The Turner Effect

 (Copyright© Frank Turner/XtraMile Records/YouTube)

This fine piece is an amazing little documentary on Frank Turner. A nice well paced 15 minute or so video that gives you a little insight into a man that myself and many others look up to.

To me, Frank Turner is up there with the greats: Springsteen, The Beatles, Dylan, Cash, Bowie, The Who. He may not be that for a lot of other people, but in my heart and, I know, in a hell of a lot of others he is.

Frank Turner is the ultimate game changer. He may not change the face of music itself or even tread ground that hasn’t already been stepped all over. But he writes songs that are incredible in the way they make you sit back and just listen. Nothing else. No focus on "what's for dinner tonight?" or "Oh that's a nice tree I just passed" Just you and his music. He has this grasp on people and music that just totally blows everything else out of the way and lets you just find yourself completely immersed in his music.

I have been following a nice little blog on Tumblr that is all about Frank called "Dear Frank Turner" Some of the things that you find on here are incredible. Not only is it a fan site, but it's also a gateway to finding out how much one person's music can alter the lives of many. Helping various people to find themselves, get out of tough situations or just show a genuine love for the music. This blog is there for the ultimate Frank fan.

Recently Mr. Turner released a New Album entitled "Tape Deck Heart" 

From this he has so far released two singles: "Recovery" and "The Way I Tend To Be"  

Thank You for the music Frank and here's to more in the future!

Just Need Some Closure

Here at uramyx we love a good independent film and especially if it is made on a budget of next to nothing and looking highly promising. 

Allow me to introduce Closure...

This film, very much inspired by various Mumblecore films, is actually set in my hometown of Dundee/Broughty Ferry and done by an old friend of mine Joel Hewett and his buddy Andrew Golden. Made on a shoestring budget, Closure (to quote their description) "follows characters Daniel (Hewett) and Eve (Sarah Calmus) over the course of a year long relationship told in reverse. We begin with an ending and end with a beginning."

With the premier selling out in a staggering 45 minutes and the Second screening in just a little over an hour, this film is very highly anticipated. 

The teaser trailer has a certain air of quirkiness about it that reigns supreme in these types of films. It's also accompanied with a soundtrack by artist "Mild Eyes" that gives almost ambient perfection. I for one am extremely excited for this picture, not just because it features places where I grew up and was written and directed by someone I know, but because you can't beat a story set so much like real life, told about a genuine situation people will feel at least one time in their life. 

Closure Premieres Tuesday April 17th at the HMC Abertay University

Lee You Chainsaw Genius!

Well, he's done it again! Lee Hardcastle has made another amazing piece of clay animation, only this time, it's a sequel and in 3D! 

Yes, Lee has presented to us Chainsaw Babe 3D, a follow on from his ever so gore and guts filled Chainsaw Maid 2. If you have some of those old Red and Blue 3D specks kicking about, I suggest you get them on, because this should not be missed. But Mr Hardcastle understands that not everyone will have them so has put the film up in 2D also (bless his cotton socks).

I won't spoil anything for anyone by yabbering on about the details. All you need to know is the little girl from Chainsaw Maid 2 is all grown up and now she's the one dishing out the main source of pain to those zombie types. Lee's style of animation fits this gore fest perfectly and it's always a real pleasure to see him post something new. Go check it out. I promise you will not be disappointed.

With These Shoes I Could Dance On Your Face

I am not familiar with the band that made this song, but the fact that it is absolutely cracking and the video is about a complete psychopath picking off people whilst going about his day-to-day life, I've got to say, I'm in!

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as the psycho and brought to you by Daniel Wolfe (The man behind the newest Cobra advertisement and Various Plan B videos such as "She Said") The video shows Gyllenhaal going on a mad killing spree whilst the insanely addictive sound of "The Shoes" plays ever so perfectly over it.

The video is for their song "Time To Dance" and it most certainly got me doing that, but only after I had marvelled at the beautiful video first. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest you check it out. 

Happy Birthday Mr Caine! (and Jamie Bell)

Today is a very special day indeed. Here at uramyx, I would like to say a very big Happy Birthday to a true London Gangster, Gotham City's only butler and the best Scrooge there ever was... 

Sir Michael Caine.

Mr Caine is 79 today can you believe it? This man has done so much that it is hard to know where to begin. His excellent contributions to cinema are so great that it is hard to pick just one. These are some of my personal favourites.

In other news it is also young Jamie Bell's birthday today. Being a fan of such pictures as Undertow, Chumscrubber and Dear Wendy (except the end) I thought it only fitting to take the time to appreciate him also for being born.

Dead Excited!

So recently, I have been looking up loads of different low budget films and slasher flicks.

I have stumbled across some gems; there was some I found on Strange Kids Club such as the fan made "Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash". Which also led me to "Jason vs. Leather Face" (both very well done fan films). I then found things like "The Basement" and "Absentia" (one in the B-movie range. The other in the Indie range) I was pleasantly surprised to find that horror films, and more importantly indie films, were going extremely strong!

But in browsing the old social networking sites. I think I not so much stumbled, but double took, stopped, stared and drooled at what can only be described as (in my opinion) The Best Fan Made Film!

I was met with this delightful little teaser trailer.

Yes! That is what you think it is!

I quote "LEFT 4 DEAD - THE MOVIE..." (Let me just soak that in a bit more a second ... aaaaaah sorry)

"...Is a non-profit fan made movie, based on the hit video game by Valve."

I can't really tell you a whole lot about it, seeing as I just found out about it today. All I know is that extreme props have to go out to that ENTIRE cast and crew for making that film possible. This is very VERY high up there on my "ones worth waiting for" list of films now!

For all you zombie heads out there, just think, this may be the independent zombie flick you've all been waiting for!

I highly suggest you all check out their Facebook, YouTube channel and Website for all the latest.

These trailers have just blown me away at how amazing the quality is. By the looks of things, they have done Valve's zombie love child justice!

Super 8... Enough Said!

Much like the title of this, I will not be saying much on it. Purely because I would never want to ruin this film for anyone
 

So today I went to see "Super 8" 

Everything about this film was absolutely stellar. The performance off of those kids was some of the best I have seen all year. The special effects were out of this world, completely seamless. I always try and view films from an outside view, especially if I am told that a film is good. I went in doing that with this film and reached about a minute in and all thought went out the window except from "WOW!"

Some of the angles they take in this film are unbelievable. This is one of the very few films that I have actually been dragged about the screen by what the director wanted me to see or not to see. Even typing this right now, I can't take my mind off of it. I'm constantly thinking about that beautiful lens flare that happened every now and then. The train crash that knocks "The Knowing" 's* Plane Crash out of the water. 

It was just truly amazing! I urge all of you to go see it as soon as you can. 

Oh by the way. You need to stay when the credits come up. The extra bit is well worth it! 

*I am not a fan of "The Knowing" in the slightest. Exact opposite in fact. Just the plane crash scene is done beautifully.

GAME ON! *Indie Game: The Movie Special*

There is a movie that I have been following for some time now. The movie hasn't been released yet, and still I just know it is going to be a favourite of mine and many many others. This movie is both a show of great film making (if the little teaser videos are anything to go on) and a very informative insight into the world of indie games and their development. I am of course talking about...

Indie Game: The Movie

This film has been hugely anticipated for some time now. Ever since I stumbled across it a while back, it has been the first movie that I want to see that has come to mind every time. This little clip of Edmund McMillen is what first attracted me to them. 

I was in a complete haze of Super Meat Boy fever. Like a lot of people around that time, the thought of an actual game coming for the arcade market that might grab your attention for longer than two seconds was most exciting. So all amounts of fandom kicked in and I went on a hunt for all things SMB and Team Meat. As soon as I spotted this clip though, it became less about Super Meat Boy and more about "Who the hell made this amazing short clip?!" This was a perfectly put together clip and so easy to watch and fall in love with. The shots are utterly gorgeous and the way the content is put across, as much as it had a lot to do with the man himself, the manner in which it was put together had me glued. So who were these people? 

James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot

These two have changed the way I think about films forever. I honestly cannot explain what it is, I don't know whether it is just the way all the little shorts and the trailer are shot that does it, but I find myself comparing other documentaries with the thought of "This isn't as good as IGTM". It is a totally biased way to look on things and I know when critiquing things you should look at it on a whole. But once you have found something as amazing as this to you, you cannot help but compare it. These guys have made documentary perfection so far in my book, and the film isn't even properly finished and out yet.

Well it is now just mere months until a release for the film and they have just announced some amazing news for the film. This trailer for a start is the most hard-hitting thing I have watched in a while and just pulls my emotions from one point to whole other on entirely.
You know what? Rather than have me tell you any more, I think it's about time you watched this official trailer (That's one announcement) and headed on over to their site and checked out all the content. If you like what you see, help them out. They have a new Kickstarter Campaign that you could always help out with, or the old classic of buying the DVD and if a hard copy of a film isn't your fashion and you want to "get with the times" they have a digital version for pre-order also (Another Announcement).

James and Lisanne... Thank you so much for this piece of magic.

A Haircut And Ink Please!

There are a string of interviews and documentaries that I will be sharing with you guys across the site over the next week or so. To start it off, these are two gems I found a while back. 

First up is a lovely little piece all about tattoo artist Luke Wessman. I have so much respect for this guy, but then when you watch this short film you will see why and that most people also have a large amount of respect for this man. Not only is his work incredible, he is a very down to earth, true gent. I only have videos and what he writes in his Blog and on his Twitter to go on. But by that alone I see that this is the kind of guy you want to look up to and learn from in life. I only hope that one day I'll be lucky enough and to meet and get a tattoo from the man himself.

This video just basically talks in brief about the life and times of Luke Wessman, as told by himself and friends. It is shot so beautifully. Some amazing mid tattooing shots and nice shots of the pier and beach. Check this out! 

Next up, we have another small video interview about a barbershop. Now in the US and UK and many places these days, the barbershop is slowly becoming a dying trade. Now I know for myself that in UK it's mainly because a lot of these places are owned by older men and woman who then sell it on to someone who doesn't really know what their doing. They give bad haircuts and before you know it no one goes and they close down. Well, it seems that US has a similar problem. Only difference being that the US does something about it. 

This is Hawleywoods Barbershop and I tell you, if I had a place like this in the UK I would go! I can't actually put into words how amazing this place looks. The only thing you need to know, is that when you want to be a man's man (as put in the video) get a traditional haircut and shave... Go there! 

Check this little video out for yourself and I bet you'll want to go too. Also what an amazingly shot and put together video.

The Happiest Man *HappyHarry Special*

When I was in college I used to go on the net and search for different animation videos just to compare with other animators and learn from them. In all honesty though, I went on to find some funny videos. Well, once while browsing through Newgrounds I happened to stumble upon an absolute genius short animation. 

"Chuck's New Tux" blew me away. This little short made me think it was just such a simple slapstick humour cartoon that wasn't going to be anything spectacular. But after viewing it, I was so so wrong. This not only is extremely funny, but a beautiful piece of animation. The movement is just so fluid and for a short flash animation has perfect lip sink.

After watching this I went on a look at other submissions from the animator and found this. "A Slice Of The Action" Another fantastic put together piece that just looks incredible.

And the man that put all these together, Harry Partridge is an extremely talented animator and in this day and age where there is that many people trying to break their way out by producing any old thing that comes to mind, it is rare to find such a diamond in the rough. It's good to see that someone has such passion for his work and that shows in it also. I just want to add that I personally think that the character design is totally flawless. I urge everyone to check out his stuff. Thank you Mr Partridge!

Image Provided by Harry Partridge YouTube© Channel

Vincent To My Ears *Vincent Price Special*

For as long as I can remember, I have been a massive fan of the late and extremely great Vincent Price.

 Image Provided by Google® Images

It was very much fuelled from my parents being huge fans of his many films. They had a large collection of VHS sitting out and smack bang in the middle of all of them was a collection of about 15 of his films. I to this day have not seen them due to losing them in moving house or my mum simply refusing to play them because they are like family heirlooms to her now.

But the films I have taken upon myself to see, I cannot help but fall in love with that voice. It sticks with me for weeks after I have watched something and compels me to watch more.

The first time I really remember hearing his distinctive, terror filling (some would say sexy) utterly astounding voice though, was "Basil, The Great Mouse Detective" as Professor Ratigan.

Image Provided by Google® Images

This villain, in this Disney classic, was easily one of the most sinister and pure evil that there has ever been, and that was very much down to the fact that he had one of the best voices powering behind the actions. 

The main reason I have targeted the voice specifically, is because there was a piece that I have never been able to forget entitled "Vincent". It is a short created by Tim Burton and Rick Heinrichs following the story of a little kid called Vincent Malloy, who aspires to be Vincent Price. With this he starts to live out different scenarios of how he thinks Vincent Price is in his head. With everything from a reference to "House Of Wax", to quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven", the animated short has captured that persona of Vincent Price perfectly and so effectively. Even down to it's black and white look.

Since first seeing this in 2008 on the special edition of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in the special features, I have not stopped watching it. Hands down, one of the best shorts out there. All thanks to the star and subject matter of the short, Mr Price.

This man is simply amazing. I could sit here all day and ramble on and on telling you about how much he was a true inspiration, a genius to film, how he is just an absolute delight to sit and watch and have grace your ears. But if your reading this, you already know what a great man he was.

To mark what would have been his 100th birthday Strange Kids Club have been posting various things from across Vincent's career. Check it out and reminisce about a true Legend on his 100th birthday!

Chatroulette Love Song

And my first post is to be about one of the best things I have ever found at almost 3 in the morning whilst browsing facebook.

Now I might be behind the times, this might be a really old video on the net. But this is the first time I have ever seen this, and it has got to be one the sweetest/amazing videos out there. This must have taken so much time and effort to try and arrange this all. Just for about 5 minutes of video.

Worth it!

What do you think? Sweet/Amazing? Or Cheesy and Shit?