Shunk Productions are Bristol Business of the Week
Posted on: 28 Jul 2014Shunk Productions is a business in Bristol set up by the screenwriting and film-making duo Paul Holbrook and Sam Dawe. They recently premiered their Porphyrophobia short film at the Orpheus Cinema in Henleaze and after well deserved credit the production is now being shown to a wider audience as part of the CineMe Shorts event at The Tobacco Factory on Tuesday 29 July (starting at 8pm) - tickets are available on the door.
365Bristol caught up with Paul and Sam and found out a bit more information about Shunk Productions and their goals and aspirations. These guys are going places so keep an eye out for some of their upcoming projects including The Wrinklefest Files.
1. When did you set up Shunk Productions?
We have been writing as a partnership now for around 3 years but Shunk came to be when we decided to venture into self production towards the end of 2013.
2. Are you from Bristol?
We are both Bristol born & bred. We live in Hartcliffe & Whitchurch, and work out of Shunk HQ in Kingswood.
3. How's business?
Our first self produced project 'Porphyrophobia' has been well received and is on route to carefully selected festivals around the world. We're also knee deep in production of our current project 'The Wrinklefist Files'. Aside from self production we're both still working hard to crack the spec script market with our own individual feature film scripts.
4. Tell us about your business?
Shunk Productions will continue to strive to make quality short films on a budget, as well as offering our services in corporate videos and commercials. Our main love will always be creating narrative stories for the screen though.
5. How do you find running an independent business in Bristol?
A fledgling production company is different to running a 'for profit' company as we will only be judged on our output. Making short films and trying to find an audience is an expensive but fulfilling game and therefore running Shunk productions is easy as long as the passion remains.
6. Where do you like to eat out in Bristol?
Anywhere that's cheap! So were often found in a Wetherspoons! If we were gonna go somewhere special then Kathmandu takes some beating.
7. What's your favourite place in Bristol?
Dundry - we are lucky enough to have the countryside on our doorstep so wandering across miles of Greenland is a favourite pastime and a great way to tap into our imaginations.
8. Where do you see Shunk Productions in 5 years time?
That's a difficult one as it depends on lots of factors out of our control. As writers we would hope to have representation and a working relationship with big budget production companies - Hollywood, Baby! In regards to self production & Shunk productions in 5 years we would have a solid and diverse portfolio behind us and possibly around that time be ready to think about self producing a feature length script.
9. What advice would you give to any aspiring Bristol small business owners?
Love what you do, or don't bother. NEVER listen to naysayers, have a dream and chase the hell out of it!
10. If you were Mayor of Bristol for a day which one thing would you change?
I would erect a statue of Darth Vadar seeing as he was played by a Bristolian!
Keep up to date with Shunk Productions at:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/shunkfilms
Twitter : @holbrook99
Vimeo : http://vimeo.com/shunkfilms
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
