We were lucky enough to be asked by The Magnetic North to join them on their trip back to the Orkney Islands, the place that their latest album is written about, whilst also being the place they recorded the Hoy pub choir for said album. The aim was pretty broad, film the islands, film the band, film the locals and film the gig that was to be happening at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall at the end of the week.
What ensued was the most inspiring yet tiring week we have ever encountered.
With suns still setting at 11:30pm before only disappearing for a few hours, the days were long to say the least. But we didn't expect to be hit with the wave of inspiration that we were treated to. The landscapes were mind blowing, almost overwhelming at times, we asked ourselves how we were supposed to do these images justice on camera?
We saw some incredible sights, witnessed the most amazing sunsets of our lives, met some dazzlingly eccentric and interesting people and were treated to the most picturesque and fitting gig we have had the pleasure to attend, let alone film.
To say the footage was vast would be a sickening understatement. Hours upon hours of hills, pebbles, sunsets, sunrises, cliffs, seas, beaches, grass, not to mention the birds, the seals and the local Orcadians we met. They all had a story to tell and have all led some incredible interesting lives and we came back with hoards of stories.
Unfortunately we had to limit ourselves, and although the first cut was 50 minutes we knew we had to wind it down to the 30 minute mark, which was painful, although a sequel might be in the works...
So here are a bunch of stills, a trailer for the film and below that information on when and where you can see it.
Thanks to everyone involved, the people of Orkney for being so kind and creating this World and letting us be a part of it, but also thanks to Erland, Hannah and Simon for asking us along for the ride, we had an absolute blast!
Hunting for Remoteness Trailer
If you're interested in seeing the film here are the details of how to do it. The public premiere is at the Purcell Rooms on Thursday the 22nd of November, the band will be performing a gig afterwards. Here are all the details you need: http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/gigs-contemporary/tickets/the-magnetic-north-69725
Hope to see you down there!
