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Miles Watts’ debut feature film follows three friends who drunkenly decide to form a band. This has remarkable resemblance to real life as Miles drunkenly decided to make his feature film when out with Hayley Hutchinson and Finn Riley who actually ended up as the members of the band, the Bandwagons. The name of the band becomes very apt as the three friends go from obscurity to stardom without any effort or label. To revamp their image, they even give themselves fantastic alter egos: Buddy Hankle, Princess La La and Cosmic Jones.
This is essentially a road-movie - the band tours around the country meeting other groups - The Sugars, Robots in Disguise, The Long Blondes and many others all feature. The inclusion of such talented bands in the film really adds to the authenticity and sincerity of the project and Miles hopes it will make it a “real audience pleaser”. Miles proudly proclaims that he, along with all involved in The Bandwagons are “big believers in the Robert Rodriguez school of filming - get a camera - or someone else's - some mates and a script, and shoot the film as you go. So we did.”
Hutchinson, a superb musician from York, really holds the Bandwagons together. Miles plays the lead singer (although he admits his musical abilities are not great) and Finn plays the sullen drummer with ease. The moment when he proudly claims the band to be “more popular than Hitler” is brilliantly delivered. A simple story but very well executed with a great deal of charm.
It is immensely entertaining and gives a light-hearted to a wide audience, that anyone “can decide to make something with little to no money and the talent around you and produce something worthwhile” (Watts). It focuses not on a satire of the music industry but on the hype and fame that goes with it. The film had no budget and with a Director of Photography, Mark Cunnigham, whom they met on MySpace the achievements of this film are extremely impressive.
Watts founded, with Ryan de Koning and Finn, Hum Drum productions. They are constantly filming short films in York and publish a magazine (Issue 4 is out in June). I recommend finding The Planetarium; an uproarious short film staring Finn and Ryan. With the help of the York Film Trust, Hum Drum films are becoming more and more noticed: Time Is Lost is being shown at the Stamford Film Festival. There are also plans for The Bandwagons to be put on DVD to help raise funding for further shorts.
Up to now all their films have had no budget, relying on people and businesses helping: “There are so many talented people in this town, and all our films so far have relied on their free collaboration." There is currently a campaign on Facebook called 'If 10,000 people donate £1, we can make 3 feature films in the next year', so if you feel inspired to help out Hum Drum, any donations are greatly appreciated!
Meanwhile, the members of Hum Drum have been invited down to London to screen some of the films and sell the magazine at 93 Feet East; and they are also giving talks about low-budget film making.
The Bandwagons is hugely enjoyable and is well worth seeing when it comes to City Screen this Sunday (May 25th). There is also a special 'Hum Drum night' at City Screen on 27th June which will be showcasing the shorts made this year. Should be a real treat!
Here is brief trailer of some of the work by Hum Drum
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