Get motivated to take enthusiastic action that will help you turn that dream into reality. One step at a time and you will surely achieve anything.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

St Paul's church Sketty, Flower Festival 2016

Hi Folks

Went to the The Flower Festival at St Paul's church at De La Beche Road, Sketty Swansea was held on July 30th to August 2nd 2016. It was themed around Swansea at Work and covered all the many work related subjects in the area.



You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.

Mike Leahy

Seventh Day Adventist Church Swansea Opening Ceremony

Hi Folks
This short film was made at the opening ceremony of the new Seventh Day Adventist Church at 55 Gower Road, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 9BH UK on 30th July www.adventistswansea.org.uk led by Pastor Jovan Adamovic. Many people from local churches and community attended. The ultra modern halls are available for community use.



You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.

Mike Leahy

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Glyn Vivian Art Gallery Auction at the Grand Theatre.

Hi Folks

Video number three. And this one is an event that took place recently at the Grand Theatre in Swansea.

87 artists contributed works of arts to be auctioned off by the Friends of the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery. The event was held on Friday 29th July in the Grand Theatre Swansea.


The Gallery has been undergoing extensive renovated and refurbishing and will be opened in just a few weeks.
A multi-million pound redevelopment project funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Government, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cadw and Swansea Council has been undertaken at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.

The project includes a new lecture theatre as well as conservation, library, exhibition, collection display, learning and community spaces. There’ll also be a new store for the art collection and the fully accessible entrance that means more people than ever will enjoy greatly improved access to the artworks. A new state-of-the-art extension will link to the historic buildings, including the Grade II* listed 1911 gallery, which has benefitted from complete restoration and
improvements to facilities and access, all of which will ensure the Glynn Vivian is fit for the 21st Century. Other work on-going at the Glynn Vivian in preparation for re-opening includes the installation of artworks soon to feature in public exhibitions and displays. The learning, shop and café areas are being fitted out to offer a new visitor experience for our communities in Swansea and Wales.


Looking forward to the re-opening

Mike Leahy


You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.


  • Make a donation of any amount and you'll be mentioned in the credits on at least one film.
  • Give £50 and be invited to the premier showing. Venue, date and time to be announced but it will be in the Swansea area.
  • Give at least £100 and receive a personalised DVD of a selection of completed films and invitation to the premier
  • Give £1000 and we'll make a short film for you subject to feasibility.

Monday, August 08, 2016

Uplands Street Market 3rd Year Anniversary

Hi Folks

The Uplands Street Market in Swansea runs every month and is celebrating it's third year. Sketty is an up and coming part of town with places to eat and socialise. 

   Uplands Monthly Street Market
It is an important community project bringing many home grown and small businesses together. Here is where you'll find locally produced cheeses with someone who can talk about them with authority. There are bakers who've been working all night to bring you a wide variety of unusual breads, cakes and other sweet goodies. You'll find artists, potters and crafts galore.

Take a look at their website for more details http://www.uplandsmarket.com/  


Mike Leahy



You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.


  • Make a donation of any amount and you'll be mentioned in the credits on at least one film.
  • Give £50 and be invited to the premier showing. Venue, date and time to be announced but it will be in the Swansea area.
  • Give at least £100 and receive a personalised DVD of a selection of completed films and invitation to the premier
  • Give £1000 and we'll make a short film for you subject to feasibility.


Welcome to Site

Hi Folks

Welcome to this blog. I'm starting a new community project called Future-Past. This is a series of short films about people and places from your prospective. Rather than through the eyes of a film-maker it will be as the subject sees life. 

These short films will be about 5-15 minutes long and will be about an event, a person , a group or anything that is of general interest and that will be of interest in the future. A look at life as it is today, you might say. 

We all use our smartphones to video our personal life but how much is actually seen after the first viewing. Most is just lost in the bytes of time, rarely to ever see the light of day again. A bit like the photos we used to take and that we religiously took to the chemist to have processed, looked at a couple of times and stored away. All of these memories gone. Now sometimes you've shot something that is socially interesting and that is lost too.

I can look at a photo and it conjures up memories. This photo takes me right back to 1952 when I lived in Birmingham and spent 4 months living with my grandparents at Mary Tavy in Devon. I used to go for long walks with my grandfather. You can see I had to dress up even for an afternoon walk, short trousers, mackintosh, school cap. And emulating my grandfather with a walking stick!! But it brings back a wealth of other memories just associated with the photo. And I'm sure you've had similar experiences of a photo nudging your thoughts. Now just think how a video would impact. You'd remember much more.

So I'm quite exciterd about this and not only welcome you but encourage you to be part. Call me or write if you feel you or someone you now have something that will contribute to the success of this project. 

This is some of the equipment I'm looking to use. See below.

A budget professional video camera is the heart of good results. Camera specifications have risen dramatically over recent years so that making budget, documentaries and solo films have become much easier, manageable and cost effective. Obviously it's not just a question of pointing and shooting, learning the craft is essential.

Radio microphones just make it easier in many circumstances. Once a mic is fitted the user has real freedom of movement and usually forgets they are being filmed. It's one of the best tools to ensuring clear, controlled sound. It's also possible to move into a crowd and have the voice picked up without interference. Radio mics vary tremendiyusly in price but it is important to have a set that is of a good quality.   

Hand-held cameras always wobble, shake or plain move. 

A good tripod will ensure steady film. I know that sometimes hand help cameras are necessary either because of the circumstances or to produce a special effect.



 



Mike


 https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.



You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past.


  • Make a donation of any amount and you'll be mentioned in the credits on at least one film.
  • Give £50 and be invited to the premier showing. Venue, date and time to be announced but it will be in the Swansea area.
  • Give at least £100 and receive a personalised DVD of a selection of completed films and invitation to the premier
  • Give £1000 and we'll make a short film for you subject to feasibility.



Gower Show 7th August 2016

Hi Folks

Gower Show 2016

Enjoy this very short film of the Gower Show. There was so much going on and to see that I was disappointed to have to leave so early due to other commitments. This show, celebrating it's 99th anniversary is a real draw and was packed with crowds drawn from far and wide.

There are fewer shows every year around the UK but the support in here in Gower does mean that the future looks good and with the centenary coming up next year I'd be surprised if it wasn't really special. It's difficult to imagine life around a century ago when this was the major highlight of the year for the the local population. When life was hard and days were long. When there was no television or radio so entertainment was home grown and communications were difficult. Meeting up at the Show was to hear about births and deaths, marriages and more. Where the church or chapel and market were central to village life. Where the best clothes saw the light of day and men attended the Show, even on a sweltering day, dressed in the Sunday suit, shirt and tie, and of course the obligatory hat.


  The above video was produced in 2011.

I am building up a collection of 100 short films celebrating life as seen from grass-roots. So if you have a hobby, an interesting story, an achievement, belong to a group or want to tell me about your memories then get in touch.  Once I have reached the 100 target I will consider the next level. Your support is most appreciated.

You may be interested to know that I need new equipment to carry out this project together with my other community filming and that I am currently looking for funds through crowdfunding. If you have enjoyed this and the other films coming along and you feel like making a donation of any size please go to  https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Future-Past. 


  • Make a donation of any amount and you'll be mentioned in the credits on at least one film.
  • Give £50 and be invited to the premier showing. Venue, date and time to be announced but it will be in the Swansea area.
  • Give at least £100 and receive a personalised DVD of a selection of completed films and invitation to the premier
  • Give £1000 and we'll make a short film for you subject to feasibility.