Awards: The Book of Birdie wins 'Best Feature Film'

One of the world's coolest female-led film festivals 'Stranger With My Face' has just awarded Best Feature Film 2017 to my film 'THE BOOK OF BIRDIE '. 

It was thrilling to attend, and to participate in the Attic Lab 2017, brewing up my next script!

Directing: First Look Trailer for The Book of Birdie

The first official trailer is out for my first feature film as a director,
premiering at Göteborg Film Festival. 
Find out more at www.thebookofbirdie.com

TV Storyboards for VFX: Barbarians Rising - History with Guts

The sizzling new trailer is out for BARBARIANS RISING on the History Channel.  Some of my favourite shots I've ever gotten to draw - really brutal and vital history coming alive.
You can check out more on the History Channel official page. 

Feature Film: Direction The Book of Birdie

THE BOOK OF BIRDIE is an independent feature film, currently in post-production in London UK.  Shot on location in Wisconsin.   It's my first feature as the director, coming soon!

Matte Painting: Star Wars Opening Night in London

Digital Insanity crafted some amazing projections for the opening of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS in London. It was an incredible event - and I jumped on board for some of the matte painting of the projection backgrounds for the main stage.

You can see the artwork in the background here:

Props graphic design: Song of the Kraken

Prop graphic design: 

I designed this book that our main character Niko is reading in feature film The Winter. 

We've even had a few people ask where they can buy it to read it.  

'Song of the Kraken'

Short Film Storyboards: Twist-Tie

 Working up the storyboards for my short film project. It's a comical, quirky film, so I'm finishing with some colour to give them character.

Short Film Production: Twist-Tie

At the moment, I'm working on a load of storyboards for TV (October Films' Barbarians Rising for the History Channel) and lots of TV pitch art.

Meanwhile, I'm about to shoot my first (live action) short film in the director's seat:
'Twist-Tie' is a quirky comic/fantasy short, featuring an uninvited house pest from an expected source.

Working it out as creatively as possibly on a modest budget, it's a sweet little story, and I'm excited to get shooting!

Sketchbook: Tudor portraits

A lot of writing and shooting lately, between matte painting, but I finally got a little time in for ink drawing.


Nearly finished:
Jane Seymour
Tudor Portaits gel ink and ballpoint pen
Inspired by: Holbein's painting of Jane

Matte Painting - Kingsman: The Secret Service Premiere Projection Show

Worked with the fantastic team at Atomic Arts on the premiere projection show for Kingsman: The Secret Service. The whole front of the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square was lit up for the red carpet event, and live concert by Take That.

The film's great fun.  I worked on the matte paintings and background design of the projections, and created texture files for animation.

Matte painting is strikingly similar to theatre backdrop painting for me, just it's all digital. (Much less mess, which is nice, and you swap out the buckets and brushes for a wacom pen.)
Watch the show live here.

Theatre Projection Design: The 12 Trials of Hercules

The 12 Trials Of Hercules - projection design at the Pantheon, Greece from Konstantinos Koutsoliotas on Vimeo.

The 12 Trials of Hercules
Pantheon Theatre
Athens, Greese

Projection Animation by Melancholy Star
Collaboration with Konstantinos Koutsoliotas, Janet Lennon
Role: Shadow play design and matte painting

Matte Painting: The Gambler

Image: Atomic Arts, Paramount Pictures copyright 2014

Matte Painting: For The Gambler (2014), I worked on several shots, transforming LA backgrounds, such as this scene in the rain.

You can see the trailer here.

Production Design/Matte Painting: In Space - A Zero-G Shave

'Shaving in space can be... challenging. Maintaining fabulous facial hair shouldn't be this hard.'
This video was a quick pitch for a shaving company.

The background is a matte painting of mine.
We put the piece together over a weekend, shot in our flat on a 5D.

Performance: Theo Albanis
Direction, VFX: Konstantinos Koutsoliotas
Matte Painting: Elizabeth E. Schuch
Sound Effect: daveincamas

(c) 2014 Melancholy Star, London

Sketchbook: Markers

As a passionate user of watercolour, and a frequent digital board artist, it's always nice to work in a new media.  I've been working on a job this month that needed to be in marker to match with previous shots, and it's been a nice change.

Starting with toned greys and ink, I then used the same technique for the base of digitally painted design renderings. Quick and simple, easy to use when I'm working away from my desk.  What's not to love? 

2014 Hellenic Academy Awards: Nominee for Best Scenography!

The 2014 Greek Academy Awards Finalists have been announced, 

and my design for 'The Winter' is in the running for Best Scenography! 

A huge thanks is due to my Art Department Crew: Vassilis Triantaphyllou, Anami Tara Shucart (the costumer), Alex Nicolaides, and the lovely work of the VFX by Konstantinos Koutsoliotas, the DOP Kuba Kossak, animation by Jan Lennon, and the very special haunted house we shot in. 

See more of the project here.

www.winter-thefilm.com

Short Film Concept Art In Development: The Unnamed Planet

Black and White storyboards, and Concept Art for short film in development:

a spooky Lovecraftian space adventure, directed by Jem Mehmet.

https://www.facebook.com/theunnamedplanet

Sketchbook: Julius Caesar

Working on an illustration of the notorious Roman Dictator:

TV Storyboards: Discovery Curiosity - Sun Storm

Solar Storm - Digital Storyboard Art 

The Discovery Channel
Sun Storm
VFX by Prime Focus
Role: Storyboard Artist
All rights reserved, all artwork is property of The Discovery Channel and Prime Focus.

See more of the digitally painted storyboards:

TV: Storyboard Art: 'Inside the Human Body' BBC

'Inside the Human Body'

TV Series, BBC1

4 Episodes

2011

Series exploring the wonders of the human body. Using spectacular graphics based on real images and the latest scientific research, Michael Mosley takes viewers on a voyage through the workings of the inner human universe.

Producers: Alice Harper, Andrew Cohen

Directors: Nat Sharman, Rob Liddell, Annabel Gillings,Gideon Bradshaw

Sketchbook: Opera Illustration Series

Opera Illustrations created exclusively for The Metropolitan Opera

Das Rheingold

Framed inside the golden Ring is Freia, the Goddess of youth and beauty. 

To preserve her services in Valhalla the gods seek out the Ring that will shape their own demise. 

From: Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen 

TV Storyboards: 'Supersized Earth' BBC

'Supersized Earth'
TV Series, BBC1
3 Episodes, 2012 Role: Storyboard Artist

The spectacular story of how we have redesigned our planet to build the modern world. Dallas Campbell explores our most ambitious creations, joining the people who have made the impossible, possible.

Producer: Simon Finch  VFX: Prime Focus
Directors: Rob Liddell, Nat Sharman, Nigel Walk

Sketchbook: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18

By special request, I created this artwork for Sonnet 18.  Playing with Elizabethan lace as the graphic inspiration, I tried to weave elements from the visuals of the poem: flowers, wind, and the warmth of the summer sun.

The original sketch is worked with fine pencil, then overlaid in black ink.  I then work watercolour and Sennelier inks over the lacey  lines for the full colour finish.

This sonnet is a part of my ongoing drawings of Shakespeare in a series I call 'Immortal Longings.
You can see all the Shakespeare art at www.immortallongings.com

New Trailer: The Winter (Feature Film - Producer/Production Designer)

Brand new trailer for our first in-house production.  Now complete, 'The Winter' is a feature-length Greek language fantasy feature film.  From script to the finish of the edit, I've been involved on the creative producing side of the action, and it has been an amazing learning process.
Coming Soon!
Main Site: http://www.winter-thefilm.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winterthefilm

Scenic Rendering: TED Global 2013 Stage Design

Had the pleasure of designing the main Stage Set for the TED  Global 2013 conference in Edinburgh.  With the thrilling speakers and the magic of Liz Berry's lighting, it was an amazing experience.  The set combined concepts from photons and wider lunar landscapes. The challenge was in creating something that would play equally well for the live audience and for the many cameras and viewers at home.  

Plus, we got to see quad copters in action.  

TV Storyboards: The British (Episodes 6 - 7) Victorians, WWII

TV: 'The British'

Documentary TV Series by Nutopia
2012 on Sky7 Episodes

UK

Storyboard Artist

For 'The British', I created storyboards for CGI and live action sequences across the entire series in pencil with digital colouring.

Episodes 6-7 Victorians, WWII, Suburbs

TV Storyboards: The British (Episodes 3, 4, 5) London Fire and Rebuild, Nelson, Drake

TV: 'The British'

Documentary TV Series by Nutopia
2012 on Sky
7 EpisodesUK

Storyboard Artist

For 'The British', I created storyboards for CGI and live action sequences across the entire series in pencil with digital colouring.

Episodes 4, 5, 6 : Trafalgar, Gutenberg, The London Fire, St. Paul's, Crystal Palace.

Feature Film Art Department: 1... Nenokkadine

'1...Nenokaddine' 2014
Feature FilmArt Department: London Shoot
Role: Stand-by Art Director/Props
Production Designer: Caroline Steiner

Director: Sukumar

A Telugu language blockbuster, shot in a range of locations in and around London.  A veritable whirlwind of a shoot, and a pleasure meeting a well-travelled crew.

Feature Film Production Design: The Winter

Feature: 'The Winter'

Low Budget Feature Film
Directed & Written by: Konstantinos Koutsoliotas
Production Design & Written by: Elizabeth E. Schuch

Shot on location in Greece in 20 days. Now in post-production, to be released Winter 2013/14.
Greek language feature film, suspense/fantasy/psychological genre.

TV Storyboards: The British (Episodes 1-2) Ancient, Roman, Medieval

TV: 'The British'
Documentary TV Series by Nutopia
2012 on Sky
7 EpisodesUK
Storyboard Artist

TV Storyboards: Mankind - The Story of All of Us

'Mankind'
TV: The History Channel
Nutopia
Storyboard Artist for CGI

Built in parallel with their other ambitious history documentary 'The British', I arrived late in the process to help out with storyboards for the CGI sequences during the edit.  The shear scale of the project is incredible, covering human existence and achievement across the planet.

TV Storyboards: Rise of the Continents

TV: BBC - Rise of the Continents (Episode, Australia)
Director: Annabel Gillings
Role: Storyboard Artist

For ' Rise of the Continents', I was called in during post-production for some quick pickups on the Australia episode for one of the VFX sequences. An incredible series, with a huge scope.

Feature Film Concept/Pitch Art: The Silent Storm

Feature Film: Storyboard/Pitch Art
'The Silent Storm'
Director: Corinna McFarlane
Producer: Nicky Bentham

Currently Filming: 2014
An enigmatic outsider living on a remote Scottish island finds herself caught between her minister husband and the delinquent who is sent to live with them.





For 'The Silent Storm' I produced concept renderings and a storyboard scene sample for the Cannes Pitch Package.

TV: Concept Art & Stills: 'Inside the Human Body' BBC

'Inside the Human Body'

TV Series, BBC1

4 Episodes

2011

Series exploring the wonders of the human body. Using spectacular graphics based on real images and the latest scientific research, Michael Mosley takes viewers on a voyage through the workings of the inner human universe.

Producers: Alice Harper, Andrew Cohen

Directors: Nat Sharman, Rob Liddell, Annabel Gillings,Gideon Bradshaw

Costume Design: Circus & Aerial

Costume Design

"In theatre, I love to emerge the crowd in the action unfolding around them: to feel the claustrophobia of a trench, the thrill of dangerous acrobatics. Texture, psychology, and architecture are passions of mine. From gritty realism to art nouveau, I love finding the style to suit the action and the story.

With film, the opportunity to direct the audience's attention and emphasize specific moments with the frame of the set is fantastic. I try to bring my theatre sensibilities and imagination into real world locations. Storyboarding and 3D experience are great tools for understanding how to best get the director's ideas and the story to come to life."