From an old Doctor Who annual: The Brigadier is having a rough day.
The Fool’s Day.
Ten years ago on April 1st 2003 I showed my film Dad’s Dead to a cinema audience for the first time. It was in the Curzon Soho. I don’t like looking backwards. Indeed I’ve got lots of new stuff brewing. Which I’ve been giving you titbits of. But it was one of those amazing moments that screening. I really didn’t know what people would make of it when I screened it. It was a leap into the unknown. I’d been known back then for doing purely 2D comedy so when the audience came out of the cinema they were silent. ‘How could a guy like me make something like that?” Later I screened it at the ICA and a guy pinned me against the wall almost punching me all angry demanding to know why I made it. People would confess things to me. How they were narrator or worst still how they were Jonno.
Indeed people kept asking, are you Chris Shepherd? Do you have tattoos? You been to prison? I thought you’d have a skin head. When I said no to all of these they couldn’t believe it.
Thing I’m most proud of with Dad’s Dead is its a pure expression. It was incredibly popular when it was released and I had everyone desperately wanting to make a big film with me. I spent five futile years developing a Dad’s Dead inspired feature with a big swish film company. In the end it fizzled out in corporate indifference. It was my creative low spot. Im over it now but it taught me to keep the Dad’s Dead spirit alive. Do something different. Do something that’s from you. Say what you want. Be pure and if people don’t like it you know what to tell them. Yeah?
Here’s another chance to see it. Featuring the brilliance of Ian Hart, Chris Freeney, Dave Kent, and Maria Manton.
People still ask me how I made it but I never really say. The magic for me is the story. I did a making of it which appeared on a onedotzero compilation but I just wandered along the route to my school surveying the carnage. Luckily there were no spray painted pigeons clogging up the place. Will dig out the film and post it up.
There maybe another chapter of Dad’s Dead. Watch this space. The narrator is due for release. He’s earned time for good behavior….
I made a coloured version of this earlier GIF, and now it’s up on Loop de Loop, which is an amazing site/initiative. YAAAY for animation!
