Shadow Films

Thirty years ago to the day the first short documentary film I directed for ITV was broadcast. ‘Pins and Needles’ was about the increasingly becoming popularised art of body piercing. ITV told me to push the boat out when making it.

16th November 1995 ITV received literally hundred of phone calls about the film, no complaints but when could viewers see it again. It won several international film festivals and the clip below shows Huffty from Channel 4’s The Word introducing me, introducing it for it’s first repeat in 1996

ITV then engaged me to research a 4 part series called ‘Bodyworkers.’ Pre internet I somehow discovered some real characters and Channel 4 were about to green light the project when a new commissioner took over and sent a FAX saying he believed the series would be too extreme for Channel 4, so that was the end of that.

All these years ‘Bodyshockers’ presented by Katie Piper is along the same lines. Hey ho, there you sometimes go but I came up with the concept 19 years earlier. ‘Pins and Needles’ itself is only ten minutes long shot on super 16mm film and broadcast on Beta SP. This is from the first broadcast repeat in 1996.

Of all the complimentary press reviews the film received this was typical Daily Sport just prior to it screening the first time. I constructed it so that contributors could explain why and where they were piercing their bodies and allow viewers to make up their own mind. I’d be interested to know if people think it stands up 30 years later.

This me with MTV Producer Yvette Cheeseman as she signing her consent to filming form, the Daily Sport article and ‘Pins and Needles’ of course. Thanks to everyone who worked on it:

https://vimeo.com/235743016

On Tuesday 19th December I filmed and interviewed Katie Price and other cast members of ’Sleeping Beauty’ paying a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to spread some Christmas joy!

Merry Christmas everyone:

'Sleeping Beauty' Liverpool M&S Bank Arena Cast Interview at Alder Hey Hospital 19.12.2023

Mick Rock R.I.P.

One of my earliest professional commissions whilst being a fledgling music video director was as an official photographer at the memorial concert of Mick Ronson (most noted for being David Bowie's guitarist during his 'Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars' period), at Hammersmith Odeon in London on 29th April 1994.

I’d previously shot the cover photo for original S*x Pistols bass player Glen Matlock's forthcoming band’s album, who picked me up at my then flat in Brixton en-route to the show with his band The Maverick’s. Stood next to me in the press pit was world renowned Rock photographer Mick Rock (David Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Lou Reed, S*x Pistols, Blondie etc, etc).

I clicked away as Roger Daltrey, Captain Sensible, Bill Wyman, Roger Taylor, Ian Hunter, Mick Jones of The Clash and original ‘Spiders From Mars’ Trevor Bolder, Mick Woodmansey all took the stage. There were rumours that David Bowie himself might make an appearance, Ziggy Stardust would have been five feet away from me and my camera. Sadly he didn't show up.

I was taking pictures so enthusiastically that I stupidly ran out of film (no memory cards in those days). I humbly asked Mick Rock if I could purchase some from him, he then handed me loads of rolls of really expensive film and just said "It's OK man".

In 2001 there was an exhibition of his work at The Mathew Street Gallery in Liverpool. I’d been filming the Mathew Street Beatles Festival as part of multi-camera webcast and knew the people who ran the gallery who were aware that I was hoping to meet Mick again.

When I finally turned up they told me I’d just missed him. As I admired the huge framed prints of David Bowie, Queen, Lou Reed etc that adorned the walls, suddenly a smiling Mick Rock appeared and gave me a personally signed copy of his book ‘Blood and Glitter’. What a nice gentleman!

From the pre-download days when one looked at an album cover when listening to an LP Mick’s body of work is phenomenal, he captured so many iconic images.

A super talented photographer, who always encouraged others and all round terrific fella.

R.I.P. Mick Rock, photographer legend!

‘King Rocker’ Robert Lloyd & The Nightingales (Sky Arts 1 6th Feb 2021)

Flicking through channels earlier this evening I stumbled across a hugely entertaining music documentary I didn’t know had been made featuring Robert Lloyd, my former music video producer for a time during the mid 1990’s.

For a time I directed music videos out of ‘Pig (music video) Productions’ on Wardour Street in London. I then joined ‘Solid Films’ in Camden before ‘Pig’ folded and Rob became a postman.

Always a down to earth nice, dry witted fella we continued to play five-a-side football together every Sunday for a while after.

I knew of his past involvements being the front man for both ‘The Prefects’ and ‘The Nightingales’, both championed by the late John Peel and him running Vindaloo records, which gave the world ‘Ted Chippington’ and ‘We’ve Got A Fuzzbox and We’re Gonna Use It’.

I haven’t seen Rob since, I was aware he was involved with music again and enjoyed watching the film.

This was our production company five-a-side team back in 1996 L-R, back row to front: (the late) Steven Wells, former music journalist and writer for the NME (sadly passed away in 2009), The Cat (the accountant), Robert Lloyd, Neil ‘Chopper’ Harris (as they nicknamed me after my film ‘Pins and Needles’), Simon ‘Spider’ George (then production assistant), since Emmy, RTS, BTAA British Arrow and Da&d award winning director, writer and Executive producer.

We weren’t the best five-a-side team ever, but for some reason other teams seemed scared when we went on the pitch. I’ve no idea why, the slogan on our shirts was “If It Ain’t Broken - Break It!” Swells was just clumsy and hoofed the ball everywhere but to a player on his own team, that’s all.

Good to see Rob doing something he loves, here’s the official trailer from the film ‘King Rocker’:

https://youtu.be/UEUuvN9S9I4

Yesterday saw the funeral in London of Jay Wiffen (Jayster), one of the many guitarists who served at one time or another in Mike Spenser’s band The Cannibals.

One of John Pee’s favourite all time songs was ‘Nothing Takes The Place Of You’ by The Cannibals.

In 2000 I made a film for Channel 4 about Mike and the band, featuring John Peel. Jay features firstly at 14’58” and again at 19’48”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11R04qV9t7w&t=45s

R.I.P. Jay!