Here's a slightly curious photo taken by Mr. Ben Herbert on our recent Create.net corporate video shoot.

But can you guess what Evan is saying to me? 2 bars of Dairy Milk and a packet of Cheese and Onion Walkers to the winner!

It’s a common short hand in the film fan community to slate British film director Paul WS Anderson.  He seems to be an easy target – all he does is direct shoddy video game adaptations and ruin much loved franchises.

I might be like King Cnut trying to hold back the tide – but I happen not to agree with the overwhelming majority on this, and here’s why.

New Technology

Paul is a keen adopter of new technology, from creating the first 3D time lapse web video for Deutsche Telekom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IcyaB0pGQoM

 to shooting one of the first widely shown film shot entirely on James Cameron’s Fusion Camera System 3D cameras (Resident Evil: Afterlife)

Alien Vs Predator

Criminally under-rated, wonderfully base monster movie for the internet generation. Significant because it’s written by original Alien scribers Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. Also (most importantly) because of this quote from the pre-aforementioned Jim Cameron

It was actually pretty good. I think of the five Alien films, I'd rate it third. I actually liked it. I actually liked it a lot

Shopping

Anderson’s first film – a hedonistic joy riding tale set in the mean streets of London, well reviewed and featuring Blade Runner type themes, a great soundtrack and Jude Law’s first starring role.

Deathrace

A stripped down, greased up tale starring the irrepressible Jason Statham – doing what he does best. Grunting, beating people up and looking mean!

Event Horizon

Perhaps it’s just me (and this really did get destroyed by the critics) But I found this to be a really scary, well paced freak-a-thon. The fact it has established a good cult following since its release suggests I’m not alone.

Mortal Kombat

The original and best – and the first video game adaptation that wasn’t totally rubbish. (Mario Bros anyone?) Again, much loved by the fan community, with a healthy cult following.

Resident Evil

This original Resident Evil film was controversial because it dropped practically everything that made the video game series so atmospheric and visually arresting. But it really made up for that by creating a thrilling, claustrophobic gore fest with some great death scenes.

Not King of Directors for hire

 It has been argued that Anderson heralded the way for the current crop of “directors for hire” – helmsmen employed by the studio purely to direct the latest knuckle chewing remake or reboot.

I think that Anderson is head and shoulders of the likes of Jack Snyder, Len Wiseman and John Moore (help!) in that there is a definite voice in his work. Clearly Anderson isn’t a great auteur in the mould of Scorsese, Kubrick or Hitchcock, but his trashy B movies each have a gleeful pop corn munching aesthetic of their own which seems a couple of degrees above the current Z grade Hollywood fare.

nb I haven’t seen Anderson’s latest The Three Musketeers – so I’ll have to reserve judgement on that

Merry Christmas!!

Luke Cairns

Butchers Hook Video

I think it was inevitable that the new Tintin would have traditionalists up in arms about Spielberg's new Tintin film. No one has taken to motion capture (unless in the context of a live action film (ie Gollum, King Kong, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.)

What's more troubling is Spielberg's current run of form, the super annoying Jamie Bell as the boy reporter and a *Scottish* Captain Haddock with a rocket launcher (!!)

And so it seems to have come to pass - have a look at a super scathing review of The Adventures of Tintin in the Guardian here.

Our friends at Casting Collective are currently looking for chaps over 6'8" (!!) or under 4'10" for a *major* Hollywood blockbuster filming in London and inside the M25 the second half of this year. Casting collective are a fantastic company and the leading providers of background artistes in the UK. Anyone of such freakish proportions (I'm only 6'5"!) should make themselves known!

http://www.castingcollective.co.uk/very-tall

An iphone 4...! and a top suite of professional post production software ;) sorry - trick question!

A small competition corner this morning. Can you guess the camera that Evan has used to produce this suprisingly compelling short film of his son Bran and some sticky blue squares...

Also - what do you think about the quality of this camera?

Answers below or submit an email! Answer coming tomorrow