Recent updates

The latest news from our projects

  • Thank you for your support so far!

    An update for The Man's Hands - Darren Hodge's Music Video

    Jul 14 2014

    Hello everyone, and thanks for all the support and pledges you've given so far!

    There's still quite a way to go though - I need your help in spreading the word about my campaign and persuading people to donate.

    Fundsurfer has offered to extend my deadline by 14 days to achieve this, hopefully we can hit the target because we have gained some momentum in the last few weeks.

    So if you've already donated, please tell your friends to do the same, and if you haven't donated yet, then now's the time.

    I can't make this video without you!

    Thanks,
    Darren.

  • The Filming Continues

    An update for Protect our NHS: One Thousand Thank Yous

    Jul 8 2014

    This is just a quick update to reassure backers that we are still hard at it.  We have started on the edit of the material we had already shot and have filmed the rehearsal for The Big Sing - the Flash Choir which will be performing outside one of Bristol's hospitals later this month.  50 people came to the rehearsal and we're expecting a lot more singers on the day.  The song is an adaption of Ray Davies' Thank you for the Days' which we'll be singing to the NHS staff at the hospital.  The rehearsal sounded great with the voice parts arranged by one of the regions leading choir teachers.

    Thank you for the care,
    That endless care, that selfless care you gave me.
    I’m thinking of the care,
    I won’t forget a single day, believe me.

    I bless the Nurse,
    I bless the doctors and the staff believe me.
    And though I’m home,
    You’re with me every single day, believe me...

    More to come soon.

    Thanks once again,

    Steve

  • 70%...just a little more - and what you can do to help...

    An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

    Jun 26 2014

    Hi everyone

    Thanks for following the progress and backing me. I'm just over 70% there now, I just need a few more backers to make it happen!

    Meeting the publisher…

    I had a really good meeting with Silverwood books today to look at the various publishing options.

    I'm really keen to work with them and believe it could take my writing career to the next level, with a bit of extra help from the professionals.

    If I can't afford to showcase Bristol talent at a flashy launch event, I would at least like to support a local indie publisher instead of pumping more money into the coffers of Amazon and never getting into bookshops!

     

    Please pass it on to your contacts and help me to support them

     

    Here’s what you can do to encourage more people to back the project:

    (Pick and mix what works for you):

    Twitter

    Follow me on Twitter and I’ll follow you back:

    https://twitter.com/TomCatDesigns

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Follow and share the Pinterest boards on the book:

    Here’s the board of actors I imagine as my characters:

    http://www.pinterest.com/amymorse184/solomons-secrets-characters/

    Here’s the board of research links that I sourced when writing the book:

    http://www.pinterest.com/amymorse184/solomons-secrets-research-links-and-images/

     

    Blog

    I’ve serialized the first few chapters of the book on my blog, so point people towards it and share it on your social media. Hopefully, people will like the segments they read and want to know more.

    http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

     Fingers crossed I can make this happen, with your help

  • Thank you's and pass it on...

    An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

    Jun 16 2014

    SO CLOSE!

    Thanks to MisterGabs for being the latest to pledge.

    I've been playing with audio files today and have recorded the Prolgue. For a taste of things to come, have a listen on SoundCloud:

    https://soundcloud.com/amy-morse-2/solomons-secrets-prologue

    And if you like it and want to read some more, check out my blogsite wqhere I have been serializing the book:

    http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

    I've been having fun with it and including lots of images on the blog or locations and actors.

    Pass the links on to your friends. If you know anyone who enjoys a good read or anyone who enjoys a bit of Indiana Jones style mystery, tell them about Solomon's Secrets.

    Thanks :)

  • Six weeks and a new goal

    An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

    Jun 15 2014

    Hi everyone and thanks again to those who have pledged so far. With the new adjusted target, I don't have far to go, so keep spreading the word.

    A big thank you to those that originally pledged for tickets to the event for being so generous and understanding now that it's not going ahead. You'll be the guests of honour at my new event, which I'll organise separately from the crowd fund.

    This project started with a book and somewhere along the way I lost focus. I need to concentrate on publishing the book.

    I've been in talks with a local publisher and I'm excited about working with them instead of Amazon. Amazon’s publishing platform has worked really well for me in the past and no doubt I'll use them again in the future but I'd like to try something different this time and get into some local bookshops.

    Much of the story of 'Solomon's Secrets' is set in Bristol so it seems like a natural fit. However, it is much more expensive and riskier to publish in this way. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:

     

    This week I have also been serializing Solomon’s Secrets on my blog so if you’d like a sneak preview of the book or know anyone who might be interested, take a look here:

    http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

    Enjoy it, and thanks for helpoing me to get through this!

     

     

  • One Thousand Thank Yous to All Who Have Pledged - We've Hit Our Target

    An update for Protect our NHS: One Thousand Thank Yous

    Jun 6 2014

    With one day to go we've made it!  Still time for a few last pledges if you have any friends who would like to join us in making this film really fly.  As you know we've already started shooting and I'll keep reporting back as the film nears completion.  There's a big day's filming on July 16th when a flash choir of up to 100 people will be singing to thank the NHS outside one of Bristol's biggest hospitals.  Anyone who wants to come along and join in and be filmed please email protectournhs@gmail.com for details of the song and rehearsal dates.  One thousand thanks to you all, Steve

     

  • 8 Days to Go and I think We're Nearly There

    An update for Protect our NHS: One Thousand Thank Yous

    May 30 2014

    Hi, all.

    We have had a great response over the last couple of weeks and I've just had a note from someone who has promised a big pledge so we're going to make it.  But if anyone has a friend or even a friend of a friend who might, just might, pledge an amount, however small, please contact them and ask them to pledge it in the next few days.  With all that's happening in the NHS at the moment and with no one able to work out who reports to whom in the convoluted management structure they have put in place, we need this film to show the public - and remember we're all potential patients - exactly what is happening and how to fight back.  Thank you all so much for the pledges.
    Steve

  • Back to reality...

    An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

    May 26 2014

    After a lovely few days abroad it's back to reality with a bruising bump.

    Thanks to Berni and Kevfearon for pledging.

    I still have a long way to go to reach my goal and I need to switch the focus now on selling tickets to the event.

    I've been listing it on events pages but if you want to come to the event, please help make it happen by speaking to your friends and family and getting a group together to pledge and come along. It promises to be a great evening, with brilliant live music, awesome pop up theatre, delicious food and excellent wine and all for £25! Seems like a sweet deal for a night out!

    I’ve created some posters too which I’ll be putting up all over the city, check it out:

    Pst, pass it on...

    :)

     

     

  • Don't Let UKIP's Election Day Success Get You Down! Keep The Faith and Thank You For All The Pledges

    An update for Protect our NHS: One Thousand Thank Yous

    May 23 2014

    A huge thanks (one thousand thanks even!) to all those who have supported the project so far.  I've been out filming today to record the closure of yet another hospital with yet another broken promise.  Still, we're winning on some of the most important local issues - and on an election day which has seen huge gains by UKIP, which is committed to private medicine - we can be thankful for those.  Our legal case is entering the end game and I am looking forward to sharing the results with you soon.

    I don't think we're going to get to the original £5,500 target we had set so I've loaned some more of my own money to the project and convinced some TV professionals to work for free and I reckon now we can get the video shot and edited for £1,500. Fundsurfer has also offered to extend our funding campaign deadline by 14 days because we have gained considerable momentum in the last few weeks. We have raised over £1000 with 23 backers!

    Summer's big filming event is a Flash Choir (up to 100 singers) singing a specially re-written version of Ray Davies' Thank You For The Days (Thank You For The Care) outside one of Bristol's biggest hospitals on a July lunch time - just one more way of saying One Thousand Thank Yous.

    So one last push for funding please and we'll carry on with the shooting.    If you could pass the word to all your friends that this is a great way to help save the NHS, then that would really help.

  • Pies, music and other consumables

    An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

    May 15 2014

    Thanks to the new backers this week:

    David & Shirley

    Linzi

    Emma

    Linda

    Andy & Sara

    I'm almost at the halfway point of the campaign and a long way off target. If you are curious about what I plan to spend the budget on, check out the Pie Chart on the pledge page.

    I've met some great people this week, including Sally from Bristol Creatives who gave me some great tips. After talking to her I need to switch the focus now to filling the event.

    If the target isn't reached, the event can't happen…and I really want it to happen!

    Here’s why:

    I’m in discussions with a theatre producer who is now working through my books to start the wheels in motion for the pop up performances. I’m working with Byron Mondahl who has a start up theatre production company in Bristol, Bearmoon Productions. I worked with him through my day job to help him get his business off the ground and it’s a privilege to be able to support him. Plus, he’s excited about the project and really ‘gets it’.

    Here’s his website:

    http://www.bearmoonproductions.co.uk/

    It’ll be amazing to see my hero, Tom Sheridan and heroine, Sasha Blake, come to life and entertain the guests at the event.

    I also met a lovely lady called Rosa, who owns Caffe Rosa in Knowle, at an event that she was catering for. The food was amazing and we talked about different options to feed the guests, she can even provide experienced waiting staff.

    She offered to let me use the café for a preview event, so look out for that. It could be a great opportunity for a dress rehearsal for the actors.

    Here’s her Facebook page:

    https://www.facebook.com/CaffeRosa

    I have been chatting to a friend over Facebook, Tim Kerslake, about his band ‘Daggers and Waves’ and their music. Here’s a link to Soundcloud:

    https://soundcloud.com/daggers-and-waves

    ‘Ferry Light Switch’ is a favourite of mine.

    I also met Evie Woods and picked up hers and a few other CD’s from the Hydra Bookshop in Bristol. Here’s her stuff:

    https://soundcloud.com/eviewoodsband

    ‘Dust’ is a favourite. She does some beautiful acoustic stuff.

    Another of the bands I’m considering is Wolfhound

    https://soundcloud.com/wolfhoundlive

    ‘Tales of Truth and Lies’ is a favourite, also the lyrics seem really relevant to Solomon’s Secrets.

    I saw The EastPole Orchestra at The Old Bookshop (my favourite watering hole in Bristol) recently and have since met Ian the saxophonist.

    They are a fusion of Eastern European, Jazz and Folk. The Eastern European sounds are also really relevant to the books as much of the scenes are played out in Bulgaria.

    https://soundcloud.com/eastpole-orchestra

    I really like 'Shepherd’s Dance’

     

    Tell me what you think?

    Who would you like to see playing at the event?

     

    If you want to be there, or have pledged for tickets already, please tell all of your friends. Maybe you can get a group of your friends together and have a great night out?

    £25 including food, drink and entertainment!

    Thanks everyone, and pass it on…