Bright Green Penguin's 2016 Review

Wow, what a year 2016 has been. What with Brexit, Trump and the seeming endless list of celebrities who died it doesn't appear to be a good year. BUT I want to focus on what I think was good about 2016.

Favourite Highlight of the Year

The South Coast Challenge. Walking 100km / 60 miles in 24 hours 22 mins was the main highlight of the year. Especially raising £1461.03 for the great Sussex charity RISE.
Walking from Eastbourne starting early morning, along the cliffs at Beachy Head, and then along the South Downs to Brighton, and the half way point in Hove, where we had food and set off again with headtorches for the 2nd half where you were walking through the night, until you reached Arundel.

Highlights include

• The beautiful scenery of the South Coast
• Joining up with another Nick for the 2nd half, who really helped me when walking through the night.  
• The amazing support from people, on the walk, as well as friends and family before and during.
• The amazing support from RISE and giving me the cool orange hoodie
• The training walks, getting to discover Sussex, as well as listening to lots of great podcasts

Favourite Podcast

The Cycling Podcast - All about cycling, and having been a Tour de France fan for years, this has really help me expand my knowledge about this great sport. Hosted by three journalists and some friends, they give a friendly and enthusatic telling of the news and issues in the cycling world. Also by donating £10 a year you can become a friend of the podcast and have access to special podcasts. Some of the 2016 highlights include Ep2 The Rise and Demise of HTC-High Road, Ep 7 Operacion Puerto: The Day the Tour Almost Died, and E8 Mount Ventoux: Heat, Wind & Fear. Read More. Available via iTunes

A few other favourite podcasts

• Serial
• This is Not A Fish 

Favourite Films of 2016

Things That Prove Life in 2017 Will Be Better Than We Thought

• Library of Things - Friendly space in West Norwood where you can borrow, share and learn with your community. Read More
• Share Your Story - Not for profit group in Brighton and Hove providing a space to hear people's stories, to inspire us to live better ones ourselves. Read More
• Foodshed Cook & Creche Course - Foodshed running courses for families who want to learn how to cook, whilst their children play in the next room. Read More
• Brighton Etsy Team - One of my highlights was the Brighton Etsy Christmas Market at the Corn Exchange in Dec. If you are a creative, and on Etsy but don't follow them, then do so now. Read More
• City Reads - Promoting shared reading across communities in Brighton and Hove. Read More
• The People's Fridge - Community Fridge in Brixton where people can give and take spare food. Read More about them on Twitter
•  #justacard - a Brilliant twitter campaign to encourage people to support local shops & independent creatives 
• #Bright50 & #BrightFuture Campagin by ZSTa an architect firm based in Brighton, all about how we can improve our city  

Favourite Articles of 2016

Some of my favourite articles/news stories I shared via Twitter/Facebook this year, and via my Flipboard book

• Artist Turns A Cement Mixer Into A Giant Disco Ball - via Bored Panda. Read More
• The Good Gym appear on the BBC. Read More
• 6p a Minute Cafe - via BBC. Read More
• Artist wearing every piece of trash he creates for 30 days. See More
• Brighton For Nerds (featuring my Brighton Bricks) via We Love Brighton. Read More
• 7 Things To Say To Young Girls That Isn't About Them Being Cute - via Buzzfeed. Read More
• Street Pantry Invites People to Leave Goods for Those in Need - via Huffington Post. Read More
• Haircuts for the Homeless - via BBC. Read More
• Host A Silent Reading Party - via Book Riot. Read More

Favourite TV Shows of 2016

Comic Book

One of the things I have got back into this year is comic books, and below are some of the series I have enjoyed.

And a few other highlights 

• Heroes Run - I ran this race as The Flash this year. Race is raising money for education projects in Africa. A rest in 2017 but will be back for 2018. Read More
• Lou Reed's Drones - part of Brighton Festival. Read More
• World Book Night - I gave out books as part of a care package to rough sleepers in Brighton. Read More about World Book Night

Picturehouse Member's Film Competition

Ever dreamt of seeing your film on cinema screens around the country? Well, now you can make that dream a reality – by entering the new Picturehouse Members’ Film Competition. Entrants might also get their short-film ideas read by some of the biggest names in the business, who will make up the judging panel. One lucky Member will win the chance to make their short film, fully funded, and to showcase it in the trailer reels before every feature film at Picturehouse Cinemas.

The competition judges include the award-winning director of Senna and Amy, Asif Kapadia; the legendary producer of Skyfall and SPECTRE, Barbara Broccoli; Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend It Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice; Ben Roberts, director of the BFI Film Fund; Working Title producer Tim Bevan; and broadcaster and presenter Edith Bowman.

Members can enter the competition by submitting a short treatment or script of 300–500 words, using the theme ‘belonging’ as inspiration. The final film must be no longer than two minutes long and the closing date for submissions is 29 April 2016. The winning treatment will be fully funded by Picturehouse Cinemas, with the film being guided through production by creative agency McCann London, who will be offering their time, equipment and expertise to bring the film to the screen. And talking of screens, the winning film will play for several months in all 23 Picturehouse Cinemas! So if you’re a Picturehouse Member who is also a budding filmmaker, or if you’ve always had a great idea for a (short) film, this is the competition for you.

As well as discovering exciting new talent, the competition is designed to celebrate Picturehouse Members’ unrivalled passion for film. The contest is inspired by our motto – ‘Our Members Make Us’ – which highlights the defining and motivating force behind Picturehouse Cinemas: our Members.

“Our Members are truly integral to how we operate,” says Sara Frain, Group Marketing Director of Picturehouse Cinemas, “and this competition gives one lucky Member a great platform to showcase their talent. Lots of short films are made all the time, but the real challenge is getting them shown, particularly on the big screen. At Picturehouse, we can help with that last all-important hurdle. We can’t wait to see what our Members produce. We know they will rise to the challenge.”

Ben Roberts, director of the BFI Film Fund and one of the competition judges, says: “Having the chance to discover and support the best new film talent is always an honour and delight. I can’t wait to see what gems the Picturehouse Members have in store for us.” 

The Picturehouse Members’ Film Competition judging panel comprises: Lolly Thomson (McCann London co-president), Asif Kapadia (director, Senna, Amy), Barbara Broccoli (producer, Skyfall, SPECTRE), Danny Perkins (StudioCanal CEO), Ben Roberts (BFI Film Fund director), Kate Gardiner (head of Fox Searchlight), Tim Bevan (producer, The Theory Of Everything, Les Misérables), Tessa Ross (producer, Slumdog Millionaire, 12 Years A Slave), Clare Binns (Picturehouse Cinemas’ director of programming and acquisitions), Gurinder Chadha (director, Bride & Prejudice, Bend It Like Beckham), Edith Bowman (broadcaster) and Charles Gant (Heat and The Guardian film critic).

Entries are officially open. Enter here. 

Remember, you don’t need to create a finished film, we just want you to submit an idea. If your idea is chosen, we’ll help you bring it to the big screen.

A valid Picturehouse Membership card number must be included on your submission at the time of entry. The closing date is 29 April 2016.

For terms and conditions Read More

Brighton Film & Comic Con: The Sellers

This weekend in Brighton was Showmaster's Film & Comic Con with star names like John Hurt, Carl Weathers, James Marsters, and George A Romero.

There were also lots of great sellers there, everything from vintage toys to T-shirts to jewellery to art work, so I am going to do a little list below of some of the great people I saw (BFCC is my short hand for the Brighton Film & Comic Con). Will be adding to this post when I have gone through a lot of the business cards / flyers / photos I took 

Iconz T-shirts via their EBAY Store Featuring wide range of popular culture characters. At the BFCC there were selling stickers and mugs

Hobbs Lane - produce series of T-Shirts inspired by films like Jaws, Alien, Shawshank Redemption, and The Exorcist via there website

Snikt and Bamf produce jewellery and homeware based on movies like Jurassic Park, Iron Man, Captain America, Star Wars, Batman etc. Available via their website

Oxford Brick Art produce stunning and unique art mosaics and prints, all Lego based. Personalised and commissioned mosaics are possible. Available via their website

Geeky Cool is handmade jewellery based off Disney movies, Lego, Superheroes available conventions and on their website

Baku Forest Studios have an interesting collection of necklaces, earrings and notebooks on their Etsy Store

Down the Rabbitt Hole makers of both Clockwork and Acrylic Jewellery. Available via their website

Twilight Theatre produces a range of full and half face masks. Available via Etsy

ComicConArtist produces excellent comic based artwork available via his Etsy store

Frodo in Wonderland maker of curious things, like chopping boards with Japanese & popular culture images burnt into them. Available via Etsy

Geek Boutique, a Bournemouth shop selling geek inspired clothes and homeware for fangirls and fan boys. Check out their website

Artwork and Illustrations by Becky Knapp. Available via her website

The Art of Paul Malone, artist and illustrator with Posters, Metal plates and T-Shirts available via his website

SM-Artworks produce a range of Sci-Fi / Popular Culture limited edition prints & commissions. Check out website

Retrospective22 home to custom consoles. Check them on at www.retrospective22.com

After wandering around a film & comic con for a while, energy levels drop and fudge from The Galloway Fudge Company is best way to get that energy back. Check their website out

Brighton Film Club

a monthly short indie film screening

A new short film night. Every month we will curate a screening of a series of short films submitted from artists all over the world, chosen by us. We will showcase around 20 films a month. The screenings will be the second yo last Tuesday every month at Patterns.

Submit your short film anytime and we will contact you if we want to use it for the months Brighton Film Club. We will be looking for themes in the submissions so if your film fits into one of the following themes, please put the month if your application. If it doesn't please submit your film anyway.

November - Winter - Deadline 11th Nov

December - Festive - Deadline 4th Dec

Janurary - New beginnings  - Deadline 12th Jan

February - Love / Heart break - Deadline 9th Feb

For Short Films / Animation Submissions Click HERE

The Martian - Film Thoughts

Here is my my first Film Thoughts blog, and it is on The Martian, which we saw tonight. It is a my thoughts about the film rather than a review, as it may go off in different directions. May feature lots of visual imagery, but mainly giving you my impression on the film

So what do I think about the film? I loved it, when I first heard about the idea of the film, which was a long time ago I was curious into the idea. Was tempted to read the book, but wanted to see the visuals of Mars to appear on screen, and not know what the story was about.

The plot is strait forward, it is Robinson Crusoe on Mars, but that isn't the point. What is great about the film is the visuals, the designer of the film, the costumes, the whole look

But it was also the acting, Matt Damon is one of those actors who can be both tough and sensitive, and for an actor to carry a lot of the film on his own he does amazing job. It is also the supporting cast which are help make it more than a one trick pony. Great actors all over the place (and Jessica Chastain back with another good Sci-Film after Interstellar)

Lastly I have to give special mentions to both the soundtrack & the humour, it was so much funnier than I imagined it would be.

15 Things You Didn't Know About The Martian youtube video

  Some cool The Martian t-shirts on Redbubble

Lastly will need to let you know so you not disappointed after seeing the film. Marvin the Martin doesn't make an appearance