I'm a writer-director, specialising in fantasy/action movies on epic scales which no sane person would ever try to make on the pitiful budgets I do.
My most recent feature film - Soul Searcher - about an ordinary guy who gets trained to be the new Grim Reaper, is now out in the UK on an extras-loaded DVD. It's in stores everywhere, or you can buy on-line at play.com . Here's the trailer (Flash) . You can view a high res version on the Soul Searcher website.
Soul Searcher was completed in March 2005, receiving excellent reviews. My achievement was recognized by the Channel Four Ideas Factory , which selected me as one of the twenty most talented creatives in the Midlands.
While Soul Searcher is widely known as my second feature, following the self-funded action extravaganza The Beacon (2002), I in fact made my first 90 minute movie at the age of just 15. This was one of many films shot with schoolfriends and a Video-8 camcorder during my teenage years. Forgoing university education for a more practical approach, I went freelance at 19 and within a few months had won my first paying directing job on the short film Section 5.
Over the next five years I made a living as an editor and director of photography. Alongside these jobs for hire I directed a number of shorts including Cow Trek (2001) and the prize-winning fifteen minute version of Soul Searcher (2000), both of which were screened at film festivals in the UK.
Despite my bests efforts to the contrary, I was forced into producing the feature-length Soul Searcher myself when two other producers dropped out during the shoot. I also served as cinematographer, editor, stills photographer and sound designer, as well as creating many of the film's visual effects. I had to give up caffeine due to some very worrying heart palpitations. Needless to say, I was half-dead by the time the three year odyssey (not including getting it distributed) was over.
But for some insane reason I'm desperate to get started on the next one. I'm currently beating my head against a brick wall trying to get The Dark Side of the Earth off the ground. The website features a blog for the production, following on from the success of the legendary Soul Searcher Director's Journal , which ran for over four years. My journals are informative, inspirational and highly entertaining, whether you're a filmmaker yourself or not.