Ultramarine’s 1992 album Every Man And Woman Is A Star is set for reissue on Monday (3 November).To accompany the re-release of their pioneering electronic record, a short film has been commissioned and Q has its exclusive premiere. Watch the short film above now, plus here some words from Craig McNeil who helped to make the film about the project.
The sounds and imagery within the album, especially the songs British Summertime, Nova Scotia and Discovery were very influential to my script.
I needed to find a desolate beach and Paul Hammond from Ultramarine suggested I visit Bradwell-On-Sea in Essex where the band are from and in 1992 they did a photoshoot on the local beach to promote the original release of the album. This deserted Essex beach was perfect and thus became the unlikely location that brings together three wayward souls for a day trip to the seaside that they’ll never forget. Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting For Godot’ was also an inspiration for the film
Mr Punch and the Crocodile have a cameo – I shot them via a convex mirror. Driving round Bradwell-On-Sea I saw convex mirrors in every driveway so it felt right to involve them somehow in the film as they’re part of the landscape of the area. Ultramarine created the soundtrack using different parts, moods and flavours from across the Every Man And Woman Is A Star album. The film has been selected for the official screening programme at The Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York (6-9 November).
Craig McNeil
For full details head to Ultramarine.uk.com