D&AD Next Director Award

There's a very exciting new awards show on the scene. Earlier in the year D&AD launched the Next Director Awards at Google HQ in London. Joining forces with MOFILM and YouTube, the awards aim to discover and showcase the next generation of talented directors from around the world. 

ARE YOU NEXT? 

It's open to all aspiring directors of any age, providing they have less than two years industry experience as a director, and any work can be entered from short films to music videos as long as they are 5 minutes or under. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

All shortlisted directors will have their work showcased worldwide by MOFILM. The Winner receives a D&AD Next Director Pencil, a mentoring scheme, a production grand from MOFILM, appearing in D&AD Annual 2015 and tickets and flights to the D&AD Awards Ceremony in May 2015. 

The first shortlist was announced yesterday after much deliberation and fierce competition. Laura Gregory who is the foreman of the jury comments, "Themes of loss, love, perversion, depression, addiction and nutty humour prevailed. The shortlist is a balance of every of every element and the best was almost a unanimous choice. The overall quality was excellent."

We're super happy to say that one of Great Guns' new signings Joseph Oxford has been shortlisted in the first round for his touching short film Me + Her - which you can watch HERE

You can watch all the shortlisted films BY CLICKING HERE

Tempted....? Well we have good news! There are 2 more deadlines over the next 6 months, so you still have 2 more chances to enter. Submit a film you've already made, take a leap and get out there and shoot that film you've always wanted to shoot... and then ENTER IT. 

Here are the dates you need: 

15 October 2014 - Round Two Deadline 11 November 2014 - Round Two Judging 28 February 2015 - Round Three Deadline 20 April 2015 - Round Three Judging 21 April 2015 - Annual Judging 15 May 2015 - Annual Ceremony

Good Luck! 

The Gunners x 

#NextDirectorAward

cheers to a leisurely long weekend

The first long bank holiday weekend of the year has reared its head and we've got some great weekend suggestions for you. But first things first - we have some new work out! 

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Olivier Venturini and Great Guns joined forces with Brothers & Sisters to film the first brand film for Matt Cooper's new venture The Fableists - a totally sustainable children's clothing line. 

Shot on location around London, the film follows the journey of Finn, a fearless young boy who escapes to an urban jungle on his skateboard. 

The two minute film is the first in a series of films which will document extraordinary kids around the world. Kids with gifts, drive and ambitions who have overcome adversity.  

You can watch the film on YouTube - CLICK HERE and read the full press release on LBB HERE.

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Some of you might already know but Vaudeville owned by the lovely Dan Jones have a sound suite in our London office in the basement. Dan's just made a move across the pond, and when he was looking to set up shop over in LA it seemed apt that it would be out of our LA office. 

LA looking b-e-a-utiful on the day of the Vaudeville launch. 

We don't have many pictures from the launch and have yet to show you all what our LA office looks like. But here's a little party pic from the outside terrace. 

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In awards news - Ilya Naishuller's 'Bad Motherfucker' has just been awarded an Official Honoree of the 18th Annual Webby Awards. With over 12,000 entries this year, we're so pleased that it's been recognised in the top 20 percent of all work entered! You can watch the film on YouTube - CLICK HERE. 

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On to our bank holiday suggestions. First up TURN is screening this sunday at the London Independent Film Festival. From 1pm onwards on Easter Sunday you can watch it alongside a selection of other great short films at the Short Wave cinema 

Sticking to the film theme, if you want to get stuck into something slightly longer & a lot more violent - Great Guns producer Sheridan Thomas recommends THE RAID 2. 

press pic from The Raid 2

Packed with a relentless barrage of action scenes, the two-and-a-half hour epic impresses with its amazing combat scenes entwined with a surprisingly gripping crime-drama story. Watch the trailer HERE and if you can handle the gore, catch it at pretty much any cinema. 

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Now no bank holiday weekend is complete without a great meal. And Laura Gregory has suggested The Perkin Reveller. It's situated on the grassy bank below the Tower of London - you could kill two birds with one stone... pay a visit to the Tower and then pop for lunch afterwards. 

If the weather is nice we suggest sitting out on the terrace, but knowing London it will rain... which is fine because the inside is just as nice! 

All their food is seasonal and homemade, using local produce and fresh ingredients. Their menu changes according to season, so the best way to find out what's good is to go and try it for yourself. 

At Easter you can't go wrong with a gorgeous leg of lamb and lashings of mint sauce. 

They do killer cocktails too! Here's one for the grownup kids. 

(all pictures courtesy of The Perkin Reveller) 

You can reserve online or give them a call : +44 (0)20 3166 6949

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On that note we hope you all have a wonderful & relaxing Easter. 

Love, The Gunners x 

www.greatguns.com

spring has sprung!

London finally seems to be heating up (having said that it has just hailed in Camden and it's now raining) However, there is blossom on the trees, the sun has been shining and people are starting to sit outside with their morning coffees - the clocks even spring forward this sunday (see what we did there?) We think there's no better way to start a new post than with good news...

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We're excited to announce that we've just signed one of New York's emerging beauty director's Austin Lynn Austin. His portfolio is charged with stunning imagery and energy. With an extensive visual range which is graceful, elegant, avant-garde and dynamic. 

You can read the full press release HERE and watch his showreel HERE 

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In other news Ron Scalpello is just putting the finishing touches to his new feature film Pressure. 

He talks all about it over on David Reviews and you can read the full interview on our news page right HERE. Keep a look out here for release dates etc! 

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We have some new work out as well. Doug Keeve has just shot a new short titled 'The Fight' in collaboration with Victoria Bartlett of NY fashion label VPL and legendary fashion writer and New York Bon Vivant, Glenn O'Brien. 

The brand's stylish active wear-inspired clothing is showcased by Belgian model Hannelore Knuts who comes to blows with boxer Kwame Davis, over the course of an unpredictable boxing match between the sexes. You can watch the film HERE

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Moving on from new signings and work - last week Gunners Jane and Elise stepped in for Ilya Naishuller at the Creative Circle awards at the Roundhouse in Camden (he's currently finishing his first feature film). Ilya was up for Best Direction and he took home GOLD on the night!

(apologies for all the overly pink photos - it was VERY pink!)

arriving on the pink carpet! 

We ate watermelon, parma ham and cream with baby leaves. Followed by lamb shank with mashed potatoes and veggies

and topped off with a huge selection of desserts. Strawberry & cream macaroons, tiramisu chocolate pots, mini treacle tarts and a lemony mousse with lavender biscuits. 

A huge congratulations to Ilya for another win! The rest of the evening descended into a dance off with Eliza Doolittle so the photos end here! It was a fantastic night - thanks Creative Circle. 

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To tie it all up here's our weekend restaurant suggestion. If you're in NYC this weekend you have to check this place out. Tucked away in a little corner of Soho Back Forty West is an effortlessly cool bar / restaurant with great food and drinks to boot. 

We highly recommend the Damson Gin & Tonic 

 

It's a great little spot to dive into when you've had enough of shopping or the cold (it's still freezing there!)

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Enjoy the rest of the week & look out for a new post soon. 

The Gunners x 

love to love you

We thought we'd kick off this blog post in true Valentine style with Donna Summer and 'Love to Love You'. You might remember we blogged about this last year when Remo Camerota had just directed the spot. 

Well it's just been named as one of the best visual artist-directed music videos of all time! 

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A more unconventional take on the usual V-day message is Calum Macdiarmid's new short film / music video for new London band Three Laws. Liquid Spirit features a beautiful invisible woman who haunts an elderly church caretaker. 

The film is a twist on the traditional horror format, and plays on the fact that not all spirits are frightening. It was shot on Red Epic over two days on location in a North London church and a green screen studio. 

You can watch the film HERE

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Klaus Thymann has had a very busy few months. He's been filming a short documentary on Recife's street kids. The film goes live on the 17th Feb after an in-house launch at BBH today (check twitter for a live update from the Gunners at BBH at around 5pm) 

We can't give much more away just yet, but follow us on twitter / Facebook and look out for the release on Monday! 

Klaus has also just been featured in Creative Review for his photos documenting a whole town. 

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In other news... we sent Andy Morahan off to LA and Vegas to shoot a commercial for Virgin's new casino venture. 

'Virgins Welcome' was commissioned by Beta London and uses Andy's iconic Rock & Roll style to bring this spot to life. 

You can watch it HERE

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We're going to try and start including a favourite restaurant / cafe / place / thing to see in each post from now on. Seeing as the Gunners are all over the world, we're hoping we can start sharing things from our travels! 

This week we've got a suggestion from EP Jane Gershfield who recently popped across the pond to New York. 

She's declared KeKo Café on 121 Madison Avenue as her new go-to place for coffee, tea or brunch. 

Jane recommends their Tunisian Breakfasts & to drop in for a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon to sample their amazing cakes. 

Maybe if you're in The City for V-day you can treat your other half. 

p.s. if you've got any great suggestions of places to go and things to eat then let us know via a comment on this post! 

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Now to get your Valentines off to a smooth start, whether you're out with your partner or off to party with the singles... put this on and start your weekend the right way.

The Gunners x