Torbay filmmaker John Tomkins has been experimenting with green screen for his latest self-penned music video. With his latest feature Like An Angel starting the festival route, and a call for dancers for a future film, we caught up with John to find out more about Midnight and his other projects. Over to you John…
You’re sitting there watching the latest blockbuster or music video, and you want to try something different for your next film/video, but your special effects budget is £20 – that’s where I was with my new music video/film.
The video is set in a sort of a dream world and with the Devil representing your problems. To achieve the shots for the video I used a green screen for the first time. Rather than spend hours creating CGI imagery, I used objects collected from different places.
For instance the vision of hell in the video was created using a Malibu glace and a glitter lamp. From there I put the shots through different grades and green screened myself on top of the image as the devil. For the another shot I used a bonsai tree and for the background a vase with bits of paint to create a whirl pool effect.
As any filmmaker knows, using green screen you need the right lighting and space. Which proved a bit of a nightmare as space was limited. But what I set out to do was entertain the audience.
My last big project, the feature Like an Angel, has been submitted into to this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, and a screening is being planned for this summer. The film has been re-cut and revamped with new special effects from its charity showing last year. Find out more about the film and the team behind it on the MySpace page.
I am looking for volunteers and extras for my next music film which will be a musical historical number. I am looking for dancers male/female aged between 18 to 40. Shooting will take place this summer. If you would like to be involved and would like details, email me at jotomkin@hotmail.co.uk
