Spearheading Cannes

I like to spend my spare time wisely. I work full-time and am studying for my Masters Degree so time for myself is precious. Whenever possible I like to get out and about and visit places but I also have a couple of interests. One of them is working with a small independent film company called Spearhead Films who are based in South Wales. So far they have completed two feature films and they have recently signed their second feature film, 'Pax Imperium, War on Terror', with a distributor. This is not bad going for a small self-financed film company!

I used to work in theatre as a lighting technician and stage manager, and now I work as a project manager so I have bought these skills to Spearhead Films. I basically work for them as a Production Assistant and I am also training with their camera to actually shoot footage. This is quite a challenge and is quite different from still photography. There is also a world of new language to get to grips with (pun intended!). Anyway, 'Pax' is being taken to the Cannes Film Festival by the distributor and a new trailer has been put together for the occassion which you can watch below.

Anyway, let me tell you a bit about their latest film. Pax Imperium, War on Terror portrays a futuristic dystopian society and the rebels that fight against that system. The story is set in a fictional metropolis and centres on the capture and interrogation of the prime suspect in a high profile murder case. The story centres on a man who awakes in a car park with no memory of whom he is or what has happened to him. He must piece together whatever information he can to make sense of what is going on. Meanwhile, the security forces in the shape of the ATU (Anti Terrorist Unit), are trying to solve the murder of a leading media mogul linked to state propaganda.

The directors specifically chose a topic that was 'of it's time' with the Western World in a state of war against terrorism and the possible infringement of civil liberties at home - just look at Blair's nanny state for example. They have attempted to tackle the motivation of those who fight against authority, the struggle faced by security personnel and the ongoing fight to uncover who in this time of crisis, the enemy really is. The film was shot and put together in just over 6 months with a budget of a mere £20,000. This meant that many of the people working on the film give their time freely. The actors and the crew were mostly locally based in South Wales and England.

Fingers crossed that the film does well at Cannes! Have a look and let me know what you think as the directors always welcome honest feedback.