| Profile : Paul Bradshaw | Paul is a photographer providing images for the Nottingham Evening Post, the Leicester Mercury and City Life magazine among others. He grew up in Clifton but now lives in West Bridgford and in his spare time provides vocals and guitar for the 4-piece progressive rock outfit 'Shatner's Bassoon'. He is a film-maker and has also worked on the feature films '24/7'; and 'One for the Road'; both shot in and around Nottingham. I've moved around a bit, living in London, Vancouver and Seattle (also Stoke on Trent!) but I love Nottingham, it's got a great mix of glitz but has retained it's gruff charm. |
Bang! Short Film Festival @ Broadway Cinema, Sunday 18th December 2005. Ah, the Bang! Film Festival. Surely the friendliest festival around. Where else would the organisers, (one of them local Director Chris Cooke) throw free popcorn into the audience before the screening? The atmosphere is always laid back at Bang! and there’s always a palpable sense of support and inclusivity about the event and this is reflected in the films chosen to be showcased. “The Butterfly and Me” kicked off proceedings and featured Bang! regular
Rupert Proctor as a man with an intractable faith in the unseen power of the universe to find himself true love. Original ideas and a textured, committed central performance from Rupert. Susan Holloway’s “Cook McGill”. I’m all for silly animation and this was one of the best. A whodunnit that didn’t mess around tantalising us with suspects. Turned out to be accidental suicide. Nuff said. “Veggie Girl”. Another silly one. VERY silly, and all the more enjoyable for it, veg with eyes get stir-fried after emerging from director Miho Matsuda’s mouth! A fun, innocent Bang! debut. Can’t wait for more from Miho. Nottingham's Deepanjali Kalakoti gave us Short Sharp Shock, a deep and provactive film about gun crime.
 | | Rare Books and Manuscripts |
Dannan Breathnaoh’s “Dark Bright Red” featured Jenny Evans as a refugee girl working in a sleazy hotel. Adapted from a short story, it’s easy to see why this has picked up so many awards on the international film circuit. Evans perfectly captured the naivety (and accent) of an East European immigrant working to her dream. Also of note was Matt Godfrey’s chilling “Terror”, book ended by George Bush’s diatribes against terrorism, the piece repeated this one word again and again over images of the “collateral damage” (dead and injured civilians) in Iraq. Thought-provoking and controversial in equal measure. “The Making of Gladiator” had to be my personal favourite of the night, an animated blooper reel from the Roman Epic, featuring Russell Crow and his, er ahem, manhood once again causing problems for Director Ridley Scott. Inspired. Also a personal favourite was Matthew Walker’s “Astronauts”, two dumb-ass, bored space jockeys get into trouble when one of them presses the wrong button aboard their craft. This one had the spirit of Carpenter’s Dark Star and featured top-drawer animation, especially the characters’ expressions. Deep space hilarity and one to watch out for in the future. “Rare Books and Manuscripts” featured an endearing and understated performance by Neve Macintosh (BBC’s Gormenghast) as a researcher in unrequited love with a man in a library. Love’s arrow eventually found its target in this clever love story which was well shot with high production values. “Free Inside” closed the evening’s viewing and as is becoming traditional at Bang!, it was horror comic treat as an unsuspecting midnight snacker got a lot more than he bargained for from his breakfast cereal. Snap, crackle and pop indeed. Bang! is an inclusive, non-competitive event and it’s all the more popular for that. The festival runs three times a year, each event featuring a main programme and a young filmmakers programme, each programme featuring 90 minutes of film mixing no cash raw talent alongside big money slickness, documentaries and drama, comedy and musical, experimentation and madness. You make it: they show it at Bang! Next Bang! will be in April ‘06. Please contact Donna Bowyer on 07763864057 for more details. | 
