we couldn't resist… The Gunners Christmas Gift List!

We know, we know… We ended the last post with dramatic festive flair and promises of no more posts until early 2014… but since then we've found some gorgeous gifts & some winter warming tipples that we just HAVE to share…(it would be rude not to!) 

Lets start with gifts first - if you're like us the thought of attempting to navigate through hoards of people to do your christmas shopping is just not an option. Most of us at GG HQ have decided that online is definitely the best way to shop. Sitting on the sofa, leisurely scrolling through various online sites and then just having to click 'buy now'. Which is why our Gunners Christmas Gift List is all online. 

GG Director Olly Blackburn's brother has just launched 'The Artful Project'. A new online gallery and photography space where you can find beautiful high quality photos and prints.

This one is 128 Yards #12 by Armando Ferrari. 

The Artful Project is all about inspiring a new culture of art collecting by offering extraordinary pieces at affordable prices. The project champions the 'art for everyone' ethos; turning exhibitions into creative events and supporting new talent. 

So for a truly unique christmas gift for that special someone, treat them to something from The Artful Project. 

Gunner Laura Gregory is saving for this gorgeous piece. (Threshold Part. 1 #13 by Julian Hibbard). 

If framed art is not your thing and you want something a bit different for a loved one, you have to check out designer Solange Azagury-Partridge's designs. The London based jewellery designer is famed for creating gorgeous statement pieces. Our favourite is the Hot Lips lacquered sterling silver ring. 

At £990 it really is an investment piece but one we'd totally plump for. Team it with a gorgeous LBD - perfect for Christmas Day. 

We love this stoned perfume as well 

and for something totally out there invest in the ball crusher lamp!

For the little nippers in your life it has to be something from The Fabelists. Matt Cooper from LBBonline teamed up with Brothers & Sisters and the Mill to launch this super-cool ethical and sustainable clothing line for kids. (We're currently working on a film project for them with our director Olivier Venturini) 

Their current line includes gorgeous dresses and skirts for girls, lovely quality jeans and jackets for boys, and our favourites - the unisex t-shirts. The Fabelists collaborated with some great artists including Gregori Saavedra, Anthony Peters and Crispin Finn to create some truly unique designs. 

There are loads of different designs and items to choose from and the best thing about it is you can order with a clean conscience! 

(you've got to be quick - december 18th is the final day for standard UK mainland deliveries but you can order up until the 20th december to get next day deliver in time for Christmas.) 

Whatever you decide to buy, make sure you include a goat, a toilet or even a few mosquito nets! Oxfam Unwrapped gives you the chance to buy all sorts of gifts starting at £5 that help others around the world. There's nothing better than spreading a bit of festive cheer! 

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Now after all that internet shopping you deserve to kick back and relax with something special. Here are our 3 favourite Christmas tipples. Perfect for that party you're planning, a lazy evening in, or simply because you want to… it is Christmas after all! 

The first is Christmas Southside 

For 1 drink you will need: 35ml of gin, 15ml sugar syrup, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 8 fresh mint leaves, 10 frozen cranberries & 25ml cranberry juice. Add everything except cranberry juice to a tall glass and mix with crushed ice. Float the cranberry juice on top and add a sprig of mint. 

For something a bit more warming, perfect for those evenings spent in front of the fire, try a Hot Roots. 

For 1 drink you will need: 50ml of Kamm & Sons, 150ml cloudy apple juice, 2 teaspoons of orgeat syrup and 1 slice of fresh ginger. Crush the ginger in a pan, then warm all the ingredients together in the pan and strain into a heatproof glass. 

Finally the perfect party drink - Very Berry. 

You will need 25ml of Chambord black raspberry liqueur, 125ml of cabernet sauvignon, 25ml of fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of caster sugar and 3 raspberries. Crush the raspberries in a glass with the sugar and add the wine, Chambord and lemon juice. Top up the glass with boiling water then float a small slice of lemon studded with 3 cloves on top.   

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Have a fantastic break & look out for a new year post in early 2014! 

Love, The Gunners x 

a festive farewell… (updated)

(well farewell until 2014)… 

With the end of the working year in sight we're winding down with one final blog post for 2013. 

To kick this post off we're so excited to announce that Timothy Allen has just been awarded Travel Photographer of the Year 2013! His beautiful B&W images of the mud mosque replastering festival, and Dogon life in Mali along with his studies of individuals in Wales and Bhutan scooped the contest's highest award. 

If you'd like to read more about it and see more of Tim's amazing photographs you can click here 

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GG director Shearer has just shot this spot for Nike for the new Ordem football. In the film Rooney and McIlroy exchange impressive shots over the course of 18 holes - with Wayne using the new Ordem football. 

In the playful spot Rooney surprises McIlroy at the first tee by bringing out the new Ordem ball, which is inspired by the golf ball design. The film has amassed over 1.6 millions hits since its release less than 2 weeks ago. You can watch the film on youtube.

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As far as awards go we're excited to say we've won Mobile Campaign of the Year at the Shots Awards for Nike Hypershield.

Here it is looking lovely in our Camden office (next to our Gold LIA)! 
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LA based GG director Remo Camerota who signed with Great Guns earlier this year has ended 2013 on a high, he's just been commissioned by Verve Music Group to direct a music video to celebrate legendary disco diva Donna Summer's new album. 

With Remo's experience in modern street art, his aim was to create an art piece that could be painted on walls, put into animation or made into t-shirts and posters - basically something that could be used anywhere. 

The project was overseen by Randi Wilens who represents Great Guns in the USA for music videos and it proved so successful that the record label specially requested Remo to design the poster image from the animation elements of the promo.  

You can check it out here

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GG director Klaus Thymann has just come back from Brazil where he's been working on an exciting new project (keep an eye out for it in early 2014). He has also just had Project Pressure featured in The World Photography Organisation's magazine.

If you haven't already heard about Project Pressure you can read about it here and watch a film on it at the end of the feature. (pages 60 to 67)  

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Our EP Jane has nipped off to Courchevel to judge at the Cristal Festival. We're only a little bit jealous… just look at that view! 

UPDATE!! We are proud and very excited to announce that we won a Silver Cristal for Calum Macdiarmid's THE FARM book trailer for Tom Rob Smith's new book The Farm, along with the GRAND CRISTAL for Ilya Naishuller's Bad Motherfucker! 

Here's the silver cristal award next to our Gold Ciclope's award for Bad Motherfucker. (GRAND CRISTAL has yet to arrive so we will post a picture when we receive it) 

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And as you all know by now we like to round up our updates with a bit of fun & thats exactly what we got up to at our Christmas party last week. 

We had a lovely 3 course meal at The Prince Albert (our favourite Camden pub). It was an afternoon filled with food, laughter and wine and the perfect start to Christmas! 

(confession: this photo was from last year as we all forgot our cameras!) 

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and check back in 2014 for more Gunner's news and updates! 

what to do this weekend

Another week has rolled by and it's getting closer and closer to the holiday season. With December diaries getting well and truly filled up, this might be the last weekend that you can pop down to the pub on friday, browse shops on saturday and snuggle up in front of the TV on sunday (the forecast is rain so it's a perfect duvet day). 

Here at GG HQ we thought we'd share our perfect pre-december weekend in London. 

As some of you might know GG is based in Camden Town, and Camden Town has some fab friday night pubs for drinks after work. There are a few firm favourites amongst the Gunners, in particular The Prince Albert. 

it's cosy, it's quaint and it serves up some yummy food. 

there are local ales on tap and their food is organic and British - what else could you ask for? Oh and not to mention Happy Hour until 6pm on Friday. 

Top Tip: if it's your birthday let them know & you'll get a free bottle of wine on the house.

Pop down and you might even spot a Gunner! 

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Rise and shine! Kick start your saturday with this - from Vaudeville's 'Tuesday Tunes' playlist. If that doesn't get you going in the morning we don't know what will! 

With sunshine forecast for Saturday in London there's no better way to spend it than outside. Make the most of the last quiet weekend before the Christmas shopping madness begins and get yourself down to The Kings Road and head to the Bluebird. It's a great little Saturday brunch spot and the perfect place to people watch. 

Even better than the brunch is their shop which is packed full of great stocking fillers, christmas gifts and maybe even a little something for you (go on, treat yourself).  

Gunner Laura Gregory is a big fan of Rory Dobner's work, which is stocked in the Bluebird Shop (hurrah!) Rory is a London based artist and illustrator, known for his intricate pen and ink designs. 

His little corner of the shop feels like stepping into a friend's living room. Filled with pictures, pillows and ceramic work - have a browse and see if there is anything that catches your eye. 

We love this skull candle. 

If you fancy a more market feel to your saturday shopping experience (with even more Rory Dobner) you have to check out Mama Brown's Pop Up Experience. Located in an old Victorian postal sorting office, 72 emerging and established designers and artists will be on offer over a period of 3 weeks (alongside organic homemade food). 

Shop at a lovely leisurely pace and when that gets too much, take a seat on one of the lounge style sofas, relax with a glass of bubbles from the bar and chill out with tunes from the resident DJ. Read all about it here. 

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With the weekend coming to a close Sunday should be all about recharging those batteries (especially as next week christmas parties start coming in thick & fast!) 

Gunner Sheridan Thomas has suggested the perfect Sunday movie for your sofa day - 'The Man From Nowhere' 

With 100% positive feedback on Rotten Tomatoes 'The Man From Nowhere' is a South Korean action-thriller starring Won Bin and directed by Lee Jeong-Beom. We think it's pretty badass. 

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On that note we hope you have a GREAT weekend! 

The Gunners. 

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pictures from:

http://rorydobner.com/galleries/interior-design/first-rory-dobner-shop-london

http://untitled-magazine.com/londons-largest-pop-up-shop-launches-in-chelsea/

http://lifestyleetc.co.uk/2012/10/04/the-world-according-to-illustrator-rory-dobner/

http://www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk/

http://theshopatbluebird.com/blog/rory-dobner-home-style/

london is cooling down but great guns is heating up

For many the lead up to the festive period is a time to wind down, tie up those loose ends and gear up for the New Year - not for the Gunners, we're steaming ahead and are busier than ever! 

GG director Jonty Toosey has been even busier since the last blog post. He's just directed a gorgeous spot for Alpro Soya Yoghurt.

Shot in Slovenia this heart-warming advert focuses on the mantra 'stay curious', and follows a woman's rediscovery of her love of photography. 

You can watch it HERE. 

As promised here is the link to his advert featuring Antonio Banderas - Kaspi Bank 

Jonty is currently in full on production mode at Great Guns with an exciting shoot confirmed for next week - we can't wait for you to see it so check back soon! 

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Our mammoth project with Russian Standard Vodka officially launched this month and some of the team spent an evening sipping on Russian Standard Moscow Mules and watching the amazing new advert at the British Science Museum in South Kensington.

GG director Calum Macdiarmid teamed up with My Agency and Jason Silva (a filmmaker and performance philosopher) for the shoot. It was partly filmed on location in Russia and partly in a west London studio. 

Edited in house by GG editor James Demetriou the spot is slick and utterly fascinating, with one viewer stating on youtube  'what in THE WORLD is a vodka scientist? I want that job.'

The launch was a huge success and you can actually watch how the event unfolded here and of course please have a look at the spot HERE. 

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Steven Boyle just filmed a lovely promo for the singing duo Elephant titled 'Shapeshifter'. Described on Davids Reviews as 'blissed out wonder' Shapeshifter seems to be about appreciating the return of a love that was lost. 

Backed by the sparse and stretched out Snowday, as icily cool as it sounds, full of chiaroscuro contrasts and flickering atmospherics, it's a release that suggests their debut album is set to be one of the standout albums of 2014.

Have a watch of the video HERE

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We've been sending out LOADS of Turn DVD's as we continue the festival rounds. 

And we've just been accepted into another festival - The London Short Film Festival which is another Oscar and Bafta booster! 

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Our beautiful Gold LIA award for Best Music Video arrived in the post this week and has taken prime place in the London office. 

Other exciting post includes our Shots Tickets - we can't wait for next thursday night and are crossing our fingers! 

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Our directors are busier than ever with some really exciting work coming up towards the end of the year and some great stuff to kick off 2014. 

Ron Scalpello continues to cut his film at Great Guns and has just shot an action-packed spot due to air in January. 

Andy Morahan has just jetted over to LA to shoot in both downtown LA and Vegas.

Paul Shearer has shot a brilliant spot for a well known sports brand featuring some familiar faces so watch this space for a link in the coming weeks. 

And Klaus Thymann has just been featured on i-D online talking about his five top extreme locations to shoot. 

Extreme locations include The Blue Lake in New Zealand and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. 

You can have a read of that article HERE 

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We polished of the week as all weeks should be polished off - with a lunch at The York and Albany in Camden. We headed down with the lovely folk at McCann Health and GG director Olly Blackburn and gorged ourselves on spicy wings, calamari, pizzas and burgers. 

Sorry to disappoint but the food was so delicious and the company so brilliant we totally forgot to take some snaps. Anyway, we wouldn't want to make you jealous. 

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As always have a wonderful weekend wherever you are & check back soon for more updates. 

For more regular updates follow us on twitter @greatgunstv 

you can't rain on our parade

Despite the incredibly miserable weather in London today nothing can dampen the mood at Great Guns HQ. Since our last blog post we've won some awards, our directors have shot some awesome new stuff, we've screened a #greatgunsshort in Toronto, and celebrated Halloween in true New York style. 

It's full on awards season in the industry at the moment and we've been having fun submitting and screening our spots. Shortly after the team flew back from Vegas for the LIA's we found out that Neft Vodka - Bad Motherfucker took home GOLD for Best Music Video!

UK Gunner Kelly flew over to Berlin earlier in the week and teamed up with German Gunner Robert Leisewitz to attend the Ciclope Festival 

It was a jam packed few days full of talks, screenings and parties topped off with the awards ceremony tonight. 

we were thrilled to find out that Neft Vodka - Bad Motherfucker has been awarded GOLD at this years festival for Branded Content and we will definitely tweet a picture of our shiny little ciclopse after tonight! 

Here's Gunner Robert Leisewitz with Diane Jackson from DDB Chicago at Ciclope Festival 

We're also very happy to say that Olly Blackburn's spot for Erbitux has just taken home GOLD at the RX Health Awards.

Neft Vodka - Bad Motherfucker, Nike and Subaru have all been shortlisted for Shots Awards on November 28th - watch this space and cross your fingers for a win or 2! 

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We're steaming ahead with #greatgunsshorts as Turn continues to do the festival rounds. This week saw us screen at the Toronto International Short Film Festival which is both Bafta and Oscar recognised. 

To keep up to date with all things short check out our website dedicated to it www.greatgunsshorts.com  

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Mikko at Sauna International repped by Great Guns has just shot a powerful new spot titled Baby Love (#babylove). The team being 2011's chilling 'Monsters' spot for Fragile Childhood were enlisted by The Cancer Society of Finland to drum up some conversation around the topic of smoking while pregnant. 

This hard hitting spot racked up over 30'000 views in its first 24 hours online. You can watch it here and read the interview from Mikko and creative director Marko Vuorensola here.

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GG director Jonty Toosey has just come back from Kazakhstan where he teamed up with Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas and Kaspi Bank to shoot a spot for the banks new PR campaign. The idea was simple: to get an A-list Hollywood star to be officially employed at the bank for 2 days. 

It was a simple enough execution for Jonty - he wanted to get as many people together and unleash them onto Antonio. They cast 100 people to feature in the advert and then added a dozen real customers into the mix. The result is hilarious. 'Everyone was over excited to meet him so the job was to orchestrate everything so that I got what I needed out of the meetings whilst letting the action unfold naturally. Banderas was a dream to work with. We had 5 hours to film the spot and he gave me everything I needed, including a toilet pit stop I asked him to do. We had a lot of fun.' 

The spot hasn't been released yet but watch this space for a link  very soon! 

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GG director Jenny Ash has once again teamed up with More4 to mark Remembrance Sunday by shooting a trio of award-winning actors: Noel Clarke, Christopher Eccleston and Vicky McClure to read a collection of war poetry from Seamus Heaney, John Agard, Carol Ann Duffy and Dunya Mikhail. The poems are each read as a stand-alone short film and will be broadcast between programmes throughout the weekend. 

The films will be showing alongside poems from World War One which Jenny shot last year, starring Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean, Stephen Graham and Sohpie Okonedo. 

You can watch the films here and read more about them. 

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We like to round up all our busy weeks with a bit of fun and thats exactly what Laura got up to for Halloween. She hosted a dinner party at Sen NYC. Here she is with 'fanged' co-owner of Sen Tora Matsuoka 

Her top tip for Sen is not to leave without trying the 'Demon Woman' Hot Chili Sake! 

On that note go out and enjoy the weekend and check back soon for more Gunners News.