'Skyborn'

[Robin Whenary]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd just point you towards my recent NFTS grad film 'Skyborn', directed by Jamie Stone, which has just been nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Student Academy Awards in LA next month: http://www.skybornthefilm.com/. The trailer on the website is not cut from the final graded footage - there are better quality clips on my showreel: http://www.robinwhenary.com/.
It's set in a futuristic world permanently enshrouded in fog, so was a fantastic challenge to shoot, and we used every square inch of the main stage at the NFTS in Beaconsfield, to shoot exteriors as well as interiors. It was quite an epic production for a short film! There are some behind-the-scenes photos if you scroll down on the stills page of the website. I used one of the school's new Alexas, and ended up shooting it entirely with one 14mm Ultraprime lens (apart from the miniatures, which were shot on a Red One at 2k using a similar focal length zoom lens).

I posted here over 3 years ago, with links to my early short films made in the South Devon countryside, asking Roger's advice about film schools. Since then I've had a wonderful 2 years at the NFTS, on the MA Cinematography course, to which 'Skyborn' was a very happy culmination. Now, having got an agent, I'm excited about working as a freelance cinematographer.

'Skyborn' was a real labour of love for all concerned, so we've been delighted with the reaction so far and are looking forward to it starting it's festival run!

[Ashley Wing]

Hi Robin,

Good to see you're doing well! This trailer looks fantastic, I felt a little bit of Terry Gilliam in there. I would love to see the short in it's entirety when the time is right. There is a lot of heart and atmosphere in the trailer. Heh, it only feels like yesterday we were watching your work at the Phoenix TSN events.

I'm really pleased how things have worked out for you and I'm excited to see what you do next. Keep up the great work, and if you're ever back in the Shire it would be great to catch up as always.

Ash

[Robin Whenary]

Thanks Ash! It feels like yesterday to me too, but an eternity at the same time!

Gilliam was definitely an influence. Jamie put up some rather fun, very rough early miniatures tests we did, inspired by 'Brazil' especially: http://vimeo.com/27306173. As in the actual film, the miniature flyer was suspended by invisible thread from the end of a boom pole, and swung through the frame. There were a few collisions with clouds!
Jean-Pierre Jeunet's work was also a visual reference, again in the use of the wide lens.

Yes, we must catch up soon - and I'm looking forward to seeing 'Day Return'!

Robin

[lukearmstrong]

Looks great, +1 to see the short when you get around to making it!

[Robin Whenary]

Thanks. +1 to see the feature, you mean? The short is already made!

Sadly we haven't won the Student Oscar, but here's a fun German TV news report, about Jamie and Len, director and producer, with some nice clips and behind-the-scenes shots from the 'Skyborn' production - fleeting glimpses of me too, including being pushed along in the flying machine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK5UahoA2oc

[lukearmstrong]

Sorry yes, feature! Shorts on the mind...