Update

I have been pretty busy these past few weeks, so I thought that it was time for an update!


Recently I met up with the lovely Dani from Young and High Club. We had a coffee and a chat about my work. I am happy to say that some of my stuff will be gracing his website very soon. It's a very exciting place with lots going on so take a look. I am really looking forward to any future collaborations there.



I am also pleased to report that I have been shortlisted for the Divine Chocolate competition:

'To celebrate one hundred years of International Women’s Day and women’s empowerment among the cocoa farmers of Ghana – Divine Chocolate is joining forces with Birds Eye View to promote a wonderful opportunity for women film makers (professionals and amateurs) to create a short film about Divine'.
  
So I'm about to start story boarding and developing the idea further.



Last week I finished directing an entry for the MoFilm Cannes competition. I made a short animated commercial for Vitamin Water. 


I am also waiting to see my Straight8 film for the first time. If you don't know about Straight8 check it out here. 


So there's a lot of waiting to do! 


Dum, di, dum....

My work on Vimeo

I now have a shiny new Vimeo page! Please go to www.vimeo.com/rebeccamanley to view my directing portfolio including commercials and short films.

Straight8 2011

This year I have once again entered the weird and wonderful world of Straight8 www.straight8.net

My brother Ben and I co-directed Birdman for the competition 7years ago and were ready to give it another try. This time we are co-directing again, and as always taking on multiple roles - Ben writer/actor, me art-director/model-maker.

It has been a hectic few weeks of preparation but it's also been very exciting. We shot the film this weekend (5th-6th March) thanks to a great team of people (full credits, production stills etc. coming soon) who all gave their time and expertise for free. Thank you, we couldn't have done it without any of you.

The film has been delivered so fingers crossed, and watch this space for more news!

London Eye Valentines

Here's a still and a mini movie of the London Eye ad that I finished at the beginning of January.

The idea was to create a moving valentines card. Hopefully the overall result is a strong piece in my style but with an amalgamation of influences. For example the look of a Victorian handmade card, but with a slight nod to modern references such as to Rob Ryan's paper cut work, with a palette of warm, bold, bright shades of colours associated with the occasion - pinks and reds.

We created the card by cutting out all the elements by hand and animating and compositing them in After Effects, overlaying scanned textures and details just to give it that extra depth.

The piece was designed and directed by me, produced by Maria Manton and composited by Alasdair Brotherston. All artwork was cut out by hand by me and Amanda Manley; with extra compositing by Luca Paulli.

Latest Commercials

FIFA 20 CENTRES FOR 2010
Agency: Comic Relief
Client: FIFA
Dir: Rebecca Manley



PSP LITTLE BIG PLANET
Agency: Love Creative
Client: Sony
Dir: Rebecca Manley



STARBUCKS DISCOVER
Agency: Arnold New York
Client: Starbucks/Hershey's
Dir: Rebecca Manley



FAIRY MAKE A WISH
Agency: Grey London
Client: P&G
Dir: Rebecca Manley

London Eye Valentines

I just finished a 5 second ad for the EDF Energy London Eye Valentine's package. It will be appearing on LCD screens on the London underground from the 31st of this month.

Review of 2010

Well 2010 was a very busy year for me:

In April I won a competition to make an animated advert for the Museums at Night event across the UK. The brief was – to produce a short animation (any technique, any style) to promote Museums at Night – our national weekend of late night museum openings.

At the beginning of June I finished directing a short film for the FIFA World Cup Kick off concert in South Africa. The concert featuring the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Shakira and Alicia Keys, was was broadcast all over the world, and with an audience of 30,000 people at the Orlando stadium in Soweto it looked like there was a pretty amazing atmosphere there. The project was overseen by Richard Curtis and the Comic Relief team.

In July I was selected to be part of the Re-Animate scheme 2010 run by Warp and Birds Eye View:

‘…ReAnimate is the new animation development initiative from Warp Films and Birds Eye View with the support of Skillset Film Skills Fund. Focusing on the worlds of screenwriting and animation, we will select up to 20 exceptional British women and equip them with the contacts and creative support they need to produce smart, commercial, animation ideas for the international marketplace…’

I collaborated on two feature film ideas with writer Carol Noble. Currently, although no longer on the scheme, we are still developing some exciting ideas together.

At the end of November I finished directing a short film For Fairy Liquid and Make a Wish Foundation with ad agency Grey London. The film is currently playing at cinemas across the UK, and accompanies digital projections of Narnia The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Mega Mind.

Currently I am directing a short ad for The London Eye with agency Farm.

Here’s to an equally busy 2011!