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Radio series with Rodney Appleyard: film guru and host of Colne radio’s 'Saturday night at the movies' podcast. Discussing the current state of British independent film with 'DB' Morgan, associated actors and members of the Underdog crew.
Radio series with Rodney Appleyard: film guru and host of Colne radio’s 'Saturday night at the movies' podcast. Discussing the current state of British independent film with 'DB' Morgan, associated actors and members of the Underdog crew.
We are EMPOWERING! We are SUPPORTING! We are NURTURING! We are CHANGING LIVES! We are... THE UNDERDOG CREW!
PROUD ACTIVITY PARTNERS WITH
CURRENT SPONSORS | PATRONS | SUPPORTERS
POWERED BY
Our first ANNUAL Underdog Crew
prize giving gala event. Held on
Saturday 29th October 2022 at Clacton-
on-Sea's historic Princes Theatre.
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THE UNDERDOG CREW
2022 'Underdog Crew' headline project
"Harnessing the power of professional film to promote positivity and wellbeing in young adults."
Sponsored by Meatline butchers and featuring actor, Jamie Chambers (Star Wars/Fury/Morris Men), we took a trip to the Inclusion Ventures centre in Jaywick, Essex, to educate and inspire young adults in the art of cooking exciting and healthy food at home. Throughout the day we taught the group how to make 'street food dirty burgers', how to create amazing dishes from the humble chicken thigh, and even got them to try AND ENJOY liver!
'Morris Men' Feature film - Final pick up day
UNDERDOG PROJECT #4 - July 2022
The final shooting day of the Morris Men shoot ended a 2-year journey of production. With only a few key extra scenes to shoot we took three lucky #underdogcrew members: Jodie and Bobby Cavalier and William Morgan along to be part of this final day. Throughout the day they got hands on with the entire process: filming, setting up lighting and cameras, operating the 'Steadycam' and clapperboard. Jodie, as positive and brave as can be for an eleven-year-old even jumped in and has a role in the actual movie!
As with all our 2021/2022 #underdogcrew participants, these three will receive their certificates at the UK premiere of the Morris Men movie on October 29th at the historic Princes Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea.
POWERED BY
PROJECT #5 - Aug/Sept 2022
Joseph Allison, 'founding Underdog Crew member', has risen dramatically through the ranks following first joining us as an intern on our 2020 feature film, Faith. With over 30 international awards to it's name, Joesph played a huge part in ensuring the sets and costumes looked amazing, together with jumping in, as and when asked, in all departments. Having now worked on all three of our feature films to date Joe is a seasoned pro on-set. Cool, calm and collected. In tribute to his amazing work ethic, professionalism and boundless creativity energy we are now backing him as Producer and Director on his first professional music video: 'Fools Gold', starring the UK's leading folk/punk band, 'Forest of Fools'.
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Joe will be leading the next generation of Underdog Crew interns in this exciting project, one of five short films within this first term of the UC film School.
“I have a disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis which is an inflammatory arthritis. During university I suffered from a severe flare up which affected my eyes and caused me to lose my sight in one eye. This resulted in a mental breakdown and multiple mental health issues that really affected my quality of life and well-being. I felt lost and alone. It was around this time that I discovered DB Morgan and his underdog crew, we worked on a film called faith which has gone onto win awards all around the world. During my time on faith I explored my skill set and explored different roles on set. One of my favourite memories is being in an upside down car, applying fake blood to the actors, it reminded me of the T-Rex scene in Jurassic Park and it was magical because it felt like I was on a Hollywood set and that I had finally made it. The underdog crew has been a fantastic experience because it takes people of all backgrounds and abilities, nurtures their skills and at the end of it you have new friends, a new potential career path and a film to be proud of. As an underdog crew film maker, DB Morgan took me on knowing nothing about me or what I was capable of but gave me a chance when I felt my most broken. Since then we have gone onto make three feature films together and I’ve made some fantastic friends and connections along the way. The film industry felt like it was impossible to get into before the underdog crew, but your dreams of working in the film industry really are just one step away.” Joe Allison AKA Eyeconic
Joe on 'Morris Men' - acting role
On-set photos with Director, JOSEPH ALLISON, cast and crew.
Key film projects created this term, funded by the ARTS AND CULTURAL FUND, were showcased at the pre-screening celebrations of DB Morgan's Morris Men movie red carpet world premiere in front of a packed audience on 29th October 2022 at the historic Princes Theatre in Clacton -on-Sea.
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TO VIEW BEHIND-THE-SCENES footage CLICK HERE
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PROJECT #7 - Coming Summer 2023
#Underdogcrew interns team up with a range of elderly people to create a series of micro-films, discussing what it means to be alive. From Gen-Z to GI (the greatest Generation) to Millenials and Boomers, we see how values and ambitions have changed throughout the ages. This project aims to educate both ends of the age spectrum on how the eras they live in affected their outlook and perception of the world around them. We are really excited to commence this project and are currently gathering supporters and contributors.
POWERED BY
THE UNDERDOG CREW CONCEPT
Some people are suited to the classroom environment, others are not. This is a fact!
Underdog interns are dropped in to real-world filmmaking situations and experience first hand all aspects of the filmmaking process. An in-depth, boots on the ground, introduction to the world of ‘zero budget resources filmmaking’. Participants work together with professional film crew and actors to produce short films, micro documentaries and even music videos. Participants learn all aspects of the filmmaking process guided by industry professionals to create their own creative works, either behind, or in front of camera.
All course participants receive:
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An ‘Underdog Crew’ certificate.
A professional DVD of the short film productions.
Free family tickets to the annual awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements.
The chance to become an Underdog Crew mentor for future projects.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH:
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Building confidence through teamwork:
A nurturing space to develop new creative ideas.
Encouragement, guidance and signposting into further learning.
Self sufficiency/responsibility through daily rota’d lunch cooking.
Taking ownership of choices based around positive actions.
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High intensity creative workshops including:
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Industry standard practical special effects.
Screen combat training and implementation.
Prop making workshops.
Set building workshops.
Acting and improvisational workshops.
I.T workshops for graphical design and VFX.
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“When I was younger, I never really believed in myself, I never really had confidence in many things. From issues from my childhood. My parents suffer from mental illness and it was really tough. I always felt like I couldn’t achieve anything, and I have nothing to show to the world. I had a dark stage in my life dealing with a lot of suicidal thoughts. But I overcame it. This team and film have given me a sense of purpose, and the title alone just shows how I feel now in life. After dealing with a lot of stuff and gradually picking myself up. This experience has given me faith.”
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JAMIE WRIGHT (19) FOUNDING UNDERDOG CREW MEMBER
As a mental health survivor, anxiety sufferer and general all-round underdog, DB Morgan is proud to welcome under-represented and minority groups into all of his filmmaking exploits. Having trialled his 'youth involvement project' during the shoot of his 2010 (MTV competition winning) short film, "Subject 3", he quickly learned that everybody has something to offer in a creative environment and crew members on the autism/Asperger's spectrum especially came away empowered and motivated from their experiences on set.
Radio series with Rodney Appleyard: film guru and host of Colne radio’s 'Saturday night at the movies' podcast. Discussing the current state of British independent film with 'DB' Morgan, associated actors and members of the Underdog crew.
DIRECTOR, 'DB' MORGAN talks ‘Underdog’.
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It would be wrong of me to ask my crew to open up on their own personal experiences without offering my own into the mix. Two years of hell at a notorious Essex boarding school led to my younger life being consumed with drug abuse, leading to being an ex drug user and mental health survivor. I have been left with bouts of crippling anxiety that restrict my life in many ways. After losing our 12-year old daughter, Jodi, to aplastic anaemia in 2010 I’ve also been left with PTSD. I choose to rise above my limitations and slowly face my demons one by one.
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As a writer my life experiences have provided me with so much ammunition to channel into the emotions of my work. As a creative I have learned that everyone has a story to tell and the richer a life’s tapestry, the deeper the story. I love working with ‘outsiders’ as a true underdog myself and thrive on proving people wrong when it comes to underestimating, prejudging or prej- udicing against marginalised people and groups. I am passionate about growing my ‘underdog crew’ ethos into a recognised UK movement and allowing all comers to shine under the brilliance of their own light.
“Sometimes I find it hard because I think people just see the disabilities sides of me and not take me seriously but that's something i'n used to.
I feel like with the Underdog Crew we are all equal no one is judged. Everyone just has the one goal and we all come together with all our love of film to create all together. I feel like I'm actually taken seriously and that everyone is.. so it's a really good, friendly environment.”
JAMIE MURPHY (18)
Founding UNDERDOG CREW member
LIE TO ME - BY AMY BRISTOW ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FOR FAITH.
MUSIC VIDEO FILMED & CREATED BY ''THE UNDERDOG CREW''.
FAITH MOVIE BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTE. An insight into the
world of 'DB' Morgan's film sets and working with the Underdog Crew.
"STAND UP" by M.I.C. An Underdog Crew music video devised and written by Underdog Crew members and performed by renowned U.S rapper M.I.C.
"LITTLE MAN" The first short festival film by the Underdog Crew. Written and Produced
by 'DB' Morgan. Official selection and several award nominations at international festivals.
