APPOINTMENT (2003)

short Irish horror film
written and directed by Robert JE Simpson
starring Michael Lee and Robert Lane.

Shot early 2003 as one of three films produced for our final year projects as part of a BA in Film Studies at QUB.
We spent the first semester working up scripts and storyboards based around 'genres', and then pitched to direct the shortlisted scripts.

I ended up directing my own script, something of a mixed blessing. I'm not happy with the final piece, but there are elements which work well.

I also filmed several of the sequences, and we used dual camera set up for one or two shots too. Cameras were Canon XM1 and XL1s, output onto mini-DV. The films were screened at the QFT in June 2003.

The film is designed as a critical response to the Hammer horror films I'd grown up with, and includes a number of visual and script nods. The soundtrack also deliberately makes use of a piece of music, and some audio effects from classic Hammer films (which rather cements the reference points) in lieu of an original score.
I've kept these in because they were part of the original critique.

The crew rotated on the three films, so I ended up directing one, dp'ing one, and working as a production assistant on the third.

A word on the video:
After the first night's shooting at Bangor Castle, Co. Down, we discovered that the cameras were faulty, and several sequences suffer from digital interference. The soundtrack also suffers from some appalling levels, and the glass breaking sound effect makes me weep every time I hear it.
If I can, I may try redubbing the soundtrack as I've recently located the original tapes and sound recordings, and uploading a new cleaner version.

Apologies for now however...

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Appointment
• Irish
• Ireland
• horror
• supernatural
• Bangor Castle
• Co. Down
• Hammer horror
• British
• film
• drama
• original
• Robert JE Simpson
• avalard
• QUB
• Film Studies
• BA
• 2003