Exciting times for Boat Stories

One of our toughest challenges has been to get the last three films finished for the Sea Ilfracombe festival premiere on Friday 4th September. With the deadline looming, I planned to choose less ambitious, simpler films. Instead, we've taken on greater challenges. In April we started following the work of the Bideford Pilot and crew as they head out to meet big ships and escort them into the estuary. I'd seen the pilot boat at work many times - but until I started researching this film, I had no idea quite how dramatic and skilled their job is.. Watch this evocative trailer from Matt Biggs, Artaura Productions - coming soon!

THE BIDEFORD PILOT - TRAILER from Matt Biggs on Vimeo.

The Bideford Pilot will premiere at Sea Ilfracombe and then we will hold it back to show again in Bideford Friday 16th October.

Several of our followers asked us to make a diving film. I was wary, because as soon as you start filming underwater professionally, stringent health and safety rules kick in, adding to the cost of the film. However we had an offer we couldn't refuse from Rich Stevenson and his professional dive team from Diving and Marine Solutions. They wanted to work with boat stories and bravely agreed to film both topside and underwater.


We also had a lovely welcome from Shaun Galliver and Ilfracombe Sub Aqua Club. The result: a lively, colourful film, Every Dive is an Adventure will also premiere at Sea Ilfracombe and be released shortly after.

August has seen us working once again with Mark Brindle and Stu Gaunt from Maniac films and jumping on a boat from Ilfracombe harbour. Right from the beginning I wanted to make a film about a young fisherman starting out in a tough industry.

We were lucky to find eighteen year old Ben Bengey. I showed him and his family a version of our final film 'A Life in the Day of a Young Fisherman' at the end of last week. He tweeted 'epic to see my film, can't wait for everyone else to see it #exciting times'  Phew! He likes it! It is always a worry. (Now we just have colour grade, music and sound mix to go...)

So we are nearly there!

I promised that every film would be different. But after we released our first film Lobster Potting and Berried Hens, last June to an amazing reaction - the big question for me was would we - could we keep up the quality?  Judge for yourselves by coming along to one of our FREE film events, with a chance to hear from some of the filmmakers, fishermen and skippers. Details on our home and events page. As I write the stalls have already sold out at the Landmark, Ilfracombe, so don't forget to book your free tickets.

I'm getting that sinking feeling - the realisation that I've been out on our last boat stories - boat trip - unless I can think of any more excuses!!