Star date: 18th November 2012

MEDIACITYUK GETS TASTE OF GUERILLA STYLE

A top Salford parody of PSY's Gangnam Style hit has already drawn over 1500 views on YouTube. The video and track were conceived in less than four days as part of Filmonik's Mini Kabaret.

Scenes were shot around Media City, dodging the security, while the ironic content is about trying to shoot The Best Film Ever while being skint. Altogether now `H-e-e-e-e-e-y I need money…'

Full story and video here…

A smart Salford parody of PSY's Gangnam Style has appeared on YouTube featuring loads of dancers cavorting around MediaCityUK.

Written and directed by Chris Lane, whose previous films have included the comedy short Bog Standard, shot in a toilet at the old Colgate Factory on Ordsall Lane (see here), and the feature length Will Power with scenes shot in Weaste (see here), this latest mini epic was conceived and screened in four days as part of Filmonik's Mini Kabaret held in Salford recently.

The song centres on trying to make the Best Film Ever with 2000 extras, actors dressed as lobsters and Jodie Foster…except…

`I need money
Oh so much money
This makes me sad, hey, this makes me sad, hey
Financial backing, is somewhat lacking
Out of cash, hey, budget slashed, hey
There must be some way to get this film made…'

But there is a way…

`Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot Guerilla Style
Hey, no need for money
Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey…'

`Guerilla filmmaking' is independent low/no budget movie making using whatever props are around – and for the Gangnam Style parody, the cast and crew helped themselves to the MediaCityUK location on Salford Quays…

"The film was always going to be shot 'guerilla style' as it's the nature of Filmonik, although I purposely chose locations, such as Media City and the tram stop where it's renowned for being difficult to shoot films on the fly" says Chris Lane "I actually wanted security guards to intervene so that I could put them in the final film, but surprisingly nobody did. Top tip - if you want to shoot at Media City without being hassled, shoot at the weekend!

"Initially I wanted to shoot on the actual tram, again a place where it's renowned to be difficult to get permission to shoot, but we were short of time so shot it at the tram stop instead" he adds "That was the only concession I made though. We managed to stick to the schedule for rest of it."

The video and song were conceived on the Thursday, storyboarded on the Friday, shot on the Saturday in under eight hours, and cut and screened on the Sunday at Islington Mill, as part of Mini Kabaret, a four day guerrilla filmmaking event. During the Kabaret, 46 films were made and screened in Salford.

The ace Guerilla Style song was co-written by Chris Lane with Chris Taylor of Salford's NoiseBoy Studios who also recorded and mastered it, with music written by Dave Kavanagh. The lead people in the video are Emma Lambert, who works as a Technical Administrator at the Lowry, and actor Joseph Stacey. Now, thanks to their efforts, expect BBC people to go cavorting around their new home `Guerilla Style'!

Click on the embedded video to watch or click here to go straight to YouTube

• Filmonik is the Manchester `cell' of the worldwide Kino00 movement, and its next happening is at MadLab on 16th December. Anyone with an interest in guerrilla filmmaking can get involved – click here for more details of this event.

"If being involved in Filmonik is something you would be interested in, then please get in touch" says Chris Lane "The team would love to hear from anyone who has any time or ideas to contribute, no matter how big or small, no matter what their particular skill-set, interest or super-power. Participants and fans new and old, whether your interest is in fun or in professional development because having Filmonik on your CV is a kick-ass and unique thing to have, we'd love to have you on board."

For further details see the Filmonik Blogspot - click here or email info@filmonik.com