Feature film 'BROKENHEAD' completes final stage of principle photography ...

Sean Connolly as Stefan in a scene from the feature film 'BROKENHEAD' ...

We were blessed with magnificent weather for the final phase of principle photography at Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary at the end of July ...

The cast on PHASE FOUR of 'BROKENHEAD' tripled with the additions of BARRETT ROBERTSON and IAN BROOKER, bringing their not inconsiderable talents to the film.

Filming at the base of the lighthouse at Spurn Point with actors Sean Connolly, Ian Brooker and Barrett Robertson with director and writer Steve Rainbow looking on ...

Director and writer of 'BROKENHEAD' Steve Rainbow on location at the Spurn Point Lighthouse ...

We weren't just filming at the lighthouse, much was done on the beach itself ... A VERY hot weekend, where umbrellas were definitely the order of the day!! Quite a back drop too as you can see!

Filming for 'BROKENHEAD' on the beach at Spurn Point, Humber Estuary ...

Once again the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust were an amazing support with their 'UNIMOG' multi-terrain vehicle to get the cast, crew, our kit and of course our boat over to the lighthouse. 

 

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's 'UNIMOG' vehicle being loaded for a days filming on 'BROKENHEAD' ...

A great weekend with extremely early starts but very much worth it. The actors and the great crew all pulled together to get through what was a punishing schedule ... An added bonus was, that I think I lost about half a stone in sweat, wearing a tea shirt, aran jumper and winter jacket in sweltering temperatures! Now to the edit!!

Psychological Thriller 'BROKENHEAD' enters Phase Two of principal photography ...

Lead actor Sean Connolly in a still from the feature film 'BROKENHEAD' currently in production ...

Nearly a week has passed since we entered PHASE TWO of Principal Photography on 'BROKENHEAD' .. It was a wonderfully intense shoot with the weather certainly playing it's part, thankfully in a good way!

Spurn Point Lighthouse, East Yorkshire viewed from the beach ...

Strictly no spoilers, but I can reveal that there was some bare feet on sand action during the shoot. I can report that the sand was beautiful warm between the old toes, not too bad for April! The same could not be said of the chilly North Sea, fortunately no lengthy contact with the sea was required this time, now PHASE FOUR will be a different matter, aargghh!! Below is a picture from the beach footage to 'whet' the appetite, sorry!!

Actor Sean Connolly in a scene from 'BROKENHEAD' at Spurn Point in the Humber Estuary ...

It was that warm that I was in danger of burning my little bald head, the sea breeze providing the perfect cover for what was really surprisingly hot weather. I did the sensible thing and covered up in between takes. otherwise the film might have to be renamed 'BALD-RED-HEAD'!

The film-makers obsession with catching 'magic hour' was certainly in evidence on the shoot ... Just in case you don't know what 'magic hour' is here's a definition "In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour, especially in cinematography) is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky." It was certainly worth the wait, it seemed to go on forever, the light changed almost by the minute. Here's a shot from that time ...

Actor Sean Connolly plays Stefan one of the country's last lighthouse keepers in the film 'BROKENHEAD' ..

Looking forward now to the next block of filming, it's been quite a journey so far and not just geographically. Here's to PHASE THREE ... news to come!

Sean Connolly cast in lead role in Psychological Thriller 'BROKENHEAD' ...

Putting the disappointment of The Oscars for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' behind me, news of more exciting times ahead!

In fact last week we finished the FIRST PHASE of filming on the feature 'BROKENHEAD' ... 'BROKENHEAD' is the latest film by Birmingham writer and director STEVE RAINBOW. It tells the story of the STEFAN, who's time as one of the country's last lighthouse keepers is coming to an end. This psychological thriller will be Steve's third feature project. I've been very fortunate to work with Steve on his two previous features in supporting roles but in 'BROKENHEAD' I have been cast in the lead role of Stefan. The film is being produced in partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

I can report that last weeks filming on the Dorset coast went wonderfully well. Here's a few pictures of our beautiful surroundings ...

Our location for the week was the Old Higher Lighthouse on Portland Bill in Dorset. There are actually three lighthouses in the vicinity; the Old Higher Lighthouse (unsurprisingly on a high point!), the Old Lower Lighthouse which is nearer the coastline and then the famous Portland Bill Lighthouse itself which replaced these two ...

The view from the lamp room at our location shows the Old Lower Lighthouse (left) and the iconic Portland Bill Lighthouse (right). 

I think Portland Bill Lighthouse deserves closer inspection to truly show it's spectacular setting. We had a few hours to go down to the lighthouse towards the end of the shoot, it was certainly worth it! As you can see we were blessed with stunning weather, not bad for February! We even waited for it to go properly dark so we could see the lighthouse do it's magnificent job, casting it's enormous beams out to sea. I have to say standing so close to a lighthouse, at night, doing what it does, was actually quite an emotional experience!

It was a great week working with a terrific crew in a beautiful part of the country, here's to the next phase of the film .. can't wait!!