a better cast together.  The bond between adult and child was beautiful.  I don't think there is a soul out there who wouldn't be touched by this movie.
 
If I was a true critic, I would say Gone Fishing is a Masterpiece. After the movie Kyle and I sat there and smiled.  We are extremely proud of what you have created. We continue to support and wish you well.  Please let me know if there is anything else we can do to support Gone Fishing.  In the meantime, we will be ordering a couple copies through the link you have sent previously.
Wendy Pauw,
IT Trainer and Associate Producer on Gone Fishing, Some Far Flung Land!

Gone Fishing is...awesome. Clearly, I wasn’t expecting to be disappointed, given all the raves and the festival wins and the Oscar short-list, but it truly blew me away.  It’s a remarkable achievement and I wish I could have been a part of it.  But then, when I look back on the time it was coming together and realised how far we’ve both come, I realise that I’ve gone a long way vicariously through you, the film and the blog. Huge congratulations on a fantastic achievement. 

And if you wanted any further endorsement, my other half hates short films and she absolutely loves Gone Fishing. So, I guess it’s onwards and, indeed, upwards.
Oli Lewington, Film Maker

Thanks so much to everyone who felt they had to write to us to let us know how the film impacted on you. It's such a reward to us all.

Onward and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]

Variety Hits The Streets!

I walked into the office at Ealing Studios today to a barrage of emails and calls regarding the Variety article. I had known about this since last week, but it’s just hit the streets in print, and it’s a WHOLE PAGE! This is very good PR for us as Variety is one of the top industry newspapers and it is read world wide.

The article talks about Gone Fishing and another animated short called ‘This End Up’, but it’s the fact that Gone Fishing gets a picture nearly half of the page that really helps. Here is a link to a scan of the article, or a link to the online text version here.

WOW! It’s all getting so very, very REAL!

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author

www.livingspirit.com
[email protected]