STA Documentary

over here!

2010-12-14T10:06:00.001Z

i've neglected this blog for some time now. most of my updates these days are over at the facebook page: clicky clicky. pop over and have a look!

squeezing it in

2010-07-21T18:38:00.002+01:00

i finally got around to catching up with lafaro at their recent london gig - see my previous blog entry for a tasty wee video. i've also started a facebook page for the doc where i'll be posting bits and bobs like photos, micro blogs etc so head over and become a fan or like it or whatever it is you do!

facebook page

2010-07-21T18:36:00.000+01:00

running up that hill...

2010-06-28T06:22:00.002+01:00

I got into a stride for a while with the doc. and i'm really excited about the project again, after talking to ash and andrew from sta about the whole project as well as what sta have planned for the year ahead. so i completed a rough cut of about 75% of the film and handed it over for feedback, which was encouraging - i feel that i'm heading in the right direction after all. And i will be getting some help with filming some of the things that i can't get to - things going on back home in northern ireland for example. Its all looking good to have a finished product by the end of the year.

ac.

kick in the arse

2010-05-26T21:38:00.002+01:00

I met up with Ash and Andrew from STA last night to have a chat about the doc. it has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the project - i now have a real goal to aim for with their help and encouragement. I can see an end in sight even though the discussions have resulted in even more planned shoots. Today i revisited what i had done to this point and mostly swapped a few bits and pieces around. the run time is now at about 55 minutes but even at this stage there is flab to cut out - maybe i'll save that for a directors cut. i've also been thinking that it might be an idea to resume the video diaries - i found them useful in the past for reflecting on what i'd done and where to go next, as well as keeping everyone up to date on the production progress. if time allows, they will return! but now alas, its off to bed for me!

fundamental Terracism

2010-03-20T19:00:00.002Z

post-production rumbles on with the documentary. watched back the interview i did with Moi Non Plus this morning on my i-pod whilst lying in bed. the idea of having rushes on my i-pod was so that i could log at my leisure without having to have to sit in front of final cut. but i just sat in bed and watched. they were great guys to talk to but i failed on the logging task!

tomorrow, i'm off to meet up with Daniel from STA for a side project. the clue is in the title. very exciting!

the promised video

2010-03-02T14:19:00.003Z

here is a short excerpt from the first rough cut. Let Our Enemies Beware live at This Ain't No Picnic...

catching a wave

2010-03-02T13:55:00.002Z

back to the doc today. i think the sunshine inspired me. i've been working on the cahir o'doherty section this morning. he talks a lot. and then some more. for those who don't know, cahir is the front-man of fighting with wire, one of STA's breakthrough acts, soon to head off to SXSW for the second time. i'll soon be up to the hour mark on this preliminary cut of the film and closer to showing it to some folk who can give their feedback. this will be the first of many versions i'm sure before the final piece is tidied up with all of the transitions and effects and things put in and the soundtrack mixed. all i have to do is not get distracted by all the side-projects that the amassed material could be used for - a piece about Alan MX, one about FWW, one about the Northern Irish music scene, a piece about This Ain't No Picnic... it goes on. i'll post some more video very soon. maybe today. till then,

cheerio!

aaron

settling in to it

2010-02-05T20:40:00.002Z

i've been getting small bits and pieces added to the film this last week. most of my attention has been focused on the BBC Maida Vale sessions and it suddenly sunk in that that happened almost two years ago! I've also been revisiting This Ain't No Picnic. TANP could take up a whole film on its own - so many great bands!

so the next week and a bit will see more editing of little bits before i have a few days break from everything, then I'll be able to start scheduling in more meaningful edit time.

still going...

2010-01-26T20:21:00.009Z

i have started editing some of the footage that I have gathered thus far. i am determined to get this whole thing out of the way by the summer - its just silly now that i've neglected it for so long and let it drag out. the problem i'm facing now is the one that i knew was coming - there are so many angles, so many subjects, so many performances and so many ways to tell the story of the label that at every turn and point of decision, there are endless possibilities of where it could be taken. definitely the last time i take on something this big! until next time of course... but to prove the process is well underway...

so this is what shooting so much stuff presents me with...

the edit suite in the corner of the living room which of course my better half loves having there...

lots of tea required to lubricate the creative process...

while final cut renders away...

renewed vision

2010-01-13T19:04:00.003Z

its been a while since i posted anything here, for which i apologize, to anybody who is interested in my ramblings. its a new year - i can't believe it! i haven't really done any more filming in the last few months, save for a couple of aborted attempts to get 4 or 5 magicians on camera... i did manage to grab the moi non plus for an interview when they hit town in the autumn. very nice chaps they were too. but now i have it in my mind to put this whole thing together so i've started editing in a rather fool hardy fashion - not following convention.

normally, you would sit down and watch and log each piece of material you have collected and start to piece together a "paper edit" - mapping the outline and narrative of the piece so you know where to find the clips you need and form the story. but i'm not doing that. which is really rather silly. I have logged some of the material - interviews and such and it is very helpful but i have been getting by on gut feeling for now, making decisions, then deciding that those were the wrong decisions, then deciding that i went the wrong way etc etc. today, it seems like the project will result in a long form documentary. but that will change several times over i am sure.

i still have some more interviews and things to get but it is finally starting to come together. it is cathartic to see this, warts and all, as i review the great footage and moments we've captured, as well as the things i did wrong and have learnt from. the end is not quite in sight but i know its out there...

derry finally...

2009-08-09T15:02:00.002+01:00

so a year and a half after the first day's filming for this documentary project, I've finally managed to bring a camera back to derry, where STA is now based. i want to fill one day (tuesday, if you're at all interested) with shooting. first off, I'll be going to see Stephen McCauley at BBC radio Foyle. He presents a weekly programme called "electric mainline" which helps to promote local up and coming talent, celebrate the successes of local bands and artists as well as playing music that would not otherwise be heard on a local bbc station. and rather good the show is too.

so after a chat with stephen, its off to meet the main man, the head honcho, the tsar of STA, Mister Andrew Ferris at STA HQ. as with everyone who has been kind enough to appear on camera and chat with me, there is so much to talk about with Andrew. but with him, there is such a vast array of subjects all linked to the label and the music industry. he's been there and done that and has plans. many plans.

this would be the last major interview for the doc but there is still so much that i could film and want to film but i will have to stop somewhere and start putting the damned thing together.

ac.

...

2009-05-11T12:30:00.002+01:00

still alive but the doc has had to take a back seat for a few weeks while i've been sorting out my work as well as releasing a cd with my band. but i'll be back into it very soon, even though i'm somewhat afraid to return to it. there is just so much material to get through and so many more possible things to shoot for it that i almost never want to stop accumulating material. it could be a reality series instead of a one-off. my mind is even drifting towards a sequel of sorts, or even regualr updates in a video podcast form - a little update on the bands, maybe promo videos or performances every couple of months. must concentrate and get the main event out of the way first!

shark fishing

2009-04-02T19:00:00.003+01:00

production stumbles on. it has taken a back seat lately as i've been sorting out work, my band, my new flat and the editing system. but i've begun the task of digitising everything so i can begin the long and arduous process of logging the material, choosing the best stuff and then assembling the story. the hardest part for me will be stopping filming - i enjoy that part so much and sta just keep having great things happening that i always want to cover but this thing needs to be finished. so the aim is to stop shooting before the summer (my schedule allowing), early summer at the latest.

the latest bit of material i shot was an interview with We Versus The Shark who hail from Athens, Georgia in the US - STA's first and so far only signing from outside the UK / Ireland. They were really nice guys and gave a great interview. so here is a very short introduction to the band, by the band.

thanks to them for the interview!

back in the saddle

2009-02-09T20:50:00.002Z

just got back from filming some bits and pieces with fighting with wire before they played barfly in london tonight. unfortunately i had to leave before the gig but the band were in great form. ash, responsible for the sta blog was also there to record fww for a new edition of the sta blogcast. cheers to fww and charlene their long suffering tour manager - check out their tour diaries on youtube (www.youtube.com/FightingWithWireTV). and look out for the sta blogcast (www.smalltownamericarecords.blogspot.com).

it's CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-15T19:35:00.004Z

here's a short but sweet look at the STA christmas show on Sunday 14th December. held at KCLSU, the event was headlined by The Thermals. unfortunately i was only able to stay for a short while but it seemd to be going very well when i left. if you were there, i hope you enjoyed it and if you weren't then you probably missed out on another corker!

hope you all have a great christmas - see you in the new year! ac

taking (another) break

2008-11-20T16:51:00.002Z

i've been moving flat so it's left little time for thinking about the film. i did mmanage to get a rough edit of the Calories performance from TANP. the next event from STA will be the Christmas show headlined by The THermals. it should be a great show too. in between, i hope to catch up with mr pocock to chat about his podcasts and of course i need to organise a trip to derry to see how the new office is doing and chat to andrew, brian and some other folks back there. now the next problem will be making room around a new job which i will be starting in a couple of weeks - its been a while since i've had constant steady work but it'll pay the bills and pay for the edit suite...

priorities

2008-10-23T16:08:00.002+01:00

ah priorities... basically, the biggest obstacle to following through on this documentary has finally reared its head. real life. and real life loves to munch through time and money.

i have been putting off building or buying an edit system for about six months now and i have reached the point where it will be financial issues putting it off for me. i'm lucky enough to be buying a flat. unfortunately, its going to eat a huge hole in my bank balance, which when you're self employed as i am, requires keeping enough in reserve for those times when you're not working much. this leaves little change for an edit suite.

but biding my time, i have been practising away on a free edit suite - Avid Free DV (sadly no longer available). i have mainly been cutting live performances, as you can see in the This Ain't No Picnic special video diaries.

so in my spare time, waiting for the moment to take the documentary into post production, i'll be cutting more performances and diary entries.

ac

This Ain't No Picnic Part Two

2008-10-12T21:30:00.006+01:00

As promised, here is part two, featuring a live performance by Alan MX, more of me rambling and some sights from the festival. including plenty of STA general manager Daniel - because I know how much he loves being on camera...

This Ain't No Picnic

2008-10-10T16:06:00.004+01:00

As part of the documentary, I dragged Ciaran along to "This Ain't No Picnic", Smalltown America's festival held to raise money for charity by getting some of the best bands around to perform. This is part one of two, featuring a full live track from The Young Playthings.

Part Two will follow very soon.

notting hill arts club

2008-07-25T14:40:00.002+01:00

not sure where to go next - loads of exciting things coming up for sta and their artists (including a couple of new ones!) but above, you can watch a little about the occasional showcases organised by sta in assosciation with ROTa at the NHAC. theres somehing going on pretty much every saturday afternoon, so if you're around london with nothing to do, drop in (its free, the music is great and there seems to be different beer every time you visit...

Revenge Of The Video Diary

2008-06-29T23:02:00.000+01:00

yes, i know it's been a long time. and yes, quite a lot has happened. and yes, i was there to film some of it. so here's a sneaky peek for you from the sta sessions at maida vale for bbc radio one.

more to come from the sta notting hill arts club gigs as well as me talking crap again (probably) - don't worry, i'm not in this one!

get on with it!

2008-05-23T23:28:00.000+01:00

as ever, the need to pay rent etc. has curtailed activity on the doc. however, i should be getting back to it in a couple of weeks time as well as finally sorting out an edit system. next stop will likely be another showcase gig at notting arts club with another great line-up. also there will be a chance to get a sneak peak behind a new sta project and some members of the sta family we haven't met yet. oh, and the web diaries will soon re-appear!

rock (and indie electronic...) legends

2008-05-02T00:43:00.000+01:00

last week i was lucky to be able to head along to the bbc's amazing and legendary maida vale studios to shoot a special sta session for the doc. alanMX and fighting with wire each performed sets in front of a small invited audience. the sessions will be broadcast on Huw Stevens' show in the coming weeks when sta will also be his label of the week.

andrew and daniel did their label business thing, supporting alan and fww whilst charming the radio 1 folk with their eloquence and enthusiasm whilst i busied around with the camera, trying not to get in the way. alan and fww rocked the place (fww's cahir narrowly avoiding choking to death on a sweet during a song - bet that wasn't in the beeb's risk assessment...)

so big thanks to andrew and daniel, fww and alanMX, the audience, the engineers at the studio and of course Huw and his peeps, all for letting me film and being dead nice.

keep her lit!

2008-04-22T23:56:00.000+01:00

After a frustratingly long time since we went to see Alan MX, I convinced Ciaran to help me out with the second shoot for the doc. last saturday, we went along to notting hill arts club for an STA showcase event. 4 acts, some STA family and friends to chat to. i wish i wasn;t making this doc so i could've supped a few beers and enjoyed the music without having to think what shots would look good or would it be too loud and distort! so a huge thanks to all the bands as well as Daniel from STA for finally commiting some thoughts to tape - more to come from him methinks. and a certain other STA luminary has promised to let me come and film him in a few weeks time.

well, its off to the legendary Maida Vale studio tomorrow to see fighting with wire and alanMX recording a session for Radio 1. can't wait!

Diary Episode 04

2008-04-09T23:34:00.000+01:00

I've posted a new diary on youtube. boringly, i've tried it in a wmv format to stop it being distorted like all my other cips which originated from mp4. yawn.

aside from that, progress is slow at the minute as i've been busy with real world work. yawn. gots to pay those bills and finance this thing though...

more exciting things next time! i promise!

xac

finally!!!

2008-03-13T18:21:00.000Z

AH, finally, tomorrow I'll be picking up my shiny new shooting kit. its been a long wait to get it sorted out but tomorrow i shall be trundling over to the supplier and getting the camera and bits and pieces that i'll be using throughout the documentary production before pensioning it and myself into filming weddings and bahmitzvahs (apologies for the spelling on that one - despite "appearances", i am not jewish!). so expect a video diary very soon from a happy and excited me playing with my new toys!

We've started!

2008-03-03T15:36:00.000Z

The first day of shooting went well - AlanMX mixing his album at Southern Studio. I brought along a friend, Ciaran to take on Camera duties - he is afterall a real-life professional camera operator and he provided the imagination and expertise to make the pictures look pretty. I was lucky enough to get the loan of a shotgun mic (cheers Paul!). Here's episode 3 of the video diary of production: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y84AHgs4lpE

First Shoot

2008-02-29T13:51:00.000Z

Well, it's all about to happen. The first shoot for the Smalltown America documentary takes place tomorrow. We'll be going to visit STA artist AlanMX in the glorious surroundings of the prestigious Southern Studio in London where Alan will be mixing his debut album for Smalltown America. So that's it - it's real and it is all going to happen. I look forward to bringing you these reports to mark the progress of production. I will also be posting video diaries for the production which I'll link to from here.

To get to this point, I need to thank Andrew and Daniel at STA, AlanMX, Harvey at Southern and Ciaran. so, thanks!

cheers,
aaron