Colin Kennedy's "I Love Luci" to screen in US! at Manhattan Short Fest

Big news as there is now a fantastic opportunity for many readers in the US to catch a screening of Colin Kennedy's multi-award-winning short film "I Love Luci" which is in competition at The Manhattan Short fest. Click here to read a new interview with Luci writer/director Colin Kennedy and learn more about this fun short film which was produced by Sigma and Brian Coffey.
Click here to see where the film is screening in your area (example while showing all over the place in the US late Sept, the film screens in hometown Glasgow on Sunday, 2nd October at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Manhattan Short organizers describe this truly world-wide film fest as follows:

An extraordinary global event takes place the week of September 23rd to October 2nd 2011 when over 100,000 people in over 250 cities across six continents gather in Cinemas, Galleries, Universities, Museums and Cafes for one purpose...to view and vote on our Finalists' Films in the Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival
Our mission is to unite audiences from all corners of the globe for one week via the most compelling short films submitted each year. Our tagline One World One Week One Festival is emblazoned within the rings that surround the Festival Logo and it is this mantra that sets us apart from any other film event of the year.

CONGRATULATIONS COLIN! GO LUCI GO GO GO GO SEE THIS FILM
Really, tis delightful off-beat original short film!

Atlantic Bridge Update: Ewen Bremner Attached to Star along with Kevin McKidd

Here it is (and I was THRILLED to read this obviously) is the full text of
COLIN KENNEDY Screen Daily Star of Tomorrow. In the piece we learn that FUNDING IS SO SO CLOSE for Colin's first feature length film, Atlantic Bridge. Plus we now know that EWEN BREMNER is attached to star alongside KEVIN MCKIDD. woooooooT! Filming is (tenatively) set to happen later this summer-FINGERS CROSSING ALERT FOLKS-ALL YOUR GOOD ENERGY IS NEEDED! :)) Right then, the full text

After I Love Luci, crossing Atlantic Bridge.

I Love Luci is simply irresistible Clocking in at just over 12 minutes of celluloid charm, it won hearts, minds and awards wherever it played last year — and it went to a lot of places. Chelsea College of Art graduate Colin Kennedy’s debut after years of working with Sigma Films, in particular with David Mackenzie, I Love Luci takes a Glasgow drug addict, her best friend, a dog and a missing set of teeth, and subverts everything you might have expected from such a list of ingredients. Now Kennedy, who started out making tea on the sets of his father’s corporate promos, is ready with his feature debut, to be shot this summer. Set up as a low budget (sub-$1.6m) UK independent and written by Andrea Gibb, Atlantic Bridge is a Big Chill-style romantic drama with Kevin McKidd and Ewen Bremner attached to star. It is close — so close — to being fully financed at time of going to press. “It is an ensemble piece,” says Kennedy. “which is a challenge. And the finance has been a challenge, so it’s great to have the support of Sigma behind this one as well.”

Contact: Brian Coffey


Unrelated note: Comments on this blog are unavailable for the time being Technology is awesome, but not without its failings from time to time, and this is one of them; sorry folks.

Screen Daily: Colin Kennedy A Filmmaker Star of Tomorrow!

Already a major star in my book, Screen Daily has released their annual list of Stars of Tomorrow and includes someone very special to Sigma:
COLIN KENNEDY!

wooot!

Author, blogger (the original get your people Hallam Foe production blog) artist, director, and man of many trades, Colin has served many roles while at Sigma, working on many many of their films in various capacity. Continuing well in the tradition of Sigma, Colin's work in short films has served him very well indeed, as his short film I Love Luci has won many awards from around the world. Next up, Colin Kennedy will be making his first feature length film with Sigma, called Atlantic Bridge. You can learn more about Colin here at the I Love Luci website, the Luci FB page , see his award winning music video on his YouTube channel, or read his profile on IMDB. CONGRATULATIONS COLIN! :)))

Snapshot: Colin Kennedy and Team I Love Luci at EiFF

As many of you already saw that follow along on Twitter, was very glad indeed to see photos now online via Flickr of Sigma Films' own Colin Kennedy who took part in the Noika shorts panel series at the recent Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Pictured: Colin, James Lees, Sigma's own Brian Coffey



...as they share their thoughts on their muli award-winning hit short film "I Love Luci" Colin let me know that the entire panel session was recorded by the folks at EiFF; for those like me who were unable to be there, am greatly hoping this video will be made available soon-updates to follow asap
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE LUCI PAGE on Sigma website for a roundup of recent awards and more :)

(ps once again the fates are against me; broken three toes this time round causing the delay...clearly this was the year I should have never gotten out of bed bleh)

New Report: Kevin McKidd to Star in Colin Kennedy's "Atlantic Bridge"

More fantastic news today, this in the form of news regarding Sigma's own Colin Kennedy and his first feature film "Atlantic Bridge." As readers here already know, Colin has been working hard developing this film, written by the excellent Andrea Gibb (Sigma's hit Dear Frankie) Today, Brian from the Daily Record was kind enough to let me know of his new interview with acclaimed Scottish actor Kevin McKidd (current star of ABC's mega hit Grey Anatomy). In the interview, Kevin brought us some wonderful news that he hopes to star in Atlantic Bridge! AWESOME! Quotage:

"I'm hoping to do a low budget film for Sigma Films with Andrea Gibb, who I did Afterlife with and who has written an amazing script - like The Big Chill but in Scotland. "

Colin has confirmed that yes indeed the script is done, and they are working hard on getting all the pieces in place (financing etc) before possibly SHOOTING THIS SUMMER! FINGERS CROSSED this will work out, just excellent news for Sigma and Colin Kennedy fans! You can learn more about Colin via the website for his multi award-winning short film I LOVE LUCI, here.

Possible Description of Colin Kennedy's "Atlantic Bridge"

As things move into the distribution phase for several of the newest films from Sigma of late ("Donkeys"-possible DVD, "Perfect Sense"- in cinemas everywhere this fall, and "You Instead" -new trailer hopefully still yet to come, sorry for those who have been waiting with me) time to turn our attention to the new projects in the works. One of which is the first feature film from award-winning director Colin Kennedy. He is at work on a piece called "Atlantic Bridge" with acclaimed screenwriter Andrea Gibb, she who wrote the excellent "Dear Frankie" for Sigma.

A tentative description of AB has now surfaced online which describes the film as a "drama" about "Three couples descend on their old party haunt for a reunion to discover life is even more complex than it seems in your late-thirties."hmmm a twist on the Big chill maybe, but dunno about how accurate this is. Regardless, seems very cool indeed and I CANT WAIT!
To learn more about Colin and his award-winning short film I Love Luci, be sure to visit the official site here, and the Facebook page for it here.

Sigma Films can also be found on the web via their website here at this link, and at their official Facebook page, here.


As its now April and time is springing forward lol, given the huge and often overwhelming amount of news that happened in the first few months, will try and do a recap for each of the films/segments this weekend. Regardless, its going to be a HUGE summer/fall for Sigma on screens EVERYWHERE! :)

Confirmed! Sigma Films to Develop TV Series on Clyde Shipbuilding, More on New Film Projects, More

While just a few days away from a most welcomed change of season, here's some great news to help put a spring in the step: news of multiple new projects from Sigma including a massive TV series for the BBC and several new films!

First, while rumored for a while, I'm thrilled that there is to be a new Television series for the BBC dealing with families from Glasgow who helped build those mighty ships along the river Clyde (a true and proud heritage, esp for those who have relatives overseas now who once worked on such things) In a brand new interview with Sigma founders Gillian Berrie and David Mackenzie, the article confirms that this project is now in development! Quotage from Screen Daily:

Sigma is also making its first move into television, working on a TV drama for the BBC set against the glory days of shipping industry on the Clyde River, which Berrie and Mackenzie describe as “Dallas meets Deadwood.”

Rumors first surfaced some time ago, and while I worked to delve into it, I was unable to learn more until a recent piece in a tabloid which had this to say of the project:

With the working title The Clyde, the costume drama will be given the Upstairs Downstairs treatment by basing the story of Glasgow’s great shipbuilding heritage around two 19th-century families. One will be the ‘aristocratic’ yard owners and the other the working-class family whose father and sons work in the yard...A source said: “This will attract a stellar cast of actors. There are roles for some of our finest performers, including Robbie Coltrane, Robert Carlyle and Dougray Scott.”..While the shipbuilding saga has just entered the script stage, BBC Scotland is seeking production partners for the network venture. Production isn’t expected to begin until 2012"

Other FANTASTIC NEWS from Gillian and David include the follow (so much my brain is exploding with happiness over confirmation of so much whee)

*COLIN KENNEDY, director of multi award-winning short film "I Love Luci" is working on first feature film "Atlantic Bridge" with screenwriter of note Andrea Gibb (Dear Frankie)

*Acclaimed short film maker Johnny Barrington (who Ive written a bout several times here previously) is making a FEATURE FILM w/Sigma

* Ciaran Foy, director of Citadel (now in post) will also be doing a second feature film with Sigma, awesomeness!

*ADVANCE PARTY II TO proceed soon; praise be, can't express how excited I am at this news!

*David Mackenzie has a third film on slate (following Stain in the Snow, and the afformentioned sci-fi flick; this called Tristan da Cunha. You can learn more about this from the official Sigma website (very cool) as well as from David's comments:

Mackenzie is now adapting the sci-fi novel Journey Into Spaceby Toby Litt, which he describes as “a very interesting generational sci-fi story.” Mackenzie has finished a breakdown of the novel and will now start writing the first draft of the script.

Litt’s well-received novel is about a two rebellious passengers on a vast generation ship leaving a troubled earth to start a new society.

Separately, Mackenzie spent three and a half months last year in the world’s most remote inhabited island Tristan da Cunha, to research a fictional feature. The film will be loosely adapted from policeman Conrad Glass’s book Rockhopper Copper.

“My plan is to go back again a second time to actually write the script in collaboration with the locals, to try to get the dialogue nailed, and then go back a third time with a small crew and find the cast and live there for four months making this movie with local people both behind of and in front of the camera, almost like an old fashioned workshop movie,” Mackenzie tells Screen.

(Mackenzie will be screening some of the research footage he shot on Tristan da Cunha during a SXSW concert by band Shearwater)

Finally, a possible expansion for FILM CITY GLASGOW (be sure to click link for an updated page containing many of the tenants at FCG)?? Quotage:
Film City Glasgow, which Sigma is involved in, is at full capacity in the renovated Govan Town Hall. The Film City is hoping to expand its remit to develop a stand-alone production studio. Berrie says a £1.5m site has been identified and now more financing is needed.

While speaking about Sigma’s 15 year milestone, Berrie worries for the state of independent producers in the UK. “To survive as a production company in this country making feature films is nothing short of a miracle,” she said. “Because everything is designed to weaken you and keep you penniless. It takes years to get your head around recoupment schedules, because it’s so complex.”

She continued: “You’re made to feel like it’s a privilege to be making a film, and you take what you can get. For God’s sake we need to empower the producers. The culture and structure has to change… and if producers are asked to defer [their fees], they should defer to first position, not to last position.”

Sigma in the Sun

Well here's a right sunny lovely gift from the good people at Sigma I heart heart so very much: a batch of exclusive photos of the team enjoying a bit of sun and fun at the Sundance Film Festival! :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH to the wonderful generous thoughtful people who sent this to me and gave permission for these to be posted, THANK YOU!

With the director of the Sundance Film Festival, here is Team Sigma, plus some very cool folks before the premiere of the film



Here's Colin Kennedy and Brian Coffey, they of the kick butt producer/director team behind "I Love Luci"-------->
Ewen and David
and Gillian below too




Love these two lovelies very much indeed :) ->
Brian (below) looking sharp! :)







Related: There was a bit of sunny good news today too
as Screen Daily reported Perfect Sense has now been picked up by Pretty Pictures for distribution in France. Quotage of interest:

Pretty Pictures president James Velaise said: “Perfect Sense is a great film which has everything we are looking for: a real high-end art house film with great actors, a great story, and cross over potential because of the paranormal storyline.”

During Sundance a deal was closed with IFC Films, who holds the North American rights, and just recently Kalinos Filmcilik from Turkey alsocame aboard.

Christine Langan, Creative Director BBC Films, added: “Perfect Sense is a beautiful and passionate film. BBC Films are delighted that the film’s fanastic debut at Sundance attracted two great distribution partners; IFC in the US and Pretty Pictures in France.”

Trust Nordisk pre-sold Perfect Sense to more than 15 territories before its Sundance premiere, amongst these Benelux, Brazil, Korea and the
Middle East.

Colin Kennedy's I LOVE LUCI Premieres in Australia

I LOVE LUCI, the award-winning hit short film from Sigma and Colin Kennedy remarkably continues to travel the globe, making a premiere this weekend in Australia! Thats great news! Part of the Flickerfest short film festival, Luci will screen tonight and then again on Monday as part of the "Best of International 1" group. This is great news for Luci, which, as promised before, will continue to travel the world...lucky girl ;) No word yet on that possible international distribution deal, however will continue to follow Luci as best I can on her travels in the new year.

Perfect Good Sense: Great Year Ahead for Sigma!

With a new year comes the hope wishes and dreams of many good things, including those for a wonderful year ahead for the readers of this blog.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the time you've taken to stop by, read, and perhaps learn a bit about the people and work written about here. I hope its been of some use. I try very hard to keep up with Sigma who are so brilliant so original and so worth learning about; I'm most certainly not perfect and want to do so much more with this site this year!, but I hope there's been something that's been worthwhile. Same holds for Jamie Sives-I love you Jamie, I will back you and support you and never stop spreading the word about you and your talent! I hope many more people will continue to follow his work, for he's got another great year ahead. Both he and the truly outstanding people of Sigma have been most MOST generous with their time, patience, and support. I love them all, Colin and Brian esp. rock my world, have for years, and will always have my continued support admiration and well.. I have no shame in saying that I wish only continued good things for them in the year and years to come.

Most of all, the many private mails and comments have made THE difference-thank you from the bottom of my heart. Esp to those who follow on Twitter, new friends made, and old ones retained. A big hug and thanks again to the fellow fansites and to Ollie and Helge (I miss you!) xxxx
Cheers to you all for a healthy happy and joyful year ahead!!!!

It surely is going to be a wonderful year ahead for Sigma Films! At least three films will be released, the first is of course David Mackenzie's Perfect Sense, which will premiere in just a few weeks at the Sundance Film Festival. They've released David's statement on the movie, which reads as follows:

The film is talking about day-to-day things. It’s about how people cope with terrible changes rather than the disaster itself. That’s one of the things I found amazing and challenging about it. We agreed on creating a poetic version of the story rather than a big splashy special effects-version of it. You could have re-designed it as an 80 million Hollywood movie with lots of special effects and bombast, if you wanted to do. But we were very conscious that we didn’t want to do that. We decided to be low-key and to maximize the micro-cosmic, to keep it minimal, to pull it back from all the tropes and tricks. To push the envelope of the romance – push the genre inwards not outwards. There was an instinct that told me not to be too grandiose about it, because the story is grandiose enough in itself.

Other key things:
Colin Kennedy's I LOVE LUCI short continues to do well-did you see the great news on the official site? Luci will be touring this year and possible distribution is in the works-AWESOME! Colin wrote "...Luci will continue to tour the globe in the festival circuit next year with Candella Films as part of a selection of the best films to emerge from the UK in 2010 and we also hope to announce an international distribution deal in the very near future."

HECK YES!

Plus there is Citadel, You Instead, and much more in the works! Jamie Sives will be SINGING at the Eilidh Brown Memorial Concert too on January 15 (TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT AWESOME CONGRATS. PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU ARE GOING VIDEO /PHOTOS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE :D) Plus he has GoT coming to a screen near you soon and the One Day film (lolz again to the beard) Who knows what goodies he has up his sleeve; whatever it is its going to be great! :))

Stay well, stay healthy be happy and stay tuned please, many good and great things lie ahead!

Video Interview: Colin Kennedy on "I Love Luci" at Interfilm Berlin Festival

What a good Monday this has turned out to be, as now we have a special treat in the form of a rare video interview with Sigma's own Colin Kennedy! Speaking about his hit short film "I Love Luci," Colin describes how he came to discover the hilarious story of missing teeth and love, as well as comments on his two stellar stars, Camila Rutherford and Colin Harris. Enjoy!

IMPORTANT: I Love Luci continues to earn honors, as Luci was indeed a WINNER at interfilm Festival Berlin, winning in the International Competition section for "Best Fiction" CONGRATULATIONS COLIN, BRIAN all at Sigma and team Luci! yay! :)

Reminder: Colin Kennedy's "I Love Luci" Screening at AFT This Weekend

Just a reminder and recap today, especially that Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci is screening on TWO continents this weekend GO LUCI GO!

Luci is home land bound on the UK as it screens tonight at the Inverness Film Festival and the RBC
Luci is also screening in the US as it is in competition at the AFI tomorrow
GO LUCI GO!

Here is also a handy list of screenings for Sigma films Donkeys (and Luci is showing before many of these as well)
ROLL ON SIGMA! :)

Now thru 11 November: Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre

7 November: Apple Store, Glasgow 4:00-5:00pm Meet filmmakers!!!

8 November: Robert Burns Centre Dumfries, Morag Mckinnon Q & A afterwards 6:30pm

11 November: Cineworld Falkirk, 6:45pm

12 November: Cineworld Dundee, 6:45pm

12-November-17 November: Inverness Film Festival, Eden Court
TICKET INFO HERE

Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci to screen before Outcast 6 NOVEMBER Eden Court; ticket info here

It Makes Perfect Sense: Theres a Bright 2011 ahead for Sigma Films!

Even though its only November, there are a few pieces of news today that bring glad tidings of all the cool things in store for fans of Sigma in 2011!

First and foremost: the roll out of Morag Mckinnon's acclaimed "Donkeys" throughout Scotland continues, and as as special bonus contest, you can now show proof you've seen the latest installment in the Advance Party series from Sigma, and win a chance to attend the UK premiere of David Mackenzie's forthcoming "Perfect Sense" (and even mingle with stars Ewan McGregor and Eva Green!) HOW COOL IS THIS?! very! Be sure to check my post below (or click here) for the remaining screening dates, and as noted by ReelScotland, take a photo of your ticket stub, and do one of the following:

• Logon to Facebook, tag the photograph as ‘Donkeys’ and ‘ReelScotland’ then post a shared link to all your friends on Facebook.
• Tweet the photograph to @reelscotland
• Or if you’re not a social networking fan, email the photograph to richard@reelscotland.com

...then cross your fingers! :) Without blabbing too much, I'm fairly certain Santa will be bringing us big news sooon on when Perfect Sense is launching and whatnot, so stay tuned! :) ho ho wheee!

Also Citadel is currently in early production phase now based at Film City Glasgow, with shooting due to start in a few weeks-more on that new film from producer Brian Coffey and director Ciaran Foy soon!

Sigma's own Colin Kennedy will be making his way to (a hopefully sunny and warm!) LA this weekend as his multi award-winning short film I LOVE LUCI is in competition at the AFI and will screen THIS WEEKEND, SUNDAY Nov 7 at 1:15
More info/tickets avail etc HERE.
Be sure to check out the Luci site here; Luci's official facebook page here.
If you are in the US/LA area and can attend, PLEASE DO for this film starring Colin Harris and Camila Rutherford is quite funny and lovely and you wont regret it! GO LUCI GO
Thoughts and love are with Colin this weekend!

While news has been errm erratic on this front *sigh*, Bankside films today (as seen in Screendaily) announced they have taken on David Mackenzie's other big new film due out next year too, now called "You Instead." I will have much much more on this soon, sorry thats the best I can do for now, but hang in there!

Finally, speaking of Bankside, Outcast (blogged about here previously and filmed in part in Scotland) will see a US release by the Indomina Group. No word when, but hopefully in 2011 too. Outcast stars the uber fantastic James Nesbitt, Kate Dickie (Donkeys, Red Road) and James Cosmo (kick-ass star of many many wonderful films including Sigma's current hit Donkeys).

"I Love Luci" to Screen at Inverness Film Fest, AFI in California!

The good news for Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci keeps on pouring as, as not only will the multi award-winning short from Sigma play before the continued showings of Donkeys all next month, but also Luci will screen at the Inverness Film Festival 6 November as well as in competition at the prestigious AFI in California! wow! Go Luci Go!

The details: Inverness Film Festival at Eden Court will see Luci screen right before Colm McCarthy's "Outcast" on 6 November at 10:00 pm; tickets to this NOW ONSALE AT THIS LINK. Longtime readers will recall several mentions on Outcast which filmed in Edinburgh, and along with the excellent James Nesbitt, stars James Cosmo and Kate Dickie...who of course star in Sigma's latest film Donkeys! coolo (and bonus points for the six degrees of Sigma game ;) In case you haven't yet seen the film, here is the trailer for Outcast as well as for the hilarious (Colin Harris is top notch) I Love Luci





Luci will also be showing at Eden court when it screens for an ENTIRE WEEK with DONKEYS running 12 November to 17 November. Tickets for the Luci/ Donkeys combo at Eden Court ARE NOW ON SALE HERE AT THIS LINK! Director Morag McKinnon and more will be at the 12 November screening, so act now to get your tickets!

Also, early (official announcement next week) but "I Love Luci" will also be in competition at the vaunted AFI festival in California, which is fairly big deal I think so rock on Colin, Brian and Co!!!! :) More details/ticket info released next week, stay tuned!

Tickets Now On Sale for Donkeys October Screening at Glasgow Film Theatre

Good news to start the week off right as tickets are now on sale for the screening of Sigma's newest film Donkeys next month at the Glasgow Film Theatre. At this link, be sure to act quickly to purchase your tickets for the opening night on Friday, October 8 at 6:30pm which will include a very special question and & answer session with members of the CAST and Crew as well as a bonus screening of Colin Kennedy's award-winning short I Love Luci. Donkeys (formerly 'Rounding Up Donkeys') will be showing at GFT for one week, October 8-14. Very exciting stuff indeed. Directed by Morag Mckinnon, Donkeys stars James Cosmo in a critically acclaimed turn as Alfred, and features Brian Pettifer with return performances from Kate Dickie, Martin Compston, Natalie Press and more from Sigma's Red Road. The second installment of the Advance Party series, this new film will then screen in other cities/venues all around Scotland (such as the festival listed below); additional ticket info forthcoming.

Straight into Fall with a Hometown Opening for Sigma's "Donkeys"

Hometown pride time for the folks behind "Donkeys," the latest movie from Sigma Films and the second installment in the Advance Party series as there is word it will be opening next month in theatres, right where it began: Glasgow, Scotland. Set to open the first week of October (Oct 8th) at the Glasgow Film Theatre, fans will be able to watch this film right where it was made. More information this and future screenings (and yes there are big plans afoot oho! stay tuned! :) Directed by Morag McKinnon, Donkeys stars James Cosmo (in a widely praised performance), Brian Pettifer, Kate Dickie, Martin Compston and more as they reprise their roles of sort as seen in the award- winning Red Road. For those of you on Facebook (and you don't need an account to see the page, but do need an account to comment or 'like' it etc) be sure to check out the Sigma page right here.


Finally, as many will already have seen, in a fairly bold and cool move, you can see the Sigma films official Twitter or follow (as many of you already do) follow Colin Kennedy on his Twitter for the script of Donkeys (yes really, line one is out already reading [SPOILER ALERT, scroll down]




" INT AIRPORT: ALFRED: Just you sit still and get acclimatized. We’ll come here every week if necessary. Honest - there’s no safer way to die."

Colin Kennedy's "I Love Luci" Not Short on Continuing Success!

Sigma's own Colin Kennedy continues to have luck with I Love Luci, as the film has done well at some recent film festivals. Luci took second at the Rushes Soho Shorts festival in London last week (article on the winners here). Congratulations Colin, Brian and all! :)

Also, with the Motovun Film Festival now concluded, they are taking it on a brief tour in the Balkans, with Luci to screen as part of the 'Best of the Fest' collection. No word on how Luci did at the regular festival as of yet, but if you follow Colin on Twitter or read the official FB page, we know much fun was had at the festival with Luci recently.

Sidenote: Colin's work as an artist, this time visual was mentioned as his artwork for the "Donkeys" film poster from Sigma, was included as one of the Top 5 movie posters over at Central Station-article here; more from Colin, here.

Finally, because I got sidetracked with my family issues and missed some important things, I want to point out this FANTASTIC black and white portrait taken of Colin last year by One day alive. Colin is a very handsome guy it goes without saying, but there is something really striking about the expression on his face in this photo of the man, the filmmaker, the artist in a manner that makes me ponder-what is he thinking? what is going on here- a moment of reflection, triumph, frustration. Hard to read yet very interesting (or at least to me) I also really appreciate the subtle contrasts in this photo, one sleve up one down, the degrees of dark and light; very cool.

Leaping for I Love Luci: My thoughts on the film

Since doing this blog I've been hugely lucky along the way to get some truly special gifts, such as from awesome Jamie and my photo from Sigma, and recently I got the dearest birthday card ever along with another very special gift....

I got to see Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci.

Then I started to write a review, no more factually, I wrote a review... and, because it sucked, I wrote it again... and then again and again. By this morning I counted and there were a dozen different drafts, all with different approaches different styles but nothing worked, really encapsulated what this film was about what it meant to me until I realized Luci is about a leap. So what I'm left with then still pretty much sucks, for surely it isn't a glowing polished review by any means, or a nifty blurb to quote and copy, but an entry where I write that to me this film represents all I've been doing here with this blog, what Sigma does each day, what FCG and the Scottish film industry does-and that is...keeping faith.

Oh I know, pretty hefty and dramatic words heh! but after watching this delightful short film again for the third time I realised Luci is not just a comedy, but more about having faith. For just as the main protagonist (wonderfully played throughout in top notch and lovely wistful fashion by Colin Harris, bravo!) prays in his faith, so too is this film about a leap of faith. For leaps of faith, acts of believing abound in I Love Luci: seen in the slice of life tale of rather hapless junkies in an less than glamourous side of Glasgow who not only lose some teeth a bike and a dog, but may find something more precious along the way; faith reflected by the performance of beautiful actress (Camilla Rutherford) who takes on unenviable task of performing sans teeth and lends much humor to the film; faith by leadership writing and directing that all his years of training and natural talent played out here for all the world to see are paying off with this offbeat, original, and fairly amusing story that explores the errm ins and outs of a less than beautiful life with sly wry and perceptive humor (and one flat laugh out loud scene involving a dapper dentist fellow) adding in some nifty cinematography (night shots in the garden area -I've forgotten the name eep-are quite good) and the fine contributions of a solid supporting cast (Sanjeev Kohli is hilarious and all round perfect timing/sequence in that store lolz!) and hard working crew and company who make these small gems for all of us to discover and enjoy, all for very little notice pay or glory. PHEW! That's a heck of leap for most films and filmmakers, and here I think it works, works very well indeed! I noticed I took that leap and am very glad I did. Luci is a fun adventure, both ugly at times and others truly beautiful, where the laughs are on the hapless two but not on us and remind us that love, no matter its form, can bring a smile to face if you let it.

Eh a whole lot of leaping and a lot of faith for a short 13 minute film yea yea I know, but having been allowed to follow along with Colin thru his blog on this journey, I know full well that making this film sure as heck was not an easy journey (same holds true it seems for all of Sigmas films years go into getting them made) It requires a great deal of faith to write a movie that involves some things probably too crass for some (one ewww but funny moment and a quibble but one less messy toilet shot would have still gotten the point across) but overall added to the storyline, accents which might be hard for some ears at first but are well overcome by the action and plot of the film (really I mean if this shows up with subtitles in the US that will be a horrible shame bleh), a comedy and adventure in romance of sorts which can be quite the tricky business to pull off well and aren't cringeworthy-there's dozens of reasons why it could go awry and yet and yet and yet-yet with a leap of faith here is this fine short film, one well worthy of the precedent set by Sigma, and one I honestly hope you might take the time go see.

Most of all, Luci is about heart, foibles follies faults and all, and like a well needed kick in the butt, it reminded me again that having heart and having faith matters. Just like the song at the end I suppose, you can have a laugh on me reading all this, but you know what? I have no shame in saying I love what and who I write about here, about the people who share their talent and time both on the screen and along the way personally and from my heart Colin Kennedy and Brian Coffey thank you so so very much for sharing this beautiful piece of your heart and talent with me.
Much much love always
xoxoxox

You can learn more about Luci here on the official website, older get your people blog, facebook and the trailer below.

From the Heart of Luci: Scottish Screen Feature with Colin Kennedy

I know I often prattle on a ridiculous amount, often in fairly overboard ridiculous fashion, about things I care about, things that appeal or whatever including certain actors certainly Sigma, and most especially, the work of Colin Kennedy. Some things can be ridiculous yes, but sometimes there is a sweet and wonderful truth behind them. Long time readers will well know that Colin has written and directed a short film that is getting rave reviews and doing well on the festival scene. In their final issue, Roughcuts from Scottish Screen contains a feature on I LOVE LUCI, written by Colin. I dont need to coo or ramble on or give much insight save to say sometimes it's really true how the smallest things in life can make the biggest difference. A simple note of keep your chin up, or hey thanks for this, or even when simply watching life go by. Once in a while you can see light even in the most serious of settings, even finding a story which ordinarily might be serious and perhap ridiculous and finding the love and light and laughter within. At this link (PDF download available as well) or here you can read for yourselves how Colin saw the heart and humor to bring Luci to life and most of all, the heart to carry through. Thanks for sharing this with us Colin!

Snapshot Clermont

Snapshot....France, where I LOVE LUCI screened recently at the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival. As noted by writer/director Colin Kennedy, there are a load of new pics up on the Facebook fanpage at this link, check em out!