Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Kendal Mountain Festival 2012
Having attended the Kendal Mountain Festival many times before, it was really exciting to be coming to the UK's leading adventure sports event as a film maker.
It was such a privilege to be showing my film 'Gino's Greenland' on the same billing as Justine Curgenven's 'Tierra Del Fuego' film and 'Hanuman Airlines'. 'Hanuman Airlines' tells the story of Sanu Babu Sunawar and his amazing journey from the summit of Mount Everest to the Indian Ocean.
It was truly nerve racking to be introducing my film to a cinema packed full of people. I felt so proud to see my images of Greenland on the big screen and to feel the reaction of the audience during key moments of the story.
Its times like this that make all of the hard work worth while. From the planning of the expedition, preparing kit, the filming and endless editing. I don't mind admitting that I felt like giving up during the final stages of production of 'Gino's Greenland'. However, my experience as a film maker at the Kendal Mountain Festival has made it all worth while. Its a great festival run by loads of enthusiastic, friendly and encouraging people. If you have never been before, put it in your diary for next year.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the paddlers who were on the expedition with me. Chris, John, Jules, Dave, Stephanie, Martin and Kirstine not only put up with my filming but took their own special parts in the story. Thanks also to Lucy Martin from the Scott Polar Research Institute for the use of Gino Watkins images. The story would be nothing without them. Finally, thanks to Henry Iddon and to Kirstine whose encouragement got me through those difficult final stages of the production.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Gino's Greenland Film Premiere
I am pleased to announce that my latest short film 'Gino's Greenland' has been accepted as a finalist at the Kendal Mountain Festival.
I will be presenting 'Gino's Greenland' as part of the 'Wild Water' programme on the afternoon of Friday 16th November, as well as the evenings of Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th. Enjoy the trailer and hope to see you there.
The dramatic and unique Arctic environment of Greenland holds a particular fascination for kayakers as the sport has its origins in the icy fiords, where kayaks were first used as a way of life by local hunters. British explorer Gino Watkins was one of the first westerners to visit remote East Greenland in 1929-32; he used traditional skills which he learnt from the locals.
Intrigued by the history as well as being attracted by the rugged beauty of the landscape its unique wildlife, a group of sea kayakers head out to find what remains of Gino’s Greenland.
I will be presenting 'Gino's Greenland' as part of the 'Wild Water' programme on the afternoon of Friday 16th November, as well as the evenings of Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th. Enjoy the trailer and hope to see you there.
Paddling Closer to Home
My local stretch is the upper reaches of the river Mersey as it winds its way across its flood plain in south Manchester. I was brought up hereabouts. Throughout my childhood the river and the surrounding swamps and rubbish tips used to smell quite bad.
These days the tips have been cleared and replaced with nature reserves. This urban river runs much cleaner too. In recent years more paddling has been taking place. Macclesfield and District Canoe Club hold their Mersey Descent event each year and Manchester Canoe Club also hold races on the river. A tremendous effort effort has been put into creating a Mersey Canoe Trail with portage steps around some of the more tricky weirs. A map can be downloaded by clicking this link. It was great to meet someone paddling as I was out for a walk on Sunday. We stopped to chat, talked about the weather, then went our separate ways. Its just great to see my local river coming back to life!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)