Well the last 6 months of 2024 disappeared into a frenzy of shoots and editing. With new client WTW there was something a bit different also as I got to travel to Geneva and Istanbul which was a wonderful opportunity to get on the road a bit further afield, see a bit more of the world whilst doing what I love! Tonnes of book publishing as usual, with the highlights being a wonderfully funny Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, what a hoot, and talking off funny, Marian Keyes just before Christmas was a delight! Actually thinking about it, I was very blessed in the films last year as I had the pleasure of filming Gavin and Stacey’s very own Alison Steadman and Lorraine Kelly in Cheltenham (there’s definitely a pattern here… all very lovely people!)
I was really chuffed as I got to do another book trailer using motion graphics, stock footage in Aftereffects with the trailer for Manhatten Down. I always really enjoy them as they are brilliant fun and you get to flex a bit more of your creative muscles. Also I shouldn’t forget to mention another great shoot with the irrepressible Shirley Ballas -she always has me in stiches and a little hot under the collar when she’s reading out extracts from her book! It really was a fantastic second half to the year with 2024 really feeling like the first one at full steam since before the lockdown.
I should say I did use AI a few times this year either to help with condensing scripts when working with the brilliant production company Castle Entertainment or Eleven Labs for a couple of voiceovers where I needed voices of robots. I wouldn’t say I went full pelt with it as I have my reservations and want to continue to work with humans and enjoy the creativity that I believe only humans can really produce. (Yes I know I may sound naive but I don’t think that just because you ‘can’ that you necessarily ‘should’.) Well I shall talk about it more in the next blog no doubt as it’s not going away and is creeping into just about everything now.
Well thats a few of the highlights, I worked with so many wonderful talents and clients last year with 100 (exactly) jobs booked. Looking forward to 2025 and already got some brilliant shoots coming up….. until next time!