Auditions 1 - The role of Annie... (Girls)

Upon receiving an overwhelming response of 120 applicants for the role of Annie on Casting Call Pro, our director and producer had to go through the meticulous process of narrowing the list down to just 35 girls. These talented young girls were invited to audition for the role on Wednesday 20th October, Room 306 in Goldsmiths College. The auditions were filmed and documented, and lasted from 9am till 9pm. This was indeed a very tiring process but none the less also very rewarding as we got to meet some real talent. :)

After re-watching the auditions the next morning, Kim decided to call-back 4 girls as the competition was very fierce.

We arranged the call-backs on the 27th of October from 10am till 2pm, in room 342a... again documenting the girls performances. Having gone through the footage next morning, it was obvious who our favorite was. We had chosen the wonderful and talented Sally Preston.

Everyone, we are proud to announce to you the lovely Annie Audrey: 

  
Sally Preston: Click here for more info about the actress...

Who are we? The Costume Designer...

Costume Designer & Stylist

Veryan Raiker

We always knew the look of Annie Audrey, particularly the costume design, was going to be very important and a possible make or break aspect of our film. We are likely to face so many challenges when attempting to construct Annie’s fantasy world, the biggest of which will be trying to recreate scenes from the glamorous 1950s; if we fail to this convincingly, we risk shattering the illusion altogether for both Annie and our audience. Therefore attention to detail is essential. In addition to this, Audrey Hepburn’s name is synonymous with high fashion so it is likely that some members of our audience will bring with them their own expectations about the clothing and designs that will feature in our piece.

Therefore, the role of Costume Designer & Stylist to this production is going to be very demanding and will require a lot of time and more importantly, a lot of talent. However, we are very fortunate enough to know the right girl for the job: Veryan Raiker.

Although Veryan is currently studying English Literature at Goldsmiths University, her main passions and interests in life are fashion and design. She already has a vast amount of experience in this field. Earlier this year she was an assistant stylist on the Klaxons’ “Two Flames” music video. Prior to this, she spent time as a PA to fashion designer Henry Holland during, and in the preparation leading up to, his SS10 & AW10 collections. Before this in 2009, Veryan assisted styling various fashion shows during the SS10 collections, including the Belle Sauvage and V&A show alongside Bubbles (Jo Gilmour). Additionally, Veryan has completed an internship with designer Nova Dando in which she assisted the styling of La Roux’s “I’m Not Your Toy” music video, amongst other projects. On top of all this experience, she is regularly working on her own designs and making her creations.

Veryan has been extremely excited about the Annie Audrey project from the very beginning, when it was still a concept in Kimberley’s mind. She has taken on the challenge of styling the whole production, and designing and making Annie’s costumes from scratch and is really looking forward to the opportunity to showcase her wide range of skills. In turn, we are all looking forward to the results!

Who are we? The Crew...

The Crew

 

Producer: Apeksha Joshi 

For me films are fantastical escapes and narratives that I venture into... Even though one does not think of production as synonymous with film, I believe that it is the most gratifying and accomplishing experience within a film.

My passion for film first developed with writing and directing and I wrote several short dramas and plays. Over the years however, I seemed to be more and more intrigued by production design, coordination and administration. It was a whole new avenue a film could venture into.

While for some 'Annie Audrey' could be an ordinary short drama, to me it is a production that could get a whole new look, taste and feel with the right coordination and vision. I am passionate about producing 'Annie Audrey', seeing it through its strengths and past its weaknesses. It is a film I am both living and loving at the same time.

Writer/Director: Kimberley Sheehan

I grew up in a sleepy, unexciting small village in North Wales but my wild imagination fused with my passion for films always made me stand out. After years of watching and making films, I really began to take the idea of a career in this field seriously when I was seventeen and a short film I wrote, directed and produced was selected to headline the Flintshire Film Festival. This success inspired me to work harder and keep writing. A year later, I made my escape and moved to South East London to study Media and Communications at Goldsmiths University. Since starting university I have taken practical courses in many mediums however, I found I particularly excelled in scriptwriting and six months ago my script ‘Annie Audrey’ won the Goldsmiths Short Script competition and was consequently selected to brought to life by third year Media and Communications students.

I always feel most comfortable channeling my creativity in writing and directing; I have a lot of characters in my mind and a lot of stories to tell. And you’ve been invited to join me and four other Goldsmiths film students on our journey to tell this one.

Camera/Lights: Yunsuk Baek

When I was a little boy, I would always turn on the TV to drown out the silence and emptiness. When my baby brother was born, he joined in too, and TV soon became a focal part in our family life. TV fascinated me, leading me to study 'Advertising' at Seoul Institute of the Arts in Korea.

After graduating, I wasn’t satisfied, I wanted to travel and see the world from a different angle, so I took my camera and left home. I did not know what I wanted to do with my life exactly, but I knew this journey would help me to discover myself and develop my goals as well.

I love and appreciate the ‘Moving Image’ in whatever form, be it ‘Advertising, Documentary, Music Videos, Film or Video Art’, which is why it doesn’t matter to me what sector I end up working in as long as I’m dealing with the art.

Currently, studying Media and Communications at Goldsmiths University, I’m also working part time as a cameraman, editor and producer for KBS (a popular PSB TV channel in Korea) as well as running short film projects with my friends and colleagues from work.

I could deeply relate to the production ‘Annie Audrey’, as I found that the character Annie shares a similar obsession I once had. Therefore, I believe I will be able to capture her world well, relating and reflecting back on my own memories and experiences as a child.

Editor: Kirsty Taylor

Film has always been an interest of mine, I just never realised how much until I was older. From a young child I constantly had pen to paper, making up stories and characters, reading books and creating sequences or 'films' in my head.

Studying Media and Communications at Goldsmiths University has given me the opportunity to branch out and explore different areas of film and the media. Assisting on shoots, and taking part in filming 'The Brick Lane Takeover' 2010, for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Eventually, I found out where my true passion lies, even though i love script writing, for me, nothing beats editing a film-having pretty much final creative control over how a film turns out, and telling the story through image.

I'm looking forward to playing around with fantasy and reality, and putting my touch on 'Annie Audrey' as editor.





 Sound: Rahel Ali

Originally Greek Turkish Cypriot and born in London, Rahel Ali spent much of her childhood traveling. This experience has instilled in her the passion to discover, document and re-present the many lives that have touched her and that she wishes to touch others with. Fortunate also to be brought up by an artist/painter mother, and a writer/story teller father, she was inspired to join the two mediums together to create her own world of experiences and sensations.

Rahel currently studies Media and Comms at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Having worked as a freelance photographer for over 5 years, she grew interest in the art of moving images and the magic of bringing to life the strangely brilliant constructions of her eccentric mind. She aspires to be a director/cinematographer in the near future. Her previous work includes creating an ad for ‘Haagen-Dazs’, working as an assistant producer on an MTV music documentary as well as creating several short experimental films with which one was selected for screening at the Zero Film Festival in NYC.

‘Annie Audrey’ particularly grabbed her interest as the concept seemed something of an oxymoron. Its ingenious storyline and distinct original style of successfully weaving together kitchen sink realism with the classics, she knew the outcome would be phenomenal. With ‘Escapism’ being its main theme, she knew that experimenting with sound design would prove an interesting, exciting and invaluable experience.
 

What or Who is Annie Audrey?

'Annie Audrey' is a fantastic final major film project five good looking students studying at Goldsmiths College, University of London, BA3 Film Practice are working on! Written and Directed by the awesome Kimberley Sheehan, here's the introduction she provides:

A note from the Director:
 
For a very long time I’ve been intrigued by the idea of using fantasy to escape reality; how people can create and control their own little (or often big) worlds to seek solace in from their everyday lives. As well as how and why people create these worlds, what I find particularly fascinating is where the borders of these fantasies lie; how far can our fantasies take us and how far will we let our fantasies take us?
So, one evening after consuming several glasses of wine and getting caught in one of the heaviest rain showers to hit South East London, I sat down in font of my laptop and attempted to explore these ideas through one character. The result was the first draft for Annie Audrey.

The Premise:

Annie is a young woman on the edge, who has been driven to agoraphobia by her controlling and abusive brother. As she finds her day-to-day life too painful to cope with, she seeks happiness and gratification from her only passion (and obsession); her fixation with Audrey Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn’s films. Annie’s longing for an innocent happy ending like the ones she watches in these films, regularly becomes out of control as she fuses fantasy with reality, believing herself to be Audrey Hepburn and her postman (whom she has never actually spoken to) to be a smooth 1950s gentleman, ready to rescue her from her brothers clutches.

The Shoot:

The shoot will take place in the 2nd week of February 2011...shot on a HD Sony DSR500. We will be using Avid and Protools to cut it together. As awesome as we are, we also intend to submit it into festivals! ;)

In the mean time, we've decided to build this blog as a way to promote our film, documenting movie development and pre-production planning as our aim is to give you an eye opening experience, and an interesting insight into the meticulous nitty-gritty process of film production.

Why are we doing this? 

Mostly 'coz we're desperate for funding...so any donations are welcome! Remember, your name will be mentioned in the credits, and we will also be selling extras roles in the film, so check back soon!

We will be providing a step-by-step update to those who are interested in the progress of our shoot with videos, photos, text, behind the scenes, bloopers, silly thoughts, anything that inspires us for the prod...yes, u may think of this as a kind of tumblr too, but not quite, coz we're actually utilizing our inspirations and ideas instead of pickling them in cyberspace. So this way, you'll know exactly where and to what you're donating to...it is only fair?! :)

P.s: We've put up a Paypal Donate button (On the far left side bar)! For the film lovers and enthusiasts out there, just click on DONATE to show your help and support... (limited credits available so hurry fast!) ^__^*