Edie is now heavily into post production - with one of our two pick shoots complete. The next shoot is in early September to complete a hotel interior scene with Sheila Hancock. Shortly afterwards the cut will be locked and we will move into sound post production and colour grading. The aim is to have the picture compete by late November of this year.
Special pages and articles on Simon's new movie Edie have just launched - head over to didicated EDIE pages.
Simon's latest feature film Edie has wrapped principal photography. Shooting took place over five weeks, shooting in north west Scotland and in London. Sheila Hancock plays the title role of Edie and she is joined by Kevin Guthrie as Jonny. "The shoot was really hard but we had a fantastic crew who really worked around the clock and help make what will be a special movie I think" said Simon. The movie is shot on the Arri Alexa mini with Zeiss master primes lenses. About fifteen weeks of post production will start in June and the Simon and the team aim to have the movie completed by Christmas.
Shelia Hancock : Edie
Kevin Guthrie : Jonny
Amy Manson : Fiona
Simon's third feature, his passion project, EDIE has begun shooting in Sutherland Scotland. Shelia Hancock is playing Edie and rising star Kevin Guthrie also stars. The film tells the story of an elderly lady who has come through a lifetime of disappointment and regret. Faced with the prospect of life in the retirement home, Edie sets off to Scotland in order to climb a mountain and rekindle some of the magic of her youth.
The film is shooting in and around Lochinver, Sutherland in London and at Three Mills films studios. Much of the filming is in the wildest and most remote part of Scotland so Simon and Icelandic DP August Jakobsson selected the Arri Alex Mini as their main camera. Shooting in 4K, the film is Simon's first anamorphic picture. Simon is also joined by production designer Chris Richmond (Wasteland, The Veteran) and special effects supervisor is Stefano Pepin. (Prometheus) The film is produced by Mark Stothert and Tim Dennison.
concept art from NIGHTFALL
Simon has signed on to helm NIGHTFALL, a thriller from writer Simon Foster. The story tells an apocalyptic tale of a family who wake up one day only to discover all sunlight has gone. They are now in a world without light and heat....and alien creatures have begun stalking the land looking for prey. The haunting tale will be produced by Tim Dennison and plans to enter pre-production later this year.
Simon began his final tech scouts for Medinah with DOP Larry Smith Bsc. Larry and Simon have worked together on commercials in Germany and South Africa but this collaboration represents their first long form work together. Larry Smith has shot for a huge range for directors, including Tom Hooper and Stanley Kubrick.
We can't say much about the project but Simon is off to Doha capital city of Qatar to begin work on a really exciting new production. "I am afraid I can't say much at the moment but hopefully soon. It's a project with lots of VFX and a really amazingly alternative world, I'm so looking forward to heading to Qatar to begin. "
Doha, QATAR
Simon's off to the Congo to shoot a commercial about African farmers. You can follow his adventure on his blog.
Simon has been in Scotland with Producer Mark Stothert on a location recce for his forthcoming feature Edie. The story tells the tale of an elderly lady who decides at the age of seventy five to climb a mountain in the highlands of Scotland. Mark and Simon spent over a week in Sutherland scouting locations and climbing the mountain itself. Suilven in Sutherland is Simon's first choice location. Simon "It's my favorite mountain, a truly magical place and the entire climb up is wonderful, past endless moorland and flowing Lochs. It will be logistically difficult but well worth it. "
The wilds of Sutherland.
Producer Mark Stothert Climbs the mountain
At the summit.
Simon has won a fanatic film for an NGO, filming in The Democratic Republic of The Congo. Simon's film school entrance film was made in the Congo back in 1990. The country was then called Zaire, an ex Belguim colony.
The Congo
Simon's fund raising film for Urban Synergy is now online. You can view it here.
Simon is about to start shooting a World War One 100 year anniversary commercial in Flanders, Belguim. The team at Denzzo Brussels are working late into the evening.
Simon has just won a commission for a World War One commercial which will shoot in Flanders next month. The film is for the Flemish tourist board and reminds visitors of the historic and tragic events of 99 years ago.
Simon has just shot a five minute charity commercial for the URBAN SYNERGY charity that helps inner city kids reach their full potential. We will post a preview of the commercial in mid July.
Things are starting to pick up speed with LAST BLOOD. Casting is underway in Los Angeles with a view to a September shoot - possibly in New York or Georgia. More details soon. Simon is currently casting in LA and said “things are picking up speed on this project and we are getting close to announcing a start date. The script is in great shape and we have started to work on creature designs.”
Last Blood moving forward
Simon’s passion project EDIE is starting to gather some momentum. Nearly three quarter of the budget has now been raised from private investors. Simon comments “everyone we speak to seems entranced with the idea and story. It’s magical, but really very simple. The central theme of ‘its never too late’ seems to strike a resonance with everyone.
