James Stier

Wow.

Its the only word that some up an emotionally charged week I have had while working on documentary following the journey of 21 amazing young people, all of whom were taking part in a leadership course ran by Momentum Youth Development. The course is designed to promote team work, leadership and communication. However, it has done something more powerful than those skills combined. Its genuinely changed peoples lives, especially my own.

Young people from Macedonia, Netherlands and the UK all came to London to work on a number of large scale team activities, such as forming their own business to running a live TV show. The documentary followed the activities on a day to day basis. It has been one of the toughest challenges, both physical and mental we have faced recently but we wouldnt have had it any other way.

A big thanks to everyone involved, especially Gary, Richard, Paul, Andrew, Trevor and Luc for all their assistance with the production… not to forget Alieu, Sahal, Steff, Shabana, Samuel, Despina, Kristina, Bledi, Dane, Daniel, Dragona, Leonie, Marko, Miriam, Norma, Marjo, Susan, Charlotte, Manouk, Hieke and Rachel.

I am away in Scotland until the end of August, and post production is scheduled for September… hopefully an upload online by then. In the mean time here a few images from the event taken by Richard and Leonie.

More info can be found here: youthmomentum.org/?p=1330

James.

I worked alongside a great group of professionals, teachers and young people on a Sheffield based project in association with High Storrs. We had 5 days shooting, two days editing to produce a film focused on the future of Sheffield, made by the future of Sheffield… its youth. Supported by Anne, Darren, Trish, Paul, Lee, James, Akram and various other teachers and professionals we accomplished what now seems the impossible.

The film itself is to promote the past, present and future of Sheffield with a massive focus on Sheffield culture. The brief was wide open after this, however after our first initial team meetings the consensus was to:

- Make it more focused on the now.
- Include short and snappy interviews that drive the narrative.
- Categorise the key subject areas.
- Experiment with kinetic type.
- Appeal to young people.

Everyone involved would have liked 2 weeks instead of the one, or better yet, a month to work on such an ambitious project but in the time frame everyone involved should be blown away with what they achived.

Day 1 consisted of training and arranging interviews, 27 in total! We were shooting on unfamiliar equipment in a more traditional manner which immediately got me interested in being apart of the project. Working in -5 temperates, with a constantly changing group of people in over 20 different locations was hard going at times but everyone dug in. I just wanted to say a big well done to the main crew of Matt, Joel, Dan, Stefan, Abby, Gabby, Aixin, Jacob, Chekere, et al.

Enjoy and thanks for putting up with me ;) (especially Paul).

This is Sheffield from Voidcomp on Vimeo.

Things are starting to get really busy with R2M, a big thanks to everyone who has helped thus far. Its a truly awesome project with some amazing aims and objectives, not just from a photography point of view, but in helping young people and telling one awesome story.

As part of the Road to Macedonia we have been experimenting with some ideas before production begins. This short was created as part of the project, however it is not a final product, nor will it be used within the final documentary.

Happy New Year! 2010 is upon us and the new year welcomes a new project and the Road to Macedonia.

The Road to Macedonia (R2M) is a European project that takes 3 regular guys on an extraordinary adventure, on motorbikes as the make there way to, you guessed it, Macedonia and back.

What impact do our lives have? Most of us will ask the question of whether the work and decisions we each undertake makes a difference. Road to Macedonia is a discovery of just that. The decision of 3 adventurers to take stock of their lives, to discover where they have been and where they might be heading.

The reason for the adventure stems from reflection, a chance to find out if the actions one of the riders took made a difference to hundreds, possibly thousands of lives. Meet Paul Oxborough, at 40 he he is taking stock of his life by making a journey to a country that is very special to him, Macedonia.

Paul has worked throughout Europe all his life as a youth worker, empowering young people to change for the better. Accompanied by two friends, each with their own personal reasons for discover, development and change.

In 2010 the adventure begins, and will documented in 6, 1 hour TV documentaries. The bikers along with the small documentary crew are discovering people they once knew, becoming embroiled into the cultures, homes and hearts of the people they visit, culminating in a biker escort from the largest motor bike club in Macedonia.

Sounds like fun? Well, it should be, more information can be found at www.roadtomacedonia.co.uk, stay tuned. All the best in 2010. James.

Update – we have been shooting some concept material over the last few days, here is a teaser to wet your appetite, stayed tuned here and at www.roadtomacedonia.co.uk/news for more info. Thanks for watching.

An update of some of our more recent projects, big thanks to Gary, Ryhs, Paul, John, Darrell, and everyone else who were a big part of these productions in early 2010 and 09. As always you can view the video below or on Vimeo. Enjoy it.

2010 Showreel – Voidcomp from Voidcomp on Vimeo.