Stuart Brennan's Gritty Scottish Zombie Flick, Plan Z Reviewed!

A refreshingly gritty, beautifully bleak look at Scotland after a zombie apocalypse.  

I have always been a fan of zombie films.  From everything from I Eat Your Skin to I Sell the Dead....with all your Raimi, Romero and Zombie Flesh Eaters in between.  They can be overly brutal and bloody to downright quirky fun and I truly believe that in spite of the blood and gore...they can be exceptional character pieces in their own right.  Hell, I think The Walking Dead alone has proved the latter point repeatedly!

(Stuart Brennan as Craig)

Plan Z is the latest effort from writer, director, actor and producer Stuart Brennan and his incredible frequent collaborators David Izatt, Mark Paul Wake and Eugene Horan.  The film follows photographer Craig and his friend Bill through their plan to survive the zombie apocalypse, leading them to leave their hometown of Dunfermline and head up to the remote, yet utterly stunning Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland.  (Right from the get go, I am onboard with this plan....Skye would totally be my number one choice to flee to as well.)  

(Mark Paul Wake as Bill)

With a small, yet exceptional cast (and lots of zombies), Plan Z feels a lot more personable than many other zombie films, something which I feel adds to its humanity and in that respect, the believability as well.  Coupled with Brennan's direction and Izatt's wonderful cinematography, the situation seems like it could actually happen!  It's a shite state of affairs to be in at the end of the day...as cool as we'd all like to think it would be, haha.    

What I love about this film, and what is incredibly refreshing to see in a zombie film, is that despite the fact we all love to think we'd totally be Daryl Dixon or Tom Savini...ya know...a total bad ass, just splitting heads, left, right and centre, it just doesn't happen that way!  The reality...especially in the early times...is that we are human.  This level of brutality doesn't come easy to most, and let's face it, survival of the fittest more often than not comes down to being smart in dangerous and volatile situations.  This makes the kills so much more believable and realistic, at the same time retaining our human connection with the characters.  

In so many ways, the film totally reminded me of recent personal favourites such as Stake Land and The Day in how utterly bleak and beautifully depressing it is.  I adore these kinds of films and it is always refreshing to find shit like this done so well. We totally need more films like this dammit!  

Also starring Victoria Morrison, Brooke Burfitt and Terry Deary, the whole cast are excellent and genuinely likeable as well.  David Izatt even sneaks in as a zombie!  Stuart Brennan took home the Best Actor award at the Horrorhound Film Festival for his portrayal of Craig and was also nominated for Best Director as well as the film being nominated for Best Film as well.  The film also picked up Best International Film at the Canada International Film Festival.  

You can check out the trailer HERE!

Random facts - 

*When the guys were filming, they freaked people out and the cops got called out....and they got THIS reaction from a Beagle....a photo that has always cracked me up, haha.  You know there was a big ARRROOOOO there!  Mwahahaha.  :)

*Stuart Brennan, also co-wrote, starred in and produced frequent Scorsese collaborator Martha Pinson’s new film Tomorrow, which was also produced by Scorsese.  Eugene Horan also starred in the film, Mark Paul Wake was an assistant editor and David Izatt the photographer on the film.  Pretty freakin' cool right!? :)

*Actor Eugene Horan won this year's  Budweiser Ireland's Dream Big competition for a chance to head to the States to pursue his acting dream! (Pictured below with Dream Big Ambassador Rosario Dawson) 

 *If we WERE actually in a zombie apocalypse, I would soooo want these guys on my side! They're not just actors....they can actually fight!  David and Mark are trained sword fighters as well!  Yup....trained by Seoras Wallace, the very man who trained Mel Gibson for Braveheart and Russell Crow for Gladiator.  He also trained that boy Craig McGinlay who I kinda like!  He's a'ight!  The three of them are SO good! :)

Check the film out for yourself when it comes out later this month, and to keep up with all the Plan Z goodness, be sure to LIKE the Official Facebook page.

Woo Hoo....Joel Kinnaman in Edge of Winter! Rick Flag Meets Spiderman!

So ever since The Killing started, I developed an insane looooooooooove for Joel Kinnaman!  He is such an absolutely incredible, and still shockingly underrated actor who deserves so much fucking love and adoration!  

With Suicide Squad almost here, it's shit hot to see my Kinnaman in indie thriller Edge of Winter, starring young wee Spidey, Tom Holland.  :)  Joel is also in the new season of House of Cards, which totally gives me an excuse to check it out now, haha.  

Check out the trailer, see what you think, and EVERYONE listen to me.....you NEED to start obsessing over this man if you haven't already!  Yups!  :)  

Official First Teaser Trailer for IronStar Films Debut Short Blood Loss - Starring Craig McGinlay, Alan Cuthbert, Tom Ingram, Chris O'Mara and Newcomer Demi Pearson!

It is with great pleasure that I bring you the first official teaser trailer for the upcoming film I've been working on, Blood Loss....you may remember this blog I wrote prior to shooting, that gives you lots of fun information and stuff and things.  :)   

 Blood Loss is a short psychological thriller about three guys sent by their criminal boss to finish a job that didn't go well and has taken its toll on each of them. they quickly find themselves caught in the middle of a battle for both revenge and ultimately redemption.

STARRING - 

Craig McGinlay as Ryan

Tom Ingram as Eddie

Alan Cuthbert as Gerry 

Chris O'Mara as Chris

And lastly, Brett Spink playing a dead guy, and looking beautifully dead too....Thank you Hayley Tinline.  :) 

So yes....ENJOY....and please do SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!!!!!!!  And be sure to follow us at the Official Blood Loss Facebook Page and on Twitter too. 

Arbroath's IronStar Films Welcomes The Fairy Flag's Alan Cuthbert to Debut Short Blood Loss!

Following my announcement on Wednesday that former Scotland/International rugby star turned model/actor Craig McGinlay's involvement in IronStar Films debut short Blood Loss, I am ecstatic to announce that Craig's Fairy Flag co-star Alan Cuthbert is also set to star.  

A former cop turned self-employed farmer and flourishing actor, Alan Cuthbert is a former cop turned self-employed farmer and flourishing actor, has had parts in Sunshine on Leith, River City, Silent Witness and Waterloo Road, amongst other things.  

This is yet another amazing scoop for the recently formed IronStar Films, and with the amount of positive feedback I have been getting from people who have been coming into the pub, and also contacting me online, Alan is an amazing catch for Blood Loss and the potential of both the film, and the IronStar Films boys.  I know how totally ecstatic the boys are right now, and so it's really super cool for them to be getting this kind of recognition for their first short.  

We are raising money through an IndieGoGo campaign for the film which you can get on board and support by checking out this link. 

Arbroath's IronStar Films Casts Scottish Super Babe, The Fairy Flag's Craig McGinlay in Lead Role in their Debut Short Blood Loss!

Okay, so it is with great pleasure that I can announce the casting of my favourite Fairy Flag boy (alongside James Robson!!), Mr Craig McGinlay in IronStar Films Blood Loss!!

Loving known to moi as Super Pecs, Craig McGinlay is the perfect leading man.  He oozes that kind of Jax Teller quality about him...you know, total babe, awesome killing machine and just downright good actor at the same time.  And like Charlie Hunnam, McG is the kind of guy that girls fawn over, and guys want to have a pint with.  He's THAT rad!  

Soooooooooooo....now that I've told you some of the awesome casting news...now ya gotta get on board people.  Mwahahahahahahaha.  :)  

To quote moi, because I'm really tired and stuff, haha - 

Former Scotland/International rugby player and strength and conditioning specialist; international model turned actor, Craig McGinlay in the lead role.  

The boys at IronStar are over the moon to have attracted the attention of such established individuals (individual numero 2 coming tomorrow!!) for their debut short.

Craig has fight trained with George Johnston who has trained the likes of Christian Bale for Batman, and Matt Damon for the Bourne films.  He also trained by Seoras Wallace, who trained Mel Gibson for Braveheart.  Most recently you might recognise Craig as the face of Irn Bru’s Commonwealth Games advertising campaign, as well as for the National Trust, Dobbies and Visit Scotland amongst many, many more.

And lastly.....ladies....and gay men....THIS >>>>>>

You can find out more about the IndieGoGo campaign HERE, and follow the Blood Loss on Facebook for more information HERE.  

Exciting IndieGoGo Perks to Get On Board Arbroath Based IronStar Films Short Film, Blood Loss.

Filmmaking peeps, check out this wicked opportunity to get on board my friends at IronStar Films new short, Blood Loss.  I have been friends with writer/director Graeme Carr for a greater part of my life, and I know how much of a film geek he is, and one with a wicked imagination.  These guys are just starting out, but as you can see from the teaser trailer, they are onto something pretty awesome.  They're in talks with some outstanding actors, as well as make up artists, and I'm really excited about being part of this project.  

You can check out my previous blog on the short, which also features the teaser trailer HERE!

So yay, get on board, spread the love and share, share, share.  Thanks to John Carswell, they have a superb location for shooting this too, it's so freakin' cool!!  Let's put Arbroath on the map showing the world what Scottish filmmakers are capable of. :) 

Check Out a Whole Heap of Wicked News about Amy Hoff's Original Web Series, Caledonia, Produced by TACHY Studios, Including Season 2 Premier Episode!

A while back I wrote a blog about TACHY Studios getting onboard Scottish webseries Caledonia for their second season.   

Well, I am happy to now show you what the guys have been up too on this Amy Hoff written and directed original series.  And when I say original...it truly is.  Amy is an actual real life monster expert.  Yup...I did just say that.  Haha.  Knowing Amy personally, I know the madcap life she has led, and Caledonia has her kooky style and creative intelligence slapped all over it! 

So yes, below you will find the premier episode of Season 2: Mortal Souls and then an exclusive Caledonia - Professor Elemental video!  Woot!  

And lastly, I am over the moon to announce that the first in Amy's series of Caledonia novels, which she has already written four of already, is to be published by Crooked Cat publishing in 2015.  If you have a taste for fantasy fiction that is quirkier than quirk, then you'll be digging Amy's wonderfully distorted view on Scotland.  

IronStar Films Present Blood Loss - A Film from Four Arbroath Local Film Nerds, that has A LOT of Potential!

It is with great pleasure that I present the brand spanking new teaser trailer for my fellow Arbroathians new short film, Blood Loss.

IronStar films, an independent film company created by four local lads in order to produce a variety of short films from original scripts. The first of which is " Blood Loss", a tale of retribution and redemption among a group of friends who find themselves in too deep.

When three friends are forced by a local criminal to sort out a potential problem, their plans end in a horrific accident destroying their lives forever.

Months later the three men are confronted with the possibility that not everything was as it seems, and find themselves caught between a criminal who wants the job done, and a victim who wants revenge....no matter what side they choose, there's going to be ...Blood Loss.

Graeme Carr, Peter Birnie and Al Jennings have been making little short parodies for years now, however, it was only when they met up with the youngster of the group, Dean Pearson, that they decided to take their love of film to the next level.  :)

Now I've known Graeme since I was a kid, and he has always been one of the biggest film nerds I know.  Ever since we were in our early teens, all we've ever done was talk about films.  Well, that and his constant mocking of my love of Take That.  Haha.  Don't judge me! ;)  So with that being said, I know just how good a creative mind that boy has!  Put him together with the terrible twosome that are Pete and Jennings, add in Dean, (one of my little sister Kimberley's friends, pictured below with Graeme), and you have the perfect concoction.

I've been watching my boys for some time now, and seeing them grow....spying on them...just not as creepily as Norman Bates!  

It was when I met up with Jennings and Pete for lunch back in April, that they showed me not only what they had been working on, but also something that Dean had done himself.  Taking inspiration from James Wan's The Conjuring, and the story of the Annabelle doll; Dean did this whole little faux trailer himself...which is really quite tricky when you are trying to work a camera, shake a rocking chair, turn a creepy head around.  Silly boy...it was only afterwards he realised he could have just called on his Ghostbusters to come and help him.  I'm sure they would appeared, dress to kill and all. :)  It makes me so happy though seeing a younger generation of people taking inspiration from my beloved James Wan.  James and Leigh redefined the horror genre for a new generation, and so it's totally cool to see others learn, and become inspired by their work.  The circle of gore....muuuahahahaha.  Sounds so much cooler than the circle of life.  *hums song to self*

So yes...expect some interesting and muchos awesome things from these ladie.....I mean boys! ;) 

I'd also just like to throw out a big thank you to John Carswell as well, a good friend of mine since I was a teenager.  John gave the guys the PERFECT location to shoot this, an abandoned mill that his family are to convert into flats.  It looks fucking awesome, so major high five to you Mr Carswell...you'll be getting added to my location scout books!  :)  This is so cool because it's a local Arbroath business cutie, helping out local aspiring filmmakers too.  YAY!  Let us show the people of Arbroath just how creeeeeeeeeeepy it can be, muuuuahahahaha. :)

For more information on the project, drop by the Facebook pages for Blood Loss and their new film company, IronStar Films.  

And the charming boys that they are, they take me to the nicest of places.  Mmmmm.....a walk-in toilet, also known as the Arbroath subway/fornication ground/potty/tampon disposal unit!! ;)

Subways are rank!! Haha. Although I redecorated this tampon...just to make it more Morley rank!! ;) Five boys, a Morleysaurus and a bloody tampon. Just a regular Sunday night in the Jeniverse!! ;) #Jeniverse#instascotland #instagross #instatampon #tamponofday #tampon #gross #peoplearerank #bloodysex

A photo posted by Jennifer Cooper (@morleysaurus) on May 5, 2014 at 1:22am PDT

EXCLUSIVE - The Fairy Flag's Chris Capaldi Getting All Dark and Brooding in New Scottish Feature Safe Haven.

I can exclusive reveal a brand spanking new image of The Fairy Flag's Chris Capaldi, star of new Scottish feature Safe Haven.  To learn ALL about the Capaldi, check out some of my previous blogs on the lovely man.  He even gets the Beagle~toes seal of approval, and was the first of my series of Manflesh Monday's posts.  

EXCLUSIVE - Manflesh Mondays - Introducing Former Rugby Player/Model Turned Actor Chris Capaldi, Star of Scottish Fantasy Feature The Fairy Flag, and New Dystopian Feature The Young Ones - Safe Haven!

 

I have been meaning to start a Manflesh Monday's post, and seeing as how I am soooooooooo good at perving on guys...I thought now was the PERFECT time!  Bwahaha.  Now me being me...when I say 'manflesh', there is always going to be something more than the way someone looks.  You can stick to your trashy chick magazines if that's all you're looking for!!  Instead, I'm selecting guys that I totally dig for a number of reasons...they just happen to also be attractive in the Jeniverse too. :)

So, first up is a guy that I've been working with throughout June on a Scottish fantasy film called The Fairy Flag.  It is kind of apt that my first "manflesh" has been the face of Scotch Beef for the past EIGHT years!!  As a Vegan I do NOT support the eating of animals, I am however a realist, and I know that people aren't going to change into Veganism overnight.  So I'd much rather know that these cows were happy and healthy and well looked after before they become someone's dinner!!  So yay to Chris for being so ridiculously attractive that he drew people to supporting a company that actually looked after the cows first, promoting a happy, more natural lifestyle.  And for being manflesh'ey enough to happily take the piss out of himself and have fun with his job too.  :) 

The former Scotland/International rugby 7's player turned model is now turning his talents to acting, and true to his Scottish roots, rather than go down the pretty boy route, he is jumping straight in at the deep end with the grittier, and may I say, meatier roles!! :)  Having just finished shooting the lead role in Dunfermline director David Izatt's debut feature film, The Fairy Flag, and wanting to branch out and get experience in a wide variety of roles, from big productions, to smaller indie productions, I can now exclusively announce that we have just cast Chris in our Dystopian feature The Young Ones - Safe Haven.  

In this new film from Tachy Studios, Chris plays Dan, a character who we meet, 20 years after the world essentially started to go to shit, due to the fall of the government.  A subject that is very on topic, especially within Scotland right now.  With the character of Dan, we wanted someone who could portray a man who has essentially lost everything, and has been forced to survive in this world where the downfall of society has left the world in a place where to have the motto 'kill or be killed', is one's best chance of survival...but at what cost?!

As a Hitchcock nerd, Capaldi gets EXTRA Morley points for this 39 Steps recreation.  I do likeee...a latte! ;) 

You can find out more about Chris Capaldi at his Official Website, and on Twitter by following @iamcapadi.  

Official Red Band Trailer for Debut Feature from CJ Wallis is Red Hot, Psycho-sexual Voyeurism at its Best!

Readers of my blog, and horror fans in general might remember back in November kinda time, and towards the tail end of last year/beginning of this year, that I was talking about a little movie called BB, the debut feature from CJ Wallis.  Back then I exclusively revealed the teaser poster, and then went on to interview lead star Jennifer Mae, as well as Mr Wallis himself....in a 'Part One' in a series of interviews.  More to come!  BWAH!  Back in December I also shared the teaser trailer, which did what it said on the package, and suitably teased something rotten.

Well......fast forward to today and here we have the rather fucking awesome, Official Red Band Trailer.  I think it's pretty safe to say, that BB is looking to be some seriously sexy, voyeuristic fun.  Packed with sweet beats and shot and edited both beautifully, and seamlessly...I am sure you will agree, that it's about time CJ Wallis went from being Canada's best kept secret, to a name that those of us with a love of edgy filmmakers, will be proud to introduce our friends too.  I know that I sure as hell am.  

Having seen some major principle scenes within the film, I can say that this psycho-sexual voyeuristic thriller is something that both film fans, and music fans alike are gonna want to see.  CJ has been quietly making a name for himself, both within film, and music, for quite some time, and the time is now for him to step up to the next level!  As for star Jennifer Mae, with her feisty, flirty yet extremely comfortable level in front of the camera, she exudes that of a young Heather Graham, or Julianne Moore, and is most definitely one to watch.  

You can check out my interview with CJ Wallis HERE, and with Jennifer Mae HERE.  Let me know what you think, comment, share....let's get the word out people.  Indie film-makers depend on YOU, the audience, to help bring their film to the forefront of peoples minds.  Unless of course all you're looking for is another Michael Bay movie! ;) 

To keep up to date with everything BB, as always, just use the #BBMovie on your various social networking sites.  Facebook stalkers, please make sure to drop a like at the Official Facebook Page, and Twitter nerds, just look for @bb_movie.

You can also find CJ Wallis - @fortyfps and star Jennifer Mae - @purplestar420.  You can also find Jennifer Mae's BB girlfriend Violet Vega - @MissViolet420.  

Lastly, please check out the Official BB Website and step into the world of Candy Cummings.  And remember...stay safe online, you never know who's watching you!  And cover your cameras!!