Mixing work and pleasure again on a project that came about quite by chance. I met Mark Fenner, through my mate Anthony. I was on my way back from Portugal a few years back now, and it was suggested that I make a pitstop and say hi, oh and chuck the rods out for the night at his lake. We became friends and I have been back many times since, principally for a social but I also chucked some of my camera gear in the car, just because. I didn’t set out to make anything of these socials, as I often don’t want to bring my working life into something I have always associated as a pastime, and something to get away from work. But at some point, I began to document the process of Mark setting up his fish farming business.

It’s always a challenge making these things, particularly when this subject matter could be considered quite dry (not in the literal sense obviously) and very niche. But those are the sorts of challenges I really enjoy.

It’s certainly not an exhaustive look at the whole story, but rather a focus on one piece of it – the end of year harvest. I wanted to observe the human element, as much as I was able to, and the people who have helped bring it to life; the kinds of friendship these endeavours tend to nurture. It’s not a typical documentary as there’s not really any defined narrative in the traditional sense; no set-up, jeopardy or redemption and certainly no big climactic ending, but I have done my best to shape it into something hopefully interesting – I guess it’s more a vibe thing. There’s a trailer on Youtube.

It’s a bit write the feemtoon, sing the feemtoon (a Little Britain character reference for those who don’t get that) as I’m doing everything on it, including writing and recording all the music, but that gives me an opportunity to tell the story in a why I feel works for this kind of subject matter and target demographic.

Meanwhile I’m slightly up against it timings wise and have to get the rest of it cut, scored, mixed and graded in just over a week 😬