The story of an opportunist and two wannabes…
So, York. You know all about it? Big churches? Vikings? Chocolate? All valid things people know about York. International pop competitions? Not so much.
Recently, Peter Marshall & The Lomos decided to make a film! Turns out this isn’t a small undertaking in any way, shape or form. After about a year, much graft, loads of help from our friends, a very understanding producer in the shape of Steve Shooter and the first ever Ice Bucket Challenge on the grandest scale (that should make sense if you watch the film..) we have managed to make a 78-minute feature length comedy film called Transatlantic Smash for under a thousand pounds.
After a funding campaign gave us a little bit of budget to play with, we invested a big chunk of it in some proper technical equipment, like a clapperboard and microphone. I know, Spielberg eat your heart out!
We have had to deal with broken memory cards, missing tripods, and dead batteries, not to mention York’s finest drunks having shouted conversations across the river with Spanish school kids. We can always rely on those tourists here in York. Speaking of York, this film is set in what we are calling our ‘Yorkiverse’.
Co-director Spencer Vale describes it thus: “This is our fictional version of York (and surrounding area) where elements of reality blend in.” Like having a character called Peter Marshall based on an individual called Peter Marshall for example.
As you will be able to see, the Yorkiverse is a strange beast, featuring recognisable landmarks, West End stars and very silly jokes. Very. Silly. Jokes. It is what we believe to be the first ever found-footage musical documentary film. In style at least. The basic outline of the plot features the formation of the band, and their attempt to win a Eurovision-style song contest.
Along the way they meet girls, write songs, make terrible puns, but most of all, have fun. We decided to use an unusual method to make the film; we improvised it! What we had was a very detailed breakdown of each scene and some amazing performers, ranging from stand-up comedians (James Christopher, Nathan Hudson) to experienced actors via some committed amateur volunteers. We somehow managed to talk Nicola Brazil, a prominent West End actress into being a part of the project.
None of us have ever made a film before. We have all been involved with other people’s projects, but this is our own little labour of love. It is a world we have loved inhabiting over the last 18 months, from the very first meeting down the pub in January 2013 to now.
And while we know we may not win any awards, or be whisked off to Hollywood to remake something or other, we will know that we have had a great time, with some good people.
We will also know that for a film which cost us under £1,000 we are really quite proud of it – and if you don’t like our film, then that is OK. It is not a film that everyone will like, but those who do, will love it, as we do. So maybe take a chance on a little underdog project? Who knows, for 80 minutes you might just enjoy yourself.
We have had such support from everyone involved, be it investors, venues, actors, hotels or our wives, for letting us film in our living rooms, setting fires in the back garden or just having to put up with the time spent in the editing process.
As our producer Steve Shooter says: “I know I’m not alone in being really excited to show everyone the finished product. I’m taking it as a good sign that I was present (and indeed wielded the camera a lot) for almost all of the filming and when I first saw the trailer I did an actual big belly laugh. When you have a belly like mine, that is a big laugh!”
While the finished film may not be the most polished film you will ever see, we like it. We said all along that if no one ever saw the film, as long as we enjoyed making it, then it would be worthwhile. As it happens, we think people will enjoy it, and we have taught ourselves a hell of a lot, the most important of which is that next time, we have a script.
The finished film is available to rent below, but there are DVDs and soundtrack CDs on the way too. So if you really can’t get Beard Envy out of your head, you can sing along at home!
