Stephen Ashwell

I’ve been inspired to write a kind of reflection after seeing the premiere of Winnie-the-Pooh: B&H 2. I've written this with the aim of encouraging everyone involved. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 is not only the wildly entertaining, horrifically graphic thrill ride that audiences might expect, it is simultaneously a heartfelt, human drama set around a young man trying to find his place in the world. Christopher Robin faces the very relatable challenges of alienation from his community, the breakdown of his family, and the unearthing of the darker elements of his once perceived innocent childhood. I remember thinking on set that Scott’s performance was very good - and now seeing this on the big screen – I was deeply moved by a character I cared for and understood. The film has an excellent balance of being completely ridiculous/comedic, whilst being grounded in emotional truths we all deal with. What Rhys Frake-Waterfield has done is take something we all perceived as so ‘pure’ and so ‘innocent’, and completely subvert that. It is this juxtaposition that engages me – because as all of us transition out of the safety of our childhood years, we begin to realise that the world is not such a pure and innocent place. When I first heard about the concept, I was quite opposed to it. I thought… err… that sounds pretty messed up! But on reflection, perhaps I was opposed to it because I’m often striving to create, or hold onto, a world that is ‘safe’… a world I experienced in my own childhood. Maybe I’ve been in denial that, undoubtedly, each of us has our own monsters to face as we journey through life; they just might not look quite as dramatic as Pooh with a flaming chainsaw! And that’s why I think this concept works. The film has lots of other strengths – the performances of the cast, the stunning cinematography, the horrifically realistic practical effects, the suspenseful editing, the beautiful set design, the immersive sound, and the fantastic score. Previously, I didn’t really connect with the slasher/horror genre – but this experience has been eye-opening. Thank you to everyone involved! I have loved being part of this.

It was a real privilege to be at the world premiere of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 last night in London, Leicester Square. We had a fantastic night celebrating all the hard work the cast and crew had put into the film – it has really paid off. A massive congrats to everyone involved in making this - especially @vince.knight for the outstanding cinematography! @rhys_frake_waterfield for his visionary directing and a @scottjefferyproducer for a brilliant performance as Christopher Robin! Vince gave me the opportunity to come on board as Camera Trainee, and before I knew it, I was helping out with whatever role needed most support - doing lots of the film as a Spark as well as a Camera Operator, Gimbal Operator and Stills Photographer (lots used for the movie posters). Additionally, which I love, I provided one of the picture vehicles, my green 1995 VW Caravelle Campervan which has some screentime near the start of the film. I also did some precision driving in the wider shots. A huge thanks to D.O.P @vince.knight 1st AC @shortyninsta 2nd AC @james.d.daynolo Gaffer @mikebrindley and Best Boy @Tobyhills10 – for a great time last night and for everything you guys have taught me during the shoot - it has been a phenomenal learning experience. Thanks also to 1st ACs @joanna_cuper and @curtisblair who did some of the shoot too. Thank you guys! Bring on Blood and Honey 3! 😂 @poohbloodandhoney #pooh2 #slasher #premiere #bloodandhoney

Here’s a little edit of some of the shots @calvinjday and I got using Tilta’s hydra arm motorized slider system at the Tilta kit demo session last week. We shot this in about 30 minutes of track time with the arm mounted to the rear of aactv’s tracking vehicle. Big thanks to @tilta_eu @tiltamax @shaun_wang310 for putting on this demo in collaboration with @vinceknight @motorfilmawards @aactvuk @mkv_omega @mkv.ar @stillmovingmedia @stmo.tracking @dalecampbell_dop @arri @arri_rental @reddigitalcinema @aputure.lightitng @lifeinthefastwayne @xiangyu77 @frankiedovedesign @bicesterheritage Audi Precision Driver – @martindriftrichards Arm Car Precision Driver – Dean Hall MK-V Tilta Slider Op – Toby MK-V Remote head & wheels op – @calvinjday Director & sharps – @stephenashwell Edit – @stephenashwell BTS intro and grade @calvinjday Music - Sons of Pythagoras - H Block - music from the trailer to Lost Bullet – an awesome French action movie on Netflix by @guillaume_pierret Shot on - Arri SRH3 head with Alexa Mini LF #capturedwithARRI #ARRI #miniLF #alexaminilf #audi #rs6 #stuntdriver #carchase #filmmaking #cinematography #behindthescenes #setlife #filmproduction #audisport #audiuk

Just had an epic day testing out Tilta’s latest tracking vehicle kit with @calvinjday and honing my vehicle directing and operating skills. Big thanks to @vinceknight for organising this demo event with @tilta_eu and @motorfilmawards with @stillmovingmedia @martindriftrichards @aactvuk @aputure.lighting (and many others I met today) I’m gonna cut a little sequence of what we shot today - coming soon!

It was incredible to be at the Balle Perdue 2 premiere last night in Paris!!! Such a cool event with the hero cars from the film on display! Huge thanks to the crazily talented action film director @guillaume_pierret for inviting me and for allowing me to shadow him and the amazing editing team on the post production! Massive thanks to Sophie Fourdrinoy, Celine Neveu and Julia Huteau-Mouglalis for teaching me about editing drama and for letting me a have a go at cutting one of the action sequences! Also amazing to learn from @romain_trouillet_ about how the music is composed. Balle Perdue 2 goes live on Netflix on November 10th! If you like a good story with plenty of action and car chases like me, then this film is 100% for you!!! #lostbullet2 #balleperdue2 #netflixfr

It was absolutely incredible to be back at the @motorfilmawards last night for another spectacular evening celebrating the best car/action films that have been made over the past year. A HUGE THANKS to @vince.knight and @alclark for organising another amazing awards ceremony! It was a huge privilege to connect with so many amazing people in the industry - such as the visionary director (and jury member) @ozanbrion - outstanding DOP @adrianlangenbach who won ‘Best Cinematography’ for PROJECT SANDBOX - @corrygw and @jonnymendez__ and their fantastic drama short film DEFY THE ODDS - incredible fashion/commercial director Axel Bonnot from @lacreativeteam and his commercial CADILLAC - BE ICONIC - amazing work from the team from @kingdom_cr and their event film PORSCHE - OUR 2021 – ‘Best Student Film’ winner @robbert_alblas – @danregs and @josh.roles from @airly_uk - @sammeyerdop and @leemartinracing  from @traktion.film  – directer/dp @tobykahler , Rupert from @gunhillstudios - Tom and @barney.saunders from @saundersdetailing – and many, many more. Thanks to everyone for making it such a great night out! I have film scripts in development and am looking to collaborate with connections old and new in the year ahead, so let’s keep in touch. #wedlockshortfilm #carchase #carfilmmaker #carcommercial

Just got back to London after an incredible time at This is England Film Festival in Rouen France. Saw so many great short films, a Renault 21 Turbo, a lot of MASSIVE cathedrals… and met loads of incredibly talented filmmakers! A huge thank you to all of the team at @tiefestival who showed such incredible hospitality. It was brilliant to see Wedlock on the big screen again and so good to hear so many people laughing - especially through the drift in the Audi R8. @wedlockshortfilm I’d HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching the short films below. I had the privilege of meeting most of these lovely filmmakers this week! Thanks for a great few days guys!!! ‘I Am a Unicorn’ by @natalielmalla and @isabellenschuler ‘Face Down in Back of a Car’ by @sion_thomas__ ‘Hugs’ by @harryplowden ‘Adnan’ by @steven_chatterton and @markarrigophotography ‘Tap Boy’ by @keenanmunn and @willyk171 '22 Anna Matthews’ by @ben.hector1 and @milesberkleysmith ‘Stormskater' by @stormskater and @guen.murroni ‘The Devil’s Harmony’ by @dylanholmeswilliams ‘Stagger’ by @celineribard and @handtocheek ‘Another Happy Ever After’ by @emmaleeneleahy and @oldhallfilms ‘The Act’ by @thomashescott and @130timeselettra ‘Other Plans’ by @storiesofnote ‘The Man at the Bottom of the Garden’ by @paul.blinkhorn ‘Don vs Lightning’ by @bigredbuttonent @tiefestival #kinepolisrouen #culture @villederouen #wedlock #wedlockshortfilm

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO’S WATCHED OUR SHORT FILM WEDLOCK!!! (thanks for all your comments!!!) I’M ABSOLUTLEY THRILLED to say that tonight Wedlock will be at the @motorfilmawards where Wedlock has been nominated for ‘Best Drama Short’ and ‘Best Sound’ (alongside incredible car films like Le Mans 66 and F9)!!! A HUGE THANKS to the people who made the car action sequences possible - Legendary stunt coordinator Jim Dowdall, and stunt drivers @claytongrover and @nellieburroughes (who doubled for @josh_harvs and @greaterthancinders ) alongside the incredible team at @action99cars and @motion24_tv who provided the tracking vehicles and low loader. It was made possible by the incredible producer @130timeselettra who organised all the logistics and liaised with @msssafety and @thecarfilmingsafetyguy to make sure everything was done safely – and it was shot beautifully by the incredibly talented DOP @calvinjday . Big thanks also to Millbrook Proving Ground where we shot the car scenes! If you’ve not seen the film yet you can watch it at (Link in bio) MASSIVE THANKS again to everyone involved in Wedlock!!!