TOMMY THE SUPERHERO
Picture this: a bustling set, a whirlwind of activity, and in the midst of it all, we meet Sam Turnbull. From the moment he stepped onto the scene as a production runner, we knew he was a force to be reckoned with. So, naturally, we had to ask: what were his dreams in the industry? Without skipping a beat, he declared his aspirations: Assistant Directing and Directing.
We made a pact right then and there: on our next gig, he'd be our Trainee Assistant Director. And true to our word, that's exactly what happened with SOA: Sound of Addiction. Sam rocked the role, and it was a no-brainer to have him back when we snagged another film gig later that year. Once again, he rose to the occasion, tackling a set fraught with challenges and unknowns like a pro.
Amidst the chaos of filming, we discovered Sam was in his final year at University, gearing up to shoot his dissertation film. So, we made him an offer he couldn't refuse: we'd trek from London to Lancaster with our gear to shoot his student film. At first, he probably thought we were joking, but when he circled back a few months later, we enthusiastically said, "We're in!"
Enter 'Tommy the Superhero' (TTSH). We were hooked from the first read-through. Sam's screenplay was pure magic, exceeding all expectations. With minimal assistance, he pulled together a stellar crew of university pals, us, and the trusty Thomas Cronin. Armed with equipment from House26 and the university, we opted for the Blackmagic URSA 12K because, well, it was free! And let me tell you, it was love at first shot.
As we dove into filming TTSH, it became crystal clear: this was a project we wanted to champion. The cast, crew, story—everything clicked perfectly. While we may not have thrown cash at it, we invested something even more valuable: time. And let me tell you, the returns were beyond our wildest dreams.
So, here's to you, Sam, and your directing journey. We couldn't be prouder to have been along for the ride, watching you work your magic and lead your team like a true superhero. TTSH is currently in post-production, so keep your eyes peeled for our next blog post, where we'll spill all the behind-the-scenes tea and catch up with Sam himself. Stay tuned!
