SHORT FILM MAKE-UP WORK. 2013.

The Predator Facehugger piece was the last substantial sculpture that I did for a very long time. I drifted further away from my creative interests, and if I'm honest, I paid a heavy price for it. Being creative is a vital part of who I am, and by not being creative anymore, over time caused my mental health to suffer greatly. There were also other stressful things going on in my life over those years, that I think also  contributed to my mental and creative decline.

In 2013, I did kind of re-surface, but it was with very mixed feelings. A couple of my old film college friends were getting ready to shoot a short film called Happy Bakewell. I'd heard from another friend that they were struggling to find people to help out, so I offered to volunteer. I assumed that they'd just need an extra pair of hands on set, or something. However, they asked me to do a bunch of make-ups for them, and some explosive bullet hit FX. This wasn't what I was expecting, but they were so happy that I'd offered to help, I didn't have the heart to refuse. 

I dug my old make-up kit out of the attic to see what I still had that could be used. It wasn't much but I made do. The bullet hits were a bit of a problem but after a bit of research I managed to come up with something using compressed air and fake blood. 

The make-ups for the drug addicts were created using good old mortician's wax and some grease-paint. It worked out okay, and I was even offered some further work on a feature film by the actor who was playing the hit-man. I wasn't in a position to take on any other work, but it was nice to be asked.

The problem was that whilst doing the make-ups for this film my anxiety was going crazy and it made me feel quite ill. I was regretting it all and felt that I was stupid to have gotten involved. The confidence that I once had was nowhere to be found and I was glad when it was over. Never did I think that I would ever feel this way, but right then, I did. I managed to hide it all though and got on with what needed to be done. My two friends wanted me to work on the next project that they were planning, but I just couldn't do it. I was too afraid to get involved with anything else.

THE 1ST WISH. SHORT FILM. 2006.

The 1st Wish. Short film. 2006.

A few years had passed, during which my creative output had been pretty much zero, other than scribbling down occasional ideas for stories/scripts. It was 2006 and I was still working full time at the cinema as a Projectionist and taking care of my father. My girl friend and I were set to be married later in the year, so I decided to have one last hurrah as a film maker to see if I could actually get something finished. And wouldn't you know it, I did get it finished, though not without some issues afterwards. 

I'd learned from my previous ill-fated attempts, so this one was to be shot over one weekend, in the flat were I lived with my girl friend, Emma. I didn't work on the make-up FX. These were done by my friends Juliette and Paul.

Although there was a part of me that wanted to make more films, this was the last time that I did. I was glad that I finally got something completed, but I must admit that at that time my confidence had taken a knock. Some were quick to judge my motivations and choices etc. I felt so nervous the day before the shoot, that I made myself quite ill and almost pulled the plug on the whole thing. As I write this now, in 2024, it's hard to believe that so much time has passed. But it has. I got married, had a family, and continued to work my job as a projectionist. There was one occasion, some time afterwards, maybe a year or two, when I thought I was going to make something else, but it went no further than an initial meeting. From time to time I still get that 'itch', even now. But I feel too old, and really lacking in confidence. However, I do regret not doing any more... 

Greg having a plaster cast taken of his stomach and chest, on my kitchen floor. Ain't movie makin' grand!