From Lamb Films and Funky Chicken Films, the people that brought you the literally pant wetting 'Danger Wank Frank', comes a new short "The Dick" Here's the craic from production day 3. 

Writer/Director Rain Lennon tells us ''This time around we set out to make a serious film so that people would take us seriously and think we were important, meaningful artistes. I'm glad to report that we scrapped that plan quite quickly. Our new film is called 'The Dick' and follows Mark as he tries his luck with the fairer sex, but he'll need more than luck if he's to overcome his terrifying imagination....''

On Sunday 16th we filmed in Voodoo Bar Belfast. It's a great bar and top venue for a night out. Camera's rolled, pasta got eaten, wine got opened, with out a corkscrew? actors and crew got funny footage and all the crowd turned up.  Thanks to all the staff at Voodoo. More Info www.voodoobelfast.com

Short film making can be good fun and this was no exception, as with no budget we had to rely on friends family and favours. We must say they all came in big time. Thanks to everyone who helped out so far, Lamb Films and Funky Chicken Films look forward to keeping everyone up to date with all the news about "The Dick" short film.   

This Sunday 23rd August in Duncairn Arts Centre, we are screening Orchard Road, with a live link up with the writer and director and producer . Leevi, Ida and Larry will be sitting on the couch with Tracy(who is also a radio presenter in the film) as she hosts this event of Music, Film and Poetry all for a great cause. Come on down y'all 

Sofa Sessions are back! I'm home from Finland to host another eclectic line-up of talented artists in a wellbeing-themed special edition of the Sofa Sessions. Come and enjoy fantastic music, short film and poetry and hear from the artists involved in an inspiring event in the beautiful Duncairn Centre. This is a DONATION-BASED event, with all proceeds going to NIAMH Wellbeing - huge thanks to Ray at Duncairn for donating use of the venue, and to all the already-booked and yet-to-be involved for donating their time and talents! If you'd like to donate a prize for a raffle on the night, please get in touch at tracy@soulambition.com.

Line-up:

|| BEATnDRUM SAMBA BAND [MUSIC] ||

Since their formation in 2004, BEATnDRUM have been thrilling audiences throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond at numerous festivals and events. Their high-energy street performances are a key part at Beat Carnival events, and they are a key player in the Afro-Brazilian drumming network in Ireland. If ever a band could lift you out of a Sunday evening slump, BEATnDRUM is it!

http://beatcarnival.com/beatndrum

|| RORY NELLIS [MUSIC] || 

Solo artist and frontman of Seven Summits, Rory is someone I’ve wanted to play the Sofa Sessions for a long time. A hugely talented musician, he was extremely supportive and generous of his time with me back when I started performing in Belfast - he played with me on my first gigs, and I had a couple of ‘proper’ guitar lessons from him, where he fixed some of my self-taught bad habits! A great artist and a real gent, I’m delighted to have him play this special wellbeing event.

Hear more at https://rorynellis.bandcamp.com/album/ready-for-you-now

|| ORCHARD ROAD [FILM] - Ida-Maria Olva/Leevi Ikonen/Larry Cowan of Lamb Films ||

Live satellite-link-up alert! Finnish/Northern Irish short film ORCHARD ROAD is a collaboration between NI's Larry Cowan/Lamb Films (producer) and Finland dream duo Ida-Maria Olva (director) and Leevi Ikonen (screenwriter). 

The plot: An unemployed father can't afford a birthday present for his son, so he plans something a bit more unorthodox.

Larry introduced me to Leevi over a pint in Cutter's Wharf before I headed off to Finland, and Leevi and Ida later came to our apartment in Jyväskylä to record me reading the part of an "Ulster radio DJ". We went to support the film at the Tampere Film Festival, where its charm and humour went down a storm with the audience. (Very similar sense of humour, I tell you...) I'll be screening the film and talking to Larry on the sofa, with a Skype link-up to Ida-Maria and Leevi from their sofa in Finland. Erinomainen!

|| JENNA SMITH [MUSIC] || 

All the way from New York comes Jenna Smith - a singer/songwriter with a gorgeous voice and songwriting style. A board-certified music therapist, Jenna has worked at the Brookyln Conservatory of Music and is currently studying a Master's in Music Therapy at the University of Jyväskylä. She'll be bringing her magic to the Sofa Sessions and chatting about her music and her work as a music therapist.

Listen to her music at http://jennasmith.bandcamp.com/

|| THE DOGG RUFF STRING BAND [MUSIC] ||

This Co. Antrim folk/blues/bluegrass outfit have been a huge hit at festivals like the Coors Open House Festival - now they're bringing their feelgood stylings and entertaining banter to the Sofa Sessions sofas. In the lads' own words:

"Born in the County of Antrim and raised in the County of Antrim, The Dog Ruffs began performing separately as children, landing roles in stage productions and television shows. They never signed any record deals in 1997 or from 1998 onwards and have yet to release a debut album. During their first decade within the music industry, they have became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, in their front living rooms and sometimes the kitchen. Their first album is set to become an international number-one hit. Dogg Ruff should be credited with influencing the revival of bluegrass during the late 1990s in their local bar."

Teenage Kicks, The Dogg Ruff String Band Style: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMFvohS9dNg

|| GERALDINE O'KANE [POETRY] || 

Sharing a selection of poems and discussing her work will be Geraldine O'Kane, co-host of the Purely Poetry open mic nights in Belfast. From Co. Tyrone, Geraldine is editor of the micro-poem pamphlet series, Panning For Poems. 

http://www.poetryni.com/geraldine-okane.html

|| COLIN DARDIS [POETRY] ||

Joining Geraldine is her Purely Poetry co-host, Colin Dardis. Colin is a poet, editor, creative writer tutor arts facilitator and mental health advocate. He runs Poetry NI, in which he is the editor of FourXFour and Pen Points Press, and is the online editor for Lagan Press. Colin will be reading some of his poems and talking about his arts and wellbeing projects.

http://www.colindardispoet.co.uk/

|| CLEANSED [FILM] ||

"Cleansed", written and directed by Paul Caddell, begins with a detached and disorientated man discovered on a beach, dressed in a dripping wet dinner suit, shirt and tie. Brought to a psychiatric hospital, he communicates only through music. 

Richard Clements (The Fall) stars in the lead, with support from Susan Lynch (From Hell). The film is produced by Good Vibrations co-director Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa for Canderblinks Film, and composer David Holmes who also provides the score.

Paul has been a friend for many years now - and my hairdresser for most of them! He recently has changed careers completely, having qualified as an English/drama teacher, and landing acting roles in film and television. He'll be talking about his career path, about making the big switch in his forties, and the 'just do it' impulse, before we screen the film.


Sunday 23rd August
Doors at 7pm, event starts 7.30pm
Event finish: 11:30pm
Entrance: DONATION (no minimum, give what you can afford)
No bar: BYOB


MORE INFO
Duncairn Arts Centre 
Sofa Sessions
Orchard Road
NIAMH Wellbeing